UNTITLED~Chapter 2

“Aika Shizuka?”

The sound of her name from a stranger’s mouth alarmed her at first. It had been only 48 hours since Aika was surprised with her dream trip to Tuscany. Her Aunt Ren was more than generous by arranging the all-expense paid Tuscany Bicycle Trip of her dreams. The hours since she had sat at the table at Oyaji had been jammed pack with preparations for her departure from Japan and her arrival in Italy; all of this had left her head spinning.

When her plane had landed at Pisa's Galileo Galilei airport, she had been sure she was dreaming. As Aika followed the other passengers down the steep portable stairway from the plane and onto the tarmac, she paused a moment to take in the view. The various, lush vegetation that hugged the runway took her breath away. It was the smell of Italy that immediately welcomed her. As she made her way off the tarmac and into the airport, the dampness of the soil and the crispness of the coffee that wavered through the air, made its way into her heart. As a little girl, no more than nine years old, she seldom had had a night where she didn’t dream of visiting Italy. Now, as she stood waiting for her luggage to magically appear from behind the thick secretive curtains of the luggage carousal, she was certain she was still dreaming.

It was her tour guide’s voice that roused her, snapping her drifting mind to the present, to Italy.

“Aika Shizuka? I am looking for Aika Shizuka.”

“I’m sorry. I am Aika Shizuka.”

“It’s very nice to meet you Aika. Welcome to DuVine Adventures Tuscany Bicycle Tour. My name is Emilio and I hope you are ready to make memories that will last you a lifetime,” said her tour guide in a garden-variety “tour guide” voice.

Although he most likely was reading from a card, his words seemed genuine; Aika immediately knew she would like Emilio. His warm smile, slightly wavy peppered hair, and beautiful Italian accent reminded her of her Italian language teacher from University and put her immediately at ease.

“Thank you. It is very nice to meet you too. Although I have to admit I am worried that I may slow down the group. It has been many years since I have ridden a bicycle,” Aika admitted.

This was the only worry she had had as she prepared for her trip and there was nothing she could bring along that would assist her in it. She would just have to keep up with her tour group. She dreaded the thought of drawing any undue attention to herself.

“You will do great, I am sure of it. Our bicycles are equipped with electric motors which you can turn on and off as you like. Our goal is to make your experience pleasant, not unpleasant. I promise you, this tour is going to be an adventure that will leave you with stories which you can share with your grandchildren years from now,” Emilio graciously explained as they made their way to the tour bus.

“Thank you for understanding, Emilio. Your words put me at ease.”

“I am happy that I have eased your mind young lady.” Emilio said as he carried Aika’s luggage out to the parking area of the airport.

The two continued to chat about the upcoming week as they made their way to the tour bus, which resembled her father’s delivery van but had pictures of what appeared to be grapevines draped down its sides. As Emilio stowed Aika’s bright red Roncato luggage underneath the belly of the bus, she was caught off guard. She noticed that amongst the typical colors of black, blue, and brown luggage that there was only one other that stood out besides hers—a bright fuchsia Prada bag with a bold flowered print showering it’s exterior. Aika was happy to know that there was at least one other who appreciated color.

“Will we be heading to Montopoli Val d’Arno soon?” Aika asked as Emilio locked the luggage area of the bus.

“We will be waiting just a tad bit longer for a few of your tour companions’ to arrive. They are due to arrive very shortly,” Emilio explained. “Please take this time to acquaint yourself with Pisa. I suggest a local caffé, Caffé dell'Ussuro, where they brew an amazing cup of la tazza di caffè. Honestly, it is out of this world; I promise you it will be a very enjoyable welcome to Italy. The coffee has been described as being somewhat of a buttery texture that is wonderfully smooth and mellow, just what the tour guide ordered,” Emilio said with a sort of joking tone in his voice.

“I think I will take your advice. I am a bit sleepy from the flight and could use a little pick me up. Where would I find this enchanting beverage?” Aika said with the same whimsical tone in her voice as Emilio had in his. Yes, she was sure this was going to be a wondrous trip.

“At Caffe dell'Ussuro. It’s just three blocks north of the airport. But please Miss, be sure to be back within the hour as we will be heading to Montopoli Val d’Arno and your hotel,”

“I will! Thank you!” Aika said as she made her way out of the busy airport.

Finally….Italy! Aika thought to herself as she walked along the unfamiliar streets near the airport. She walked slowly, being sure to take in the sights and sounds that she had remembered from her childhood dreams. The sound of a dog barking and old men talking about the way things used to be, complimented the experience.

As she continued on down the street she came upon a quaint little flower shop. Remembering she had only a small amount of time to retrieve her coffee and make her way back to Emilio and the rest of the tour group, she only allowed herself to slow down to a snail’s pace as she took in the sweet smells of the flowers, satisfying her desire for the authentic smells of Italy. She noticed an old lady tending to the beautiful foliage within and was greeted by her smile. Aika shyly smiled back as she made her way on by, wishing she had time to stop.

“If time allows, on the way back to the airport I will be sure to stop and say hello to the old woman,” Aika said out loud to herself continuing along the path to Caffé dell'Ussuro.

