Breaking news: at the age of nine my father was able to smile!
He was a nice and perfectly combed boy, hugging his older sister on the stairs leading to their flat. I like this photo beacause it reminds me how affectionate and fun he could be.
I laughed a lot with him: he was a little bastard who gave anyone irreverent nicknames, made fun of everyone and everything and was always quick to make jokes. When he was in front of a lens, though, he changed expressions: he was shy, melancholic, puzzled. Most of the time, even when he was having fun, his fragile side would emerge.
It comforts me that in this school photo he is one of the few smiling 🙂
My Unhappy Family 