Chapter 1

The night of June 21, 1949, Brittany was walking beside her mother along a dusty road. It was the first day of summer and she was wearing a light dress with a pleated skirt, a pair of black sandals, bought especially for the occasion, a blue sweater on her shoulder and her blonde hair was pulled behind her head. Brittany was looking around with the innocent enthusiasm of someone discovering for the first time the world. The air smelled of lemons and grilled meat and she was hearing music coming from afar.
«Try to behave yourself. - said her mother softly - It's your first party and you're not a kid anymore. Try to be friendly, even with the birthday girl. But be careful with her... Santana... you know what they say about her.»
Brittany had never seen Santana. She heard rumors about her sometimes at home but just enough to evoke a vague curiosity, nothing more.

At the entrance of the garden, Brittany saw people greeting each other, hugging and smiling, happy to have a night of fun.
«Is this the happiness I dreamt so much about?» Brittany thought looking up to the tops of the trees swaying in the wind. She was not used to talk very much, leaving her mind free to wander instead.
Her mother turned around looking worried: «Is there something wrong?».
Brittany shook her head to say no, smiling sweetly.
Standing next to the tables, a group of boys and girls was laughing aloud around a girl. She was dressed in white with the skirt just below the knee. She had started running barefoot with her sandals in hand. She was laughing while her dark hair was floating in the air. She climbed on a chair and started to speak, sending kisses to the friends around her.
Brittany understood in that moment that the girl dressed in white gave a reason to exist to the garden, to the night and to the people that were calling her to celebrate. It was her dark presence to give light to the night. At this thought she felt a tenderness that left her defenseless.
Suddenly, two boys arrived carrying a big red box with a golden bow. She turned around quickly for the happiness and shouted throwing in the air the sandals behind her back. A sandal fell at the feet of Brittany who smiled but didn't stoop down to pick it up. Santana turned around laughing, put an hand on her mouth and shouted - «Sorry!» - raising her arm. They stared at each other and Brittany felt her heart beating with a violence of which she felt ashamed. For a moment she feared that someone would notice her sudden weakness. Santana turned to her friends and started to laugh like never before, even her friends were surprised for a moment by that sudden joy.
«Let's go!» said her mother irritated by that scene. Brittany stayed still for a moment then picked up the sandal, careful not to be seen, and followed her mother.

They were in the middle of the garden full of people. They didn't know anyone and her mother was squeezing her arm tightly.
«I hope your father will be here soon.» she said looking at a group of boys that were observing her daughter wondering who was that beautiful girl never seen before.
Brittany was looking at a table full of every kind of cakes and fruits, with a long line of bottles of white wine aligned in order, when her mother heard a familiar voice. From behind a group of people, her father and Mr. Lopez, the owner of the house, appeared conversing with each other. Mr. Pierce spotted his wife and his daughter and, smiling proudly, he introduced the two women to Mr. Lopez who was a tall thin man, grey-haired but still quite young.
Mr. Lopez greeted her mother and then turned to Brittany: «Seventeen years... - he said looking in her eyes - I have to say, Pierce, your daughter is really a flower ready to bloom. She is one year younger than my daughter Santana.»
Brittany looked down shyly and moved a strand of hair behind her ear.
«I bet you've already met my daughter. She was running around barefoot with her present... Santana! Santana! Come here!» he shouted looking around.
«I taught her to be free and now she's like a wild animal.» he said laughing.
Santana arrived sweating and with messy hair.
«Here I am!»
«Come here, I want you to meet my friend, Mr. Pierce. He is here with his wife and his daughter, Brittany.»
She greeted them and then she looked in the eyes of the girl with the blue sweater. Brittany was afraid by her suddenly beating heart but, as she looked the small girl in the eyes, a strange feeling of peace and joy filled her.
«Hi, I'm Santana.» she said reaching out her hand.
«Hi.» replied Brittany shaking her hand and letting the awkwardness of this first touch being overtaken by the exchange of heat between their hands.
Santana thought that the girl in front of her seemed like a butterfly, ready to fly away at any moment.
«I think you may need this.» said Brittany giving her the sandal.
Mr. Lopez began to laugh: «Ah, I really have a crazy girl!»
Santana looked at his father: «Well, I don't now where the other sandal is and I don't know what to do with just one.»
She took the shoe from Brittany's hand and threw it away.
«Isn't this a beautiful party? - she said spinning around - Thanks for coming!» she shouted while already running away.
«Oh, well, it's her party and she can do whatever she want» said Mr. Lopez with a happy smile.
Brittany felt a sudden pain: she didn't even pay attention to her after that first look. The pain was so strange, like a small wound, like a smile not returned. While still near the group, Santana had looked behind without being seing, as if to catch a last glance with Brittany. But she didn't find it.

«Don't you want to go having fun with the others?» said Mr. Pierce to her daughter.
«No.»
«Why not?»
«Give her a break - said her mother - she will stay here with me.»
«I thought it would be a good thing to stay with the others - replied his father - she is always alone.»
Brittany was bother both by her father, with his pressure to socialize, and her mother, with her continuing prohibitions and anxieties.
«I hope I don't disturb you - said Mr. Lopez approaching the family - but I will steal your daughter for a drink. A girl like you should enjoy a party like this. You have to meet some of the boys. Ah, if only I was twenty years younger!»
Brittany laughed shyly and followed Lopez while her mother was looking preoccupied.
«What can I offer you?» said Mr. Lopez.
«An orange juice.»
She had just took a sip of her drink when Santana appeared behind her.
«Are you trying to steal my friends? - she said looking her father in the eyes - Come on, let's go find someone interesting.»
Santana took her hand and started to walk away.
«You should walk barefoot too - she said without looking Brittany who was trying to keep her pace - the feeling is amazing.»
Brittany looked at their joined hands and for the first time in her life she felt her heart smiling.

«So?» said Mr. Pierce approaching Mr. Lopez.
«They're beautiful.» Mr. Lopez said looking toward the two girls.
There was a moment of silence.
«I'd like to invite your daughter to stay here tonight - he said - I would be very happy if our daughters become friends.»
«Sure! It would be an honor.» Mr. Pierce replied.
«And tomorrow night we can close our deal».
Mrs. Pierce was looking at her husband with eyes wide open.
«I don't think it's a good idea. - she said - She is not used to stay out at night, she needs to sleep at home.»
«Oh, don't be silly - replied Mr. Pierce - she is almost a woman now and Mr. Lopez is a friend so I don't see where is the problem.»
«Let's celebrate, then! - said Mr. Lopez - To our daughters!»