Il diario di Francesco

At one o’clock it is lunchtime. I go home and make a simple meal. I cook pasta with tomato sauce and put a little salad on my plate. I drink water and listen to the radio at a low volume. I eat slowly and rest for five minutes. Then I take an apple and a small coffee. I feel stronger for the afternoon.

At two o’clock I go back to the office. In the afternoon other people arrive. A family asks me where to buy bread. I say: the bakery is near the fountain. Then a lady asks for the bus timetable. I check the paper and I answer. On the phone I speak slowly and clearly. When I can help, I feel useful and happy.

At four o’clock I finish work. I close the computer, I put the papers away, and I clean the table a little. I turn off the light and I close the door with the key. Outside the air is cold, but the sky is beautiful. I walk on the stone streets and I smell the smell of wood. I am tired, but I am also happy with the day.

At five o’clock I do the shopping in the village shop. I buy bread, tomatoes, cheese, and some vegetables. I meet Marco, a friend, near the counter. We talk about the weather and about work. He tells me something funny and I laugh. I also greet the lady from the shop. In the village everyone knows each other, and I feel at home.

At seven o'clock I make dinner. I put a pot on the stove and I make a vegetable soup. I cut carrots and potatoes and I stir slowly. The house smells of warm food. I eat at the table with a piece of bread. I turn on the heater and I feel the warmth. Outside it is dark and the wind blows, but inside the house there is peace.

At nine o'clock I relax. I wash the dishes and I put everything away in the kitchen. Then I sit down on the sofa and I watch TV for a short time. After that I read an easy book and I drink a hot tea. I open my diary and I write: today I worked well and I talked to kind people. I feel happy and calm.

At eleven o'clock I go to bed. I turn off my phone and I set the alarm for tomorrow. I close the window and I turn off the light. I listen to the silence of the village and sometimes the wind. I think about a nice thing: the neighbor’s smile in the square. My heart is calm. I close my eyes and I fall asleep.