Daniella Caggiano


Historical Fiction Creative Writing Piece: Journal Entry

    Another day in the fields today. Those darn Medici's! I heard from Antonio around noon that it was their water that got my sister sick, and now that the Medici's have that new privy system, they are using up all of Florence's water! They don't even plan on giving some up for us, not even for Aurora! That made me really mad, and when Padre saw how harshly I was plowing the fields, he told me that I wasn't allowed to go into town for a fortnight. Can you believe that? A whole fortnight without Matteo or Antonio or anyone else down at the Ponte Vecchio! And what of Mariangela? I could never tell Padre about her, or he would tell me that I " should keep my mind on my fieldwork and taking care of my sisters, not on my silly friends or girls, Jesu forbid!" I hear that a lot lately, especially when I mention Matteo or Antonio. I know not to even think about saying Mariangela's name...... Padre would be so upset that I was even conversing with a girl. I wish he didn't think that girls and friends take away from my fieldwork... I mean, Madre never took away from his selling at the market! Maybe he'd just rather I concentrate on our crops this year, since the more we produce, the more money Padre will have to buy water for Aurora, so she might stop throwing up so much. Then we could use the excess water to grow more crops. I guess I could understand that. Madre used up so much olive oil cleaning up after her that we hardly have enough to cook with! Well, I need to go feed the chickens. Goodbye for now.

Letter to Mariangela, written a few days later:

Dearest Mariangela,
    How are you doing lately? I apologize for not being in the cathedral
courtyard the past few days. My Padre became very upset at me for something I did, and I will not be allowed to go into town again for a fortnight. Will you be there when I return? Please tell Matteo and Antonio this for me, so they do not worry when fail to show up at the Ponte Vecchio for a while.
    How is Isabella? Please wish her good tidings from me, and tell her that Marco speaks only of her lately. Ever since he followed Celeste and Francesca to play with Isabella last week, he has been infatuated with her. How ignorant children can be! He talks of marriage and winning her love, but never stops to think that he is but nine years of age! And Isabella only eleven!
    I probably should end this letter, because Padre does not want me to use too much of his quill ink, since it took him a while to pay for it. I count
the days until I will be permitted to go to the cathedral courtyard and see
you again. Till then, I send my love always.
                                Arrivederci,
                                    Armando

Journal Entry, halfway into the fortnight:
 
     I am not having a good day today. Bartolomeo went to the market with Padre today. I was so jealous, and when I asked him why he took Bart instead of me, he told me that he was " training Bartolomeo, so he can be a merchant in the marketplace like him someday". I told him that I wanted to be a merchant too, and why couldn't I come along... but he just said that Bartolomeo was older, so he should take on the family business. I acted annoyed, but to be perfectly honest, I was relieved. The truth is, I don't have the slightest interest in doing what Padre does, I just wanted to go to town for heaven's sake! I was afraid that he might take me seriously and force me to work with Bartolomeo. And I dislike being with Bartolomeo. He is so serious and work- oriented all the time. I couldn't stand living the way he does. Maybe that is why Padre chose him. Another reason why I am not having a good day is Aurora. Padre told Marco, Celeste, and Francesca that when Aurora screams and cries for water, and vomits more and more often, it is just her getting rid of the cholera. But I know the truth. She is getting worse and worse every day. I hate to see her so weak and pale. She looks the way Matteo's mother, Rina, looked just before she died of it. That worries me quite a bit, but I couldn't tell Padre that I know. He thinks he has protected all his children from the truth, and the longer he thinks that, the better off I will be. Seven more days till I see Antonio, Matteo, and Mariangela again. I am also worried about Rafaele. He has always been after Mariangela, and although I trust her completely, I have known him to be a persuasive guy. I hope she thinks of me whenever Rafaele takes the oportunity of my condemnation to the indoors. Well, Madre has called me for dinner. Goodbye for now.