'O cane mozzeca sempe 'o strazzato

Misfortune goes looking for those who are already down.

Oranges rolling between laughter and tears

A tenant on the second floor lost her job in January. In February her boiler broke. In March, her car. One Saturday I ran into her on the stairs with two grocery bags, and one of the bags split too, right on the landing, with the oranges rolling down the steps. She burst out laughing, sitting on the step, and I gathered up the oranges while she laughed and cried at the same time.