A New Day

                                    

                                          
Guido opened his eyes, blinking at the light that filtered through his window. He sat up, yawned, and stretched. He vaguely wondered why Ercole hadn't called him to come and make his breakfast. 
                          
Then he remembered what had happened. 
                          
It had been three weeks since the Portorosso cup, whenever he and Ciccio had thrown Ercole into the fountain. The two sea monster boys, Luca and Alberto, and Guilia had taken Ercole's place as the Portorosso Cup champions. Along with winning the race, the Underdogs had made sure that Ercole no longer terrorized the children of the town. He rarely even showed his face in town any more.
                          
It was good for the townspeople, but now Guido and Ciccio had nothing to do.
                          
Guido sighed and got ready for the day, then walked downstairs to the kitchen. "Mama?" he called, looking around. A plate of eggs and sausage on the table, along with a note. He picked up the note and read it, already knowing what it was going to sat. 
                          
Dearest Guido, I'm going to be working all day again. I'm terribly sorry that I can't be there more often. Your breakfast is on the table. It's a beautiful day outside. Go have some fun with your friends today! Much love, Mama
                          
Guido stared at the note a little longer, then folded it up and slid it into his pocket. "Have fun with my friends. Funny," he muttered sadly. Aside from Ciccio, he never really had any friends. Him choosing to act as one of Ercole's henchmen didn't make him very popular either. Now that Ercole was gone, he mainly sat around in the house, reading or drawing. He didn't have anything else to do.
                          
He had just finished with his breakfast when he heard a knock from the door. Guido went to the door, figuring it was Ciccio, who sometimes came by to hang out. But when he opened the door, he was surprised to see the older sea monster, Alberto, standing there. Guido opened his mouth to say something, but Alberto spoke first. 
                          
"Hey, Guido, right?" he asked casually.  Guido nodded uncertainly. "Yeah, that's me... do you need something?" he asked. What could he possibly want?

                          
"Yeah, actually. It's the first fish of the season, and we're expecting a big haul at the Pescharia, and Papa- I mean, Massimo- asked me to find some extra hands. I figured you and your buddy Ciccio could help." He paused and scratched his chin. "Ya know- if you want to."
                          
Guido couldn't believe it. Alberto Scorfano, the sea monster, whom he and Ciccio had beaten up per Ercole's orders, was asking for his help? Is this some sort of trick? he thought warily.
                          
Alberto was still looking at him expectantly, so he shook out of his trance and nodded his head. "Yeah. I mean, I'm not doing anything else," he said. Alberto nodded and grinned at him. "Great! C'mon, follow me!" He turned and began walking towards the docks. Guido slipped on his sandals, then jogged to keep up with the tan boy's quick pace.
                          
"Wait, what about Ciccio? Is he coming?" he called. Alberto nodded and pointed to the docks. "I already asked him. I didn't know how long it would take to talk to you, so I sent him ahead of us." Guido sighed, relieved to know that he wouldn't be alone. 
                          
They turned the corner to the docks, and a group of fishermen were standing there. They were loading up their boats and heading out into the harbor. Among the fisherman was the tall, muscular form of Signor Marcovaldo, and the curly blonde hair of Guido's best friend, Ciccio.
                          
"Ah, there you are, ragazzi," Massimo said, looking at Guido and Alberto. When the tough, one-armed fisherman looked at him, Guido felt himself instinctively stand taller. The older man chuckled, then gestured to his small rowboat. "Get in. We've got work to do."
                          
Guido jumped into the boat first, with Ciccio right behind him.  They squeezed next to each other on the bench on one side of the boat, while Alberto sat down in the middle and Massimo took up the oars on the other side. With a few quick strokes, the boat was on it's way out into the bay.