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Giuseppe
My Uncle Giuseppe told me that in Sicily in World War Two, in the courtyard behind the aquarium, where the bougainvillea grows so well, the only captive mermaid in the world was butchered on the dry and dusty ground by a doctor, a fishmonger, and certain others.
She, it, had never learned to speak because she was simple, or so they’d said, but the priest who held one of her hands while her throat was cut, said she was only a fish, and fish can’t speak. But she screamed like a woman in terrible fear.
And when they took a ripe golden roe from her side, the doctor said this was proof she was just a fish and anyway an egg is not a child, but refused when some was offered to him.
Then they put her head and her hands in a box for burial and someone tried to take her wedding ring, but the others stopped him, and the ring stayed put.
The rest they cooked and fed to the troops. They said a large fish had been found on the beach.
Starvation forgives men many things, my uncle, the aquarium keeper, said, but couldn’t look me in the eye, for which I thank God.
My Uncle Giuseppe told me that in Sicily during World War Two, in the yard behind the aquarium, where the bougainvillea grows well, the only captive mermaid in the world was killed on the dry and dusty ground by a doctor, a fish seller, and some others.
She, it, never learned to speak because she was simple, or so they said, but the priest who held her hand while her throat was cut, said she was just a fish, and fish can't talk. But she screamed like a terrified woman.
And when they took a ripe golden egg from her side, the doctor said this proved she was just a fish and anyway an egg isn't a child, but he refused when some was offered to him.
Then they put her head and hands in a box for burial and someone tried to take her wedding ring, but the others stopped him, and the ring stayed.
The rest they cooked and fed to the soldiers. They said a big fish was found on the beach.
Hunger excuses many things, my uncle, the aquarium keeper, said, but he couldn't look me in the eye, for which I thank God.