“Alberto was a good for nothing pisellino." Nonna puts her hand to her chest, looking shocked and delighted. "Violetta," she says, "no, is it true?" Nicolo makes a little choking sound. He looks mortified. I'm confused. "Did Violetta just call your grandfather a little pea?" I whisper, struggling to translate the words in my head. Nicolo is flushing a dull red beneath his golden olive tan. "It um... doesn't mean little pea," he murmurs, leaning close to my chair. "In Italian it is an insult for a man's private parts, calling them very small, like little peas." My eyes widen in astonishment. At this point in the evening I'm not sure anything else could surprise me. "It's true." Violetta sniffs and holds up her fingers several inches apart. "And his manhood, like a baby zucchina." Nonna looks immensely satisfied by this information. "Well," she says. "Well, God bless Carlo. He was a good man and there were no baby zucchine in our house, I can tell you. Only grandi zucchine." Nicolo clears his throat. "Your grandchildren are standing right here!" he reminds them.” InsultingBelittlementItalian Saying Book:The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake Source: The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake