Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
That night, I had dinner with Alex and his family, and saw what a good teacher he was to
his own child, spending time with her before tucking her into bed. I stayed on their couch,
and then the next morning, Alex and I spoke over breakfast at his apartment. I asked him,
“Do you still want to be a fencing master?”
Alex hesitated, “Leon, some people, they dream of things they do not have. And some,
you know, they accepts the dream they do, the life they have now.”
“But what if I said,” I paused, trying to see how to offer this gift. “What if I could help
you? I want to help you become a Master in Fencing. Whatever you need to become that.
Whatever might help—classes, equipment . . .”
Alex stopped. He didn't say anything at first. Instead, he just looked down at the ground.
If we had been in a fencing match, I would have had no clue as to his next move.
“Grazie, Leon,” he nodded, “Really, this mean so much.”
“I just thought if this is what you wanted to do and you—”
Alex cut me off, putting his hand on my arm as he explained, “No, please, it is very
kind.” He paused before continuing, “But it would not help me.”
At first, I was confused, but then Alex explained, “You see, if I was to be a good master,
that mean I would first need to take care for my student.”
I nodded, trying to understand what Alex was saying. “You see, I know this young man,
this student, and he is the one that needs help. Not me.”
Alex explained that there was a young boy who had lost his father and couldn't afford
the clothes and equipment for fencing. Without someone stepping in he would be forced to
give up the chance to become the man he was destined to be.
Alex finished arguing his case, “Because for me fencing master was kind of a father,
sometimes better than a father, that I lost for a lot of years. I think that this could be a mar-
velous gift for Angelo, that he will now never see his father, but he will know forever a
fencing master.”
No one had yet asked that his gift be given to someone else. I was absolutely humbled
by Alex's request, barely able to reply. All I could say was, “Done.”
He gave me a long and heartfelt hug, “Thank you, Leon. Thank you very much, friend.”
I walked back to Kindness One, happy to discover that she was ticket-free.
I got on my yellow magic friend, and we began to drive back through the city of Trieste,
on our way out of Italy and into Bosnia. Life is filled with uncertainty, but one thing is cer-
tain: The universe has an interesting plan. Because if a shy, acne-riddled young boy hadn't
met a kindhearted American Doctor in London all those years ago, then Angelo wouldn't