A wealthy married man begins an affair with an Italian woman, which becomes complicated when she reveals that she is pregnant. Fearing scandal and the loss of his reputation, he offers her a large payment to move back to Italy and have the child in secret. He also promises to send financial support for years to come, provided she keeps the matter quiet.
To maintain discretion, the man devises a secret code for communication. He tells the woman to send him a postcard with the word “Spaghetti” written on the back once the baby is born. This way, he can understand the message without attracting attention from anyone who might see it. The plan appears foolproof — until months later, when he returns home from a trip to find an unexpected complication.
His wife is holding a postcard from Italy with the word “Spaghetti” written on it, clearly puzzled by the message. The story ends at that ironic and tense moment, suggesting that the man’s attempt to hide the truth has backfired. It’s a short tale of secrecy, irony, and the inevitable consequences of deception.
