I didn’t have the courage to confess that, on the contrary, these things do happen to us; it seemed to me that it wasn’t true. I said weakly, hiding behind a smile, “Yes, you’re right, but let’s speculate, let’s suppose that Mirella’s attitudes become too free, that she stays out late and I don’t like her expression when she returns … ” He interrupted me, annoyed: “I don’t want to hear you say that, even as a joke.” “All right,” I continued, in the same tone. “Then let’s say she comes home with expensive gifts that a man gave her and explains them with a lie, like that night, you remember? When she said she went out with Giovanna and instead went dancing. Let’s imagine she says she wants to live an easy life, in whatever way, by whatever means … ” Michele replied that he would never allow her to speak like that in his house. I objected that the time is past when a father could say “I won’t allow it” and the daughter had to obey because he provided food, clothing, lodging. Now, whether it’s good or bad, I don’t know, but a girl like Mirella can say, “I’m leaving home and going to work.” Then Michele said he didn’t want to waste his time listening to this absurd conversation, I had nothing to do, evidently, if I got lost in these speculations, he had the paper to read, I was never interested in the international situation, I didn’t realize what was happening in the world. I said I am very well aware of it and in fact these problems don’t seem unrelated. He said, “What could they possibly have to do with each other?” I didn’t know what to say, but I feel that way.