“Nonna” by Spottystuff

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You’re listening to The Voice of Dog.

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I’m Khaki, your faithful fireside companion,

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and Today’s story is

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“Nonna” by Spottystuff,

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For more stories about spotted dogs, keep an eye on his sofurry page,

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which is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure Colon Forward Slash Forward Slash Double V Double V Double V Dot Spottystuff

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dot sofurry dot com or find him

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at Spottystuff on twitter

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“Nonna”

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by Spottystuff My Nonna,

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our family’s de facto matriarch, spends most of her days in her little kitchen.

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She’s just old school like that.

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I’ve tried to get her to sit down more, and take it slower, but she blankly refuses.

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She’ll let me help sometimes, but she’ll never ask for it.

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That’s just part of who she is, I guess.

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An old, stubborn, traditional dalmatian and I am very fond of her.

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“Lavatti le mani, Nicky,”

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She calls over her shoulder

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as I enter the kitchen.

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“Your uncle Dario wanted some chicken spears and bits for the barbecue.”

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She sighs and shakes her head.

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“Sometimes, I wonder what happened to my little boy.

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Barbecue, by god, whatever was the matter with real food?”

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As I take in the rich scents of her cooking,

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I’m inclined to agree.

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A large, cast iron pot, filled with her famous ragù alla Dalmatia,

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is taking up most of the space on her ancient stove.

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Several different types of bread lie on the kitchen counter,

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waiting for their turn in the oven.

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The heady mix of smells takes me back to all the times we’ve spent in the kitchen together in the past.

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She’s taught me everything I know about cooking,

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and I’ve used that skill for all it’s worth on my dates.

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Uncle Daz is far easier to please than any of them, however, so I wash my paws and start chopping up chicken fillets. “Nonna, did I ever introduce you to my friend Reece?”

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I ask, “He’s coming today.

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His family is from Dalmatia too, so I figured

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perhaps you’d heard about him before?”

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“Reece… Reece?” she ponders out loud.

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“Does this Reece have a last name?”

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“Oh, I don’t recall, come to think of it.

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It’s either Thomason or Thomson or perhaps it was just Thomas?

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I can’t recall off the top of my head.”

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Nonna smiles to herself.

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“I believe it stems from the Tomasi family, a prominent name back in the day.”

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“Anyways, I figured I’d make sure to introduce you to him if I hadn’t.

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He’s a good friend of mine.”

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“Wonderful,” She says,

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her tail wagging slowly like a pendulum,

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in that way old dogs’ tails tend to do over the slightest joy.

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“I’ve never had contact with that branch.

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They all moved out of the old country before my time, and I’ve been curious what became of them.”

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“He’s just moved here from America,

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so I guess he would know,”

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I reply, as I try to sneak one of the sizzling morsels from the pan, but quick as lightning, she smacks my wrist.

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“I hope he can tell me about his family,

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I’m ever so curious.”

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She continues stirring the pot as if nothing happened.

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“Did he bring someone with him from America?

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Oh, maybe he came with one of the Illiaretti girls?

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I heard from their father that they’re both studying overseas.”

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“No, not quite,” I say, rubbing the back of my paw.

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“I… don’t think he’s bringing someone you know.”

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“Oh,” She says, her smile stiffening a bit.

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She knows all the dalmatians on the east coast, and probably further west too.

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I don’t want to reveal too much, it’s best if Reece explains that part.

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“Well, I can’t wait to meet this Reece,”

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She concludes. “I’m sure he can tell me a lot about the other emigrant families in America.”

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I’m this close to reiterate the old comment. The one that goes “Nonna,

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I’m sure it’s only you and your baccarat club left on the planet who still care about that heritage and bloodline stuff.

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It’s Australia in the twenty-first century.

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We don’t do arranged marriages any more.

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We’re cool about a lot of things, from mixing to same sex stuff, to cross species stuff. It’s all good.”

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Suddenly, my uncle cries out from the back yard, and I’m given a deus ex barbecue conversation before I can stick my foot in it.

