The door buzzed and Davide went to look through the peephole he'd recently installed. No one was there so he opened the door slightly and looked down, it was a package. It was from the gardening book's website. Davide placed the package on the kitchen table and proceeded to open it. He took out the large gardening book. Sigmund joined him.
Davide opened the book and saw that on each page were beautiful color pictures of garden vegetables. Planting and harvesting information were also available for each plant. Growing seasons were given.
Even Sigmund seemed impressed, except for the tomatoes he and Davide had grown, he had never seen vegetables in the field. Davide listened to Sigmund's comments, but the pictures of the sunshine glued his eyes to the page.
The day went by without notice until the dimming light announced the arrival of evening. Davide, now alone as Sigmund did chores, closed the book and quickly dressed, he yelled to Sigmund that he was going out. He hurried downstairs to buy his fruit and head for the wall of the complex. He arrived in plenty of time to watch the onset of dusk.
He looked up the curve of the wall to where he first saw Sofia, but no one was there. He was disappointed but soon became engrossed in the last display of the setting sun.
It wasn't until he could count the stars on both hands that he got up to go home.
Each morning and evening when he went to the complex’s edge, he glanced down the curve of the wall and saw no one. It was the fourth day and she hadn't shown up again. Oh well, he told himself, it had been a chance meeting, to begin with so he shouldn't expect anything more.
One morning after his vigil, Davide stopped to do some shopping. After shopping he was almost back to his tower when he heard a voice behind him, he turned and there was Sofia with a large carry-all slung over her shoulder. “Ah, Sofia,” he said. “I haven't seen you for a few days.”
“Hi Davide,” she said. “I know I've been busy at home.”
“Sure, I understand.”
“Is this your building?”
“Yes, it is,” said Davide trying to think of something else to say. “Sofia I was wondering if you would like to come up and see the collection of gardening books I have.”
“Books, you mean paper books? No one has those anymore.”
“Well, I have a couple.”
“Oh,” she said. Sofia wasn’t worried about Davide, she could handle herself well enough in such circumstances, but she was in a hurry, still, she was intrigued by the fact he bought gardening books. “I guess I have a few minutes, maybe I could use your bathroom while I'm there?”
“Sure,” said Davide.
They were both quiet on the short elevator ride to Davide's floor.
“Here we are,” said Davide as they entered his apartment. “It's just two rooms, not much really.”
“No, it's nice.”
“Well, here is the living room as you can see, and over there is the bedroom.” Sofia quickly looked around and walked over to the bedroom door, glancing inside, she saw Sigmund.
“Hello,” she said.
Sigmund responded. Davide then introduced Sofia to Sigmund and Sigmund excused himself to work in the kitchen area.
“Oh, look,” she said. “Those are the books you told me about on the bookshelf.”
“Yes, not much of a library I'm afraid. But do have a look, and there is the bathroom also.”
“Thank you. I'll just be a moment,” she said as she closed the bedroom door.
Davide sat at his kitchen table waiting. Sigmund asked Davide if Sofia would be staying and should he fix something to eat. Davide said he didn't know. Sigmund was put off.
“Davide,” he said. “I simply must know these things ahead of time so that I may properly prepare for your guests.”
Davide tried to explain that this wasn't a planned visit, and he didn't think Sofia would stay long enough to eat. This seemed to mollify Sigmund as he went back to his chores.
Sofia exited the bedroom and asked, “Have you ever gardened?”
“With my grandmother,” Davide said, not wishing to discuss recent events.
“We could use a gardener.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I guess it might be best to show you, you want to see?”
“I guess so.”
“Sigmund,” he said. “It looks like I will be going out for some time.”
Sigmund watched them leave the apartment; he never approved of such abruptness.
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