Maeve Binchy - Evening Class

'Or maybe even stay there with?' Kathy said.

'It's a return ticket, remember.'

'They're not born overnight, remember,' Kathy said.

The two laughed and pointed out sights to each other as the bus pulled at a building in the Via Giolitti.

Signora was on her feet and an excited conversation took place.

'She's telling him that we must be left at the hotel itself, not here at the terminus,' Suzi explained.

'How do you know, you're not even in the evening class?' Lou was outraged.

'Oh, if you work as a waitress you get to understand everything sooner or later.' Suzi dismissed her skill. Then, looking at Lou's face she added, 'Anyway, you're always speaking bits of it at home so I pick up words here and there.' That seemed entirely more suitable.

And Suzi was indeed right. The bus lurched off again and dropped them at the Albergo Francobollo .

'The Stamp Hotel,' Bill translated for them. 'Should be easy to remember. ' Vorrei un francobollo per l'Irlanda' , they all chorused aloud and Signora gave them a broad smile.

She had got them to Rome without any disaster, the hotel had their booking and the class were all in high good spirits. Her anxiety was not necessary. Soon she would relax and enjoy being back in Italy again, its colours and sounds and excitement. She began to breathe more easily.

The Albergo Francobollo was not one of the smarter hotels in Rome but its welcome was gigantic. Signor and Signora Buona Sera were full of admiration and praise over how well they all spoke Italian.

' Bene, bene benissimo ,' they cried as they ran up and down the stairs to the rooms.

'Are we really saying "Good evening Mr. Good Evening"?' Fiona asked Barry.

'Yes, but look at the names at home like Ramsbottom, and we've even a customer in the supermarket called O'Looney.'

'But we don't have people called Miss Goodmorning and Mr. Goodnight,' Fiona insisted.

'We do have a place in Ireland called Effin, and they talk about the Effin football team and the Effin choir will sing at eleven o'clock Mass… what would outsiders make of that?' Barry asked.

'I love you, Barry,' Fiona said suddenly. They had just arrived at their bedroom and Mrs. Good Evening heard the remark.

'Love. Very, very good,' she said, and ran down the stairs to settle more people in their rooms.

Connie hung her clothes up carefully on her side of the small cupboard. Out the window she could see the roofs and windows of tall houses in the little streets that led off the Piazza Quintacenta. Connie washed at the small handbasin in the room. It had been years since she had stayed in a hotel without its own bathroom. But it had also been years since she had gone on a trip with such an easy heart. She did not feel superior to these people because she had more money. She wasn't even remotely tempted to hire a car which she could have done easily, or to treat them to a meal in a five star restaurant. She was eager to join in the plans that had been made in such detail by Signora and Aidan Dunne. Like every other member of the evening class Connie sensed that their friendship was deeper than a merely professional one. Nobody had been surprised when Aidan's wife had not joined the group.

' Signor Dunne, telefono ,' Signora Buona Sera called up the stairs.

Aidan had been advising Laddy not to suggest immediately that he should clean the brasses on the door, maybe they should wait until had been there for a few days.

'Would that be your Italian friends?' Laddy asked eagerly.

'No, Lorenzo, I have no Italian friends.'

'But you were here before.'

'A quarter of a century ago, no one who would remember me.'

'I have friends here,' Laddy said proudly. 'And Bartolomeo has people he met during the World Cup.'

'That's great,' Aidan said. 'I'd better go and see who it is that does want me.'

'Dad?'

'Brigid? Is everything all right?'

'Sure. You all got there then?'

'Absolutely, all in one piece. It's a gorgeous evening, we're going to walk down to the Piazza Navona and have a drink.'

'Great, I'm sure it'll be terrific.'

'Yes. Brigid, is anything… you know…?'

'It's probably stupid, Dad, but a kind of loopy woman came in twice wanting to know what hotel you're all staying at. It might be nothing but I didn't like the feel of her, I thought she was off her rocker.'

'Did she say why?'

'She said that it was a simple question and could I answer her and give her the name of the hotel or would she have to speak to my boss.'

'And what did you do?'

'Well, Dad, I did think she was out of a funny farm so I said No. I said my father was out there and if she wanted a message passed to anyone I'd get in touch.'

'Well, that's it then.'

'No, it's not. She went to the boss and said it was very urgent she contact a Mr. Dunne with the Mountainview party, and he gave the hotel name to her and gave me a ticking off.'

'She must know me if she knew my name.'

'No, I saw her reading my name Brigid Dunne from my badge. Look, I suppose I just wanted to say…'

'Say what, Brigid?'

'That she's sort of crazy and you should look out.'

'Thank you very much, my dear, dear Brigid,' he said, and realised that it had been a long time since he had called her that.

It was a warm evening as they set out to walk through Rome.

They passed near Santa Maria Maggiore, but not near enough to stop and go in.

'Tonight is just a social night… we all have a drink in the beautiful square. Tomorrow we look at culture and religion for those who want to, and for those who want to sit and sip coffee they can do that too.' Signora was anxious to remind them that they were not going to be herded, but she saw in their eyes that they wanted a little looking after still. 'What do you think we might say when we see the wonderful square with all the fountains and statues in the Piazza Navona?' she asked, looking around.

And there on the side of the street they all shouted out, ' In questa piazza ci sono multi belli edicifil'

' Benissimo ,' said Signora. ' Avanti , let's go and find them.'

They sat at peace, forty-two of them, and watched the night fall on Rome.

Signora was beside Aidan. 'No problems with the phone call?' she asked.

'No, no, just Brigid ringing to know if the hotel was all right for us. I told her it was wonderful.'

'She was very helpful over it all, she really wanted it to be a success for you, for all of us.'

'And it will.' They sipped their coffees. Some of the group had a beer, others a grappa . Signora had said there were tourist prices here and she advised only one drink for the atmosphere. They had to keep something to spend when they got to Firenze and Siena. They smiled almost unbelievingly when she mentioned the names. They were here in Italy to begin the viaggio . It wasn't just talk any more in a classroom on a wet Tuesday and Thursday.

'Yes, it will be a success, Aidan,' Signora said.

'Brigid said something else too. I didn't want to bother you with it, but some kind of madwoman came in to the agency and wanted to know where we were all staying. Brigid thought she was someone who might cause trouble.'

Signora shrugged. 'We've got this lot here, we'll cope with whatever else turns up, don't you think?'

In small groups, the evening class were posing each other by the Fountain of the Four Rivers.

He reached out his hand and took hers. 'We can cope with anything,' he said.

'Your friend arrived, Signor Dunne,' said Signora Buona Sera.

'Friend?'

'The lady from Irlanda. She just wanted to check the hotel and that all of you were staying here.'

'Did she leave her name?' Aidan asked.