Anna Maria's Gift Read Online Free PDF Page B

her. She wanted to go on playing and never stop.
    At the end Anna Maria let her bow arm drop to her side. She saw that Count Contarini’s eyes shone with tears.
    He said, “Don Vivaldi, that is beautiful. With respect, you should keep to composing music rather than speeches.”
    A smile spread across the maestro’s face. “Not all nobles really listen to music as youdo, Excellency. If they did, I would not have to make speeches.”
    The count nodded. Then to Anna Maria he said, “I am deeply moved by your playing,
signorina
. You and the violin seem as one.” He turned to his daughter.
    Her face twisted with the struggle going on inside her head. At last she spoke to Anna Maria. “My father gave me this violin one night at dinner. Afterward I went out on the balcony and played it by moonlight.”
    “I heard you!” said Anna Maria. “From my window in the Pietà.”
    “I loved the violin,” Donata went on. “But it felt restless in my hands. As I played, I knew that its spirit belonged to Annina. Wherever she might be.”
    Donata paused and looked at the count.
    “May I, Father?”
    He nodded.

    “And so, my father and I agree that the violin is yours to keep,” Donata said. “You belong together.”
    Anna Maria opened her mouth, but no words came out. She ran to Donata and hugged her.
    Then Anna Maria stepped back. “Count Contarini, how can I ever repay you?”
    He smiled. “You just did,
signorina.”

O n the way home, Francesco said, “And what of Paolina? Shall we toss her in the canal?”
    Anna Maria burst out laughing.
    “Signorina
, do you remember what I told you when you first arrived here?”
    “Sì
, no one can be sad in Venice. At least not for long.”
    Francesco nodded. “I think Paolina must be sad for what she did.”
    “Truly?” said Anna Maria.
    “Sì
. And I think you are the only person who can make her happy,” he went on.
    Now that she had her violin back, Anna Maria wanted everyone to be happy. “How, Signor Francesco?”
    “I can’t tell you how,
signorina.”
    “Francesco, you should have been a priest,” said the maestro.
    “Oh no, Don Vivaldi. They would have unfrocked me by now. Besides, I prefer the open air.” And with that Francesco began to sing.
    A woman standing on a balcony sang with him.
    “Ah, Venice,” said Maestro Vivaldi. He glanced at Sister Lidia, who blushed.
    That evening at vespers Anna Maria escaped to the courtyard with her violin. The plum trees were in white flower. She inhaledtheir perfume. Then she closed her eyes and began to play. Her spirit soared with Papa’s voice.
    When Anna Maria opened her eyes, she saw Paolina peeking out from behind a column. Quickly she disappeared.

    “Paolina, is that you?” Anna Maria called in a loud whisper.
    Paolina stepped out from behind the column and walked toward Anna Maria. She looked thinner, and her stringy hair was tangled.
    She stopped a few feet away. “Is that your violin?”
    “Sì,”
said Anna Maria. She told Paolina everything that had happened.
    “It is a miracle,” Paolina said. She covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know how I could do such a thing. You must hate me.”
    “Not anymore,” said Anna Maria.
    Paolina looked up. “Why? Because you have your violin back?”
    “Sì
, but also because of what my friend the gondolier said. He thinks you are sad for what you did.”
    Paolina stared at the paving stones and nodded. “Your friend is right. I am sad … and sorry, too.”
    “Then I will sing you a song he taught me. It made me laugh, even when I was sad about my father.”
    Anna Maria took up her violin. “It goes like this.”
    “If macaroni rained down from the sky,
And the earth were covered over with cheese,
We’d use our oars as forks, you and I.
How jolly! Macaroni raining down from the sky!”
    Paolina laughed, but her eyes were still sad.
    “You must miss violin class,” said Anna Maria.
    “Sì
, Maestro Vivaldi was like a father tome.” Paolina