– Well. Well then, girls, have a great time. And… Oh! Hey, Erika, you know that whatever you need, I'm right here next door, if you want to have lunch, dinner… Anything, don't hesitate to tell me, okay? We trust each other.
– Yes, Puri, don't worry. We've brought everything for these days and just like today, we can eat out – says Erika.
– Ok, but well, I've already told you – says Mrs. Puri. – Whatever you want.
They say goodbye and head to the square. There aren't many people, so the cafeteria is barely full. They sit at a table and order three soft drinks.
– Hey Eri, and friends here, don't you have any? Don't you know anyone? – asks Sandra.
– When I was little, yes, I remember playing with lots of kids around here in the square and on my street, but over time I have lost contact – Erika answers. – Some of them don’t come anymore, I think, and if I see someone I know I try to say hello but they act like they don’t know me.
– What a plan! – says Sandra.
– We grow up and friendships fade away. Each one goes in a different direction – says Erika.
– Except us – says Olivia suddenly. – Even though we have known each other since we were little, we are still here, as if no time had passed.
– True! – exclaims Sandra. – I am very happy to have you.
– And me, girls – says Erika. – If it weren’t for you…
And so they spend another afternoon at the end of summer. When they finish, they decide to take a last walk to see another part of the town and then head home to prepare dinner.
– What do you fancy? – asks Erika.
– We can make the pizzas! – exclaims Olivia. – Leave the kitchen to me, I'll take care of it. I'm going to make you some finger-licking good pizzas.
Immediately afterwards, Olivia puts on her apron and takes out everything she needs to cook.
– I brought everything, look – says Olivia. – When I was in Italy, a friend taught me a recipe that is delicious.
– Well, well, what a mess you're going to make – says Erika. – Then clean up after yourself, okay?
– Oh, Oli, let me help you at least prepare and cut the ingredients while you make the dough – says Sandra. – And that way I'll learn.
– Come on, okay, for today we're going to give Eri a break, she's earned it by bringing us here – says Olivia.
– Whatever you want, but when we have to set the table, tell me, I'll take care of it – says Erika.
– Okay! – Olivia and Sandra respond at the same time.
The preparation of the pizzas is a comical spectacle full of laughter. Sandra does everything Olivia tells her to do. She cuts the tomatoes, the meat, the cheese… Together they make the sauce that will be the base along with the dough. They prepare the oven, put the pizzas in and that’s it! They just have to wait for it to brown and it will be ready to eat. Meanwhile, Erika sets the table.
– Mmm, how delicious the pizza is, Oli! – exclaims Erika.
– Isn’t it? I make them very well. I make them at home when we have pizza for dinner – replies Olivia.
– Hey, you have to make it more often because it’s delicious, Oli – says Sandra. And she gives her friend a kiss on the cheek.
The three friends finish dinner and clear the table. Sandra washes the dishes, Erika cleans the kitchen and Olivia sweeps. There is a knock at the door.
– I’m sure it’s Puri so we can go to his house for a coffee – says Erika. – What do I do? I say yes? Because if she gets upset…
– Yes, come on, if you want us to go, we will. But when we finish packing up – says Olivia.
Erika goes to the door. Indeed, it is Mrs. Puri. She talks to her, they meet, and she closes the door.
– Just as you said, right? – says Sandra.
– Yes – answers Erika. – She says she has sweets and that if we could spend a little time with her to have something to drink. I told her yes, as we agreed, we would clean up a little and go.
– Okay, so the sooner we go, the sooner we will come back – says Olivia. – Let’s see what Puri is like.
They finish and leave the house. Puri lives two houses away. Erika knocks on the door.
– Hello! – says Mrs. Puri. – Come into the living room, girls. Sit at the table. I just made coffee.
The three girls come in and sit down. Sandra slowly observes Mrs. Puri’s living room. It is small, with a round brazier table in the middle. It has many pictures and photographs, imagine they are of her family. You can't hear anyone else inside the house. Does Mrs. Puri live alone?
– Take whatever you want from the box, don't be afraid – says Mrs. Puri. – What do you want to drink?
The three girls look at each other. Erika breaks the ice.
– A decaf with milk for me, Puri – says the girl.
– Very well, and you two? – asks Mrs. Puri.
Sandra doesn't know what to answer. She's not hungry and even less in the mood for anything. She looks at Olivia looking for a way out.
– Don't you know? – says Mrs. Puri. – Don't tell me no, ask for whatever you want! I have regular coffee, decaf, Portuguese…