European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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The fascist regime didn’t even spare us children.
The fascist regime didn’t even spare us children.
The fascist regime didn’t spare us children. -
I was good, I was really good at drawing.
I was good, I was really good at drawing.
I was really very good in drawing. -
And look at the irony of fate: I drew a very nice sheaf with a beautiful laurel wreath.
And look at the irony of fate: I drew a very nice sheaf with a beautiful laurel wreath.
I had drawn some very nice fasces with a laurel wreath. -
To paint it, I mean, to color it with crayons if you don't have the hand for it... I mean, if you're not careful, it won't turn out well...
To paint it, I mean, to color it with crayons if you don't have the hand for it... I mean, if you're not careful, it won't turn out well...
It’s not easy to colour that with crayons if you’re not good at it. -
but actually it turned out to be very beautiful
but actually it turned out to be very beautiful
It turned out really nice. -
and it was selected as the best drawing of our elementary school in Castelnovo di Sotto.
and it was selected as the best drawing of our elementary school in Castelnovo di Sotto.
My drawing was chosen as the most beautiful one in the school. -
We were called to the Ausoni theatre for the award ceremony.
We were called to the Ausoni theatre for the award ceremony.
We were called at the Ausoni theatre for the award ceremony. -
The podestà was supposed to come hand out the prizes.
The podestà was supposed to come hand out the prizes.
The podestà was to hand out the prizes. -
They were present, since the entire fascist heirarchy was present at every event, giving out awards to the children...
They were present, since the entire fascist heirarchy was present at every event, giving out awards to the children...
The whole fascist hierarchy was attending, as always in case of ceremonies. -
i was the last one to be called since I had earned the top award in the entire school.
i was the last one to be called since I had earned the top award in the entire school.
I was the last one who would have been awarded. -
They called me, I went up the stairs and was up on the stage...
They called me, I went up the stairs and was up on the stage...
They finally called me. I went up the steps to the stand. -
and there stood Doctor Ganassi. This I should state because he was a family friend and I, even all of us, would bring him milk from a cow that I'd practically raised,
and there stood Doctor Ganassi. This I should state because he was a family friend and I, even all of us, would bring him milk from a cow that I'd practically raised,
Mr. Ganassi was there. Every evening I used to bring him some milk of a cow I had raised. -
since he had a young son but couldn't manage to raise him... all of his children died as infants and so we would bring him this milk.
since he had a young son but couldn't manage to raise him... all of his children died as infants and so we would bring him this milk.
Since he had a little child and he had been losing all his children when very young. -
And he said: “Oh, you don’t belong to the Piccole Italiane?” I answered: “No, my father didn’t sign me up”.
And he said: “Oh, you don’t belong to the Piccole Italiane?” I answered: “No, my father didn’t sign me up”.
Mr. Ganassi told me: “So you don’t belong to the Piccole Italiane?” I answered: “No, my father didn’t sign me up”. -
"Well, then we won't give your your award" and he sent me back.
"Well, then we won't give your your award" and he sent me back.
“So we can’t give you the award”, said Mr. Ganassi, and sent me back. -
A ten, eleven year-old girl... how can you explain to her that...
A ten, eleven year-old girl... how can you explain to her that...
How can a little girl who’s ten or eleven years old understand -
how can she understand that there is more worth to a membership card than her ability to work, to study, to be good, etcetera?
how can she understand that there is more worth to a membership card than her ability to work, to study, to be good, etcetera?
that having a membership card is worth more than her skills? -
I went home crying. My mother was feeding the pigs. Poor thing.. she found herself...
I went home crying. My mother was feeding the pigs. Poor thing.. she found herself...
I went home crying. My mother was feeding the pigs. -
I said, "This is your fault. I didn't get an award because you didn't get me the membership."
I said, "This is your fault. I didn't get an award because you didn't get me the membership."
I was telling her that it was her fault that I didn’t receive my prize. -
So she gave me a good slap and told me, "At least now you have something to cry about." Perhaps she found it difficult to respond to me in the moment
So she gave me a good slap and told me, "At least now you have something to cry about." Perhaps she found it difficult to respond to me in the moment
She slapped me and told me that at least I had something to cry about. She didn’t know how to explain me.