08/04/2025 

To Antonio, 

This is a strange place, brother. I can tell you that much. I don’t know why Papa ever came here, but I think I might have a clue as to why he stayed. 

Things don’t feel right here, brother. Like Mama used to say, I got that gut feeling. I’m not gonna say that I’m scared. No way. But I don’t feel that I am safe. 

Call me a looney, but that’s why I’m writing you this letter. Just in case I don’t make it back to Naldo. Besides, this whacky hotel has got all the props for writing letters. Stamped envelopes in the rooms. Big mailbox out front. So, why not! 

A lot of crazy things happened today. Well, I don’t know if they’re crazy. Maybe I’m just thinking too much. You know how I always overthink little things. But hey. I don’t know.

I saw Pops in the morning. I’m surprised I found his grave so easily. There was a lot of folks at the cemetery. It was like people dying here was a regular thing or something. But some old folk helped me find where they put Paps. And yes, the old man is really buried here. You know I was thinking we should really get him out of here, and lay him next to Mama. I don’t know how she’ll feel about the old man resting next to her, but I’ll tell you what. I don’t think Papa’s supposed to be here. I’ll explain soon. But I’ll tell you about something that’s got me a bit concerned. 

I have to admit it, but when I found Pops, stupid me was standing over another grave. I know, Tony. Stupid. But I had a lot going on in my head. I kinda forgot what I was doing. Until I heard someone say something behind me. He said, 

“Is this your grave? ‘Cause I don’t remember you being here.” 

Some young schmuck. Had a bit of an attitude as well. When I told him I was here for Pops, he goes, 

“You’re here for your Papa? Are you lot even Bzalnian? Is that why you’re standing on top of someone else’s grave? How about you leave some of your flowers on that grave as an apology.” 

Brother, this guy had a month on him. I felt bad for standing over the grave and stepped off. But I didn’t like the way he was telling me to do stuff. He pissed me off, so I got out of there. 

This is when I started to notice that things are sort of weird and different here in Bzalnia. And why we might have to get Papa out of here. 

I went to address we were given to find Papa’s new woman. Do you know what I found at the address? A bar. A fucking grimy, little bar. I didn’t know if it was a joke, so I went in to check. 

When I walked in, the barman gave me a look and kept peeping behind me. And straight away, he asked me where I’d been. He wasn’t what I’d call welcoming. And I think it didn’t help when I told him I went to see Pops. Maybe folks here are superstitious. But get this. When I asked him if he knew an ‘Alana’ or a woman that would have been with Papa, he just shook his head. I even explained the situation and how this ‘Alana’ got Papa buried here. But the barman didn’t have a clue. I could feel he wanted me to leave. I don’t know why. 

Now get this. When I was leaving the bar, guess who I find sitting outside. That schmuck from the cemetery. I know, brother! I was thinking the same thing. This schmuck followed me. So, of course I asked him what he wanted. The punk blows me off and just says, “Can’t a man get a drink in peace?” 

He didn’t do nothing, and there was lots of folks around, so I didn’t wanna make a scene. It’s not my country, you know. So, he was lucky. 

I didn’t get it, but when I got back to the hotel, the hotel manager was acting the same as the barman before. As soon as I walked through the door, the guy’s watching me and looking out behind me to the outside. And then the guy asks me the same thing, “Where have you been?” I don’t know if people were nosey, superstitious, or if there’s something else going on. I was getting in my head, so I went up to have a nap. 

I can’t say I felt like I had a nap. I don’t know if I’ve just been thinking about it too much, or if it means something. But when I fell asleep, I saw that schmuck from the cemetery in my dream. He was just standing there, watching me. I woke up straight away. That punk was even bothering me in my dreams. I had to go out and have a drink. 

Downstairs in the hotel lobby, I hear someone call out to me. It was that hotel manager. He calls me over and shows me this big suitcase. I was confused but then he asked if I could do him a favour and carry the case out to some guy sitting outside. I wasn’t gonna do it, but the manager goes if I help him, he would waiver the cost of one night. I was only gonna stay for one more night anyway, so why not. 

I saw the man outside who the suitcase was for sitting on a bench. Creepy looking old guy, with a long grey coat and them olden day hats. Like how Papa used to dress when he thought he was a tough guy. 

This is the thing that really creeped me out. When I got to the old guy, I swear I didn’t see no one with him before, but that schmuck from the cemetery was sitting next to him. That schmuck smiled at me. I was gonna do something, but the old man thanked me and asked me to help him. The old man opened up his suitcase and started pulling out some things. I didn’t wanna look like a douche, so I helped him. That schmuck just watched us. Didn’t even bother to help. 

The old man was setting up an old camera. And I mean, like an olden day camera. You know the type where the cameraman’s gotta put his head under a blanket to take the photo. Freaky, huh. Said he needed to get some special shots around the hotel. Then he asked the schmuck to be his practice model. I figured because he didn’t help before, the schmuck accepted because he probably wanted to help somehow. 

Before they got ready for the pictures, the old man wrote something on some paper and asked if I could bring it to the hotel manager. Must have been a check or something. 

When I went to see the hotel manager, he seemed different this time. He kept looking me up and down and smiled. Kinda creepy, you know. But maybe it’s just this place. He reminded me he would waiver the fee of my stay. So, I guess I could trust him on that. 

I swear I was only gone for a minute, but when I went back outside, the old man and that schmuck were gone. Nowhere to be seen. I looked up and down the street, Nothing. It took a good while to set up that camera, so I don’t know, brother. This place gives me the creeps. 

I went back to that bar where we were supposed to find Alana. It was the only place I knew, so why not. The barman was friendly this time, too. Not like the way he was in the morning. Maybe because I was his only customer. Well, it seemed like I was his only customer, but there was this fine broad sitting on the other side. Of course I talked to her. I’m not a wimp, brother. 

We really hit it off. I could tell she was feeling me. You know when you know, right. And don’t worry. Her name wasn’t Alana. What a joke that would be. It was Camila or something like that. 

I was gonna get her another drink, but the barman said something to me that really made me think. He said, 

“It’s dangerous to delight strangers in the night.” 

He was right. I’m sure he was looking out of me. I was just a foreigner in a strange place. And what if that schmuck found me again. I had to leave. 

That girl really wanted me to stay. She wouldn’t let me go. She even tried to give me a kiss. But I stopped her. A real man can’t let a girl get a hold over him. So I knew I had to bounce. I could tell this girl was gonna be trouble, even if she was gorgeous. I’m lucky the barman woke me up. 

When I got back to the hotel, the manager was doing that strange ‘watching me enter’ thing again. And he kept peeping outside behind me as well. But this time he didn’t ask me where I had been. He actually just walked past me and stepped outside. He locked the front door behind him too. Odd fella. 

Things aren’t right here, brother. I can feel it. I’m gonna make sure I head back to Naldo tomorrow. I don’t feel safe here. Hopefully I do make it back. 

And we’ll talk about Papa when I see you. 

From yours truly, 

Franco 

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