Page 24 of Ciao Bella
With breakfast done, they loaded up and found a place closer to the city to park and walk. Passing beneath the Arco di Tito, they walked along Via Sacra, Rome’s ancient central avenue. The stones, hundreds of years old, were mesmerizing. They walked beneath the Arch of Constantine and then made their way inside the Colosseum.
“It’s unbelievable,” whispered Ella. “Can you imagine being sent out to fight? Cheering crowds praying for your death, not your life.”
“Sometimes they cheered for the gladiators,” said Faith. “They were seen as heroes. They were like professional athletes today who have followers and fans. The gladiators did as well. Only they had to face other, sometimes more violent gladiators, lions, tigers, rhinos, all sorts of strange beasts they’d never seen before.”
“We’ve actually learned a great deal from them about fighting and warfare,” said Ian. “We’re all taught pieces of this history while in training.”
“I feel as though I can hear them,” said Dex. “It’s like the echoes of their screams are still here.”
“Are we hearing ghosts?” whispered Lauren, looking around the space.
“Fuck, I hope not,” said Nine. “That’s the last thing I want is a thousand dead gladiators haunting my vacation.”
They could have spent hours walking through the ruins but left the Colosseum and walked to the Basilica di San Clemente. Built in the 300s over a pagan temple and Roman house, it was decorated with magnificent frescoes and mosaics.
“I just can’t imagine how long it must have taken to build this,” said Grace. “Think of the detail on the mosaics. It’s just mind-boggling.”
“They definitely don’t do things like this anymore,” nodded Ghost. With more than enough choices for restaurants, they ended up choosing three separate restaurants lined up in a row. They asked for outdoor seating, ensuring they were all close to one another.
While Tailor and Alec ordered one of everything off the menus, the girls were planning their shopping route.
“There are a few shops right across the street,” said Sara. “I want to pick up a few things for the kids.”
“Me too,” said Lena. “We’ll be right back.”
While the men waited for the food to be delivered, most of the girls walked across the street. When a group of young men began making wolf-whistles and cat-calls, blowing kisses at the women, the men all turned, frowning.
“Stand down, big boy,” grinned Taylor. “It’s very common for Italian men to speak to women that way.”
“Well, I don’t like it,” frowned Tailor, standing and walking toward the other side of the street.
“Bella! Bella, wait!” called one of the young men. “Come with me!”
“You wanna repeat that, little man?” growled Tailor. The young man turned, staring up, horrified at the dark figure over him.
“Scusé,” said the young man, stepping back. “I meant nothing by it. They are beautiful women. We were just complimenting them.”
“Well, don’t,” growled Tailor. “They’re all married.”
The young men nodded, walking away as Lena stood with her arms folded, staring up at her husband.
“You’re welcome,” he grinned.
“Tailor! Those young men were doing nothing except complimenting us. Yes, it’s different than back home, and we would see it as disrespectful. They do not. It’s normal here.”
“Well, I don’t like it,” he said emphatically.
“Honey, you’re going to have to get used to it,” said Erin. “Haven’t you noticed all the men turn and stare, smile, blow kisses? They mean nothing by it. It’s harmless.”
Tailor just stared at the women as they walked into the shop. The man behind the counter whistled, saying ‘bella’ over and over again. Tailor could only growl beneath his breath, watching his wife and the other women laugh and enjoy the attention.
He walked back across the street and took his seat, frowning at the other men.
“Thanks for taking care of that,” said Ian.
“I didn’t take care of shit,” he muttered. “They yelled at me. The girls! They yelled at me. They said it was flattering, that those kids meant nothing by it.”
“I do not like it,” said Trak.