"Where are you going?" I asked Romano. He wasn't in his usual uniform. His clothes were more…presentable, I guess you would say. Not something you'd usually see him in.

"Church," he answered, putting on a coat. "It's Sunday."

"But you never go…"

"I go sometimes," he sighed. "Like, on Holy Days of Obligation and stuff."

I rested my elbows on the counter and stopped cutting up the tomato I was chopping to make salad for lunch. "Today isn't a Holy Day of Obligation."

"Yeah, but there isn't going to be one in a while, so I thought I should go at least once," he shrugged. "I'll see you in an hour or so."

"'Kay…" He kissed me and hurried out the door. I glanced at the clock and smiled, pushing a strand of hair out of my eye. He's going to be late, I thought. As I continued to chop the fruit in front of me, I wondered what I should do. Go to America and Britain? Hang out with Scout? Go find a gift for Paulo? I set down the knife and untied my waist apron with a groan. I knew the answer.

"Paulo!" I called, draping the apron over the back of a chair. "Paulo, come down here!" While I waited for him, I tossed the ingredients for the salad in a big bowl. A minute passed and there was no answer. "Paulo?"

I barely finished the word when both Paulo and Scout ran towards the doorway to the kitchen, side by side. They didn't fit next to each other and got stuck, one pushing against the other. The eventually stumbled through, shouting insults.

"Idiot!" Scout yelled, her hands balled into fists. "How'd you think we were both gonna be fittin' in that way?!"

"Sorella called me!" Paulo defended.

"Shut it!" I snapped. Once they stopped their argument and looked at me, I calmed myself. "Scout, go back upstairs."

"But wh-"

"Scout." She pouted and stamped the floor childishly, trudging back up the steps. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to get an idea of what to get you as a gift. Can you just give me a suggestion?"

"Hmm…" Paulo tapped his chin and thought. "Something from America. I've always thought of them as interesting people." I raised an eyebrow. "Good interesting."

"Okay. I'll go out and get you something." I walked over to the coatrack and reached for my red coat. I retracted my hand and held my fist to my chest.

Italy got me that… I thought ruefully. I quickly got the other one I got: a light blue one with pastel green buttons. It clashed a bit, but it was warm. I threw it on and said to Paulo, "There's some salad on the counter if you want it."

"Okay~!" Paulo immediately snatched it and groped around for a fork.

I shook my head and walked out the door. I'd never seen anyone get so excited about salad. Pasta, yes. Salad? No.

Later

I found myself strolling around aimlessly in a small southern town. Alabama, I think it was. I smiled at all the small children in the yard at a school. The girls wore pretty pink dresses and the boys were either in Sunday clothes or overalls. The houses had wooden porches with old women knitting in rocking chairs and children chasing each other around the home. I carried my new black purse in front of me with both hands, clutching it tightly as people eyed it.

"Good mornin' lady."

I slowly turned to my right. On one of the rocking chairs was a young girl, no more than eight or nine. Her head was resting on the seat of the chair and her legs were propped up on the back of it. "Hello."

She summersaulted off and laded on her feet. Unlike other girls, she was in dirt-caked overalls. "You from over yonder?" She pointed left.

"No. I'm from New Jersey. I live in Italy now, though."

"I thought you was one a them rich ladies," she said, running over to me. "Name's Vera. An' you're…?"

"Bella," I greeted with a friendly grin. "Nice to meet you, Vera."

"What brings ya over ta America?" Vera asked, following me as I continued my walk. "I thought you said ya lived yonder in Italy."

"I do," I shrugged. "But I have to get a gift for my brother. He likes American things. So I came down here."

"You came down here for somethin' so trivial?" Vera gasped. "What I'd give to have that kinda money. I'd dress all fancy-like like yerself."

She fluffed her short golden curls in mock arrogance. I giggled. "I'm not really rich. I'm just living with some rich people. They always try to impress me with gifts. Or…at least one of them did."

"Men," Vera huffed, catching on. "They're always tryin' ta make things more difficult than they have ta be. Wouldn't mind the gifts, though." She paused. "What's life like in Italy?"

"Oh, it's nice," I mused. "The people are nice, the food is delicious, and the men are handsome… What is there not to like?"

"My daddy says the Italians are in the Axis Powers. I thought they were right evil. Or at least ya'd think so by the way he described them."

