TwastheNightBefore

ByJaneJensen [Intro:BetweenGabrielKnight#1and#2,IwroteashortfictionalpieceforSierrasmagazinecalled Pausethatgaveplayersanideaofwhatthecharactersweredoingbetweenthetimeframeofthetwo games.WhilethinkingofaworthyDecemberblogentry,theideacametomindtowriteashortstory aboutthecharactersbutIdismisseditatfirst.Toomuchwork,notenoughtime.Buttheideawouldnt goaway.Sohereitis.ThisistheChristmasbeforeandDreadHillHouseandDavidliesomewhere aheadinSamsfuture.] TheSpanishSteps,Rome,2008 Thedarkhairedgirlwiththepalefaceandblacklipstickperformedagracefulflourishofherhands.A sprayofdovesflewintotheair.TheybeattheirwhitewingsabovetheSpanishSteps,somethingswhich hadappearedfromnothingandnoplace.Therewasaspatteringofamazedapplausefromthefew passersbywhohadcaughtthemovement.Butonlyacoupleofcoinsclinkedintothehat. ThecrowdsthatcloggedtheSpanishStepsandstreamedaroundthefashionableSpagnadistrictin Romehadotherthingsontheirmindstoday.TheelegantlydressedItaliansoutnumberedthetourists tentoone,arareoccurrence,andnotahappyoneforbusiness.ItwasstillatraditioninRomefor Christmastocomeat,well,Christmastime.Thecityheavedandcontractedinafrenziedglutofgift buying,boughchoosingandtheselectionofdelicaciesfortheChristmastable,asifithadonlyjust dawnedonpeoplethattomorrowwasDecember25th.Itwasnowonderthatpeoplecouldntsparea momenttowatchalittlestreetart. Samwinkedatadarkhairedboy,maybe7.Hehadthefaceofanangelbutnotthenatureofone.He complainedloudlytohismotherthathewantedtostopandwatchhershow,buthisprettymama tuggedhimalong.SheshotSamanappraisinglookasifwondering,already,abouthersonstastein women.SamgaveitupandglancedatScarpellishat.Shedbeluckyifhertakewas10Eurotoday. ChristmasEveisalwaysbad.Scarpelliwasquicktoreadherthoughts.Everyonewantstogethome. Iknow.Samblewonherhands.Herfingerswerelongandthinanditwashardtokeepthemdeftin thesetemperatures. Anditscold,Scarpelliadded.ToocoldfordelicateAmericangirlstobeoutsideallday. Ha!Samsnorted.Thiswashisjoke,callingherdelicate.Hehadstarteditthedayhedinvitedherto workwithhim.AsinmostEuropeancities,theprimotouristspotsweredefendedtothedeathbythose withpriorclaims.WhenshedarrivedinRomefourmonthsago,shedbegunatthebottomofthe SpanishSteps.Shewasshovedfurtherandfurtherbackbythelocalartists,solicitorsandhomelessuntil shewaspracticallyinthestreet.Unwanted.Unwelcome.Thenoneday,Scarpellihadpausedtowatch 1

her.Hewasancient,atleast70.Hehadofferedheradealthatwasasoldastimeitselfbetweenthose approachingthegraveandthoseleavingthecradle.Shewouldcomeworkwithhimathisprimespot nearthetopoftheSteps.Hertalentwoulddrawthecrowdsandtheywouldsplitthetake. TheGreatScarpellimusthavebeenverygoodinhisday.Buthewasnowaswellusedandslightlydingy ashislongblackcoat.Hishandsweregnarledwitharthritisand,duringthetwentyminuteshowthathe performedfourtimesaday,hereliedonpatterandacharmingpersonalitytocovertheroughedgeson hismagic.Buthewasafixturehere,evenmentionedinseveraltouristbooks,andhestillbroughtin money.WithSamworkingthecrowdsforhim,hebroughtinalotmore. Itwasawinwin,astheysay,butitwasalsoalifelesson.SamlookedatTheGreatScarpelliandknew