Somebody told me that the English say that men do not cry. Well, I am not yet a man and I am not at all English. I am Venetian. In Venezia I see that men express emotion. So I admit that for four days my tears flood my heart and soul more than the Adriatic floods our city of Venezia.

To see the destruction of the city brings fear and anguish. I do not think it possible that even an Englishman could hold back from crying, for all of Venezia is flooding and the water does not seem to want to go away.

The boy Fiorino Pera walks through the flooded piazza

Then il Signor Principe di Melioria made the announcement that he would open his island for the Venetians. I did not think he meant the citizens and the workers, much less the orphans. But then my lord the Patriarch said that the Principe was making room for everyone who had not any other place to go. Before I could know what to think, I was on the ship and sailing to the island of Melioria.

On the ship I saw my dear friend, Signor Capo. Many times in Venezia I see him fixing houses early in the morning. I also meet his sons who are very funny. They are on the ship too, and they make me laugh so much that I forget that I am so sad. But then comes the big surprise: my friend Signor Capo is really a prince! He is the Principe di Melioria! When I find this out I feel so bad, for I have never given him bows that are deep enough for a Prince. But on the ship he tells me that he does not need deep bows: that we are friends and that he wants me to help make the other young people enjoy their time in the country, away from the danger. Signor Capo er I mean, Sua Altezza tells me that he will himself teach me to drive the horses that take the wagons around the island.

It is exciting, but as the sun comes down over the sea and we go slowly toward the island, I am again filled with very deep sadness. With the setting sun, which is the hour of the singing to the Madonna, I ask the Star of the Sea to bring us safely to port, and to ease the pain in our hearts.

Fiorino Pera (L) and his friend Rico Millefiori (R) talk quietly during the sea passage