Adele was stuffing her plate from the feast table of the marquee in a far corner away from her table for the second time. Her brother, Angelo alongside Francesco and Costanzo had already helped themselves and now were seated. It just took her much longer to decide what to pick to eat. There were a varieties of food she had never seen before. they were mainly home made local delicacies.

Suddenly a voice cleared next to her. She turned and saw a girl standing next to her who looked nervous. She spoke is almost a whisper “Can I talk to you away from the crowed?”

Adele nodded “Sure. Lets stand in the corner.”

As Adele and the girl picked a spot away from ear shot of anyone else, the girl spoke “Hey. I am Lilly. I am the head of the Dance Club at the town’s High School. I was wondering if you would like to join. I just thought I ask you before you start school since I heard the head cheerleaders and the Drama Club presidents were discussing offering you to join them. We don’t have as many members as them and would really use a member like you.”

Adele spoke shyly “I am not very good at dancing though. I am sorry but I have to say no.”

Lily smiled “We train alot so you will be fine. Have a think about it. You can come and see us in training one day. That may change your mind. Please promise you will think about it.”

Adele smiled “Sure. i will.” Just as Adele was trying to side step her and leave, Lily spoke quickly “Wait. There is something else I wanted to talk to you about. You see those two boys sitting at your table. You must keep away from them. The guy they live with is very dangerous. My mother showed those two boys to me this morning in one of the shops when Piero Rosario had brought them to the towns market. My mother told me that the two boys are residents in Piero Rosario’s house and I must keep away from them. Father Rwan assured many people today in the town hall that these kids are no danger to anyone and are Piero Rosario’s nephews and we must look out for them. But he is the only one who thinks that. The fact that these boys are related to that man makes things worse. You see, there are rumours that Piero Rosario is a mob boss and a high class criminal. Anyone who is associated with him whether they are his family or work with him or friends with him or are enemies with him we must keep away from. Look around you. No one even looks at them. Its not safe to get involved with them. Anyone who lives at the Rosario ranch should be avoided at all costs. Take my advice. Find an excuse and get away from them.”

Adele frowned “Come on. You don’t really believe your mother do you? Mob bosses are mainly in New York and big cities. This town is so small. Why would a mob boss live here? Besides even if your mother is right, I don’t see how I should keep away from them. You say the guy who they live with is a criminal. Not them. Anyways, its nice meeting you. I have to get back to my table. I will see you in school.”

Before Lily could say anything else, Adele sidestepped her and walked to her table. As she sat down Francesco’s voice startled her “Was that girl bothering you? I saw how she took you to a corner. After she spoke, you didn’t seem very happy. Tell me her name. What was her business with you?”

Adele did not like the sound of Francesco’s tone at all. He sounded so demanding, cold and aggressive. Why was he making such a big deal about her just talking to another girl. Before she could respond Angelo chuckled ” I am so glad you are protective of my sister but you don’t need to interrogate my sister over something so insignificant. Girls are no threat to her. Who cares what she wanted? Give it a rest.”

Francesco persisted ” I asked Adele the question. Not you Angelo. Next time I ask your sister a question, don’t interrupt me.”

Angelo was looking at Francesco with a what the hell look. He was too shocked to speak from the deadly look that Francesco was giving him.

Adele spoke “”You really need to chill Francesco. There is no need to be mean to my brother. To put your mind at ease, she is the head of the dance club at this towns high school and asked me if I didn’t mind joining the dance club. We were discussing my qualities.”

Francesco didn’t look pleased at all. He spoke coldly “Did you join?”

Adele nodded “Of course not. I cant dance to save my life.”

Francesco suddenly seemed more relaxed. His expression completely changed ” I am glad to hear that.”

Angelo frowned “Why are you glad? Its good to join clubs in high school. It would look good on her college application. It can lead to a college scholarship if she joins a club.” He then turned to Adele and spoke “I am definitely joining the baseball team. Now you should join a club too. Come on. I say go ahead and try out this girls offer. There must be some type of dance that you could learn to do. You don’t have to do something as hard as ballet. Just sign up for tango or ballroom dancing. But have a go. ”

Francesco stood up and walked up to Angelo “You. Come with me. I need to have a word with you.”

Angelo didn’t like the sound of that at all. He hesitated to respond so he had to face Francesco’s wrath the hard way since he grabbed his arm and literally dragged him out of his seat and lead him to the exit of the marquee. Adele was totally confused. She stood up and said “Where are you taking him.” and wanted to follow them but Costanzo stopped her with his urgent words “Please whatever you do, don’t follow them. Francesco has a very short fuse. If he wanted to talk to your brother in front of you he would have done it. Just wait here.”

Minutes passed in silence between Adele and Costanzo and finally Francesco appeared. He then took his seat with a hardened expression silently and then a troubled looking Angelo who was a few steps behind him slowly walked to the table and took his seat too.

Adele gasped as she saw her brother “Are you okay Angelo. You look as pale as a piece of chalk. What happened out there?”

