Rites of Passage

It is usual in late spring, as the school year winds down, to hear local kids playing five a side soccer on the soccer pitch in front of my house. It is usually teen agers, and they are usually well behaved, and they always seem to have a good time.

This year the teams seemed to change. The familiar faces from the last few years were no longer about. There was a younger group playing, including my next door (summer) neighbor, Giacomo, sometimes with his brother Vincenzo, the children of Totò and Anna. The group also included Paolo and Ignatzia's grand son, Paolino (little Paolo). (In the picture on the top, Giocomo is the one with the DEE JAY shirt on, and little Paolo is the biggest kid there) On the rare occasions that the old guard came to play, they would always let a few of the young ones join them, but they did not really want to face the litigation of taking over the court, so the young lions held sway.

As it became too hot to play soccer, the boys still came up here to use Giacomo's parents apartment. They would sit on the terrace, laugh, talk, play cards, watch television, and sometimes spy on me. I think once they made pasta, and another time pop corn. They were always polite, and always said hello to me.

I had wondered what the rite of passage was here between young boy and young man. Well, I think it is get togethers like the ones I have been watching. It is also the ability to legally drive motorini, or motorscooters. And they do drive them. At lest they do not go up and down endlessly in front of the house, and they rarely even try to do wheelies, although I am sure all of them can do them.

When I went out a few minutes ago to ask if I could take their pictures, they said that they had to be someplace, so I should hurry. Then they put together a few poses that they thought I would like. They are good kids, every one of them, and I am glad to have them as neighbors.