thatsheherselfwouldnotbewherehewasat70.Shewasgood,shewasreally,reallygood,andshe wasgoingtomakeit.Notinasmallway,either,butinaTVspecialsandlimousineskindofway.And whenshehadmoney,shewouldsockitaway.ShewouldbeSallythefreakingSquirrel.Shedhavea homeofherowninwhichtogrowold. Sheknewthiswouldhappen,shejusthadntquitefiguredouthowyet. Scarpellilookedathiswatch.Wellstopat3today.Nosense,whatdoyousay?Beatingonadead horse.Helaughed.Ormaybeadeadreindeer. Okay.Samscannedthecrowdforlikelyprospects. What,noprotest?Icantgetyoutogiveupuntilthisplaceisquieterthanatomb,usually.Youhave plans?WhatamIsaying,aprettygirllikeyou!Despitehiswords,heappraisedheralittletoo knowingly. Samstuckoutherchin.Asitamatteroffact,Ido. MaybeyouregoingtotheChristmasEvemassatSt.Peter?YourfirstyearinRome,youdontwantto missit. Nope. Ayoungman?Scarpellimused.Iknow!Thefamilyiscomingtovisit!Whowouldntvisitadaughter inRomefortheholidays? Samsnosewrinkledinannoyance.Theyhadneverreallygottenpersonal,sheandScarpelli,soshe couldntblamehimforthegaff.Forallheknew,shehadacornfedfamilyof30somewhereinIowa. ImspendingChristmaswithanItalianfamily.Theyownavineyardandhaveabigoldfarmhouse.Its afewhoursnorthinthecountry. Shesurprisedherself,tellinghim.Andwasmoresurprisedatthepleasureandprideinhervoice.She almostsoundedgiddy.Sillygit. Ah!hiseyessparkled.Butthisissowonderful!YouwillhavearealChristmas!Fantastico! 2

Well,itsnotabigdeal,Saminsisted. Scarpellistudiedherface.Yourenervousperhaps?Meetingthisfamily?Thishouseofstrangers? Whome?Samshrugged.Imeetahundredpeopleaday. Ah!Hewasntconvinced.Well,Ihavesomethingforyou,somethingtogiveyouconfidence. Scarpellibroughtoutaboxfrominsidehisbatteredoldmagiccase.Itwaswrappedinnewspaperand hadabeautifulbow,arealbow,thekindyouhadtotie. Oh,no!Sammoaned.ButIdidntgetyouanything! Thisisstrictlybusiness.Open! Shepulledthebow,unwrappingthegiftinseconds.Shegingerlyheldupapurplesatinblouse,ruffles runningupanddownthebuttonplacardandpuffingaroundthecuffs.Theslightlymustysmellandthe wornfeelofthesatinunderherfingerstoldheritwasauthenticallyvintage.Hereyesgrewwide. Ohmygod!SheturnedtoScarpelliandhuggedtheoldman. Isawitinawindow,andIsaidthatblouseisLadyByron,ifanythingonthisEartheverwas.Seehow thepurplewillattractthecrowds? Itsperfect!shewhispered.Itsexactlyright.Sheturnedherback,asiftostudytheshirtinthe light,butreallytokeephimfromseeinghowmuchthegifthadtouchedher.Patheticgit. Damn,butmaybethisChristmaswouldnotsuckafterall. 3:30atthehostel Shesharedaroomwithfourothergirlsbutnoneofthemwereinevidencenow.Theplacefelt deserted.Shewasntsurprised.ThiswasherfourthyearinhostelsatChristmasanditwasalwaysthe same.Theonlypeopleleftwouldbeahandfulofblissfullyhappylovebirds,havingaromanticholiday somewherefarfromhome.Theregularassortmentofvagabondsallmadetheirwaybacktothenestor hadsomeplacebettertobe.ShehatedChristmas,thatsenseofbeingtheonepatheticloserleftbehind. Butthatwasntherfatethisyear.CuetheHallelujahchorus. Shetookashower,enjoyingtheplentifulhotwater.Shetookcaredressing;thenewpurpleblouseand blackjeans.Sheonlyhadherblackleatherjacketanditwastoocoldtogowithout.Itwasprettybiker chick,butatleastitwouldcoverhertats.Mostly.Shearrangedherblackspikeyhairinthemirror, goingforaslightlysoftenedlook.Shethoughtaboutremovingthestudinherlipbutdecidedagainstit. Theholewouldstillbeobviousand,anyway,shewaswhoshewas.Therewasnogettingaroundit. AndsurelythisquaintItalianfamily,thesegrapegrowers,wouldbenonjudgmental,saltoftheearth people.Right? Itwillbefine,shetoldherreflection.Theyllloveyou.Oratleastsmilepolitely.Andthatwilldo. 3

