~* Textile Guild Meeting House ~ Florence, Italy *~ Brian sat in the back of the meeting house with his mentor and friend Vic Grassi. He couldn’t believe how unorganized and ill-inspired the ideas of these so called knowledgeable guild members were. The wealth that these men had, definitely did not translate into intelligence. “And these are the men who hold positions in our government, and influence our social beliefs,” Brian shook his head and thought with a sarcastic and disdainful look on his face. Vic glanced at him with a smirk. He could read his thoughts by the expression on his face. Of course, Brian showed no fear in verbalizing his thoughts at home or in the local drinking establishments. He had just been ranting last night about how the other guild members were not taking full advantage of the smaller markets in selling their fabrics. “The common man needs clothes too!” He had said. Vic smiled as he remembered the exasperated look on Brian’s face as he humored him by pretending to listen, before he stormed out for the night. How the boy had changed! It had been ten years since he had found Brian pedaling anything he could find on the street, even himself. Vic thought wistfully back to that day. **~~ Ten years earlier, the streets of Florence ~~** Vic walked with purpose toward the dock along the Arno River to retrieve a new shipment of raw wool that was arriving today from Iberia. He had grand plans for this new parcel. He had been envisioning a finer weave for the fibers once they had been cleaned, carded, and spun, and the colors he was imagining would hopefully entice new buyers for his wares. Vic was 39, and had been living with his sister and her son for five years now. He had returned to aid his sister, Deb, when her husband had passed away leaving her and Michelino with no way to care for themselves. Not wanting them to have to turn to a life of servitude, he had returned home from Venice. In those five years, he had begun to make a name for himself among the textile guild and had secured a job for his sister running an inn close to his shop. Michelino aided his mother, as he was useless in his shop. The boy had genuinely tried, but he just did not possess the skills required to be a successful textile merchant. Rounding a corner, Vic was practically knocked off his feet by a lanky youth, who it would seem was trying to get as far away from where he was, as quickly as he could. “Shit, sorry mister,” the youth said as he recoiled from the contact. “Its okay, where’s the fire kid?” “Nowhere, I’ve gotta get going,” came the shaky reply. Vic quickly noticed a gash just above the kid’s right eye, and he appeared to be holding his stomach. “Are you all right kid? You don’t look so good.” Vic said, also noticing the downtrodden clothes and filthy appearance. “I’ll be all right, I just need to go!” The kid kept hastily looking around, fear glinting in his eyes. Vic knew that if he didn’t get the kid some care and clean those wound, that he was going to be far from fine. Thinking quickly, “Calm down kid, how would you like to earn a couple of florins?” The scared young man finally looked up with a look of cautious skepticism, “For doing what?” “Look…what’s your name?” Hesitating, “Brian.” “Well Brian, I was on my way to the dock to pick up a parcel of wool. I could use some help getting it back to my shop. You interested?” Brian wasn’t sure what to think. He wasn’t used to someone being this kind to him. Most of the men he had come into contact with since arriving in Florence, either dismissed him, or took pleasure in beating him up, after he had done work for them. He didn’t figure that someone would actually pay him. Could he trust this man? His biggest fear was being captured and returned to his life in Naples, if you could call it a life, it was more of a sorry existence. But he really needed the money; he hadn’t eaten in a couple of days. For some reason he felt that he could trust this man, and decided to take a chance. But he would proceed cautiously. “Well all right, but I want to be paid first,” Brian stated in what he hoped was a firm and sure voice, rather that the uncertainty that was coursing through him at that moment. Vic had to give the kid credit, he fished into his pocket and came out with three florins and handed them to Brian. “You drive a hard bargain Brian, but I admire you. You have to watch out for yourself, not all men are honorable these days.” Vic waited to see if the kid would bolt, but he didn’t. Instead he saw that his words of praise to Brian, made the young man stand taller and he even smiled a half smile, which brought a gleam to his hazel eyes. Brian followed Vic down to the dock, and despite his injuries, was able to help Vic get the rather large parcel of wool back to his shop. Vic continued to see Brian off and on for the next couple of weeks, occasionally offering him odd jobs to do so that he could pay him. Brian was not the typical youth who just wanted a hand out. He had a strong sense of pride, and would not have accepted a hand out. Vic found himself feeling a sense of responsibility for the young man, almost fatherly. He had never had children of his own, and even though he actively played a role in Michelino’s life, he believed that he had a much stronger impact on Brian. It was two months after his initial meeting with Brian that Vic finally took more of a definitive role in Brian’s life. He was coming home from a guild meeting, when he came across a huddled mass just outside his door. Kneeling down to inspect it, he was startled to find it was Brian. He had been in a fight, and appeared to be unconscious. Vic lifted the tattered boy into his arms and took him into the living area of his home. After seeing to his wounds he placed him on a palate he made of wool, and blankets. He kept a watchful eye over Brian the entire night. The next morning saw streams of light slipping past the cracks in the window coverings. One dancing on Brian’s face causing him to stir. He woke with a start, unsure of where he was. Vic was just returning to the room from emptying the basin that he had used to clean Brian up from the night before. Brian winced in pain from the damage he had sustained to his ribs. “Easy Brian, you had rough night. Lie back down, you’re safe here.” Vic gently eased Brian back down, placing a fresh cloth on his forehead. “Thank you Vic. How did you find me?” Brian was confused as to how he had gotten here. The last thing he remembered was curling up into a ball as someone kicked him. “I found you on my doorstep, curled up like an abandoned babe. You were unconscious, so I brought you inside and tended to your injuries, and prayed that you would wake soon. