Read Sally Boy for Free Online

board. “You must get on the
ship now, Salvatore.” Cogassi kissed his grandson’s cheek. “I love
you with all my heart. You have brought me much joy, and you have
given me a reason to live since your mother passed...” Cogassi
burst into tears. He quickly turned his back so the boy couldn’t
see him weep. Reaching into his pocket, Cogassi drew his
handkerchief and wiped his eyes.
    “Here my love.” Mama tried to distract
Salvatore by handing him his little suitcase. “Don’t forget I’ve
packed the picture of all of us together in front of the church.”
Suddenly, Mama’s voice grew urgent. “Listen to me carefully,
Salvatore. Treasure it! Keep the photo near you at all times. That
way we will always be with you and can watch over you. I promise
you that no harm will ever come to you as long as your mother and
your Mama and Papa are with you. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, Mama.”
    “Remember, we love you more than anything
else in the world.” Squeezing Salvatore again, Mama kissed his
cheek, and then hesitantly nudged him toward the gangplank. “Have a
good trip, my Prince. Be a good boy. Mind the Zeoli’s. And don’t
forget to write us as soon as you get to America.”
    “Yes, Mama.”
    Feeling as if his feet were in quicksand,
Salvatore slogged his way up the gangplank. As he made his way up
onto the ship, he was nearly trampled by the other passenger’s
exuberance as they joyfully hurried past him. Finally, making it to
the top, Salvatore hesitantly stepped onto the deck. Shuffling
several more feet, he ultimately settled next to Zeoli.
    Showing great empathy for the little boy
whose eyes now overflowed with tears, Zeoli implored
compassionately, “Do not be sad, Salvatore. I’ve been to America
many times. You will come to love it. I’m sure you can come back
and visit as often as you like. Be a good boy and wave ‘good-bye’
to your grandparents.”
    Salvatore managed a wave. The ship sounded
its horn for the final time and the gangplank was drawn up. As the
last link to his home was removed, Salvatore’s heart began to race
until it pounded in his chest. The stark reality of leaving the
only home he had ever known transformed his melancholy to terror.
Feeling as if his world were crumbling around him, the boy tossed
his suitcase onto the deck and lunged for the railing. With the
dexterity of a spider monkey, Salvatore climbed the iron rail
screaming at the top of his lungs, “I don’t want to leave! I want
to stay here with you! Mama! Papa!”
    Zeoli reacted quickly, latching onto
Salvatore’s midsection by wrapping his arms around him just before
he could get over the rail. Though using all of his strength, Zeoli
found it difficult to stop him from jumping into the water.
    As the ship began to drift away from the
dock, Salvatore’s cries grew louder, “I don’t want to go! Mama!
Papa! Please! I’ll be good! I promise!” His frantic pleas were
muffled by the heartfelt cries and joyous shouts of good-byes being
exchanged between the passengers and their families.
    “Oh my God! No, Salvatore, you’ll hurt
yourself,” Mama shouted hysterically seeing his desperate act. The
emotional strain was too much. Clutching her rosary, Mama fainted,
falling limply into the arms of her weakened husband.
    Zeoli was able to constrain Salvatore long
enough for the ship to exit the harbor. The farther the ship
traveled, the weaker he became, until finally, his tired little
body gave out. Eventually, Salvatore surrendered: there was no
chance of returning. Exhaling deeply, the boy brushed away the
remaining tears. “I don’t know where to go, Signore Zeoli. Where
will I sleep?”
    Relieved, Zeoli’s lips curled up into a
smile. “Well, let me have a look at your ticket, and then we can
locate your room.” Studiously, Zeoli scanned all the pertinent
documents. “It says here that you’ll be sleeping in cabin number
333. That’s not very far from where my family and I will