The Ball. Erik Pethersen

you are right. Go ahead.»

      I lift my hands towards my head, I rest my elbows on my knees and I run my fingers through my hair.

      «I wouldn’t really know... it is like when we talk about a person as a mafioso to refer to someone who goes around with his shirt open and a golden cross dangling on his hairy chest; or addict, to someone who has a dull look and staggers through.»

      «That’s okay but what I mean is... why do you think people understand when one talks about other people using these fanciful nicknames?»

      «Probably because if you think about it they are not so fanciful...»

      «Or else, the two speakers have a similar mentality, so a reference could be good between two people, but not with a third person. Right, Brando?»

      «Sure. I believe there are different situations. For instance, I don’t know, I don’t think that the name Richard the Lionheart was created after a conversation between two people, I think that the whole community felt that way about him.»

      «Probably we are digressing a little too much.»

      «No, no, I take it as an ordinary discussion, Alessandro; if you wish, we could continue it down at the bar, holding a glass of wine so we can get more in tune with the various aspects of the topic.»

      «Very funny, Brando. All in all, do you think that Marisa’s nickname is working out because we both think that the lady is really a... slut?»

      «In my opinion, she is. It’s a fact: that’s why the reference works out.»

      I hear Tamara talking with Domenica and, peeking at my smartphone that displays 5:57pm, I take it that she is saying goodbye to her before leaving the office.

      «Brando, maybe just the two of us think this way.»

      «Certainly, notary, it could be. What do you think?»

      «I think the same as you, Brando. But what is that supposed to mean?»

      «Phew» I snort. «Anyway, the last time Marisa was here, didn’t she forget her horrible pen, the pink one? Well, she even rang the office to make sure to keep it here “because it is mine and next week I will drop in to collect it“?»

      «Yes, Brando. I found it in the deed of sales room. As a matter of fact, if she hadn’t called, I am sure that I would have disposed of it immediately, because you just can’t keep it something like that in your pen holder: I have given it to Tamara, I think it is still there.»

      «Yes, it is still there, you just can’t miss it. Would you like to sit a test, notary?»

      «Maybe there something up with you, Brando. Anyway, let’s give the test a go.»

      «We must wait for a few minutes, I think. Tell me in the meantime, why do you want to miss the French night at the Bistrot?»

      «I don’t want to miss it, really. It is just that it is the fourth edition since the beginning of the year: it’s all nice and funny but then it ends with me sitting at the table on my own because my wife is busy entertaining the clients who come in and out, she must stand behind the counter or look after the cash register.»

      «I see» I say staring at the table. «Talking about your wife: I just got another example.»

      «Excuse me, I am off» Tamara interrupts from the doorstep of the office. «Good evening to everyone.»

      «Excuse me, Tamara» I stop her, «has the slut dropped in to collect her horrible pen?»

      «No, not even today, it must be two months since her last visit here. She probably thinks that it is not so beautiful in the end. Why, can I throw it out?»

      «No, Tamara» the notary answers. «We were talking about it because we did not remember where it had ended up. Hold on to that, she will drop in sooner or later. Have a nice evening.»

      «Bye Tamara.»

      «Goodbye notary. See you, Brando. Enjoy your evening.» She walks off tapping her heels down the corridor.

      «Test is over, don’t you think? Not even a hint of surprise, a stir nor eyebrows raising, no hesitation whatsoever: immediate connection. I also would like to point out that Tamara is a woman, in case you think it is relevant.»

      «Yes, you can’t argue with this reasoning. So, in conclusion, is Marisa seen by everyone as what that word suggests?»

      «I would think so. People won’t be surprised to hear this definition.»

      ⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎

      The notary does not reply.

      He does not reply and stares at the screen.

      «Good» I just say, a little puzzled. «So, we can state that the discussion is over? What were we supposed to discuss after Augusto Pardoli’s two confidential meetings with you, was just a debate regarding how the world perceives that lady who is not so young now, she has an eye-catching appearance, she is a bit common and of easy virtue?»

      The notary is still quiet.

      «If that was it, we could have talked about it immediately, without deferring it so many times: I kept on trying to postpone the conversation because I thought that there was some strange deed to bring up.»

      Still staring at the screen...

      «I meant» trying to batten down the hatches, in fear that I had offended him, «I didn’t do it on purpose, maybe I didn’t explain it properly. I meant to say that the concurrence of all these events which forced us to postpone this discussion, was not that bad after all. We just had to postpone a discussion, albeit rightful and of a certain semantic importance, about something that was not so relevant for our jobs at the office.»

      Nothing: gazing, pursed lips and relaxed face. He was gazing blankly more than staring at something.

      «As a matter of fact, lexical semantics is fascinating; I didn’t know you were into discipline. I have never examined it in depth but if you need me to, just to have someone to discuss the issue with you, I can do some research. I know very well how frustrating it is to find someone you can share your opinions with over something you are passionate about.»

      «Brando, have you finished with your ranting and raving?» the notary bursts out laughing.

      I smile too.

      «Do you think that there are courses on lexical semantics?»

      «Of course, there are similar courses all over the place, especially evening courses» I grin.

      The notary turns serious looking again. «Fine, enough with this nonsense: the trouble that has arisen is that the husband of the slut... Marisa’s husband I meant... wants to reclaim all the donations made to the wife’s name.»

      «That’s where the trouble was. Each donation? Does he want to reclaim everything and leave his wife on the street? Did they fight and want to split up?»

      «Something like that. I’ll sum it up for you: you do remember the shoe shop that the lady had opened» he looks at me and I nod. «Mr Pardoli says that it is rumoured that she has encounters with the customers of the shop there.»

      «Behind the shop window?»

      «No, not behind the shop window» the notary replies sarcastically. «I understood that the encounters are in the fitting rooms.»

      «Excellent! It makes sense. If she doesn’t mind whether it is a woman or a man, I understand why this characteristic was relevant in the recap of the situation.»

      «Indeed» the notary sighs. «I took the liberty to ask if the encounters were arranged outside the shop or inside it: to try and understand if it was a fee-paying business or something like that. However, Augusto told me that according to what he heard about his wife, she literally jumps on the customers: almost on anyone, man or woman, especially if they are young.»

      «I see»