Sister Arthur took time to smell the roses. Ah how beautiful they are. Violent red ruby flowers spread across the yard and grew all over the church's old walls. It was a warm afternoon, causing anyone who was out and about to be put under a drowsy spell.
His basket on one arm, Sister Arthur reached out to pluck the roses, careful not to be pricked by its thorns. He took a whiff and then set them in his basket. It was nearly full, but Arthur couldn't help but to fill it up and then later vase the flowers in his room. There were a few bees but he wasn't scared. Instead he merely swatted them away from his flowers.
Flowers have always been a soft spot for Sister Arthur as well as little children. They both brought him joy and only reminded him of what innocence this damned world had left.
A gentle spring breeze blew in, lifting up his black Scapular and revealing his smooth, thin, pale legs. Embarrassed, Sister Arthur murmured a short prayer and put his free hand on his skirt, dropping his rose.
Carrying the sound of his voice in the wind was Father Alfred. He appeared coming from the back door of the church, where the kitchens were, and made his way across the yard.
Father Alfred was the head Priest at church. He had short blond hair with a cowlick sticking up and blue glasses are were silver trimmed. He wore a mozzetta, a short shoulder-cape , that was the color of black , and a The soprana, a black wool cloak accessorized by a big gold cross he wore as a necklace.
" Arthur, I-I mean sister, is that you?" He said, shielding his eyes from the sun with his free hand.
Arthur took an aggravated sigh then calmed himself down. He took a deep breath and turned to fully face Father Alfred.
Arthur hoped his face wasn't red and his smile too fake.
" Yes..father? Is something wrong?" He said with a cringed smile, clutching his basket tightly.
Father walked up to him, his creepy cowlick bouncing up and down and his glasses sliding off his nose, exposing his blue eyes. Arthur stood perfectly still, holding his rose basket tightly while Father Alfred adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.
" I thought it was you." He said with a nervous chuckle.
He was clearly trying to strike up a conversation.
Sister Arthur kept his eyes to the ground, his answer short. " Forgive me Father, but I must be going now. It's nearly 3 o'clock and I must tend to service and prayer in 10 minutes. I hope you'll forgive my rudeness." Arthur finished boweing his head slightly.
Father Alfred sighed. He let his hands drop to his side and his eyes wandered to the roses that grew all over the church walls and then to Arthur's full basket. " Wow, that's quite a lot of roses you got there. Make sure you leave some for the rest of us!" He piped flashing Arthur with a big smile. Arthur mentally scoffed then excused himself, running from the yard and Into the safety and purity of the church.
Father Alfred watched as he left. He then chuckled and looked up at the sky. Another spring sweet breeze blew making his cowlick wave with the wind like a piece of grass. " Arthur Kirkland" he said aloud , making his voice loud and clear.