I gazed at her sympathetically. "You guys are just on opposing sides. Someday you two nations will have a big influence on each other. So don't hate them like your dad. No country is bad. No matter where you live or what you look like, we're all still people."

Vera nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, missum. I'll be sure ta remember that."

"Good." We passed a shop window and I halted. I couldn't tell what it was a store for, but I looked down at Vera. "Do you want to go in?"

"Yes, ma'am!" she exclaimed, rushing in before me. I laughed and followed her. Good thing she was little because this was a toy shop. There were teddy bears on the left side of the room and toy trains on the right. Vera was already squeezing a stuffed purple bunny.

"Do you want to buy that?" I asked her.

"I don't have the money," she sighed sadly, gazing at the rabbit.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it if you want it." I reached inside my purse.

"No, ma'am!" she stopped me. "I can't pay ya back!"

"Its fine," I assured her, grabbing some dollar bills. (I always keep some money from the Axis and Allies countries just in case I buy something when I visit.) "I've got money to spare. Can I see that for a second?"

Vera reluctantly handed me the stuffed animal and I strode over to the counter. A bored woman looked up and blew a few brown strands out of her eye. "Yes?"

"I'd like to buy this," I smiled, handing her the money. She took it and quickly counted the bills. "Fine."

I winced at her curtness but handed the bunny back to Vera. She hugged it again and bounced up and down happily. "Now…What to get my brother…" I exited the store with her and continued searching shop windows for anything good. "Hey, Vera?"

"Yeah?"

"Do your parents know you're out?"

"They're workin' a hard day today. Won't be back 'til night."

"Okay. If they ask you where you got the rabbit, just say a woman bought it for you."

"Yessum." Her stride quickened with mine as we kept glancing around. Suddenly, I halted when I saw a music store.

"I wonder if he plays instruments…" I said to myself. "I should ask him. I'd better take you home, Vera." I couldn't let her see me whipping out my cell phone. "Come on, let's go." I put a hand on her back and silently led her back home.

"Thanks very much for the stuffed animal, miss," she called once she was perched back on her rocking chair.

"No problem!" I replied with a wave. "Bye!" I hurried out of sight and stood under a tree. Once I made sure the area was barren, I took out my phone and dialed Scout.

"'Sup?"

"Scout? Is that you?"

"No, this is God speaking. How may I help you?"

"Stop that."

"Fine…"

I took a deep breath. "Can I talk to Paulo?"

"No!"

"Why do you hate him so much!? Just let me talk to the guy!"

"No way! I hate him. We were once assigned to stop the same natural disaster by accident and we didn't get along and… Let's just say we won't be seeing the island of Poh above sea level any time soon."

"Never heard of it."

"Exactly."

"…Anyway, seriously, I need to talk to Paulo."

On the other end I heard crackling and distant shouting. I guess Paulo must've somehow heard me and was trying to rip the cell out of Scout's hands. A fine example of maturity from my dear ol' brother.

"Sorella?!"

"Yeah, hi."

I could almost see Paulo's childish grin. "You called me! On purpose!"

"Duh. I was just wondering if you played any instruments."

"Why would you want to know that…?"

"No reason."

"Well, in that case…"

I did a face-palm. That was all it would take?! He didn't have any suspicion that this was for his gift? Oh, well. Made it easier on my part.

He stayed silent for a moment. "I play the piano, violin, viola, drums, marimba, triangle, clapstciks, Se, Saz, Ruan-"

"Okay, okay, okay!" I groaned. "Thanks…" I quickly hung up and leaned against the tree. At least that answered my question.

I could get him any instrument known to man.

*Paulo, you are one talented dude!

Paulo: Indeed I am!

I got into the game Portal 2 for some reason. I was watching the ending and saw P-Body and Atlas celebrating 'cause they saved science and I was all "AWWWWWW!"

Romano: Then they, spoiler alert, EXPLODED!

And I was all, "NAAAAW!" We were watching commercials made by students in English and one kid made a teeth whitening product. The phone number to call was, no joke, 1-800-BE-WHITE! We DIED!

Romano: Sickos.

Japan: Racists.

0_0' Sorry…

China: Apologize to all the Asian people! And all the other people who aren't white!

That wasn't a racist phrase, it was a misunderstanding-

Holy Rome: NOW can I use the chainsaw?

Romano: Go for it.

Holy Rome: :D

D:

K bye.*