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He’s usually clumsy when it comes to flammables,

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but when I reach the veranda door, I see no carnage.

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But I can hear the snarl of a car engine coming up the street,

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a sharper note than my cousin Gabe’s old muscle car,

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and very much out of place in this suburb.

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It’s an expensive sounding car.

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“Four point eight.”

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Daz calls out in an excited tone,

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tail batting as he turns to me with a grin.

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“Electronic injection with a flat-plane-crank,

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quad cam, and a sports exhaust. Dalmatia at her finest.

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Listen to that purr,

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that’s the sound of real class.

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It’s more than just an engine, mate, I’m tellin’ ya, it’s a fuckin’ masterpiece.

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I’d give a left nut to own a car like that.”

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“You’ve watched too much Top Gear, Daz.”

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I roll my eyes at him.

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He already knows who I’ve invited, who his boyfriend is, and what kind of fancy car they own, and of course he’s going to want to talk about it.

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Better leave that talk to the experts I guess.

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I swing by the esky to grab a beer for him, and a few for our guests, too, to dampen the blow of my uncle’s company.

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“In the backyard, just through the gate,”

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I bark across the fence

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as soon as I hear the car doors close.

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“Just give it a kick, she’ll be right.”

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“Paulo might be a wolf on the outside,”

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Daz suddenly says,

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leaning over with a big smirk shaping up on his muzzle,

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“But he’s more patriotic than some of us.

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Not only does he drive a car from Dalmatia, but he rides a dalmatian too. Now,

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that’s dedication, mate.” “Strewth,

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Daz, do you have to?”

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I groan. “Try to act decent, at least.”

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“Relax, Nicky,” He grins and flips a burger absently.

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“They’re guys. Guys talk shit all the time.”

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Just then, a white wolf comes through the gate.

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Behind him, a short dalmatian with a wide smile.

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His spots are more densely clustered around his ears than mine,

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and they’re black where all ours are brown.

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He stands out against the crowd, almost as much as his husband.

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He perks up when he sees me, and I wave them both over.

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Paul, the wolf, stops to accept my beer,

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and gives me a quick hug.

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Without thinking, though, I touch my muzzle to Reece’s.

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He responds immediately,

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bringing his muzzle to my left side, right,

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then left again. “Nonna will go crazy for ya, mate,”

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I tell him with a smile.

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“Welcome, and happy Kings’ Day.”

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I guide them into the large back yard, and begin introducing them to the crowd.

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“That’s uncle Daz and his pups, Colin and Catlyn, over by the barbecue.

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Over there, that’s

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Nonna’s cousin, Dio, and his wife Irina, and that’s my cousin Gabriel along with… Cindy, I think…

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or perhaps she was the last one.

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In which case this is Rose…

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actually, never mind.

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Everybody, say hello to Reece and Paul.”

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I wave at the group of dalmatians, who quickly gather around the tall wolf.

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Paul is a genuine racing car driver.

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An actual, V8 supercar series starter,

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a local hero. His racing car has a little pride flag on it and everything.

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To top it all off, he also happens to be a really nice guy, too.

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He’s got this wide, amiable smile which is awfully contagious, and I can tell from the deep blue eyes behind his designer sunglasses,

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that he’s genuine. I was initially worried,

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throwing this rich boy headfirst into an outer suburb party,

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but he doesn’t stand out so much as I’d first anticipated, even physically.

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Sure, he’s a head taller than all of us,

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but he’s taken extra special care of his fur, and cropped it very close.

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He’s not wearing any striped clothes, in recognition of his company,

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and the black polo t-shirt with his team logo on it

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is a nice compliment to his black and white boyfriend.

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Among all of us, he almost looks like another dalmatian, but without the spots,

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considerably overgrown

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and pointy eared.

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Reece seems to be struggling out here, however.

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He’s not grown accustomed to the sun and heat yet.

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I want to help him out, but I have to stick around for a short while,

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just to make sure Paul can withstand my family.

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“Welcome back to ‘Straya, mate,”

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Gabe calls out, and slaps Paul on the shoulder.

