The grocery store is just 5 more minutes away from school on foot, in the direction Giorgio went after he left us.

I've never been through this part of Genoa at night. But it looks so beautiful.

I should take this kind of late night walk more often.

"That was very brave of you what you did today," Mrs. Marcovaldo suddenly spoke to me.

"Huh? Oh... yeah. Thanks," I said.

"You're welcome. You can't believe how glad I am to have met you," she continued.

I gotta admit, I'm flattered.

"Thanks," I said.

"You wouldn't believe how horrible some people are," she also said.

Oh yes, ma'am... Yes, I would.

I even finally properly saw the stars in the sky. It's like this every night?

Oh yes, I will definitely do this more often.

"Come on, hurry; the store closes in 10 minutes," Mrs. Marcovaldo encouraged me once we arrived in front of the store.

Clearly she takes this very seriously. I mean, she does have to buy food for us to eat tomorrow.

So I hurried inside.

One of the cashiers stared at us with a disappointing look. She must not like that we got in just before closing time.

Don't worry, cashier, we will be done soon. I hope.

We bought some apples, tomatoes, salad, grapes, and pasta for lasagna. Mmm, tomorrow's dinner's gonna be deliciuos.

But right after we got out, Mrs. Marcovaldo stopped for a moment. And she sighed.

"Of course I forgot that," she thought out loud.

Apparently, there's something else she forgot to buy from the store.

"Luca, could you please wait outside for just a minute? I forgot the peas," she requested of me.

"Sure."

"Thank you very much; I'll be right back," she said, clearly relieved.

And so I stayed outside, with one of the bags in my hand, just... standing in the middle of the street.

Well, at least I have some more time to gaze at the stars. They look so amazing.

I could actually be looking at that every single night. I have the opportunity for that.

That looks so nice.

At one moment, while I was distracted by the night sky, a few birds flew in my direction. But they flew past me.

I snapped back to reality. I turned to where those birds had gone.

Some man was sitting on a bench, feeding them with breadcrumbs.

I guess he had nothing else left to do for the night.

But it was for a few more seconds that I watched him feed the birds, and I noticed amoething soon enough.

It's the guard from the museum I saw earlier today!

I knew I was gonna remember his face!

And so, I thought it might be a good idea to try to make friends with him.

"Excuse me, sir..." I began, slowly approaching him.

But he didn't even look my way. Instead, he just said:

"You shouldn't be here at this time of night."

I was a little confused by his words.

"Why not?"

"Haven't you heard?" he asked me.

"Heard what?"

"Apparently, someone spotted a sea monster in the sea just ahead of you."

Uh-oh. Well, now I'm in trouble.

Much unlike what I was hoping for, the rumour did spread.

I have no intention of revealing to this man that it was me. I don't know what he will do to me if I do.

I should act confused again.

"Really? I mean, did you see it for yourself?"

"No... but I'm not taking any chances."

The way he just said that sounded like he's... ugh... prepared, in case he sees it with his own eyes.

This is not okay. This is very much not okay!

"You're overreacting," I tried to... cheer him up, I guess? "What would that sea monster even do to you?"

It was then that the guard looked straight at me.

For a second, something about his look made me think whether he too figured out. But I think a bigger chance is he had lots of thoughts in his head at once.

"Maybe you're right, kid," he told me. "I never saw them outside of the water. All the stories I've heard about them were us attacking them. Never the other way around."

As he was saying that, I slowly got closer to the bench he was sitting on, and I too sat.

"See? So, even if they do exist," I can't believe I really said that, "they will leave you alone, if you leave them alone."

The guard looked at me again.

"I guess you're right," he added.

That sounded like he'll reconsider his, uh, "readiness".

I'm kind of relieved. For now.

"I'm Luca Paguro," I stretched out my arm so we could shake hands.

He accepted it, and we shook hands.

"Bruno Scorfano."

WHAT?!