A SHORT TALE FROM SARDINIA

An old Sardinian man who lived in the countryside of Barbagia [the area of Sardinia where I was born] always got his son to help him cultivate his vegetable garden in the spring. However, since his son was in prison that year, he could not help him.

The old man wrote a letter to his son explaining the problem:

"Dear Gavino,
I feel very sad since this year I cannot do the vegetable garden as I do every year. I am too old to do it myself. If you were here, my son, I would not be so sad, 
for you would do the hoeing, and then I would plant the vegetables.
A dear hug and hang in there."

A couple of days later, the old man received a letter from his son.

"Dear Babbu [Babbu means Dad],
For goodness sake, don't hoe the vegetable garden for any reason!
There I have hidden all my money and weapons!" 

The next morning, at six o'clock sharp, the Carabinieri (a law enforcement body) arrived. They started hoeing the garden, looking for weapons and money. They till the ground all day, meter by meter, taking turns. However, in the end, they found nothing. So they apologised and left.

After three days, the father received another letter from his son:

"Babbu, I hope you are happy. Now the ground is ready and you can plant the vegetables. I'm sorry I let the Carabinieri into your house, but under the current circumstances, it was the best I could do. I love you.
Gavino."

 😉