RACOLO:

Syrrah! It's about time I ran into you.

SYRRAH:

Racolo, my brother told me you are now living here. I have been looking forward to seeing you. It has been too long.

RACOLO:
Honored One.

SYRRAH:

Please rise, there is no need to stand on ceremony 

with me. Come, and give me a proper greeting.

RACOLO:

You've changed your look. Did you get tired of your golden hair?

SYRRAH:

Oh yes. I am surprised you recognized me.

RACOLO:

Are you kidding? I'd know you anywhere.

SYRRAH:

Have you met my husband, Vanni.

RACOLO:
Sure have.

VANNI:

I didn’t know you two knew each other.

RACOLO:

Oh yeah, the Flower Goddess. Vanni, have 

you participated in the Festival?

VANNI:

No. Should I?

RACOLO:

Yeah, it's incredible! Syrrah, do you remember those red and 

white flowers all over the mountainside? The smell was intoxicating.

SYRRAH:

Of course, and do you remember the terrible rash

you developed from those very flowers?

RACOLO:

Don’t remind me. I was never so itchy in my entire life, 

but then … you cured me.

SYRRAH:

It was my honor. Tell me, what brings you to our home?

RACOLO:

My kid -  but it’s a long story, and it’ll have to wait.

RACOLO:

... I’m on my way to a lecture, but I’ll catch up with you later.

SYRRAH:

I look forward to it.

RACOLO:
See ya later Vanni. 

Later, in Syrrah and Vanni’s room ...

SYRRAH:

Is something wrong, husband? You have been 

looking at me in an odd way, all afternoon.

VANNI:

Why didn’t you tell me about Racolo?

SYRRAH:

There is nothing to tell. He is a good friend to my brother.

VANNI:

You two seemed pretty familiar. Did you date him?

SYRRAH:

Date? Oh, you mean the way in which you courted me? No,

we did not date. We did spend time together, but that is all.

VANNI:
That’s all?

SYRRAH:

Beloved, Racolo was my brother’s guest. I gave him a tour of the 

mountainside. He was most interested in the herbs we grow. At the time, both he and Zyfan were attending Magick School.

SYRRAH:

…Then, when the Festival began, we participated.

VANNI:

I haven’t read up on all your Festivals yet. 

Which one is this?

SYRRAH:

The Festival of new life. The Goddess and the God are joined in a 

Sacred Marriage. This act fertilizes the crops and blesses procreation of all

the animals for the coming year. It is a most joyous occassion indeed.

SYRRAH:

Of course not. One does not sleep during the 

Festival of the Flower Goddess.

VANNI:

No I wouldn’t think so … Syrrah, in plain english,

did you have sex with Racolo?

SYRRAH:

Of course. What do you think goes on during a fertility festival? What is the matter? Does this upset you?

VANNI:

I'm not sure. I need a minute to process this.

SYRRAH:

While you do, let me remind you of this. Do you recall the day we 

went to the museum, and that friend of yours said hello. She was a 

previous lover of yours, was she not? That meant nothing to me,

so why should this mean anything to you?

VANNI:

That was different.

SYRRAH:
Explain.

VANNI:

For one thing, my ex-lover doesn’t sleep down the hall from us.

SYRRAH:

That is correct. Racolo is down the hall. He is not here,

in bed with us. I still see no problem.

VANNI:

You wouldn’t. All I know is - tomorrow morning I’m going to 

have breakfast with a guy who’s seen my wife naked.

SYRRAH:

GioVanni, many men have seem me naked. Would it help if I 

told you that I have seen him naked as well?

VANNI:
Not at all. 

SYRRAH:

Beloved, why do you insist upon fretting over 

events that happened long before we met?

SYRRAH:

... Need I remind you that I chose you, above all others, to be 

my husband. Now tell me, what more is there to think about?

VANNI:

You know wife, you have a gift for putting 

things into perspective for me.

SYRRAH:

I am glad I could ease your mind,  husband.