The Good American in Italy – Part 2 - Gazzetta delle Botteghe

Ugo was stunned by the bartender's question.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "I've only spoken to him once."

"I see," the bartender said with a smile. "His name is Ethan. He arrived from America a few months ago. Since he started selling his beautiful handmade wooden creations, he's been able to earn an honest living. But do you know what he does with the money he has left? He helps young people who are struggling. He often brings them here for a meal, and when they're finished eating, he quietly pays the bill."

The bartender pointed to several handcrafted wooden pieces displayed on a shelf.

"Take a look at these. Ethan made every single one of them. I keep them here because whenever I sell one, I know I'm helping a remarkable young man. People like him deserve all the support they can get."

Ugo carefully examined each piece.

"My goodness..." he whispered. "The craftsmanship is extraordinary. Creating work like this requires remarkable skill—and professional tools that certainly aren't cheap."

"You're absolutely right," the bartender replied. "He brought some of his tools from America, and little by little he's been buying the others. I even gave him an old room behind the café where he can work and have a place to stay."

"Would it be possible to see it?" Ugo asked.

"I'm sorry," the bartender answered kindly. "Not without Ethan's permission."

Ugo nodded.

"I have to admit... this young man is an exceptional craftsman."

The bartender smiled.

"He's much more than that. Around here everyone calls him 'The Good American.' Not because of his talent, but because of his heart."

Ugo sat outside the café, quietly watching Ethan laugh and joke with the boys and girls from the town.

It was obvious.

He had become the kind of friend everyone wished they had.

Then, without warning, everything changed.

While playing with the others, Ethan tripped over a stone.

He fell hard, striking his head against the ground.

He lost consciousness instantly.

People screamed in panic.

Within minutes an ambulance arrived, and Ethan was rushed to the hospital.

He remained hospitalized for several days while his friends—and everyone who had come to care about him—waited anxiously outside for news.

Ugo went to visit him as well.

Just as he entered the room, Ethan slowly opened his eyes.

He remembered nothing about the accident.

The impact had been severe.

People spoke to him, but he couldn't understand a single word.

He tried to answer...

...but no sound came out.

From that day on, however, he kept hearing a mysterious woman's voice deep inside his mind.

After several medical examinations, the doctor delivered heartbreaking news.

"I'm very sorry. The head injury has caused him to lose both his hearing and his ability to speak. At the moment, we can't explain why."

Ugo picked up a notebook and carefully wrote down everything that had happened.

Then he added one more sentence.

Ethan struggled to accept his new reality.

The mysterious voice continued to comfort him, yet his heart was filled with despair.

He refused to eat.

He didn't want visitors.

He wanted only one answer.

Meanwhile, his friends slowly left the hospital courtyard, unable to receive any news.

A few days later, Ugo returned.

This time, he wasn't alone.

Standing beside him was a young woman with a warm and gentle smile.

Ugo greeted Ethan and motioned for him to turn around.

When Ethan saw her, he couldn't help but admire her kindness and beauty.

Ugo wrote on the notepad:

Barbara smiled and immediately began communicating with Ethan using sign language.

To everyone's surprise, Ethan learned incredibly fast.

Before the day was over, he had already memorized the alphabet and several basic signs.

A few days later, the doctors discharged him from the hospital in Chieti.

Ugo made him an unexpected offer.

Ethan understood every word written on the page.

With deep gratitude, he accepted.

After all...

How could he refuse?

Especially after meeting Barbara.

When they arrived at Ugo's home, Ethan was warmly welcomed by Lucia, Barbara's mother, and Norman, Barbara's younger brother.

While everyone was preparing dinner, Ethan accidentally opened the wrong door.

Instead of the kitchen...

...he found himself inside the family's woodworking workshop.

The room was filled with tools and machines.

Although everything looked a bit untidy, Ethan immediately recognized the potential hidden inside that workshop.

His eyes fell upon an unfinished project lying on a workbench.

He could instantly tell that Ugo was working on something important.

It was beautifully made...

...but it was missing that special touch that would make it truly unique.

Ethan quietly examined the materials, inspected every machine, and soon noticed that two of the most important woodworking machines were broken.

He smiled to himself.

Patiently, he removed years of accumulated dust, cleaned every moving part, and carefully dismantled the machines to understand what had gone wrong.

He was almost finished when the family called him for dinner.

As soon as Ugo stepped into the workshop, he stopped in amazement.

"What... what have you done?"

Barbara looked around and burst into laughter.

Using sign language, Ethan explained that replacing a few worn-out parts would be enough to make both machines work again.

Ugo said nothing.

By then, he had realized something extraordinary.

This young American wasn't simply talented.

He possessed a rare gift.

At that very moment, Ethan heard the mysterious woman's voice once again.

That evening, during dinner, Barbara gently placed her hand over Ethan's.

Perhaps it was simply her way of thanking him.

Or perhaps...

...it was the beginning of something much deeper.

The following morning, Barbara left the house to buy the replacement parts...