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do if you slept much longer.” “Oh.” Brian was still trying to reconstruct the events of the previous evening in his mind. “Brian, I will not pressure you into telling me what happened. But, I do have a request to make of you.” Vic had been thinking about this for a while, and he hoped that Brian would accept. “What do you want from me?” Brian was becoming nervous. “I don’t want anything from you Brian, but I was wondering, would you be willing to help me on a permanent basis?” “Like actually hiring me to work for you?” “Yes.” Vic grinned at the utterly shocked expression on Brian’s battered face. “I have no children of my own, and my nephew is not very reliable in helping me in the shop. I could really use someone there to help me on a regular schedule. It would involve helping me clean, card, and spin the wool once we receive it from market, which would require me to teach you how to handle the looms, but I have a feeling you will take to that quickly. I will also require your help when the finished products are ready for market. Do you think you would be up for the task?” Brian sat still for a moment, still absorbing Vic’s proposal. A real job. No longer having to beg on the street for an odd job and running the risk of not getting paid at the end. Vic had been one of the very few who had been honorable in that respect. He really liked Vic, and enjoyed engaging him in conversation. Brian considered it just a bit longer, before deciding that he would be a fool to pass this opportunity up. Squaring his shoulders and offering his hand to Vic, “I would feel greatly honored to work for you Vic. Thank you, you can’t begin to imagine what this means to me.” Brian began to quiver with gratitude and excitement. Viewing Brian’s reaction, Vic firmly shook his hand, and said, “The pleasure is all mine Brian.” There was a comfortable silence before Vic continued. “Now in regards to your salary; I was thinking 15 florins a week to start, and once you have mastered the looms and can operate them on your own, we’ll increase that amount based on production. Does that sound fair to you?” Brian couldn’t believe how generous Vic was being. “That is more than fair Vic! Are you sure that it is not too much?” “Don’t be silly Brian; having you on a regular basis will be a godsend. I do so much on my own right now. I won’t know what to do with myself with help.” Vic smiled at him to reinforce his decision. “As a matter of fact, I may be short changing you. Do you think you can get up?” “Yes.” “Come with me then.” Brian followed Vic out of the shop, through the work area, to a small room in the back. “It isn’t much, but if we fix it up, I think a small bed and night table, maybe even a small desk will fit in here,” glancing at Brian to gauge his reaction. “Would it suit you?” Brian was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Vic had just offered him a job, paying him, and now he was giving him a home as well. He didn’t feel that he could accept. Vic could sense Brian’s uncertainty. “Brian, look at this space. Right now it is just being wasted. I don’t know about your past, and I get the impression that it wasn’t a pleasant one, and you may even question your right to be gaining my favor. But you do deserve it. You have never once faltered in completing the tasks that I have asked you to do. I admire you Brian. You are a strong young man, doing everything in your power to survive. But remember this Brian, being a strong man, sometimes means asking and accepting help. I want to help you.” Brian was beside himself, but he knew he could not disrespect the man in front of him by refusing. “Yes, I think it would suit just fine.” “Splendid! I will go fetch some brooms so that we may begin to get this place into some semblance of order.” Vic stated turning to go retrieve the brooms, but Brian stopped him. “Vic you have given me so much in just a short amount of time. I don’t know how I will ever begin to repay you for your generosity to me…” Trying to dismiss it Vic went to speak, but was again stopped by Brian. “Please let me finish.” Vic remained silent. “I feel that I much be completely honest with you. My past and my foreseeable future may cause you to change your mind. Vic looked at Brian confused, “Have you done something that would make you accountable to the law?” “I am an escaped serf Vic. My parents are still in servitude in Naples. They are the property of Lore Haufenstrau. My father came to be in his service after squandering all our family’s money. My mother sits and prays to our family alter-piece thinking it will make everything better, while my sister just wastes away. I couldn’t stay Vic! I may not be much, but I KNOW I’m better than that. I refuse to let my father’s hasty and careless life become mine.” “If I can stay in the clear for ten years, I will become legally free. I knew coming to Florence would enable me to blend in. The city is so large. No one would notice me. I was careless however; I had no means to support myself. I had hopped to find work, but all I found was contempt.” Grinning slightly for the first time since beginning his story, “My luck only changed when I literally ran into you. I had been in Florence for almost seven months. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t make it. Then you paid me and provided me with the first meal I had had in days. You gave me my strength back. In all honesty that was why I kept ‘bumping’ into you after that first time.” Brian paused in his narrative to see how the older man was reacting to this new information. Vic looked distant and contemplative, not the expression that Brian was anticipating. He was silent and that was making Brian edgy. Was Vic trying to devise a plan to return him to Naples, or would he just throw him back to the street. Brian moved nervously from side to side waiting for Vic to respond. He was just about to leave, fearing the worst when Vic finally spoke. “Brian, you are not your father, and you should not be punished for his mistakes…I still want to help you!” Brian did take up residency in the small room in the back of the shop. He was a quick learner as Vic had predicted. They never again spoke of Brian’s past, but both were constantly conscious of it. During the first few years, Vic would always accompany Brian to the docks to pick up shipments and would introduce his as his business partner when in the presence of the other guild members. Over time, Brian began to urge Vic to teach him everything that he possibly could. Brian was not illiterate by any means, but he yearned for all types of knowledge. He would read the classics that he could find, learned to translate Latin into Italian, and was absolutely ingenious when it came to mathematics and managing money. His skills of observation were limitless. Vic could tell that in time, Brian would be someone to be reckoned with, and would be put down by no man. ~~**~~**~~ Vic was disturbed from his musings when Brian vacated his seat at the adjournment of the meeting. Brian’s quick approach to the head of the guild only amused and reaffirmed Vic’s previous thoughts. Yes, Brian had become quite a man.