#7 Pandora’s Cave

Snippets from the New Novel

After entering Pandora’s Cave in Amalfi and getting the idea of writing about the Pandora myth, I did extensive research. The more I thought about it the more I decided that I wanted to give Pandora a voice. So much history is narrated by men, from their perspective, and of course, the Greeks, like all men at the time, were hugely misogynistic. According to the myth, Pandora was only created purely to punish men. She gets a bad rap, a lot like Eve in the Bible, and after she lets the Seven Deadly Sins from the box she’s not really heard of again.

However, what was left behind in the box was hope. My new novel not only gives Pandora a voice but a chance to redeem herself through giving hope to others. Therefore, as those who enter her cave make a wish, this book explores the lives of the characters who are all searching for something. It is a sequel to Love, Life and Lemons and again is set in Italy, although this time in the south. It is similar in the way the Pandora stories are woven together with the modern ones. Here is a snippet of my new novel.

Darling Flora,

I’ll be gone by the time you’re reading this letter. I hope you’re not too sad, I had a great life and was very happy for the majority of it. I want you to know that I am incredibly proud of you. You had a lot of difficult things to deal with when you were younger, and although I wish you hadn’t had to go through them, in a way, I’m glad because they brought us closer together, and they shaped you and made you the resilient person you have become. You remind me of me when I was younger a little, and you have achieved something I only dreamed of by becoming a writer. I loved reading your columns every week, they never failed to make me smile.

Although I’ve never shown you, I also enjoyed writing poetry and prose, and used to dream that  some of my work would be published. I know you’re about to move to Italy, but I wanted you to have my manuscript and diaries because I know you’ll look after them and through reading them you will still hear my voice.

I don’t want you to be unhappy about me dying and this is a way of getting to know the younger me and exploring your family history. So, whatever happens, I hope you enjoy reading them. I have also left you my letters and photographs. You can match them to the stories. Stay strong and remember that you can achieve anything you want in life if you put your mind to it.

With lots of love

Grandmama

xxx

Inside the box Flora found grainy photographs of her grandparents. Seeing their happy faces made her smile. Below them were dozens of diaries each one crammed with spidery writing. Opening one at random she began to read.

12^th April 1938

A collective gasp whispered around the church reaching up to the rafters when the bride walked in. Natalia was radiant as an angel. Her dark ringlets were pinned up into a coronet of peachy roses the colour of the setting sky in midsummer. The long milky white gown had a fitted bodice then flared out over her hips accentuating her tiny waist. Her veil looked like gossamer and not only covered her smiling face but draped across her bare shoulders. The seed pearls on the dress winked in the sunlight and sent tiny flurries of light across the pews and congregation. Grinning from ear to ear, and unable to believe his luck, the groom waited for her.

Outside, I shielded my eyes to see where Corrado had got to. Smoothing down my dress I felt like a film star. For weeks I had walked past the shop window admiring this dress. The shade of green was so beautiful and reminded me of the large fir trees that Corrado and I sometimes sat under to have a picnic on the heath. It was printed with large white polka dots and had a full skirt cinched in at the waist with a big white bow. I hadn’t realised he must have noticed my longing looks but he was so lovely and had secretly bought it for me. He told me he liked the way the halter neck showed off my shoulders. Seeing him chatting I decided to have a sit down on a bench overlooking the graveyard. Walking towards it I was stopped in my tracks by an Italian looking woman heading in the same direction wearing a dress identical to mine! Although fortunately, we had different hats. Hers was straw and trimmed with three white roses. Mine matched the green of my dress with a small brim and silk bow.

     ‘Snap!’ I said with a smile.

She laughed and we sat together as the sun played over the Sweet Williams and pink carnations left on the graves for departed loved ones. The scent was delicious.

     ‘At least we’ve got different hats and shoes. I’m Camelia Santini and I love your hat.’ She held out her hand, I introduced myself and we shook hands.

Later on at the party I introduced Camelia’s husband, Davide and Corrado. While talking they discovered that they used to live near one another back home in Italy. The Santinis came from a small village close to Orvietto. While they were discussing mutual acquaintances their daughter, Maria, ran up to them and asked for a drink. Davide told her to say hello to us. She looked a little shy but when she smiled Corrado looked puzzled for a second. I asked him afterwards what it was, and he said she reminded him of something although he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. The rest of the party was great fun and Camelia and I have agreed to meet up next week.

Flicking over the page, Flora laughed to see a photograph of Margaret and Camelia, that must have been taken at the wedding, standing together wearing their identical dresses and smiling for the camera.

21^st April 1938

I met up with Camelia and Maria today We walked on Hampstead Heath and I told her how I met Corrado by driving into the pond. Maria is a sweet girl. She was running in and out of the trees, hiding. Then she kept jumping out and scaring us. I feel so comfortable with Camelia it’s as if I’ve known her for years. I ended up confiding in her about how much I want to have a baby. I explained about the four miscarriages I’ve had. She was lovely and just listened when I told her that I feel guilty for feeling like this. When I was married to Leslie I was so unhappy and always felt as if a part of my life was missing. Then when I fell for Corrado, I vowed that if I could find a way to be with him I’d be happy forever. Now it seems I’m wanting more. And everywhere I look there seem to be prams and babies.

Walking to the kitchen, Flora put the kettle on and sighed. So much had changed. It was strange seeing her grandmother as a young woman and being privy to her innermost thoughts; also hearing about Maria, her godmother, as a small girl, who was now in her seventies.