The Lying Life of Adults

Spellbound by Aunt Vittoria’s physical presence, Giovanna follows her into the apartment. She admits of her aunt’s personality that “there was an impatience without filters that hit me in a flash […] I followed her as if she held me on a leash” (51). Aunt Vittoria contradicts everything Giovanna knows about respectability. Her aunt gestures brusquely, speaks in dialect (which Giovanna’s parents forbid), and uses vulgar, rude words. Once seated, Aunt Vittoria also startles Giovanna by making fresh-squeezed orange juice. Giovanna has only ever had juice from a carton. When her aunt hands her a glass with seeds and pulp and juice running down the sides, Giovanna’s stomach turns.

Aunt Vittoria asks Giovanna pointedly about a bracelet she supposedly gifted her niece as a newborn. Though Giovanna knows nothing about the bracelet, she lies about its fate to defend her parents. Aunt Vittoria immediately picks up on the lie but congratulates Giovanna on her willingness to defend her parents, calling her “smart.” She also commends Giovanna for admitting that she’s scared and advises her to always hold a reasonable amount of fear to better combat life. Aunt Vittoria then launches into an attack on Giovanna’s parents for various slights and affectations.