This is the recounting and the diary of my life - Marino Mattei

22.

A few weeks after I mailed the documents to Remo [see part 19] I received his response. He told me that the papers had been accepted and, without a doubt, within the year I would be leaving for America.

I don't know what made Libia [his sister-in-law; see part 19] think of this but, in the meantime, she decided to buy a calf from good stock in order to yield a cow. I was still working in Coreglia and I tried to tell her that this idea of hers was a mistake. She insisted but I told her I would soon be departing and I intended to sell the cow that we already owned, let alone begin raising a new one. However, Libia was unconvinced and she came to Gromignana to talk with Marta [our home was in Gromignana]. It turned into a terrible day. We fought over this matter but, in the end, there was nothing to do. Libia left for Emilia [actually Emilia Romagna - an area close by Coreglia and known for its wines and culinary products (Click here for a map.)] with Magri [a gentleman from Coreglia who ran a delivery/taxi service] and the butcher from Corgelia where they bought this now famous calf. The calf was purchased for a good deal of money but after 7 months we had left for America. We kept and tended it throughout that time and, upon our departure, it was sold for the same price at which it was bought. As such, we raised the calf for 7 months and got nothing in return for our time and expenses.

I was now very confident that I would soon be leaving. My greatest concern was what to do about Marta and Maurizio. Marta followed Libia's orders and my suggestions were completely ignored. Leaving her in Gromignana was out of the question so I decided to talk to the officials at the department of embarkation and see if it was possible to book passage as a family rather than an individual. They stated that it was actually easier to have it arranged in that manner. When I went back home I told Marta the news. She was very happy to hear this and, as a result, we decided to depart for America together.

The time came to go to Genova for our physical examination. Libia was convinced that Marta would not pass due to Dr. Marchetti having diagnosed her with a lung ailment. [Dr. Marchetti was the village physician. I know nothing of the "lung ailment" mentioned here.] We left for our examination. I recall that it was on a Sunday. Don Dellosso [the priest of Gromignana] took us to the train station in Ghivizzano and Rossana [Libia's daughter - see part 20] met us in Lucca. She came along with us to Genova. By evening, we had arrived in the city. I can't recall where we ate and slept. Early in the morning we went to our appointment and we passed the examinations without difficulty.

At around 4:00 in the afternoon, having completed everything, we took the first train to Alba, or rather Asti [the final destination was Alba in Piemonte - Northern Italy]. Rossana called Libia while we were waiting for the train to let her know she was with us because Libia was unaware of this. Rossana also told her we had passed the examination and had been accepted. Libia - who, as I've said, was still hoping we'd remain in Italy - became so distressed that she developed a fever. [Not to doubt the accuracy of this last sentence but, given what I know of my aunt's character, I find the detail concerning her fever to be somewhat overstated.]

The train arrived and we departed. Luana and Armando [Libia's other daughter and her husband] were waiting for us in Asti and they took us to the home of Armando's parents where they lived at the time [they had only been married a year or two]. We were received with great hospitality. Armando's parents were extremely kind and gentle people. Armando had converted a portion of his parents' house into an apartment for him and his new wife. We remained there the rest of the week and we were treated like royalty.

       
Luana and Armando's wedding in Coreglia. My parents are in the background, to the left of Luana's veil
in the first image. I am pictured in the wedding procession in the first and middle photograph.
Circa 1960.

After this vacation we returned to Gromignana and I went back to work at the Italpresepio but, at this point, I was certain I'd soon be leaving and I didn't care what happened at work. The morning of my return, Pietrino [Libia's husband and part owner of the Italpresepio - see parts 18 thru 21] urgently called me to meet him at the municipal building [in Corgelia]. He said he needed to talk to me as soon as I had some free time. I didn't know what he wanted but since I had been out for a week I thought that, as usual, someone had told him a fallacy about something about a mistake I had made and he intended to reproach me for it. I was ready to respond to anything he was going to say to me. I had tolerated this situation for 12 years and before leaving I wanted him to face up to all the things he had done to me.

As soon as I arrived he was exceedingly kind toward me and he ordered coffee for both of us. He then said, "I called you because I don't want you to go away; I want you to stay. I will do anything I can to better your position. I will talk to Elmenze and Bambi [some of Pietro's other partners in the business] and I will have them increase your wages and you will see that, as of today, you will find yourself much better off. But you must not leave."

Here was my opportunity to respond and to tell him all that had happened to me in the 12 years as head of factory operations; how he had treated me and how little faith he placed in me. I answered, "I am 47 years old and it is bleak having to start a new life now but this is the only chance that remains for me. It does not matter how much you pay me and how many promises you make. I am ready to leave and I am going to leave. I am desperate and it does not matter what price I have to pay and how many sacrifices I have to make - I must leave. I hate the Italpresepio and every morning when I leave the house I leave in utter desperation. When I open the door of the factory I would be happier if I was opening the door to Hell."

I continued, "You see Pietro, you have been able to criticize me at every turn. You have said things to me that were completely without justification. You listened to anyone that came here who, for their own self-interest, told you things that were entirely unfounded and you believed them. You always treated me like an idiot. You discredited me in front of the other employees. Never in 12 years were you able to give me credit for something that I had done well. If you did not want me to leave you should have treated me like a man and not like a fool. Today I have no choice left and there is no amount of money that will stop me."

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© 2009 by Maurice Mattei
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