Monday, December 28, 2009

SANTA LIVES NEAR TURIN

This is an article of mine which was published in Italy Magazine today. I thought you might enjoy it:

Imagine the scene: it is Christmas Eve, you’ve had a busy day at work, you’ve come home, cooked and finally put your two excited toddlers to bed. Wearily you trudge down to your apartment block’s basement, where each tenant has a storeroom, to retrieve the gifts which you have hidden there – and they have gone. Yes, some heartless thief has taken the Christmas gifts which you worked so hard to buy for your children. What would you do?

In Alpignano [Torino] the victim of the burglary frantically drove around her town in the hope of finding an open store but the only places still trading at that hour were the all-night petrol stations. She desperately looked for gifts in the shop attached to each one, until, at nearly 4 am, she met a Carabinieri patrol and was able to explain the situation to the officers. They reported it to their captain, who, imagining the disappointment that would be written on the children’s faces a few hours later, decided to help the mother. He said that he would have hidden the toys in the basement storeroom, too.

The Carabinieri captain called the owner of a toyshop in nearby Giaveno and the shopkeeper agreed to come and open his store. Thus, although the thief has yet to be apprehended, two little girls of three and a half and two and a half had a happy Christmas morning after all.

UPDATE: The story reminds me of a song which doesn't seem to be played much any more. Here's the great Jim Reeves:

Jim Reeves - Scarlet Ribbons

6 comments:

RNSANE said...

Sad story with a happy ending. Sometimes people can be so wonderful. It was good to hear that Jim Reeves song...I remember it but haven't heard it in an eternity.

CherryPie said...

A sad beginning but a very hear warming story.

James Higham said...

He'd be a ittle warm near Turin, one would have thought.

Unknown said...

My emotions must be close to the surface this morning, for I have tears in my eyes. Scarlet Ribbons does go very well with the story.

jams o donnell said...

Now that is a heart warming tale Welshcakes

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Carmen. Yes, it's good to know that there's still some kindness about. Jim Reeves always stirs my emotions. Do you remember one called, "I Won't Forget You"? Hi, Cherie. Yes, heart-warming. Hi, James. I think it's cold enough for him up there at the moment! Hi, Nick. Well, it's an emotional time of year asnd that song usually sets me off, too. I think we all have days like that, when it doesn't take much to make us cry. x Hi, jams. Yes, I think the hero was the Carabinieri captain.

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