"Allison, perhaps you like Tuscan pine nut candy?" My student handed me a bag of candy, looking at it with some reluctance.

"I do like it, but if you want to eat it, I think neither Antonio nor I would have minded," I said with a smile, noticing her craving for the candy.

I was used to Antonio giving candies to the students to pass on to me, but for these little sweet tooths, it might have been a kind of torment.

Antonio's way of expressing his fondness was to give me ...