A few quick notes before I start:
1. I would like to add to the disclaimer that I half borrowed the title from a Harry Potter book.
2. I checked the spelling of Signore in the glossary of my Thief Lord book, and that's the spelling it gives…So maybe the other is Spanish? I know Spanish and Italian are really similar…
4. Thanks to everybody who wrote a review!
5. I know this is set in Summer, and Prosper and Bo don't come until the fall, but they're already here in my story…
6. And now back to our story! (Sorry it's sorta short – chapter two will be lots longer!)
The Stella was chilly for a summer night, but the five orphans who lived inside tried not to notice. Mosca stirred spaghetti sauce on a small camp stove, Prosper and Bo helped Hornet set out mismatched glasses and chipped plates. Riccio bounced up and down impatiently.
"Settle down Riccio!" Prosper said, trying to sound like he was in charge. As a big brother he was used to being the leader.
"I thought Scipio was gonna come to dinner!" Riccio asked anxiously.
"He only said he'd try." Hornet said softly, with the air of a mother telling her child that Santa couldn't bring them everything they wanted for Christmas.
Riccio's face fell. "But he never comes! He said we're a family! And families eat dinner together!" he pounded his fist on the table in frustration.
Mosca turned off the camp stove and brought the food to the rickety table, setting the bowls down on the flowered table cloth Hornet had persuaded them to use. "It lends a touch of elegance!" She had insisted. And even Riccio knew better then to argue when she had her mind made up.
The five sat down hesitantly, not wanting to start without the Scipio. He had said he would try and come…They waited in silence for what felt like a long time, finally Prosper spoke up; "Maybe it would be best to start…If Skip isn't here by now, he – " He was cut of my a voice from the shadows.
"Now what have I told you about calling me Skip?" The voice asked jokingly. Scipio stepped out from the darkness, a smile written across his face.
"You came!" Bo shouted as he jumped up from his seat. Hornet smiled shyly and began setting another place for dinner.
"Sorry I'm late little one." Scipio said. And although his words were sympathetic, his voice had a hint of pride to it. "I had to make a couple stops along the way…" He held up a bulging sack. Bo's eyes grew wide and Riccio asked excitedly: "Did you bring any cakes?!"
"Did I bring any cakes?" Scipio echoed in mock thought. "Why don't you take a look…"
Riccio dived for the sack, he un-did the draw string and pulled out a shinny box tied with a red ribbon, but Hornet pulled the box away before he could open it. "We'll have dessert after dinner, and not before." She said disapprovingly. Hornet still wasn't sure if she approved of stealing as a way of life.
"Well then let's eat! Riccio declared. "The sooner we eat the sooner we can have dessert!"
The six children enjoyed their dinner that night, for Scipio it was a welcome chance to escape from his father, a chance to forget that his half-sister would be coming to stay, a chance to pretend he really was The Thief Lord.