Strep Aureus

At 31 years of age and 5ft 9in tall Strep Aureus is a confident, self-assured and independent woman. A hardworking and dedicated mother of two Strep is a hardnosed lady who never takes no for an answer.

Being a fellow poison dart frog anthropomorph her skin is as venomous as Staph's. Akin to her husband she arrives to the interview bound head to toe in fabric with only her face visible beneath swathes of colourful cloth. Naturally we ask her to remove her headgear for the portrait and she willingly obliges. The twins trail behind her, an eight year old boy and girl who although shy at first are soon running loose in the studio. It concerns us that Tero and Toco are not tightly wrapped in clothing but instead flail their bare arms and legs as they chase between the lights.

Who ever thought a simple game of tag could be so unnerving? 

Strep calms our worries by explaining that young dart frogs are not deadly as the venom they will eventually produce in their epidermis is one that accumulates over time due to a diet rich in poisonous plants. It is comforting to know that there’s only a slight chance of us having a severe reaction and that Tero and Toco don’t unintentionally murder their playmates on a daily basis. Strep relates that they likely won’t develop poison strong enough to kill a man until their teen years. It’s nice to know that nature has saved the privilege of causing accidental death for when they hit puberty because being a teenager sure as hell isn’t complicated enough.

A strong believer in equality and diversity Strep likes to get involved with community affairs. She gets on well with her neighbours and works at the local primary school with some rather difficult students. She jokes that after five years of teaching there she likes kids a whole lot less than when she started.

A dependable woman her hobbies include a variety of handcrafts from whittling wood to jewellery making. She even crafts personalised spearheads and darts for her beloved husband. The family bond is certainly a strong one, founded on love and deep running loyalties. Fearless and soulful Strep is both a protective and devoted wife. She is not directly involved or interested in Staph’s work and seems unconcerned of the potential impact his profession could have on the family. In her own words, ‘what Staph does on Luk’s time is his business.’

Right on.