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Keene shrugs. “They take the shushing very seriously.”
I point to a statue across the hall. “Why do you think some of the statues got fig leaves and others just got the chop?”
Declan studies it for a moment and says, “I like to think whoever was in charge of the fig leaves got tired of it and just lost it one day and started chopping off dicks.”
I smile. “I really like the idea that it was just one guy – like this was his life’s work.”
I see Bode fighting a smile out of the corner of my eye.
“What do you think he did with all the dicks?” Keene asks.
I start giggling. “Oh my god, I hope he kept them.”
“Maybe there’s a huge box filled with missing dicks somewhere in Rome,” Eli says. We’re all laughing but trying not to make any noise. Tears are rolling down my cheeks.
“Oh my god, imagine his family finding this giant box of dicks after he died,” I say.
Declan’s body is shaking he’s trying so hard not to laugh out loud. I notice that even Bode is laughing too.
“Is this sacrilegious?” Eli asks, running his hands over his face.
“I mean, how can we not ask questions? It’s everywhere. Are we supposed to not notice?” I say, pointing at the statues around us.
“Yeah, the fig leaf strategy was much better. These missing dicks are just disturbing,” Keene says.
Declan nods. “We aren’t in the Basilica. We’re just in the museum, so I think it’s okay. Museums are for questions, aren’t they?”
The rest of the group comes down the hallway and Brooklyn says, “What’s next?”
“We’re going up in the dome,” Declan says, there’s a sparkle in his eye. He starts walking toward the exit.
“The dome? Like the very top?” I ask.
“The very top,” Declan says over his shoulder.
––––––––
“551steps,” Will says, reading the sign. “Whose idea was this?”
“I think Declan’s,” I reply.
“It was mine, and I’ve done it before. You won’t regret it,” Declan says.
Bode speaks next. I forgot he was still with us he’s been so quiet on our walk over here. “Yeah, I’ve done it too. It’s my favorite thing to do in Rome.”
I arch an eyebrow. “The favorite? That’s some high expectations.”
“Declan’s right, you won’t regret it,” he says.
We start off and take the stairs until we reach the overlook of the dome on the inside of the Basilica.
“Are we halfway?” Olivia asks, as we look over the railing to the church below.
“Roughly, I think,” Will says.
“I need a breather,” Zadie says, leaning on the railing.
“No joke.” Brooklyn waves to Savannah in a carrier. “I’m carrying an extra twenty pounds.”
