A Beautiful Poison

by Lydia Kang

For a long while, she let Ernie and Mr. Rossi chat, their conversation flowing between Italian and Latin. Latin, of all languages!

“Everything she did for me—I can’t ever be thankful enough.” “Acceptissima semper, munera sunt, auctor quae pretiosa facit.” Mr. Rossi turned to Ernie for a translation. “It’s Ovid. The most acceptable gifts . . . are the ones made precious by our love of the giver.”