University of Copenhagen – City of Copenhagen – Island of Zealand – Republic of Italy – 12th of July, XXXX.
There was a slight tap at the door and Giovanni de Luca turned from his study of the world map hanging behind his desk.
“Young Francesco Greco to see you as per your summons”, was announced by his secretary.
“Send him in Antonio” said Giovanni and sat behind his desk while turning his facial expression sour.
A young man was shown into the office and stood quietly in the middle of the room. Giovanni was certain that he expected the worst. “And he might get the worst yet” he thought to himself as he watched Francesco contemplate the situation.
“Do you know why you’re here Francesco?” he asked lightly.
“Si Signor” Francesco said with tremble in his voice. It was certain that he was afraid of this conversation.
“Then explain it to me please, because I can’t understand why you – One of the finest history students of this establishment – need to be brought before me for disciplinary actions!” Giovanni’s voice was still light, but there was no doubt that he was greatly annoyed by the youngster’s presence.
“Signor de Luca. I am here in front of you because I had started a fight with a student from the Department of Chemistry. I did this after the Grand Ball Saturday Evening and the reason was that I believed he had insulted my family’s Honour. I have since realised that was a mistake and apologized to him. I have brought dishonour over my family.” Giovanni was pleased to hear that even though Francesco obviously was ashamed of his behaviour, he did in fact accept what had happened and gave a fairly accurate description of the event.
“Francesco…..” he started, but caught himself before continuing. How to continue this without causing too many problems... “You are aware that I need to punish you for this behaviour, Si?”
“Si Signor, I have expected it and packed my bags for my expulsion”.
“Then unpack them again Francesco!” Giovanni thundered! Francesco looked up and for the first time Giovanni had eye contact with him. “Sig… Signor?” he stuttered while considering the normally mild-tempered head of the History department.
Giovanni continued: “Part of me wants to throw you out of here, as punishment for what you did, but I have consulted the Ministry! Your Father was not pleased with you as you can imagine.” By those words Francesco recoiled as if struck, but the merciless tirade was not over yet. “And that was nothing compared to how your MOTHER would react if she heard it. However, we have come to an arrangement.”
Hope flickered in the eyes of Francesco and slowly he asked “an arrangement, Signor?”
Giovanni considered the youngster for a moment before continuing. “This is the possibility that you have Francesco. You can take your bags and get out of my department and thus destroying a brilliant academic career before you even got started – Or you can accept my punishment within the department! Which would it be??”
Francesco did not believe what he was hearing. He was getting a chance of staying at the department! Eagerly he stuttered “I want to stay!”
Giovanni was relieved that he took the way out that he had expended a few old favours to arrange. Francesco’s father was an old friend, but had been livid when he leaned of the situation.
“Very well” Giovanni said without revealing anything. “Now tell me this: Why is there no history of the Italian republic before the year of 1399?” he continued.
Francesco looked up in surprise. “Signor, It is believed that the texts have all been lost”.
“Could you perhaps be a bit more… Specific?” Giovanni said acidly. Just because he had saved the young man’s career, didn’t mean that he wouldn’t finish the act.
“Apologies Signor” Francesco hurriedly blurted out before continuing. “All records from the University of Parma were lost in the great fire of 1432 for instance. And the other Universities around the world have similar stories to tell.”
“Why did you single out the University of Parma in your explanation?” Giovanni asked.
“That was the one that I remembered first, Signor” Francesco admitted.
“I am glad that you are honest with me Francesco! This will hopefully continue so you do not waste the second chance that you have been given.”
Francesco kept quiet. He instinctively knew that now was not the time to interrupt as Giovanni continued.
“You will begin your studies in the history of the Republic of Italy tomorrow. You will do this besides your regular work for the department and you will report back to me as often as you have anything to report of questions to ask. Consider me your Mentor for this task. You will write as complete a history as possible and you may contact any university in the world for information if you believe that is necessary. This will be your graduation assignment and you will do your job as I expect! You will not graduate until this is done. Do you accept the punishment or would you like to leave the university?”
Francesco looked up and smiled for the first time since entering the office. “Signor de Luca” he said – “I would be honoured to perform this task that you have laid out in front of me!”
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Note to readers - First installment of the history will be posted Wednesday Evening. You'll find out then which Italian Nation we will be following...
