Summary

Assunta was older than Salvatore. She had also been engaged once before, but her fiancé had died while serving time in Africa. Salvatore learned that she had some "money of her own," and was willing to "buy him a boat" if he married her (4). If they married, they could also take over a local vineyard that was "at that moment" in need of a tenant (4). Salvatore's mother explained that Assunta had seen Salvatore at a recent festival, and had "fallen in love with him" (4). Salvatore found these details endearing. He told his mother he would consider the arrangement.

The next Sunday, he donned a set of "stiff black clothes" that made him look even more unwell than his usual attire (4). Then he walked up to the Mass at the local church. He found a place for himself where he could see and observe...