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“I’m Gabe, nice to meet you.”

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“Cheers, Gabe,” Paul responds, and shakes his paw. “I don’t suppose it’s your Statesman parked next to Nicky’s car?”

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“Yeah, she’s mine, alright.”

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Gabe says, slapping his chest proudly.

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“Four-fifty kilowatts through the rears, kicks like a beast.

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Almost as quick as your company car, eh?”

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“My company car doesn’t leak like yours.”

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Paul punches Gabe’s shoulder,

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as if they’ve been friends for years already.

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“Well, not on most occasions at least.

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We don’t talk about the Adelaide incident in our household.”

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“Nah, that was just some horsepower escaping onto the track.”

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Gabe snorts and winks at him,

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slapping Paul’s shoulder again.

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“Along with some rods and pistons.

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Shame about that,

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better luck next year.”

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“You should down a piece of cardboard or something, Gabe.”

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I intervene, exasperated.

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“It’s Nonna’s driveway, you’re going to get spots on

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it.” “Eeh, you and your spots.”

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Gabe laughs, nudging Paul with his elbow.

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“What’s another spot on this property, eh?”

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I can’t be bothered to argue with him,

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I’ll let him face the music when Nonna finds out.

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I’m relieved to see that Paul can hold his own around the guys.

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I have to remind myself that, despite his soft, city accent and

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nice clothes, he does belong here, out in the suburbs.

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For a minor celebrity, who spent most of his adult life in America,

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he’s very down to earth and friendly,

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and deals well with the embarrassing fanboying my otherwise cynical cousin displays.

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The slightly ragged property, the smoking barbecue,

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and the loud company doesn’t bother him either.

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“Paul, I’m gonna borrow Reece for a bit, okay?”

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I say, when there’s a lull in the conversation.

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Reece has been pushed slightly to the back of the crowd,

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with Paul absorbing all the attention.

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I guess he’s used to it,

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but I still feel I should

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help out somehow.

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“Sure thing,” He says offhandedly,

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squeezing his husband close, right there in front of all the guys,

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before handing him over to me.

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Nobody mentions anything, or even exchange looks.

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It’s not what I’d have expected,

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but I try not to think too much about it for now.

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“Let’s get out of the sun for a bit, okay?”

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I tell Reece, as I pull him towards the house.

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I show him around inside the little house I share with Nonna,

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but I can tell that the scents from the kitchen are distracting him.

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“Nonna, I brought you some company!”

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I call through the house,

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after I’ve shown Reece what little there is to see.

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“Is it Reece?” comes the response from the kitchen.

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Nonna emerges, wearing the old, tomato-spattered, white apron with the red and green stitching that I made her in arts and crafts class when I was little.

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“Ah, yes!” She exclaims. “Look at that!

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Black spots, and everything,

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you are the real deal, as they say.” “I,

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eh, Hi. My name is Reece

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Thomson, pleased to…” “I know, I know who you are, Nicky told me,” Nonna interrupts, brushing his outstretched paw aside as she pulls him down for a traditional Dalmatian greeting.

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Reece seems slightly stunned,

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but credit where it’s due,

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he adjusts quickly.

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Nonna smiles, clutching his upper arm possessively,

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and pulls him into the kitchen.

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She guides him to a kitchen chair, and is halfway through pouring him a glass of the good table wine

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before I can intervene.

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“Nonna, it’s early for wine, isn’t it?

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Maybe we should wait.”

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“I’m old enough to make my own rules, Nicky,

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sit down and join us.”

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She gestures at a chair, which I take wordlessly.

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“Reece, dear, have a glass.

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You look like you need it.”

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“Thank you… eh, apologies,

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I didn’t get your name.

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name.” “Oh, pardon, dear, It’s Donna Francesca di Laverda.”

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Reece’s eyebrows inclines for half a second, but he nods

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and sips his wine politely.

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“It’s a wonderful home you’ve got here, Francesca.

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I like the back yard especially.