Angelo looked down “Nothing Adele. Nothing is wrong. Francesco and I had a chat about something and now we have an understanding. That is all.”

Adele raised an eyebrow ” Can you tell me about what?”

Angelo looked up and sighed ” It doesn’t matter. It’s resolved now. Lets say it was guy talk.”

Adele suddenly laughed ” What is guy talk exactly?”

Angelo shrugged ” I don’t know. I guess guy talk means when guys talk about things that can only be understood by guys. Remember the times Adele when you and your friends keep giggling and whispering and never admit what you said to each other. Well, Francesco and I had an equivalent of it.”

Adele was not convinced but dropped the subject ” Fine. Never mind.” She then got on with eating her food.

After minutes passed Angelo spoke ” Adele, I wish to say sorry for coming across as pushy with joining this dance club. You see now I understand why it’s good that you said no. An honourable woman really never moves her body when others beside her man can see. It’s degrading for women to hold hands with men who are not their boyfriend and fool around all day. I understand that now. Will you forgive me for suggesting such vulgar activity for such an honourable girl who is destined to be a great and faithful wife to an honourable man one day. Needless to say that your future husband may reprimand me one day that I shouldn’t have let you get into something as unsuitable as dancing. I am sure that your future husband would be jealous enough to kill for you and go after any man who has ever glanced at you then. So why not save this honourable man who would be your future husband some time and avoid letting you go down that route. So tell me Adele will you forgive me and will you promise never to join that vulgar dance club?”

Adele couldn’t believe her ears. What had possessed her brother. Where did he learn all this rubbish? But what disturbed Adele the most was her brothers pleading tone. As she was looking into Angelo’s eyes she could see he was almost pleading with her to agree. She obviously wanted so badly tell him off for his disturbing mini speech but something in his tone scared her. As though Angelo was trying to convince her of his words as though ..... his life depended on it. She was truly lost But since she never refused her brother anything, she reluctantly nodded ” You make no sense to me but yeah. Whatever. I will take your advice. I won’t join the dance club. I wasn’t planning on it anyways.” She then carried on eating as though nothing had happened hoping this change in her brothers behaviour would all make sense to her later. Part of her was telling her this was all to do with the guy talk he had with Francesco but she thought that was impossible. Her brother was quite strong willed and no one ever could change his mind or influence him especially by some short guy talk. She was truly baffled but didn’t think much of the incident.

Adele again noticed Francesco’s heavy stare. What was his problem. It was as though no one else was there except the two of them in his eyes. She gave out a frustrated sigh and looked up. She thought ” To hell with this. I might as well get some answers out of this stranger.” She then cleared her throat ” I am not comfortable when there is only silence on a table. I propose a game. Truth or dare.”

This got the boys attention. They looked up and all nodded.

Adele spoke ” I start it off. My question is for Francesco. Did you or did you not have anything to do with my brothers change of view on me attending the dance club in school? How?”

Francesco narrowed his eyes. This girl was smart. He spoke in his earnest tone ” Of course. I had everything to with that. Your brother was out of order. I explained to him what he had done wrong and what would happen if he doesn’t fix it.”

Adele gasped ” I knew it. You are unbelievable. How could you...”

Francesco raised his arm and spoke playfully ” You had your turn. Now it’s mine. Tell me Adele. What did that girl say to you except her offer of recruitment for her dance club. I know there was more to that conversation. I saw her pointing at this table and talking. Tell the truth.”

Costanzo turned to his brother ” Francesco. Why can’t you let this go? What does it matter? Just take her word for it.”

Francesco turned to Costanzo ” Mind your own business Costanzo. I didn’t ask for your opinion. Did I? I am more observant than you and it matters to me. I am certain that girl was trying to bad mouth us. She was pointing at this table with hate in her eyes. You missed that detail. But I didn’t.” He then looked at Adele ” Well. What did she say.”

Adele tried to keep a straight face ” She didn’t say anything except asking me to join her club. That is all.”

Francesco laughed menacingly ” Is this how you want to play it? If I prove you have lied, you would have to pay for it dearly in whatever way that I feel is needed until i forgive you. Are you prepared to do that? I doubt it. Last chance Adele. Tell the whole truth or I will take my own measures to get to the bottom of this.”

Adele said ” What is wrong with you. This game is not that serious. It’s just a bit of fun yet you sound so ... Threatening.....”

Angelo turned to his sister ” Adele. You are on your own here. I hate to say it but what Francesco proposed is part of the rules of this game. You proposed this game. You must know how it goes. It’s serious if you lie. If you don’t want to answer, you ask for a dare. But if you lie, then ..... The participant who has proposed the question would get to punish you how they see fit. Come on Adele. Just don’t lie to him. Please.”

Adele gritted her teeth and looked at Francesco defiantly ” You can bring it on Francesco. Prove that I lied.”

Francesco gave her a smile that brought chills down her spine for some reason. He spoke with pure joy in his voice ” It would be my pleasure.”