Beauty to share

On a recent evening walk, my passagiata, I stopped to admire an array of potted geraniums on a front terrace. A woman was tending them with care. I couldn’t resist sharing my admiration as I went by. “Signora, i suoi fiori sono bellissimi!” She smiled, shouted for me to wait and with her cigarette clenched between her teeth broke off one, abundant red blossom and handed it to me. I thanked her and started to walk on and again, she stopped me and went back to add a pink one to make a little bouquet.