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Lots of room!” She laughs and swirls her glass with a shaky, old paw,

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both frail and confident at the same time.

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“You’re kind, but this humble cottage is nothing to write home about.

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I used to live in a palazzo, you know.

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Ours were among the last of the noble families to leave before the revolution.”

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“You don’t say!” Reece exclaims.

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“I remember hearing about the emigration in family gatherings.

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You were actually there?

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When the… uh… history was made.”

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His ears flick quickly

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as he stops himself.

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“That’s one way to put it,”

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She says, maintaining her smile,

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“We came to Australia after that, and we found a good life here,

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where Nicky’s grandfather and I could raise our pups in peace.

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That’s the history I am most proud of.”

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“I seem to recall my grandfather talking about the revolution,”

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Reece says with a more apologetic tone.

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“I think his uncle remained behind to fight.”

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“Such a bloody business that.”

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Nonna said, “but it seems to be going well for Dalmatia these days.

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Perhaps one day we might be able to visit.”

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As Reece delves into his family tree, or what little he claims to know of it,

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she smiles with delight,

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and her eyes take on a dreamlike quality.

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Every now and then, she points out personal details which she remembers about the various names

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Reece mentions. I get up and stir the pots and pans on the stove, as Nonna seems to have forgotten about them.

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My friend and my grandmother talk for a long time about their heritage.

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Reece is surprisingly knowledgeable,

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which I wasn’t expecting,

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because he’s never mentioned squat to me.

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As I listen to their talk, I drift away into my own little world,

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stirring the pot and focusing on the scents of rosemary,

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bay leaves while their talk fill the blank spaces around it. “So,

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are you married, then?”

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The question snaps me out of my daydream, and I choke on the spoonful I’d snuck from the pot while Nonna wasn’t looking.

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I can feel my tail stop swaying,

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and my ears perk, as I focus intently on the conversation behind me.

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“Yes, actually, my husband is Paul Courage,

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you know. The…” “The racing driver?”

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“Yes. He’s…” “The white wolf,

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isn’t that right, Nicky?”

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She asks me. “The one from the television, a few days back, remember. With the pretty little rainbow on his car?”

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“T-that sounds about right,”

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I say, stumbling out of the gate. “He drives

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for Sinclair, black and blue,

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car number 8 with the… pride flag, yes.” “Nicky’s uncle Dario usually comes over for sunday dinner, and they watch the races whenever he’s on,”

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She explains to Reece,

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as she sips her wine with a knowing smile.

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“I sometimes look in every now and then.

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I’m not so old and blind that I don’t recognize a handsome gentleman when I see one.”

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She continues in the same pleasant tone, and I manage to choke out a sigh of relief.

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“You know, back in the old country, I once attended a party with the world champion Grand Prix driver at the time.

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He was only known

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as Il Dalmata Volante.

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He was ever so charming.

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I was just a young girl, don’t you know?

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I didn’t know what to do with myself when he came over.

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He was so handsome and clever.

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He even danced with me that night.

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Oh, I must have been the happiest girl in the kingdom.”

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“Speaking of, Paul put on a documentary about him last week,”

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Reece recounts with a smirk.

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“He thought it’d inspire me to get more into the history stuff, but when I pointed out how charming and handsome the other dalmatian was,

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then suddenly he decided I didn’t need that kind of inspiration.

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I had to cook him his favourite dish before he’d even talk to me, can you imagine?

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Racing drivers, am I right?”

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“Very true.” She says, and laughs heartily.

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“They are a strange breed, indeed.

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Very passionate.” Reece glances over to me,

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just subtly enough that it goes unnoticed by Nonna.

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He smiles. Things are going well,

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better than I could have hoped for.

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As the conversation ambles on, I tune out again.

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I wonder what it’s like to just

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come out with something like that, as if Paul and Reece’s relationship is just completely normal.

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Perhaps I’m the only one who thinks it’s a big deal, after all? “I hear

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you boys are allowed to raise pups these days,”

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She says suddenly.