7:00atthefountain ShewassupposedtomeetAntonioatsevenoclockattheViadelProgressofountain.Shehurriedover there.Itwasgettingseriously,teethchatteredcoldnow,butherexcitementandnerveskeptherwarm asshewalked. Shehadpicturesinhermind,stucktheresinceAntoniosuggestedthisafewweeksago.Theydonly goneoutonthreedates,buthedbeenagentlemanandhewasaniceguy,slightlyplump,abit scholarly,withacherubicface.HewastalkativeandgenerouslikeallItalians,andwhenhedrealized shehadnoplacetogoforChristmashehad,withouthesitation,insistedthatshespenditwithhis family. Wehaveavillainthecountry,beeninthefamilyforahundredyears.Itssurroundedbyacresof grapevines,theprettieststonehouseyoueversaw.Andthesunsets!ButIwarnyou,itsamadhouse. Bothsetsofgrandparentswillbethere,aunts,uncles,cousins,aboutamillionlittlekids.Somuchfood, youwillgain10pounds.Wellgoforalongwalkbeforedinnertobuildanappetite,sothatyouhave enoughroomforitall.Andthetree!Wehavethebiggesttreeintheworld,rightinfrontofawindow thatfacesthedriveway Shecouldpictureitall,rightdowntothescarfonGrandmashead,thebabiesfacessurroundedbydark curlsandthegroaningoldfarmtablefullofsteamingpasta.Itwouldntbelikesheimagined,butthat wasOK.Itwouldstillbecool.Anditwasntherfamily,sheknewthat,butthatwasOK,too.Itwasa family,arealandoverflowingone,anditwouldbefunjusttobearounditforalittlewhile.Justafew daysofsomebodyelseslife. AtthesquarewhereshewastomeetAntonio,itwasdark.Therewereafewoldfashionedstreetlamps hungwithwreaths.Greenlightswerestrunguparoundthefountaininthemiddleofthesquare. Peoplerushedby,ontheirwaytowarmhearthsandhotmeals,butfewernowthanattheSpanish Steps.Thesewerethelatemice,thelastofthecrowd.Andshewasoneofthem,waitingforherride tosomeplacewarmandshining. Shehopedtherewasagoodheaterinthecar.ShedneverseenAnthonioscar,butknewhedidnt havemuchmoney.Notthatitmatterediftherewasheat.God,shewasnervous.Shedidntsitonthe fountainlip,didntwanttogetherfannywetwiththebitofsnowlingeringthere,didntwanttoruinthe leatherinthecar.Iftherewasleather.Notthatitmattered. Sevenoclockcame.Sevenoclockwent.Thenseventen.Thensevenfifteen. Shedidnthaveacellphonenumbertocall.Thenagain,shedidnthaveacellphonetocallwith.Seven twenty. Byseventhirty,shewasstartingtogetseriouslyworried.Thenlightsappearedablockdownandcame onfast.Thecarscreechedup,pullingontothecobblestonesaroundthefountain,rubberscreamingto astop.SherecognizedAntonioasheopenedabackdoor.Herfacelitupwithawelcomingsmile. Thankgod. 4

