It happened many years ago in Naples, Italy.
It was a bit of an embarrassing day when a young Rosalia, with baby Lorenzo in her arms, stood in front of a market stand and confronted the owner with the news that the baby was his and asked what he was going to do about it?
Giuseppe hummed and hawed, but finally offered to provide Rosalia with free fruit and vegetables until the boy was 16. She agreed.
He had been counting the years off on his calendar, and one day Lorenzo, who had been collecting the bag of fruit and vegetables each week, came to the stand and said, “I’ll be 16 tomorrow.”
“I know,” said Giuseppe with a smile. “I’ve been counting, too. Tell your mother when you take this bag home that it is the last free food she’ll get, and watch the expression on her face.”
When the boy arrived home, he told his mother what had been said.
Rosalia nodded and said, “Lorenzo, go back to the marketer and tell him I have also had free bread, free milk and free groceries for the last 16 years and watch the expression on HIS face!”