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The comment thankfully isn’t meant to include me, but my heart hasn’t caught onto that fact yet, and is rattling away like a metronome.

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“Wasn’t that what the news man said, Nicky?”

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She asks me. “You must pardon me, Reece.

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Nobody tells me these things, you know.”

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“I, eh, yeah, I think so.”

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I stammer, caught off guard by the sudden turn in the conversation.

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“It’s just paperwork these days.

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It’s probably very bureaucratic, but it’s definitely possible.”

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“More straight forward than you’d think, Nicky dear,” Reece

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says, with a knowing wink directed at me, which

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I feel is just bordering on the edge of teasing.

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“With the right paperwork, Paul and I could be parents, yes.”

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“That’s wonderful,”

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Nonna says. “You know, Reece.

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Nicky’s uncle John had a pup last year, but they fell on hard times and had to offer him up for adoption.

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It was very sad for him,

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but I believed it was for the best of the little one.

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I travelled out to meet his new parents.

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A very charming couple of wolves who wanted a cub, but couldn’t have one.

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I made them promise to teach their new ‘cub’ about his heritage.”

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Nonna looks out into the middle distance.

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A sting of pride layers her voice.

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“I’ve always had the highest regard for our brothers and sisters, the wolves, Reece.

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They will treat you right.

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Strong pack instinct,

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even these days, if that’s okay to say.

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Oh, dearie me.” “No, no, it’s okay,”

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Reece says. “He’d love you just for noticing,

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He takes that stuff very seriously, and he’s not shy about it, either.

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Thank you, Franchesca.”

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“Call me Nonna, dearie.” “You never told me this!”

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I exclaim. “I thought Jonno was just…

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you know… unable to have pups…”

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“Oh, did he not tell you?”

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Nonna asked. “I was going to tell you when you got pups for yourself.”

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“Ah, yeah. When I

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get pups,” I hesitate,

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but the words escape my muzzle anyways.

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I don’t think she hears them.

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“Paul and I are planning to get cubs, or pups, of our own one day.”

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Reece says, diverging the conversation before it can go somewhere I don’t want it to go.

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“But I don’t think, with Paul’s career and everything, that that’s going to happen soon.

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He’s such a busy bee, and pups take a lot of time.”

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“Very true,” She says, nodding sagely.

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“My father never had time for me.

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I sometimes wished I had another one, like yours will have.

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Lucky little devils, they’ll be,”

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She giggles, as if she was eighty years younger.

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“If you want a Nonna,

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you know where I live, but be quick about it.

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Not many Nonnas live as long as I do.”

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“That’s very kind, Francesca,”

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Reece smiles. “I might just take you up on that.”

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“Nonna?” I ask when there is an opening in the conversation.

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“I think the food is just about ready.

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We should join the others, don’t you think?

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It sounds like there’s quite a few out there.”

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“Oh, go on you two, I’ll come out in a bit.”

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She said, still swirling her nearly empty wine glass absently,

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still staring out into the middle distance with shimmering eyes.

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In the garden, I notice several familiar patterns as we carry out the pots and trays.

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My uncle Jonno and his wife Natalia,

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Ivana and Claude from the baccarat club

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and cousin Gabe’s father, Uncle Enzo.

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A smattering of spotted and mixed pups

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playing around on the dry, brown grass.

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Most of them, I couldn’t have named,

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but the noise and laughter,

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and the background hum of good conversation,

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is making the entire setting feel safe and familiar.

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But I’m still thankful that Reece is here with me.

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We set the table with all the food Nonna made, as well as the various barbecue items, stacking them begrudgingly next to the ragù,

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loaves of bread, and pot of homemade tortellini,

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The guests soon turn their attention to the food.

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I’ve got some things I need to talk about, so I take Reece with me,

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and we sit down in one corner of the garden, in the shade of a parasol

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on two old plastic chairs.

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“Well, that went better than expected,”

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Reece says and takes a swig from his bottle of beer.

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“From what you told me, I thought I had to worry about some old conservative lady.

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But you saw how she reacted.”

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“It was a nice surprise.”