CiaoBellissima!Hecametowardsher,holdinghisarmsoutandenfoldingherinahug.Butthelook onhisfacebeforeitdisappearedoverhershoulderwasguilty. Itssocrazytryingtogetoutoftownonaholiday,Samsaid,lettinghimknowshewasntupsetthat hewaslate.AndthenhereyeswenttothesmallFiatthatgracelesslystraddledthecenterisland.Five faceslookedbackatheragirlandlongleggedboyhunchedoverinthebackseatandtwogirls crammedintothesmallfrontseatwiththemaledriver.Allofthemwereyoung,nicelydressedin sweatersandwoolcoats.Noneofthemwerethetattootypes. Samsmiledatthem,butfeltherfaceturnredandnervesstrikehergutwithastab.Itseemedherbody understoodbeforeherminddid. Bellissima,Imsosorry!Anthonywassaying.Hisboyishfacewascontrite.Look,mybrother,he bringshisgirlfriendandshebringsherroommateandthenmysisterandherboyfriend,theircarhasa problem,sotheymustcomewithus,too. Hersmiledidntwaver. Imsosorry,Samantha.Theresnomoreroom! Oh.ThatsOK,Samsaid,shakingherhead. No,itsunforgivable!Iinviteyouandthen!Butyouhavesomethingelseyoucandotonight?You saidyoumightgotomass? Shehadsaidthat,whenhedfirstaskedaboutherplans.AndhehadactedlikegoingtoStPetersmass alonewasthemosthorriblefatethatcouldbefalloneonChristmaseve.Onlynowheseemedtofindit afineidea. Anthony!thedriver,called.Itscold! Itsfine,goahead,Samsaid,shakingherheadagain. DoyouwantIshouldstaywithyou?Wecangotodinner.Hewasnowgenuinelydistraught.Maybe tomorrowIcancatchatrainhome. OnChristmasDay?Dontbesilly.Goahead!Actually,thisworksoutfinebecause I have a friendat thehostelthatdidnthaveplansandIfeltbad.Illgogetherandwelldothemass.Itllbegreat. Reliefwashedoverhisface.Hekissedheronbothcheeks.Sowonderful!IllcomebytheStepsafterI getbackandtakeyoutodinner.Bye,Bellissima!Ciao!BuonNatale! Andhewasgone. 8:00atthechurch 5

Samsatdownonthefountain.Itstartedtosnowthick,cottonballflakesthatleftwetsmearsonher blackleatherjacket.Aftersomeuntoldblankminutes,shelookedatherwatch.8oclock.Christmas eve.Thesquarewasnowdeserted.Allthegoodlittlemiceweretuckedawaybehindlitwindowsand solidlyshutdoors.Allthegood,deservinglittlemice. Shebecameawareofaterriblefeelinginside,likehergutsweremakingtheirwaythroughsomeold fashionedclotheswringer,thekindwherethefabricwasfedbetweentwocylindersandacrankturned thewheels,crushingtheshitoutofthecloth.Itwasanawfulpain.Shehadtimetowonderifshewas gettingsickandthenasobbrokefromherchestandsheknewwhatthepainwastears. Theycamefromherwithsuchforcethatshehadnochoicebuttoreleasethem.Howlonghaditbeen sinceshelastcried?Tenyears?Fifteen?Shedgivenitupyearsago.Nevertheless,tearswrackedher bodyforalongwhile.Andthentheystopped,abruptlyandcompletely. Stupidgit!Hedidntoweyouanything,nooneowesyouanything.Andanyway,sowhat!Itwouldhave beenawkwardanduncomfortable.Youdidntknowanyonethere.Youreluckyitdidntworkout.And hereyouareinRomeforChristmasRome!Andyourebawlinglikeababy.Boohoo,poorme,stuckin theEternalCity! Shewasannoyedwithherself.Shewaslivingherlifesdream,totravelabroad.Sowhatifitwas sometimeshardandshewassometimeslonely?Shewasdoingit,wasntshe?Ifshewasntwillingto facealittlehardship,sheshouldhavestayedbackintheslumsofWashingtonD.C.workingatWalmart. ButIwasgoingtobepartofarealfamilyatChristmas.JustonestupidChristmas.Isthatsomuchto ask? Sheshookherhead,sendingtheselfpityingthoughtfleeing,andstartedwalking.Itwassofreaking cold.Butshewashere.Shewouldmakethebestofit.ShedtakethesubwaytoSt.PetersSquareand