Marcello's Date by Mark David Hatwood

1949. In an Italian coastal village, Marcello Romero, the son of a poor fisherman, dreams of the beautiful Elena Gamboccini. Knowing his chances of getting her first date when up against Armand, son and heir of the Cessero Ice-cream magnate, to be slim, Marcello, nevertheless follows the village tradition - The father of every sixteen year old girl is presented with a gift on her birthday, the best present of which wins his daughter's hand on her first date -- Remembering the cockerel, owned by the village butcher, that wakes Mr. Gamboccini every morning, Marcello thinks he's found the perfect gift. But how is he to obtain a cockerel that no one wants to sell? And even then, at how high a price?