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I say, “Honestly, I’ve not seen her so genuinely happy.

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I think it helped that you had the old family name, to cushion the blow.”

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“I don’t think that mattered so much really.

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I think if you’d have told her before this,

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she’d taken just as nice.

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Sounds like she’s fond of you, Nicky.

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Perhaps you should just

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talk about this with her?”

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“I guess, but I wanted to make extra sure, you know.”

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I say, twiddling my thumbs uncertainly.

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“I don’t see why you needed us there.

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That’s not to say I don’t mind coming along all the same,

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I mean damn… a chance of some traditional cooking?

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Try to keep me away. I only dread the workout routine the wolf is going to drag me into after this.”

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Reece gives me a guilty smile

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and scratches the back of his head.

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“Speaking of, he should be just about done by

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now. Paul, dear. Over here!”

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Paul turns to us and breaks free from the little fanbase around him,

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laughing and slapping shoulders

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as if it was going out of fashion.

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He’s carrying a paper plate filled with ragù,

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as well as wearing some it around his muzzle. “How did

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it go with the other guys?”

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Reece asks him, peerring at the crowd behind Paul’s shoulder.

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“Gave them the full media treatment, did we?”

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“Nah, that wasn’t even necessary,”

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He reports. “Not a bad word said of either of us, or him, or anyone else we know to be out.

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I managed to get them to talk about some gay guys on the TV.

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Your family is not half as bad as you lead me to expect, Nicky.

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If it wasn’t for this food…”

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“Yes, I’ve already pointed that out,”

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Reece interrupts him, sticking his tongue out.

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“I think the food makes up for it, don’t you?”

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Paul nods and pulls up a chair next to Reece,

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putting a paw across his husband’s shoulder.

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Reece wipes his mouth clean like a fussing mother,

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and earns himself a lick on his muzzle for his trouble.

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I can’t help but feeling a sting of longing when I see what they share together.

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I know I could have it.

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I feel sure of it.

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I regret not having any done this before.

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“Some of them joke around a bit, but that’s normal,”

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Paul mumbles from behind a mouthful,

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and takes a swig from his beer.

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“None of it’s hateful, really.

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It’s kind of childish, sure, but that kind of joking usually stops pretty easily if you just

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talk to them. And they like you, Nicky,

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so I don’t think that’ll be a problem.

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We talked about you a bit,

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none of them had anything bad to say.

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I don’t think they’ll give you a hard time.

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They were practically falling over themselves to explain how understanding and open they were towards my situation,

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and I believe that’ll extend to you, too.”

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“I still think this was a round-about way of doing it.”

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Reece says. “I know we’re all different, and work at our own pace. But, I mean,

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you could have just brought it up whenever you saw some gay dude on the TV, right?

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Your Nonna watches those gardening shows on Nine, doesn’t she?

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He’s gay, you know, and that news reader on daytime, too?”

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“I know, I know,” I say, scratching my head embarrassedly.

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“I always thought she worried too much about all that bloodline stuff.

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I thought she worried too much about me finding some girl to have pups with.

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I didn’t know what she cared more about.

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But now I know. It might seem convoluted having you guys test the water for me.

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But I’m glad we did it this way.

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You helped me see things I probably wouldn’t have seen if I was on my own.”

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“Hey, anything for a friend, right?”

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Reece says, patting my shoulder.

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“I’m sure you can cook us dinner one day, to make it up.

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So, when do you think you’ll be coming out then?”

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“I have to think about that for a second,”

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I deflect. I’d not made any contingency plans for a situation that didn’t end with a shouting argument or a fight.

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But there’s no getting around it,

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my family are not exactly who I thought they were.

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I can’t give him an answer right there,

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so I don’t. I get up, gesture

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for them to wait for me,

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and then head into the kitchen

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to find Nonna.This was “Nonna”

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by Spottystuff,

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read for you by Khaki, your faithful fireside companion.

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You can find more stories on the web at thevoice.

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thevoice.dog, or find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

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Thank you for listening

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to The Voice of Dog