Page 1 of Ribbons and Roses
prologue - salvatore
december 2002
The crooningnotes of “A Holly Jolly Christmas” echo in the halls. Stefania’s turned the volume all the way up without caringwhat the neighbors might say. She gulps down another mouthful from her wine glass and sways along to the jolly music.
The Christmas lights and decorations make her happy.
She’s in unusually high spirits this time of year.
Never mind that she spills wine on the floororthat she stumbles into one of the Christmas trees lined up in the entrance hall and smashes a bauble. It shatters on the floor and she simply staggers away like it never happened. A staff member rushes in seconds later to clean up the mess.
I grit my teeth and stare at the page of math equations I have for homework. Even with headphones on, I can still hear the racket. I can still see Stefania as she stumbles into the kitchen and then starts toward me.
I should’ve been done already. The page shouldn’t be half blank. The assignment’s due tomorrow and it’s already nine o’clock.
But it’s a little hard to concentrate when I’m in a zoo instead of a normal household.
“Hey!” she shrieks. “Salvi! There you are! Come… hic… celebrate with me, sweetheart!”
My scowl deepens, and I shift on the kitchen stool to face away from her.
She doesn’t take the hint. She simply wanders around the kitchen island ’til she’s on the other side and there’s nowhere else to turn.
“C’monnn,” she slurs. Her face is flushed bright red, clashing horribly with her lipstick. She leans closer, thrusting the wine glass toward me. “Have a little sip, Salvi. You’ll like it.”
“Stop it!” I snap. “I’m trying to do my homework.”
“Try it. Just a drop.”
“Ma, I’mtwelve.”
“So… hic… what? My mother gave me a little sip here and there when I was your age. Try… try it!”
As she shoves the wine glass in my face to force me to have a taste, I push back and dodge her. The result is a messy back-and-forth where she’s leaning toward me and I’m fighting to escape her. My hand bumps into the wine glass and her grip’s loose enough that it slips right out of her grasp.
The glass shards scatter while the wine splashes onto our clothes.
“Ma!” I shout, my temper raising my voice. “See what you’ve done? You’ve ruined my homework!”
“So… so what?” she snorts, rolling her eyes. “It’s just a sheet of paper, my god. You’re… hic… such a… a sourpuss. Just like your father.”
She staggers away, headed for the pantry where she can wrestle another wine bottle open and drink herself belligerent.
I shake my head, my skin hot from anger and irritation. Crumpling up the sheet of homework, I toss it in the trash and start collecting my things.
It’ll be a zero on the assignment, but it doesn’t even matter anymore.
It’s not like anybody cares. Why should I?
“TURN THAT SHIT OFF!” comes a roar from down the hall.
Lucius has finally emerged from his office. He made it clear earlier he was going to be taking a very important phone call and expected nobody to disturb him.
My pulse picks up speed.
I quickly hoist my backpack over my shoulder and go out the other doorway that leads into the den. I can make my way upstairs once he’s gone into the kitchen and the coast is clear.
“You stupid lush!” his voice echoes. “Look at you. Don’t you get tired of being so disgusting and sloppy?”