A Jump in My Chair

A sudden, violent clap of thunder, a jump in my chair, and the pasta falls on my trousers, staining them. Instinct takes over and I rescue the mouthful, but the stain is there. I smile. It was 2010, an early summer day. It had rained until shortly before; outside, the air was finally cool and the mugginess was gone. Inside the house it was still heavy, almost unbreathable, and I badly needed to unplug. I put on my jacket, grabbed my phone and rushed out. I glanced at the garage, but the bike didn't seem like the right choice that day. So I walked. Town or countryside? I needed quiet: countryside. I turned left and headed out, away from town. The sun came and went between the white clouds, still strong enough to be felt. I put in my earphones and started my music - "Nuvole di Luce" by Cacciapaglia, right for the weather and for my mood. The climb up to the river was short but steep, the grass still wet, the ground muddy. "Let's see if it's swollen", I thought, after all that water.…