96. Scholarly Pursuits
Date Written: November 11, 2020
Date Posted: December 13, 2020
Characters: Veneziano, Romano
Summary: Veneziano becomes an art teacher.
Notes:
It was a dream of his that he didn't think would actually come into fruition.
Well, correction: Veneziano knew that it could have happened one day. After all, with the connections he had, he could have easily set this up faster than he cared to admit. However, he had wanted to make sure that he was ready for this newest endeavor.
In fact, when it first started, he had been speaking with Romano over government documentation while sipping a cup of fresh coffee. The biscotti was flavorful, the cafe pleasant and his fellow customers were boisterous and friendly while dining at their own tables. As they were talking about the newest plan concerning the implementation of new healthcare guidelines, a group of young children happened to skip their way inside.
Their laughter immediately added to the already boisterous atmosphere. Everyone smiled behind their cups of coffee and the way the cashier smiled broadly at their customers, Veneziano knew that they must have been regulars.
Without even knowing it, Veneziano was smiling and humming along to one of the children who was singing a cute little ditty that, if memory serves correctly, was at least a couple generations old. Even Romano, who had his head poised over their documentation, his eyes solely focused on their shared project, bobbed his head a little to the beat.
Eventually, the children stopped their carousing as they began to feast on their desired treats. At that moment, Romano's eyes met Veneziano's and he, point blank, asked, "I never took you to be so fond of children, Veneziano."
Veneziano laughed despite himself. He brushed the back of his neck with one of his hands as he focused on his brother once again.
"As if you aren't as smitten with the idea of youth, laughter, and innocence."
Romano pursed his lips and looked away.
Looked at the children.
"That's not what I meant, Veneziano, and you know it." Romano leaned back against his chair and played with the rim of his coffee cup. His eyes, dark green and contemplative, stared hard at his brother before he sighed a little to himself. "Look, I know that all of this government work stresses and bores you… Why not…" Romano paused, despite himself, and glanced at his brother, a meaningful look in his eyes.
Veneziano leaned forward against his inner wishes, but he still wanted to know what his brother was trying to get at.
"Why not take a year or so off?" Romano inclined his head towards the children and he smiled. "I have a feeling you know what to do during that time."
Indeed, when Veneziano had collapsed onto his desk later that night, intent on trying to finish the rest of his paperwork, he knew what his brother was trying to convey. All his life, or at the very least, ever since he had met a human child, he had always been fascinated with them. The way their innocence was blinding, the way they frolicked and played like nothing could touch them… It was all refreshing and gave Veneziano the sense that all was right within the world even if the children did grow up and become as senseless or as warmongering as the rest of the adults.
It brought a sense of peace to Veneziano when he knew that there would always be children in the world—and with them came love and brightness.
There was just something about them…
He wanted to hide them from the horrors of the world, to cherish them.
But, most of all, he wanted to teach them.
But, was he to be a teacher?
Could he really have the skills and the patience to hold a class of his choice?
After much thought and classes that he had taken much to the bemusement of his brother, Veneziano decided that he would be a teacher.
He would teach art.
And so, the day had come to pass when Veneziano finally decided to visit his classroom.
Today was that day.
Veneziano sighed.
The door in front of him was closed, eager to be opened. Although, on many other occasions, he would have been more than happy to bound through the door, he couldn't muster the courage to do so. Instead, he steadied his breathing and tapped his index finger against his briefcase before heading inside.
There, he allowed himself to smile in front of a gaggle of excited children. All of them, their faces were expectant.
"Hello," he greeted them all merrily. "Ready for a great day, class?"
He was going to have so much fun.
