Wednesday, August 11, 2010

In Their Own Words -- Salvatore


My name is Salvatore Genovase and I'm Genna's uncle. She's my Bella, mio amore . I'd do anything for her, she's the light of our lives. And hey eh, don't get me wrong, I love my own kids, they're good kids, turned out real good, but I have to say, I love my Genna just that little bit more. She's suffered so much in her life, it's hard not to. She needs it.

When Joey and Linda were killed, Linda's mother, Christina Rocco, did everything in her power to take Genna away from us. Her and that figlio di puttana lawyer of hers. But Genna said no, she wanted to stay with us. I thought old Christina was gonna' have a heart attack considering the judge was in her back pocket. But Genna stayed right where she was. With us. Where she belonged.

She worked at the diner with me after school and during the summers. I'd like to think it was me who taught her everything she knew about cooking but she went to that fancy cooking school down in Providence. I guess they taught her a few things too. And then she went to Salerno after she graduated so she could learn some more. She's like that, my Genna. She always wants to know more. Always learning, always thinking.

When she was little, she'd sit at the kitchen table with all my cookbooks open, trying to help me come up with new dishes. Wanted to be a chef, she said. Once, I think she was twelve, she wanted me to make a lasagne souffle. I didn't think it was possible but she worked out the recipe and gave it to me. I couldn't not try and make it. Of course it fell, and tasted like crap, but she didn't give up. She asked me if I did this, or that, she wanted to know why it didn't turn out right. She worked on it for a long time. A long time. And then, one day, she presented me with her version. Perfecto! Bellisimo! I was so proud of her. She didn't give up. She never did. Still doesn't. If she wants something, she works to make sure she gets it. She gets that from me.

Like now. She works at this swanky country club down in Delaware. She surprised us coming home last week just so she could tell us in person she's now the executive kitchen manager. I don't square with fancy titles but she says she's in charge of everything at the club for the kitchen. All the menus, all the staff, all the cooking. She also gets lots of money and lots of benefits. So, hey if that's what she wants eh, I'm happy for her.

I just wish she'd find a nice boy. She's lonely. She doesn't say so but I can tell.
A beautiful girl like that, wasting away, cooking for a living. Don't get me wrong eh, I'm all for women's lib, I think women should do whatever they want, but I also think they should have babies. That's what God created them for.

If Testa hadn't turned into such a porca puttana stronzo, excuse my Italian, I'd probably be bouncing a bambino on my knee right now. I had such high hopes for him and Genna. I taught him everything I know about the business. I thought when him and Genna finally got married I could give them the business. Retire. Take me and Fortuna back to Salerno for a few months every year. But Testa threw me, threw us, a bad curve. Broke my Genna's heart.

And now the facce di cazzo is sniffing around again. Che minchia! I don't know if it was fate who said he should be sitting in my diner the minute Genna walks in. I should have had him taken care of when I had the chance. But hey, live and learn, eh. I hope she won't make the same mistake and take him back but you can't know a woman's heart. She's so scombussolata. What he did was unforgiveable but that's my Genna. She has a very forgiving nature. A very tender heart.

Although, hey, I think her and Petie DiCampo got something going on. Boh! He took her out to dinner the other night. Hey, he's a nice kid eh. Got a good job, a good head on his shoulders. His mother was Irish but I won't hold that against him. Heh, heh. I hope Genna can see past Testa's vacca merda and gets together with Petie. I know Petie loves her already. He came into the diner the other morning with that look of miseria on his face. You know, the kind all men wear when they find the woman of their heart, or the car of their dreams.

I just hope it works out. The only problem is, Pete has to convince her his love is real, is true eh. My Genna doesn't trust easily, she's afraid the people she loves will get taken away from her. I just hope Petie's got the palle to fight for her. I think he does. He's a cop. And once my Genna realizes how much he loves her, she'll love him back with her whole heart. That's the way she is. She's a good girl.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

I think that this is important to do with your characters. I do a similar thing, I conduct an interview with each to find out what they're hiding or how they react to questions. Great job.

CD

JournoMich said...

