Torello Palmer, nicknamed Brugola because he always has an Allen wrench in hand, is a mechanic who sells bicycles, "of all colors and sizes. Bicycles lined up on the floor, bicycles hanging on walls, bicycles suspended from the ceiling. Where there are no bicycles, there are bicycle wheels and bicycle accessories".

But after changing tubulars and tires, patching inner tubes and oiling chains, tightening bolts and spokes for an entire lifetime, Brugola gets an irresistible desire: to buy a horse. He tells his wife, Gina Pedaliera, who expresses her skepticism. But Brugola is determined. And two days later, he accepts a trade: his gray bicycle for a horse - call it destiny - of exactly the same color.

"Brugola's Horse" is one of the 25 stories in "The Village of Stories", written by Mauro Parrini, published by Società Editrice Fiorentina (176 pages, 15 euros), born when a village that was losing its inhabitants day by day received a passing story that stopped, settled in a house, and opened citizenship to all stories as long as they were not too long, boring, or presumptuous. Like this one.

Brugola is happy and content until he mounts the horse and urges it with arms and heels, but the horse doesn't move at all, completely indifferent and annoyed. Brugola doesn't give up, but when evening falls, he brings the horse to his shop and locks it inside. The horse won't have it, kicks the door, unhooks a bike from the ceiling, and escapes. The next morning, Brugola raises the alarm, the horse on a bike is reported here and there, then abandons the bike and boards a bus, gets off the bus and boards a train. But life is tough, and when it becomes even tougher, death is risked. In a railway accident, the lazy horse loses a leg.

The ending has a happy resolution, a great relief for everyone, us readers and especially the horse, Brugola, Gina Pedaliera, and, you'll discover, who will be able to restore the missing leg and who will benefit from the services of the regenerated and reinvigorated horse, finally shining with generosity and gratitude.

Bravo to everyone. From Parrini to Brugola, from the reborn horse to the bike - another happy ending - found again.