Summary

Sarah, an English-speaking young woman, experiences a romantic and culturally immersive summer fling with Romano, an Italian boy, while on a trip to Italy with her friend Billie, marked by language barriers, intimate moments, and the eventual heartache of parting.

Abstract

The narrative "First Love’s Blush and a Smoking Kiss" from "Two Little Girls Chapter 16" captures the blossoming romance between Sarah and Romano, two young individuals who communicate through non-verbal cues due to a language barrier. Their connection deepens during shared meals, beach outings, and sightseeing in Venice, culminating in a series of intimate encounters. Despite the cultural differences and the fleeting nature of their relationship, Sarah and Romano form a profound bond, which ends in a bittersweet farewell. The story is a poignant reflection on the intensity of first love and the lasting impact of a summer romance.

Opinions

The author, Karen Madej, portrays the innocence and intensity of young love through the characters' interactions, emphasizing the universal nature of such experiences.
The cultural exchange between the English-speaking girls and the Italian boys is depicted as both a challenge and a charming aspect of their travels.
The narrative suggests that non-verbal communication, such as eye contact and physical closeness, can be as powerful and meaningful as spoken words in forming a romantic connection.
The story reflects on the bittersweet nature of summer romances, acknowledging the fleeting yet impactful memories that linger long after the farewell.
The author subtly critiques the smoking culture of the time, juxtaposing it with the romantic moments shared between Sarah and Romano, highlighting the contrast between the perceived allure and the actual health risks.
The experience of traveling and exploring new places is shown to be enhanced by the emotional connections made along the way, adding depth to the adventure and personal growth of the characters.

First Love’s Blush and a Smoking Kiss

Two Little Girls Chapter 16

The young women spoke French because they knew no Italian and the boys knew no English. Romano sat next to Sarah. She sensed him looking at her as they ate. Sarah tried to not let the spaghetti slap her in the face as she sucked up long strands in a slow and careful manner.

Romano fidgeted and held his plastic bowl down in his lap. Sarah gazed at his bronzed face. Slim with cheekbones that would make a fashion photographer weep. Freckles dotted his native Italian Roman nose and the tops of his cheeks.

His Adriatic sea-blue eyes, caught by the early evening sunlight, found and held her green ones. He won the lingering eye contact competition because she blushed and blinked. She fell asleep thinking of him looking at her as though he’d like to see her on the next day’s menu.

At the beach, the next day Romano and Sarah lay on their beach towels beside each other. She was trying to read her book and pretend he wasn’t watching her. He moved closer. He edged a few millimetres nearer every few minutes until his nose was on her shoulder. From there he could read her book with her. If he could read English. Sarah felt the heat from his skin all down her side. His breath kissed the top of her arm. Her body tingled, but she lay still.

When Sarah could no longer bear the intensity, she dropped her book and rolled away from him. She jumped up and sprinted for the cool saltwater where she splashed and waded her way into chest height waves. Then lay back and floated.

A while later someone else sploshed into the lackadaisical waves. She stayed floating for a while, then put her feet on the sand and opened her eyes. Romano was floating on his back a metre or so away. She leaned back and floated next to him. Their fingers brushed as they bobbed.

When the water had chilled her enough that she needed the warmth of the sand again, she righted herself. Romano did the same, and they strode through the breaking waves together. Then flopped back onto their towels to let the sun do the hard work of drying their salted bodies.

Sarah and Billie didn’t go to the beach every day. They caught the train to Venice and back one day. Sarah bought a family of pastel blue and white Venetian glass snails to take home. Then the girls feasted on back street pizza for lunch.

To enter St Mark’s, the girls had to cover their spaghetti-strap shoulders with scarves. If they wanted to go in had, they had to respect the inconvenience. They joined the other tourists, oohing and ahhing with their heads tilted back. The Sistine Chapel took their collective breath away.

They ate iced coconut to cool down in the afternoon and returned to the boys and the campsite in the early evening. The dark-haired Italians had dinner waiting for their blonde campsite neighbours. Spaghetti carbonara with cream and ham, mushrooms, and onions became Sarah’s new favourite.

Smoking was an integral part of the group, as much as the flirting. Billie played a princess and the three boys aced their roles as princes, courting her. Romano and Sarah drifted to each other like air to lungs.

Entangled in each other’s limbs, Romano took a drag of his cigarette. Then placed his free hand on the back of Sarah’s neck and caressed her lips with his. Next, he parted them with his tongue and blew smoke into her mouth. Sarah would find it abhorrent now, but then the novelty of the act surprised her into acceptance.

Oblivious, they shared cigarettes in this way in the company of an outdoor café’s customers. They held hands. They sat next to each other, and Sarah would slouch in the chair so Romano could drape his arm over her shoulders.

Their tongues entwined and danced in the other’s mouth as if every moment was their last. Intoxicated by emotion, she emerged from kissing sessions, unsure of her whereabouts. With no clue what the time of day or even the day of the week. Romano took away all thought of food, drink, and pain from sunburn.

One day, after Billie and Sarah explored an ancient church, they perched on a wall, a short walk from it. Billie wanted to decide what to do next. She’d lost her purse and all her money a few days earlier. Lucky for her, her father sent some money to her. Now she and Sarah could continue sightseeing and buying food and drinks. Billie opted for a market to buy a new purse, as she wasn’t overfond of the plastic bag she was using to keep her cash in.

As Sarah listened to her friend’s choice of colours for her new purse, she closed her left eye. The church disappeared. She opened it and closed the right eye; the church remained in place. She closed the left again and lost sight of the church. No matter how much she moved her right eyeball, she couldn’t see the church. Weird.

At the market, Billie found a purple leather wallet style purse. Sarah bought a black leather belt with a plain buckle for her dad. A small brown leather shoulder bag for herself, and one for her step mum. She got a white t-shirt with a ladybird on it for Shaz.

Their adventure almost over, they said their goodbyes to the boys. Romano drew Sarah away from the group to hold and kiss her. They had no words.

Back in Bologna, Billie’s dad put the girls in a taxi bound for the train station. For Sarah, tears filled the homeward journey. Her body had lost Romano. His constant connection to her for two weeks gone.

Her thoughts featured him and everything he did. All the nuances of his expressions, and the way his smile and his eyes worked together to make her stomach lurch. Billie tried her best to cheer her friend up, but Sarah couldn’t hear her.

Sarah Two Little Girls Chapter 1

Cinzano Sipped, Gelato Licked and Spaghetti Slurped Two Little Girls Chapter 15

Two Little Girls Table of Contents

Formerly known as Gemini Craving.

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