Page 401 - The Grotesque Children's Book

“Am I? Because I actually often give myself the exact opposite impression. Take today,
for example, I didn’t understand the guard didn’t like being yelled at. I thought he was just being
stubborn, you know, probably because he’s had a hard life working on a farm and --”

“Tozzo! Listen to me. The guard will be back any moment now, so I need you to
understand me. The carabinieri will probably come to my rooms tomorrow and ransack them, to
look for jewels. But you have to get there first and take the box under my bed. It contains two
hundred seven letters. I don’t want the carabinieri getting hold of those two hundred seven
letters. I want you to take that box, and guard it for me as long as it takes for me to get out.”
The guard descended the stairs and appeared in the walkway leading toward the cells. “There he
is! Are you understanding me, Tozzo?”

“Yes.”
“Oh, good.”
“You want me to bring me your box of letters.”
“No!”
“You want me to write you some letters, to add to your box. I would do that, Carola, but
I don’t write. I’ll send you some drawings, if you like.”
“Tozzo, no, don’t bring me that box of letters. You, you keep that box of letters. Repeat
that back to me, before the guard says our time is up.”
“You want me to keep that box.”
Carola gasped in surprise. “Yes! That’s exactly it, Tozzo. Bravo, bravo!”
Tozzo took a little bow, pleased with himself. “Keep the box. But bring you the letters
which are inside.”
Carola tore at her hair. Suddenly it was Luzetta who spoke. She sat up bolt upright and
said, “For God’s sakes, you moron. She’s telling you there’s money in that box, not letters! Get
the money before the police find it, and keep it until she gets out.” She pointed a thick finger
towards Carola. “Did I get that about right, sweetie?” She continued, “Don’t you worry. I
wouldn’t steal from a fellow prisoner. Honor among thieves. You’d do the same for me. Here’s
the guard. Now. Trust me, Tozzo. Go find that box and keep it safe for your girl here.”
Well, that was unexpected, thought Carola. “Thanks.” I’ll have to remember her when I
get out.
As the guards led Tozzo away, Carola thought to herself, Keep it safe for your girl. Your
girl? Tozzo hadn’t protested. For that matter, neither had she.

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