HOW CAN I GO ON

By Annette Baccari and Pasqualina C. Buono

Disowned by her beating family and thrown out of her house that she loved. What will she do now without a home and family? Where will she go? How many tears will she cry for her mistakes?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gotham Books
• Release date: Dec 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798887750323

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HOW CAN I

GO ON

By Annette Baccari and Pasqualina C. Buono

I was born Pasqualina Caccaviello in Maurage, Belgium. I am the 6th of 7 children and the last child to be born in Belgium. I would vacation almost every year in Luogosano, a province of Avellino, Naples, Italy - the country of origin for my parents. Every year I would visit my godfather who had a son, Tonino, a music teacher that gave me his undivided attention. Destiny brought us together so I left Belgium and we were married in July 1984. Within four years we had 3 beautiful children: Feliceantonio, Emilio, and Anna.

Changing my lifestyle and customs from one country to another was not easy but I did it. I did not have much time to work or write while they were young but as they grew older, time was more available to me. With that available time, I wrote this novel. My husband’s cousin came to Luogosano on vacation from America, Annette Di Stasio Baccari, and read the novel I had written. She herself has written 2 cookbooks: Nonna’s Kitchen and Nonna’s Kitchen 2, published on Amazon.

She liked the story and asked if she could translate the story into English for me and have it published. and so it is that she has translated the whole story and published it with my permission.

How many torments can life bring to a young, beautiful, crystal blue eyed girl named Elisabeth who has fallen in love with the wrong type of a romanizing young man while another charismatic, handsome young man vows his never ending love for her.

Will that delinquent love for her win her over? Will it be enough for her to stay with him or will she choose the other? Will she make the right decision? What if she makes the wrong decision? What will happen to her?

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© 2022 Annette Bacarri. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by Gotham Books (December 17, 2022)

ISBN: 979-8-88775-031-6 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-88775-032-3 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Our story begins in the year nineteen hundred seventy, in a small village called Grottolina Montanara in the province of Potenza, Italy.

It is said that many, many years ago, at the foot of the mountain that dominates this town, there was one small cove still existing that was inhabited from one family of gnomes.

With the passing of time however, these people multiplied so much that the small cove could no longer accommodate all the gnomes of the region and because of that they had to ultimately move to the top of the mountain region for shelter.

And it is from this legend that has been handed down for generations that our small village has been named Grottolina Montanara (little peoples cove in the mountain).

In this small terrestrial paradise reside a total of 4,000 inhabitants. Here one lives well and does not lack for anything. There’s a high school, elementary and middle school, two general stores, a clothing store and a Bread Bakery store where Marisa and her husband make the most delicious bread and cakes in the world.

In the heart of this country, is a beautiful piazza (square) with a beautiful little church, and with its musical bell tower that strikes its chimes every quarter of an hour.

A little distance from there is Agostino’s Bar. He’s 50 years old, a bit on the stocky side with hazel eyes and a beautiful face that is always smiling.

Agostino loves his food and it shows. He’s a very happy person and transmits that happiness to others. Above all he loves the young people and at nearly all the important festivities, he organizes dances in his largest room of his Bar along with a jukebox. Everyone meets up there and has a wonderful time dancing, laughing and singing. Next to the Bar, is a small store called Zi (Uncle) Francisco, because everyone calls the owner Zi Francisco (Uncle) Francisco. He’s the town’s loving and sympathetic shoemaker to all.

The Houses are not big but they are kept well. Behind each home exist small well cultivated gardens.

When one goes walking in the streets of Littleton, you will often hear the sound of the rooster’s cocking. And if you can stretch your eyesight a bit, you can catch a glimpse of the bunnies, pigs and other animals in their own cages.

There are also large portions of open land with many trees from fruits to nuts: cherries, apples, walnuts, etc. Many olive groves and vineyards extend throughout this land. Oh, yes! Our village is alive partially because of the fruits of its earth.

Jobs unfortunately are few and far in-between. The young people and their fathers are forced to work in repair shops for cars, bicycles, or trains, near the outskirts of the village where some factories exist.

One of the inhabitants, Alfonso Runfoli, 49 years of age, is an employee of the Prometal of Groton, where every morning he goes to work by automobile.

Physically, Alfonso could be defined as the Mediterranean type: tall, broad shouldered, with black eyes. He has that serious, old fashion, masculine and strict look about him who is even more stern and strict on himself than he should be. A person’s character and good looks are important to him and moreover, important for him to not only look good to others but to characterize himself as being better than others making it very difficult to live with and up to.

Alfonso married Matilda who is of 46 years of age, of medium height, thin body, chestnut brown hair that falls to her shoulders, hazel eyes, and light skinned. She is a beautiful, gentle and often a submissive woman, but happy because she’s very much in love with her husband. From their marriage, two daughters have been born: Rossella and Elisabeth.

Rossella is 27 years of age, is married to Pietro Flusso, an electronic engineer, and they have two children: Sabrina and Francesco.

Physically, Rossella resembles her father who is very proud that his daughter has married a professional, which is what she has also always wanted in life.

Then there’s Elisabeth, who is 17 years of age, is a model student, also because, with her father’s strictness, she can conveniently study seriously without distractions. She attends the Tech Trade Institute in Concord which is about 7 kilometers from Littleton. She attends that school so she can become a great professional secretary someday.

Elisabeth is a beautiful young lady. She resembles her mother, but taller, with very long light brown hair, crystal blue eyes and a beautiful smile that makes all the young boys fall in love with her.

And then there’s Giulio! Gorgeous Giulio! His presence is like that of Alain Delon but much more handsome! He’s the most handsome and fascinating young man in the village! Tall, chestnut hair and green eyes that make all the women go crazy! But there’s a problem: he’s very shy.

Notwithstanding his shyness, he got the courage to declare his love to Elisabeth. His intentions are honest and serious and has vowed his marriage intentions to her over and over again stating that he didn’t care how many women wanted him, he only wanted and loved her and would never marry or love anyone else but her.

And every time Elisabeth would answer:

Giulio, you are without a doubt a great catch, intelligent, sensible and above all, a gorgeous and handsome young man that no one can deny. But you know that I love Massimo, that I am deeply in love with him and serious with that relationship.

Don’t be so sure about your love for him. Massimo doesn’t have a very good reputation. I’m not telling you that out of jealousy, I’m just telling you to open your eyes and be careful. Actually, I love you so much that if you are truly serious and happy with him, I would be the first to recognize his love for you. I just pray that he never makes you suffer. Anyway, know that I love you more than my own life itself.

And I love you like a brother.

For some months now Elisabeth has been seeing Massimo, who is 19 years of age, broad shouldered, with long hair, and not that good looking.

He left school at the age of 14, and doesn’t like to work. Actually, he’s nothing more than a lazy juvenile delinquent that no one looks up to.

Whatever made Elisabeth get involved with his type is a mystery!

Her father has forbidden her to ever meet up with him again: The next time I see you with him, you’ll receive so many beatings you’ll wish you had never met him. You need someone who is responsible, someone who wants to become somebody important, with a head on his shoulders and not a vagabond and worthless being like him! Apart from the fact that you are 17 years old and still too young to understand life, what do you know about the different types of men? I have made many sacrifices in order to make sure that my daughter has what she needs to make it in life and I don’t want to see it wasted on a juvenile delinquent like him! Do you understand me? Do you understand me well enough to understand what I’m saying to you?

Yes, father!

Her father is right. It would be like entrusting an angel to a devil because he knows