lookaroundatthesights,maybespendalittlemoneyonsomehotchocolate.Shewouldnttrytogetin toseethemass.Shedidnthaveitinhertofightthecrowds,andanyway,thosepreciousseats belongedtotruebelievers.Shewasjustalookieloowhenitcametothereligiousthing. Shewasabouttoheadintotheundergroundwhenshenoticedasmallchurchacrossthestreet.It wasntagrandaffair,nocathedral.Itwassmallandsquatanditsstoneswerestaineddark,probably fromalongagofire.Itsupkeepwasneglected,buttherewasaprettylittlesteepleandwarmlight comingfromthewindows.Maybeshedpopinsideandwarmup.MaybetherewouldbeaChristmas choir. Thechurchinsidewaspretty,butmorefromeffortthaninfact.Itsplain,smokedarkenednavehad takenonaspecialgracethisnightwithcandleslitallaroundthealtarandclustersofthemineveryone oftheweatherbeatenwindowframes.Thereweretworowsofpewsoneithersidebutnoonewas there.Sheslippedintothebackrow. Shedidnthavetowaitlong.Thefrontdoorsopenedwithablastofarcticairandamasstroopedinto thefoyer.Theywerechildren,agroupasragtagasthelittlechurchitself.Samcouldseethemthrough 6

theopennavedoors.Theywereseveraldozenofthem,quiet,subduedbythesolemnityofthe occasion.Buttheirfaceswerelitupsomeoftheirfaces.Someofthoseeyeswouldmaybeneverlight upagain.Twonunsinwoolcoatswherewiththem,olderwomeninwhitewimplescluckingaftercoats andmittens. Samfeltherheartsink.Sheknewwhothisgroupofchildrenwereorrather,whattheywere.They reekedofit.Damn. Anabundantlyfatpriestinadarksuitandcollarcameoutfrombehindthealtartogreetthenew arrivals.Heshookhandswitheachofthechildren,wishingthemaBuonNatale.Hehadanopen, pleasantfaceandaboisterousvoice. Samwantedtoleave,butshedidnthaveitinhertopushthroughthegroupinthefoyer.Soshe watchedthechildrenfileuptothefrontrowsandtakeseats.Astheywentpast,alittlegirl,maybesix, lookedoveratSam.Herlongblackhairwasbunchedandpuckeredinawaythatnodoubtdrovethe nunscrazy.Herfacewastoothinandtherewerelargedarkcirclesunderhereyes.Shestared,her handtrailingalongthepewsasshepassed.Shestareduntilitbecomeuncomfortabletoturnherhead anymore.Andonceshehadreachedherspotonapew,sheturnedtostareatSamagain,hereyes barelyclearingthebackofherseat. Doubledamn.ThiswasnotonewhatSamneededinhermentalstaterightnow.Itwasalittletooclose tohome,toodepressing.Shedslipout. Butshedidnt.Assoonasthekidswereseatedaboyschoircameoutinrobesandshehesitated.Then theservicebeganandshestoppedthinkingsomuchaboutgettingaway.Thechoirsangadozensongs inItalian.Thesoundfilledthesmallchurchbeautifully.Ifsheclosedhereyes,itwasalmostunearthly. AfterthechoirthepriesttoldtheChristmasstory.EventhoughSamcouldntunderstandmostofhis words,hewassoanimatedinhisdelivery,andthestorysofamiliar,thatshecouldfollowalong.Hewas verysweet,thispriest,goodwiththekids.Yes,averyniceman. Bynowshewaswarmandamazingly,yesamazingly,happy.Shewasnotsoroadbeatenthatshe couldntappreciatehowspecialthiswas,tobeinalittleItalianchurchonChristmasEve,witnessing suchasimplebutlovelyceremony.Thiswasaveryuniqueexperienceindeed,andmaybeitmadeup fornotgoingtothecountry.Oratleastmadeitnotsobad. TheChristmasstoryendedandoneofthenunsgotthechildrentomakeacircleinfrontofthealtar, holdinghands.Shebeganaprayer. Samstoodup.Ifshecouldjustsneakoutbeforetheserviceended,well,itwouldhavebeenapretty decentChristmasEveafterall.Sheeasedfromthebackpewandheadedforthedoors.Outinthefoyer thepriestandtheothernunwerehavingatenseconversationoverafurryredsuit.Thenunhadasack ofpresentsbrightlywrappedgiftsinaburlapbag.Andthesuittheywereexpectingavisitfrom SantaClaus,or,rather,BabboNatale.Butthereseemedtobesomeholidaylogisticsatissue. Excuseme,Samsaidpolitely,wantingtopass. 7

