#FreakshowFriday

Chapter 22: In Fair Verona

October 17, 2023

To Nathan, getting out of Venice and heading to Verona feels like a breath of fresh air. And he isn't only feeling that way because Verona lacks revenants in plague doctor garb.

The differences between the two cities are manifold. Nathan thinks there is great beauty in Venice, but, at times, it feels more like an open air museum filled with boatloads of tourists rather than an actual city. Verona, by contrast, is a city people call home, a city they live in—they work, study, exercise and party in an old-world style urban jungle, the kind where history and modernity intermingle as much as they clash.

Verona has cars, which Nathan had almost forgotten existed; his mental image of what constitutes a primary means of transport has been replaced by boats in mere days. And although both cities are touristy, Verona's tacky souvenir shops are rife with Romeo and Juliet paraphernalia rather than Carnival masks in all shapes and sizes.

The day trip has been progressing smoothly. Jamie was grumbling under her breath when her offer to pay for everyone's train tickets got declined—"So Stella gets to treat us to ice cream, but nobody will let me do anything nice?"—but her mood improved fast at the prospect of seeing Verona and its novelty. It's a welcome change of pace. On that, at least, the entire family is in agreement, which works wonders for the atmosphere. Nathan didn't think he'd say it, but the morning spent getting a feel of Verona's old city center and visiting the house said to have inspired Juliet's almost became harmonious.

It's when the group breaks up around lunch time, with Emilio and Linda heading off by themselves in search of 'the finest spaghetti and meatballs lunch in town', that Jamie seizes her opportunity. She accosts Stella with enthusiasm, leaning on her sister's shoulder with her most excited grin on full display. "Stellaaa! You didn't know this yet, but we're ditching these guys. Girls' shopping trip. Right this instant!"

Stella laughs, which Nathan hasn't seen her do ever, so that's a good sign. The woman is truly in high spirits. It's a sunny, sorrowless day in a pretty Italian city, and she's been successfully crossing cherished places off her bucket list all morning—a veritable recipe for happiness.

"Are we now?" she asks playfully. "Poor Gino and Nathan might have wanted to enjoy lunch with us."

"What happened to sisters before misters? They can grab lunch with us any other day of the trip, but we're only in Verona for a day, and the shopping streets are so much better here than in Venice." Jamie conjures up her best puppy dog eyes; Nathan doesn't know how Stella could possibly say no to that face. "Come on, Stel, please? When's the last time we really hung out?"

The wistfulness creeping into Stella's smile says the answer is too long ago. She turns to Gino and Nathan. "You two will be able to fend for yourselves  for a few hours?"

Gino blows his fiancée an exaggerated kiss, pairing it with a wink. "I will survive, amore. Go forth and conquer these streets."

Nathan's own reply is a simple "Uh-huh", which has the girls in stitches within seconds. Nathan doesn't mind this. There's no malice in it and, ulterior motive aside, Jamie isn't feigning her zeal. She'll enjoy this quality time with her sister. Let them try and have fun, make a couple good memories together for a change. At its core, that's what the whole trip was supposed to be about, anyway.

Nathan is readying himself to initialize working the precious few social skills he has on Gino when Jamie turns back, motioning for her sister to halt. "Wait a sec, one more thing. Nate, what's your favourite colour?" She smiles. "Because I thought it would be nice to get you, like, a little souvenir gift or something, and it'll be good to have a colour to keep an eye out for."