Imparare in un giorno di pioggia

 Thunder rolls over Montepulciano as Lorraine ducks into the city history museum to escape a sudden downpour. Her audioguide sputters and dies, and a gray‑jacketed curator steps in—speaking slowly, pointing at paintings and models, and pairing simple Italian with English: "rosso/red," "lui si siede/he sits," "lei guarda/she looks." Together they wander the quiet rooms while the rain taps the windows; he shows a market scene, a scale model—"my city"—and she tries out "bello." By the time they reach the last gallery, the sky has cleared; Lorraine thanks him, repeats her new phrases with a smile, and steps into streets washed bright with light.