And be nice, since it's my first AAR!
There was a slight tap at the door and Giovanni de Luca turned from his study of the world map hanging behind his desk.
“Young Francesco Greco to see you as per your summons”, was announced by his secretary.
“Send him in Antonio” said Giovanni and sat behind his desk while turning his facial expression sour.
A young man was shown into the office and stood quietly in the middle of the room. Giovanni was certain that he expected the worst. “And he might get the worst yet” he thought to himself as he watched Francesco contemplate the situation.
“Do you know why you’re here Francesco?” he asked lightly.
“Si Signor” Francesco said with tremble in his voice. It was certain that he was afraid of this conversation.
“Then explain it to me please, because I can’t understand why you – One of the finest history students of this establishment – need to be brought before me for disciplinary actions!” Giovanni’s voice was still light, but there was no doubt that he was greatly annoyed by the youngster’s presence.
“Signor de Luca. I am here in front of you because I had started a fight with a student from the Department of Chemistry. I did this after the Grand Ball Saturday Evening and the reason was that I believed he had insulted my family’s Honour. I have since realised that was a mistake and apologized to him. I have brought dishonour over my family.” Giovanni was pleased to hear that even though Francesco obviously was ashamed of his behaviour, he did in fact accept what had happened and gave a fairly accurate description of the event.
“Francesco…..” he started, but caught himself before continuing. How to continue this without causing too many problems... “You are aware that I need to punish you for this behaviour, Si?”
“Si Signor, I have expected it and packed my bags for my expulsion”.
“Then unpack them again Francesco!” Giovanni thundered! Francesco looked up and for the first time Giovanni had eye contact with him. “Sig… Signor?” he stuttered while considering the normally mild-tempered head of the History department.
Giovanni continued: “Part of me wants to throw you out of here, as punishment for what you did, but I have consulted the Ministry! Your Father was not pleased with you as you can imagine.” By those words Francesco recoiled as if struck, but the merciless tirade was not over yet. “And that was nothing compared to how your MOTHER would react if she heard it. However, we have come to an arrangement.”
Hope flickered in the eyes of Francesco and slowly he asked “an arrangement, Signor?”
Giovanni considered the youngster for a moment before continuing. “This is the possibility that you have Francesco. You can take your bags and get out of my department and thus destroying a brilliant academic career before you even got started – Or you can accept my punishment within the department! Which would it be??”
Francesco did not believe what he was hearing. He was getting a chance of staying at the department! Eagerly he stuttered “I want to stay!”
Giovanni was relieved that he took the way out that he had expended a few old favours to arrange. Francesco’s father was an old friend, but had been livid when he leaned of the situation.
“Very well” Giovanni said without revealing anything. “Now tell me this: Why is there no history of the Italian republic before the year of 1399?” he continued.
Francesco looked up in surprise. “Signor, It is believed that the texts have all been lost”.
“Could you perhaps be a bit more… Specific?” Giovanni said acidly. Just because he had saved the young man’s career, didn’t mean that he wouldn’t finish the act.
“Apologies Signor” Francesco hurriedly blurted out before continuing. “All records from the University of Parma were lost in the great fire of 1432 for instance. And the other Universities around the world have similar stories to tell.”
“Why did you single out the University of Parma in your explanation?” Giovanni asked.
“That was the one that I remembered first, Signor” Francesco admitted.
“I am glad that you are honest with me Francesco! This will hopefully continue so you do not waste the second chance that you have been given.”
Francesco kept quiet. He instinctively knew that now was not the time to interrupt as Giovanni continued.
“You will begin your studies in the history of the Republic of Italy tomorrow. You will do this besides your regular work for the department and you will report back to me as often as you have anything to report of questions to ask. Consider me your Mentor for this task. You will write as complete a history as possible and you may contact any university in the world for information if you believe that is necessary. This will be your graduation assignment and you will do your job as I expect! You will not graduate until this is done. Do you accept the punishment or would you like to leave the university?”
Francesco looked up and smiled for the first time since entering the office. “Signor de Luca” he said – “I would be honoured to perform this task that you have laid out in front of me!”
------------
Note to readers - First installment of the history will be posted Wednesday Evening. You'll find out then which Italian Nation we will be following...
And be nice, since it's my first AAR!