Apocrypha

Chapter 20

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions."
Romans 14:1

GABRIEL LOOKED AT HIS reflection on the mirror in front of him. He picked his hair that was starting to grow too long. Before running away, he got bi-weekly haircuts, mandated by his father to ensure they don't have drastic changes in appearance.

Of course, now that he was not in DC, he was free to live the life he wanted. He started to shave every morning, compared to his father who grew a beard as it was a sign of manliness and holiness.

"Cut it." He said. Virgilia held up a pair of silver scissors. She grabbed a lock of the blonde hair and readied it. "You sure you know what you're doing?" He asked her.

"Do you want to accompany Lysander on his trip? Because he and Kari are only allowing you to go if you get a haircut." She said.

"Fine, fine." Gabriel relented. "But could you stop swinging the scissors around? You're scaring me."

Virgilia brought the scissors to Gabriel's head and began to make cuts. She trimmed his hair and made it shorter. Gabriel looked on in the mirror as his golden hair fell onto the tarp over him or the floor.

After much time, she set the scissors down and blow dried his hair to get rid of any loose hair.

"Voila! What do you think?" She said, stepping back. She lightly signaled for Lysander to finally enter the bathroom to take a look at her handiwork.

Gabriel stood up from his seat and took a closer look at his hair. His hair was reminiscent of the style he and other men had to get during their mandated service. That is, short buzz cut hair. Only this time, it was a bit longer. Just long enough for him to style it.

Lysander peeked into the bathroom to get a glimpse at his partner. He watched Gabriel begin to fix his hair. Gabriel could feel Lysander watching him. He turned around and showed the voyeur his new hair.

"Consensus?" Gabriel turned and asked Lysander.

"You look commanding." Lysander replied.

"Is that a good or bad thing?"

Lysander finally stepped into view and leaned against the doorway. He used his finger to signal Gabriel. "Spin for me."

Gabriel did a turn for a 360 view of his entire head.

"It's perfect." Lysander said.

Gabriel left to shower while Lysander began to pack their essentials. The trip wouldn't be long. They just needed to cross the border into Mississippi and travel through the bayous before arriving at their final destination.

But his main worry was the extreme patriotism and loyalism to the US that the Bible Belt has. And if they spot Gabriel Barrington, wanted criminal and traitor to the nation, they won't hesitate to hurt him.

IN THE LIVING ROOM, Horatio and Timon watched the TV.

"Italy has announced a joint project with Croatia and Slovenia to restore the sunken city of Venice. The island city sank under the sea 20 years ago, which has since been abandoned and Venetians moved into the nearby mainland. Efforts have been made to drain the nearby waters. As of this moment, the only indicator of the former city is the St. Marco Campanile.

"Since the Italian Prime Minister announced this project, protests from southern Italians have erupted. This comes amidst the peninsular country facing a growing civil conflict between the prosperous north and declining south. Just earlier this year, the Sanremo Music Festival faced heavy protests and bomb threats from extremists Sicilian revolutionaries."