She had been walking nearly 15 minutes when she came upon an intersection. Confused as to which way to go, Aika scanned the area for signs or clues to the Caffé. After a few minutes she had all but given up when a woman with brilliantly blond hair, swept up in a loose bun, and who was dressed in a beautiful cobalt blue sundress accented with a fuchsia scarf, approached her.

“Excusez-moi, but would you happen to know where to find Caffé dell'Ussuro? I have just recently arrived to Pisa and seem to have lost my way,” the lady with the dress said with a thick French accent.

“I’m sorry, but I too have just recently arrived to Pisa, only an hour ago to be exact. As much as I would love to help you, I seem to be having the same trouble as you. I am looking for Caffé dell'Ussuro also,” Aika shared with the woman.

“Odd. Pardon me, but it is a strange coincidence, isn’t it? The both of us in search of the same caffé?”

“Yes I do find it puzzling but maybe together we could solve the mystery. Would you care to join me as I continue my search of Caffé dell'Ussuro? Although I must tell you, I am to be back at Galileo Galilei airport in 40 minutes. I am to meet up with the rest of my tour group,” Aika shared with the stranger.

“I am also meeting with my tour group at the Galileo Galilei airport!” the lady exclaimed. “Say, may I ask you where you are touring?”

“I am touring Tuscany with DuVine Adventures,” Aika responded.

“As am I!” The lady excitedly shared as she grabbed Aika with a tight awkward embrace. “My name is Thérèse and I am so pleased to meet you…”

Finding a way to acquire her body back from Thérèse, Aika introduced herself.

“It’s very nice to meet you Thérèse, my name is Aika. Would you mind it very much if we walked and talked? We only have so much time before we have to be back.”

“Oh no, not at all Aika. I am very happy to have met you here, before we meet up with the rest of the group. I’m afraid I almost didn’t take this trip for fear of getting lost so you see, finding you here on a street corner in beautiful Pisa, Italy is a sign that we will become great friends. Don’t you agree?” Thérèse excitedly said as they walked along still searching for the caffé.

The two women discussed much before reaching their destination. In the five minutes it took to finally find Caffé dell'Ussuro Aika learned much about her new companion. Firstly, she was 24 year old and newly divorced from a bartender who she met at a club on the outskirts of Paris, France. She was still having a hard time accepting that her husband left her for a go go dancer at the club. Thérèse’s marriage lasted exactly 7 months 16 days 21 hours and 34 minutes. Secondly, she was an only child from a very wealthy family. Their wealth came from shoelaces named, “Just You Two”. These were not just any shoelaces but teen influenced shoelaces. They had designs and patterns on them, as well as being produced in various colors and textures. Much of their wealth was acquired in the 1980’s when bands like Wham! and Duran Duran were seen publicly wearing the shoelaces. Their brand of “Just You Two” shoelaces became an overnight success. Lastly, Thérèse was a sweetheart. Although she looked the part of a beautiful, spoiled rich girl she was very down to earth.

As the two girls stood in line at Caffé dell'Ussuro Aika grabbed Thérèse’s hand and said, “I too am glad we found each other. We are going to have a wondrous adventure together.”

All the girl could do was smile. Unbeknownst to Aika, Thérèse had never had a girlfriend. Although her family’s wealth was a blessing it was also a curse. Many of the girls she went to school with were hesitant to visit at her family’s villa and rarely asked her to theirs. The warmth Thérèse felt from Aika’s hand traveled all the way to her heart. For once, Thérèse was speechless.

The two tourists walked silently with their caffé from Caffé dell'Ussuro. Thérèse was silently enjoying the sweet taste of a new blossoming friendship. Aika was silently enjoying the sweet nutty taste of her first Italian caffé. The sweetness delighted each and every one of her taste buds as it made its way on by. With each sip from the cup, they rejoiced as though they were experiencing it for the first time.

Ahhh, finally a true Italiano experience. Being in Italy still feels like a dream, Aika thought to herself.

With just 20 minutes left to get back to the airport Aika knew they didn’t need to be sidetracked but as they approached the quaint little flower shop. Like a bee to a flower, Aika too felt drawn to the flower shop.

“Thérèse would you mind terribly if we stopped if only for a moment, to look inside of the flower shop? I know we haven’t much time and I promise you I will be quick. It’s strange but I almost feel drawn to take a peek inside.” Aika said.

“Not at all, we have a few minutes to spare. Let’s see what prize awaits us.”

As the girls crossed the threshold of the store they took notice of a sign above the door, “Che Bella”. In Italian the words meant “What a Beautiful”. Aika thought the name fitting for the little boutique.

“What a beautiful fragrant smell!” Aika quietly exclaimed to Thérèse.

The sweet fragrances of the various flowers within the boutique politely introduced themselves to her nasal passages; each making sure they stood out above the rest. The smell of roses was the strongest to come forth, reminding Aika of her grandmother and of the rose scented hand cream she had favored. Remembering her grandmother made Aika smile. It had been many years since Aika had thought of her grandmother’s smiling face. Aika was only eight year old when her grandmother passed away. Sadly, her presence in Aika’s life slowly slipped away from the young girls memories, only leaving behind the scent of roses.

