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1:08 PM
Basil had gone to meet Venus at Bifrost Gardens. It was a nice set of ornamental grounds laid out for public enjoyment and recreation. He had opened with "Aloha, comely. I adore your orbs." With that Venus was blushing from the compliment.
Sitting on a bench, Basil and Venus spoke. Basil asked about Venus' family and she told him she lived with her Aunt Mitsu and cousin Mabel who was ten years younger than Venus. When asked what had happened to her parents, Venus explained that her mother had died after giving birth to her and her father had died when she was four years old. When asked what happened to her uncle, Mabel's father and Venus' father's younger brother, Venus explained that her uncle had died of cancer recently.
"My aunt decided it would be better for us to move from Japan to Toronto since none of my aunt's family lives in Japan anymore, they all left for Toronto long ago. Likewise this is where my dad and uncle originated from, this is where their side of the family came from."
"What about your mom's family?" Basil asked.
"My mom was disowned before she ever met my dad." Replied Venus.
"And why did your mom enroll you and your cousin in Catholic schools?"
"Because we are a Catholic family and my aunt found it inconceivable to send me and Mabel to schools without uniforms." Worldwide, the three largest branches of Christianity were the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and various denominations of Protestantism. 2.3% of the population was Christian. Venus' family being Catholic wasn't all that unlikely.
"Right, stupid question."
"Not really, if our family religion was not a factor it would just have been my aunt's uniform reason." Commented Venus. She brushed some of her long red hair behind her right ear.
Basil scratched his hooked nose. "So where does Mabel go?"
"Well, she is technically in preschool but Aunt Mitsu plans to enroll her in Blessed Adam of Ross Catholic School."
"What is Bishop Dunan's like?"
Venus shrugged. "It's fine. Uniforms aside I guess it isn't much different from any other high school. High school is high school, the last place on earth the social mores of Victorian and early modern times exist."
Basil nodded in agreement. "I guess that is true."
"You have Quentin Berkhart, the big man on campus and the administrator's son—"
"You don't have to talk about it. We got the same things at A. Nigma. I know it. As you said, high schools are high schools."
Basil went silent for a bit. He took a good look at Venus. He had been born on April 1st, 1997 and she on December 1st, 1997. She was beautiful and he was ugly though his scars improved him in some way. He was taller than her too by a whole foot. There wasn't much of an age difference there was a difference in size and personal attractiveness however.
"Are you alright, Basil?" Venus had a concerned look on her face. Basil had gone silent and looked as if he were brooding. She did not know how to react to this.
"I'm going to be honest. I've never been alone with a beautiful girl before." Confessed Basil, rubbing the back of his head. "I… Guess I just realized how ugly I truly am."
"You aren't ugly. You are the most handsome boy I've ever met."
"My face looks like a skull and I'm missing my right eyebrow. I'm as unattractive as they come! Joseph Merrick was better looking than I am while you are more beautiful than Aphrodite!" Basil's confidence was breaking. He had been alone with Veronica sometimes but he had never really thought about his appearance until now. Not until now had he ever been alone with someone of the opposite gender his own age. "I am not handsome!"
"After having Quentin in all of my morning classes, I think I can tell who is handsome."
"Is he worse looking than me?"
"He looks alright. He is just a real jerk." Venus shuddered at the thought of him. "I'm afraid of returning to find out that he is in my afternoon classes too."
"It is early in the school year, could just skip." Suggested Basil. "I'll have to go back for my backback… " Basil's eyes widened as he realized what he had just said. "Did I just say 'backback?'" Venus gave an amused giggle and nodded. "Well, I'll have to go back for my BACKPACK before the school closes so I guess I'll go back at three. We could have a day on the town, I could spend the day with a pretty girl and you could spend it with… Someone more misshapen than the Man in the Moon."
"Basil, you look fine!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Lets… What about your new principle?"
"Probably just going to be someone not much different than the last one." Said Basil with a shrug. How wrong he was.
