Nothing Wonderful

About the Book

This story relates how two Italian-American families, the Medinas and Belladonnas, cope with grief and human weakness. It takes place in 1946 on Christmas Eve in the small industrial city of Trenton, New Jersey, not long after the end of World War II. It is seen through the eyes of Veronica Medina, a 12-year-old girl emerging into womanhood who is sent to babysit her two younger cousins, Little Victor and Angelica, the grandchildren of her Aunt Rosina.

This is the first Christmas that all the sons are back from the War—all but one—Young Victor Belladonna, who died in the Pacific when his troop ship was torpedoed. The families buried their feelings and never grieved for him, resulting in a web of tension among them. Vic’s death lurks like a spider in the corner.

Veronica, who was in love with Young Victor, wants to express her grief but feels stifled by the family. The suppression of feelings is strengthened by the anger over past hurts straining the relationship between Young Vic’s parents, Veronica’s Aunt Rosina and Uncle Vic. Their relationship is poisoning the other relationships in the house.

Matters finally come to head when Young Vic’s father comes home roaring drunk while everyone is gathered at the Belladonnas for an after midnight Christmas Eve feast of sausage and peppers. He is in drunken over-the-top grief for his dead son and the sorry state of his marriage to Rosina. This event finally gives the two families the chance to openly grieve and start the healing process.

About the Author

Anthony Dellaira is a veteran educator and state school oficial in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He has had a number of stories published in literary magazines and several of his plays were given staged readings at the Playwright's Workshop and Society Hill Playhouse in Philadelphia.

Though he now resides with his wife in southern New Jersey, he spent many years of his childhood in Trenton, New Jersey, where the action of Nothing Wonderful takes place.