Little Tony

[franceslievens]

"Tonino!" the restaurant owner says, "It's always nice to see you!" Deprived of an Italian accent since he's been living in this country for so long, he still has the genuine flair when he kisses this regular customer on the cheek. Tonino only nods and takes off his cream coloured suit jacket to reveal a purple silky shirt. A golden necklace with a cross hangs across his chest. Several large rings adorn his fingers. He picks up his wineglass, takes a sip, and wearily lets his eyes travel across the faces of his fellow eaters from his viewpoint at the head of the table.
Glass still in his hand he turns to the restaurant owner and breaks the Godfather-illusion. Not a croaking voice coming from deep within his chest, but a soft soprano answers the restaurant owner's query. It fits the fluff on his upper lip and the still water in his wineglass. When Little Tony grows up it will be fitting for him to become a local Godfather. Until then he can play-act with golden chains, big rings and cream coloured suits.

Comments

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

I love this. I feel like I've met him, too - just the German Italian version.

Tonino is a regular at the Cafe Italia on my corner and he always parks his car on the sidewalk in front of it, so everyone can see that it is shiny and new. When he goes inside he is very polite to the older guys, the ones who came from the old country which he only knows from his holidays.

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's his older cousin! I've been to this restaurant a couple of times and always the Italian customers outnumber the Belgian ones, but never are they so genuinely "Italian" like Tonino was. His family (whom I assume he was with) weren't even that overtly Italian and they talked French the whole time they were there. Too funny. But they were going to a party or something afterwards, so that's the reason for Tony's suit. Did I mention the high heeled shoes, btw?

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Oh, heels are compulsory!

Have I mentioned that the boyfriend used to work for an Italian - incidentally, a Toni, too?

Toni has two little boys with a Spanish lady and after his 40th birthday party he finally asked her to marry him which was partly my fault because he wanted to give her a present for his wonderful surprise party and I suggested a ring. We were guests at birthdays, christenings, a first communion party and of course the wedding reception. There were a couple of slightly shady characters and his father looked like Boris Yeltsin with same high blood pressure and similar alcohol consumption.