Scene Guide: The Durum Hills Hike

His biggest adventure yet — with snacks.

The setup

A golden Saturday. Ricky, Pippa, and the crew set out for the high meadow of the Durum Hills — the farthest any of them has gone without an adult (Nonna knows; Nonna packed the lunches; Nonna is the adult).

How the scene plays

Beat 1 — The ascent: The hill is steeper than the map suggested (Pippa's map is accurate; Ricky's enthusiasm is not to scale). They take turns carrying the "expedition flag" (a dish towel). Ricky narrates: "Hour two. Morale: excellent. Snacks: holding."

Beat 2 — The discovery: At the top: the whole valley spread below, Mount Parmesan on the horizon, the Marinara glittering. The crew goes quiet — even Ricky. Then: "New rule," he says. "We come back with everyone next time." Pippa writes it in the journal like law.

Beat 3 — The picnic: Nonna's lunches are unpacked and demolished. Ricky produces one extra breadstick from his backpack "for emergencies" and shares it six ways. This, Pippa notes in the journal, is "classic Ricky."

Beat 4 — The button: Heading down at sunset, Ricky looks back once. "Best day ever," he says. The crew answers in chorus: "Every day!"