Ronald & Tony

The seventh horse

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The seventh horse

Sofia recognises the courier’s destination label without handling the parcel. The horse has articulated brass legs, a dark wooden body and a small brass bell under its neck. Sofia: Enzo Bellini? That’s my grandfather! Back from a repair. I’m taking it to his workshop.

Sofia phones Enzo. Ronald and the assistants wait with the courier. Behind them, the plum-jacketed man rises from his café table. Sofia: Nonno, your horse is here. We’ll come with the courier.

The man steps over, holding an identical closed delivery box. His own bicycle stands beside the café. His manner is friendly and hurried. Man: You’ve got my parcel. The café mixed our boxes up.

The courier checks the label on the man’s box. It bears Enzo’s name and address too. He hesitates, then accepts the exchange. The man puts the first box in his bicycle’s rear basket and leaves. Courier: Same name… All right. Sorry about that.

Tony turns towards a faint DING from the departing bicycle. The accepted replacement box is silent. :

Read the transcript

Sofia recognises the courier’s destination label without handling the parcel. The horse has articulated brass legs, a dark wooden body and a small brass bell under its neck.
Sofia: Enzo Bellini? That’s my grandfather! Back from a repair. I’m taking it to his workshop.

Sofia phones Enzo. Ronald and the assistants wait with the courier. Behind them, the plum-jacketed man rises from his café table.
Sofia: Nonno, your horse is here. We’ll come with the courier.

The man steps over, holding an identical closed delivery box. His own bicycle stands beside the café. His manner is friendly and hurried.
Man: You’ve got my parcel. The café mixed our boxes up.

The courier checks the label on the man’s box. It bears Enzo’s name and address too. He hesitates, then accepts the exchange. The man puts the first box in his bicycle’s rear basket and leaves.
Courier: Same name… All right. Sorry about that.

Tony turns towards a faint DING from the departing bicycle. The accepted replacement box is silent.