When Aika was a little girl she would often spend the night with her grandmother. Her grandmother would often set up a tea party for the two. Her grandmother would tell funny childhood stories of Aunt Ren and Aika’s mother, which always left Aika and her grandmother laughing until their bellies hurt. Then they would drink grandmother’s special mixture of tea and nibble upon the Sweet Rice Redbean Donuts which could only be found only at the local bakery. At night, right before bed, her grandmother would allow Aika to use a small amount of the rose smelling cream. Aika felt very “grown up” as she dipped her tiny fingers slowly into the silky soft pink cream. She would carefully rub the lusciousness into her small hands, stopping every now and then to smell its rich flowery essence. Aika’s grandmother would stand watch over the small girl, smiling the whole time. Although it wasn’t often, but whenever Aika came upon the same scent she instinctively brought her hands to her face in hopes that the rosy essence was still with her, and it usually was. She knew she was still being watched over by her loving grandmother whose smile radiated as brightly as Aika’s mothers did.

“Aika! Stop that you’re scaring me!” Thérèse said sternly to the daydreaming Aika.

“What….? Oh my, I’m sorry Thérèse. The roses brought me both its beautiful scent along with beautiful memories of my grandmother. I guess I got tangled up within them,” Aika said with a smile.

The girls continued along the pathways of dimly lit boutique stopping every now and then to appreciate the beauty within its walls. After a few minutes their journey leads them to the back of the store and to the little old lady with a big smile.

"May help you?" The little old lady with a thick Italian accent asked.

"No thank you,” said Aika embarrassingly.

Although standing near the little old woman brought Aika the richness she sought in acquiring a truly genuine Pisa experience, an authentic Italian experience, she still felt as though she was to find something from within the walls of the little, treasured flower shop.

"Pardon me, but would you happen to have fleur-de-lis?" Thérèse asked in her beautifully thick French accent.

“I'm sorry dear but I do not,” said the woman as she made her way to an old corn broom which was leaning up against a wall and quickly began sweeping the floor.

Thérèse paused a moment at a creative display of round tied bouquets of sunflowers which were branched in with red roses and eucalyptus. While Thérèse was distracted by the beautiful arrangements’, Aika took a moment to herself.

"Come on, Aika, what are you looking for in this tiny flower shop in the middle of Pisa?" Aika quietly asked herself. Knowing she didn't have the answer to the question, she decided to make her way to the front of the store. Looking back she noticed what appeared to be Therese peeking out from behind a large bouquet of fuchsia violets and enormously large yellow sunflowers.

"Look Aika! Aren't they just magnificent?" Thérèse said with youthful exuberance.

"Yes, they are quite beautiful."

"We shall have to find the most perfect vase to display them. We wouldn't want our hotel room to look shabby, would we? I love fuchsia but I want you to love them also. What is your favorite color Aika?"

Trying to wrap her mind around what Thérèse had just said, Aika could do no more than answer the girl, "Red. My favorite color is red."

"That's wonderful! We both love red or a shade of red! I knew that we were meant to be friends! Besties!"

Surprisingly, Aika found herself beginning to believe it too. Surrendering to the joyfulness in Thérèse's expression, Aika smiled at Thérèse and agreed, “I think you are right!" .

Once Thérèse paid for her outrageously large bouquet of flowers, the two girls made their way towards the door when suddenly Aika stopped dead in her tracks—something familiar caught her eye, a fleck of red against an old wooden table top. Aika recognized it at once as a red Japanese Cherry Blossom Kanzashi. She immediately felt her mother's presence along with a steady stream of wet tears.

Noticing her newest customers paused at the door the old lady went to investigate. When she came upon Aika crying she could do no more than embrace the girl. Aika melted into the warm arms of the woman who just 10 minutes ago had been a stranger.

Concerned about her new friend, Thérèse attempted to join in the embrace. Thérèse's genuine care for her new friend, and the old lady’s warm embrace helped Aika dry her tears and explain her connection with the Cherry Blossom Kanzashi. Once she was done telling her friends about her mother, her illness, and their still ever present mother daughter bond, Aika found she consoling not only the old lady but Thérèse too.

“Here, you must take this,” the old lady said to Aika. She attempted to dodge the old ladies generous gift, of the Cherry Blossom Kanzashi but failed.

“Thank you but I will pay for it,” Aika said.

“No! You will take this as a gift from not only me, but also your mother,” the old woman forcefully, yet sweetly said as she pinned it into Aika’s hair.

“Thank you…?” Realizing she didn’t know the old woman’s name, Aika’s face grew red with embarrassment.

“Margaret. My name is Margret.”

“Thank you Margret. My name is Aika and this is my friend Thérèse.”

“It is very nice to meet you and your beautiful flowers Margret,” Thérèse said.

Hating to be rude but knowing they had stayed longer than expected, the girls said goodbye to their new friend.

"Ciao bueno Margaret! Adieu!" They shouted to Margaret who was now standing in front of her quaint little flower shop waving goodbye with one hand and wiping her tears away with her other.

“Che bella vita. What a beautiful life.” She yelled back at the girls.