I love this look into your character! He sounds like the perfect grandfather/boss. Wonderful! I hope this helped you flesh him out more, b/c I can certainly see him in the flesh now!

Michele
Writers Jailed today on SouthernCityMysteries

Jaydee Morgan said...

I love how you're doing these with your characters. It definitely makes me want to read your story more. When you feel like you really know a character, you want to learn even more about them and what happens to them all! Good job :)

Saumya said...

This is such a great idea for your characters! I think this will make them so real and multi faceted! I love this character; he sounds strong and sincere.

Anne Gallagher said...

Thank you so much everyone. I have been able to "see" Sal from the very beginning and what he means to Genna, where the love comes from. You, of course, won't be able to until you read the book. I think this series has given you all that chance.

Thanks for coming by.

Unknown said...

I was looking forward to Uncle Sally's post. His voice is clear, but no surprise. I've always sensed that he was one of your purest characters -- straight from your heart.

We should all be so lucky as to have an uncle Sal in our lives!

((hugs)) Nicole

Liza said...

Fantastic! Really! Fantastic!

Anne Gallagher said...

Nicole -- I've always loved Uncle Sally, right from the beginning. He's been so easy to write. He comes off the page like he's telling me the story. And yes, I would give my left arm for an uncle like him.

Liza -- Thanks so much!

Summer Ross said...

I love these character insights, they are lovely and shows just how dedicated to each one you really are.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

He definitely sounds Italian!

Lydia Kang said...

I think I can smell the basil on his clothes...well done! What a great character.

Sarah Ahiers said...

LOVE the italian, spicing things up!

Lola Sharp said...

I love Sal.

And I'm suddenly craving Italian food.

Anonymous said...

So each entry is going to top the one before? Very ambitious, Anne. ;o)

I love Uncle Sally. His voice is so genuine. I can hear him like he's sitting right next to me, reading aloud.

Keep up the awesome work, dear one!

Susan Fields said...

I love Sal's voice. And this is all making me very anxious to find out what happens in the book!

February Grace said...

Anne, I am so behind on these but coming back and reading them is a promise I made to myself! I really have been looking forward to them...I'll be back!

~bru

Anne Gallagher said...

Thank you so much! This has been so much fun to do, I hope you all decide to do this so I can find about who you all are writing. I have a post at the end on why I decided to do this. Hope you'll stick around for it.

Bru -- No worries. I know what's going on. Come by when you can.

Unknown said...

You're on fire Anne! These are brilliant! I love how deep each one of your character's are! I have M-W set up to play along next week and I just hope that I can live up to both you and E. Elle... it's going to be tough, I already know!

Anne Gallagher said...

Jen -- You will be brilliant as well, so don't worry. Just remember, it's not you talking but your characters! And they can't be wrong.

notesfromnadir said...

I'm learning more Italian as I read these! I just love the sound of the language, the accent, & even seeing the words & in my head hopefully pronouncing them correctly.

This man is the sage of your story. I really like Salvatore & hope he has a large supporting role.

Anne Gallagher said...

Lisa -- Uncle Sally is the backbone, literally, in this tale. And the Italian words I'm using, are mostly all curse words! Oops.

February Grace said...

Another great peek inside the workings of a character's mind. "Of course it fell, and tasted like crap, but she didn't give up." that was great.

Felt that when he said he should've taken care of Tony when he had the chance that Sal has a little bit of a darker side! He sounds ferociously protective of Genna. No wonder Angie was jealous of Genna- it's difficult when you and everybody else knows one child in a family is the parental or grandparental favorite.

More great stuff!

~bru

The Words Crafter said...

All these characters are so real, you've done an amazing job with their dialogue! Impressive and kudos to you. I love the line about how men look when they find the woman of their dreams. Or the car. Perfect!!!!!

Ed Pilolla said...

you do this wise guy voice so well. my favorite is robby. forgive me if i'm out of line or am not up to speed on everything, but you ought to consider writing the entire book in robby's voice. i don't know enough whether you could write it from his point of view, but it's so fun to hear this neighborhood voice, as well called it in chicago:)