Buonasera,thepriestbobbed,BuonNataleandMerryChristmas.WelcometoStAlbans. BuonNatale,Samsaid.Andthankyou.Ireallyenjoyedtheservice. Tellme,Miss,thepriestsaid,Weneedanexpertopinion.Thiscoat.Whatdoyouthink? Hedrapedthefurryredjacket,halfhissize,overhischest. WasBabboNatalesupposedtobeskinny?Samshookherheaddefinitively,Thatainthappening. Thereyousee?hesaidtothenunandrattledoffagaininItalian. Thenunresponded,distraughtthewayonlyItalianscanbe.Shepointedtothesackofgiftsandthen towardsthechildren.Sheseemedtobetakingthisverypersonally. Samshandswereonthedoorhandle,readytoheaveho,butshedidnt.Shepaused.Aterribleidea hadenteredherhead.Astupididea.Theywouldntgoforit.Whowasshe?Peoplehadthisthing aboutkidsandstrangers.Notagoodidea.Anyway,whatsittoyou,SamathaEverett?Stupidgit! Movealong! Butthereweretheeyesofthedarkhairedlittlegirl.Therewerethose.Samwantedtokickherself. Shecouldbesuchapatheticsap. Sheturnedaroundandwentbacktothenun.Sheexaminedthegiftsinthesackandpickedalikelyone. Itwassmall,roundandpainfullywrapped,exactlythesizeandweightofabaseball.Thetagsaid Roberto.Thenunandpriestlookedatherquizzically.Samsighedandheldupthegift,showingitto themandallowinghersleevestofallback.Withafluidmotionshewavedlongwhitefingersinfrontof theballanditvanished.Thenungasped.Samlookedaroundattheceiling,thefloor,atthepriests back,thenshepeeredintoadarkcornerinthestoneworkandfrowned.Shewentoverandlookedin, apparentlysawnothingandwalkedback.Thewrappedballrolledouttofollowbehindherbacklikea shypuppy.WhenSamnoticeditandheldoutherhand,itspranguptogreetherpalm.Samputthe ballbackinthesack. Thepriestclappedjoyfully.Butthisismagnificent!Wonderful!Iveneverseensuchathinginmy life! ThenungraspedSamshandalmostpainfully,hereyesburning.Shespokeinanexcitedrush. Shesays,interpretedthepriest,thatthechildrenwouldbesodelighted.Whatawonderful Christmassurprise.Wouldyou,please,passoutthegifts?Iknowitsalottoask,Miss.Andifyouhave someplaceyoumustbe?Thepriestwaitedhopefully. Forthesecondtimethatnight,Samhurtinside.Christ,whatwasupwithherhormones?Ithadtobea fullmoon.Ormaybeitwasaholidayallergicreactionthing.Ormaybeshedjustbeenontheroadtoo damnlong.Sowhatthattheywouldallowhertoperform,whywouldntthey?Shewasapro,wasnt she?Andshehadntevenaskedformoney;theyshouldbesolucky! 8

Sheshrugged.Ihavetime.Shepointedtothesuit.Butthatsadealbreaker. ThenunlookedatthesuitandatSamsgothclothes,thenbackagain.Withahopefulexpressionshe heldoutthehat. Samhadtolaughatthelookonherface,likeshewasofferingapacifiertoarattlesnake,andso earnestly,too.Okay.Icandealwiththehat. Samputthedorky,redandwhite,pompomedthingonherheadwhatthehell;itwasChristmasEve andwentouttoentertainthechildren.