recommend giving it a few more hours
before you close up the windows. Make sure the bulk of the smell is gone.”
“Thank you. Thank you all!”
All the ladies beamed.
“Well, good night, all of you. I'm tired early,” began
Fiona. “I'll see you kids in the morning!”
18
“I take it from the scream this morning that I accidentally stole
your hot water there for a bit,” apologized Emily as Anna entered the kitchen.
Anna was all grins regardless, “Yeah, caught me by
surprise. I guess I shouldn't have loitered in the shower. But it felt good!”
Emily just laughed, “No, my fault! I'm not used to it being
a full house and I could have just as easily waited until you two ate before I
did the dishes.”
“Um, are we late to breakfast?” asked Anna apologetically.
“Nope,” grinned Theodore. “It's just that Third Mother made
herself breakfast at four in the morning and Second Mother can't stand the
sight of dirty dishes.”
Emily grimaced, “I will try to be more careful. I
should have listened to the pipes. Sorry again, dear.”
“It's okay,” grinned Anna. “Not the first time that has
happened to me. What's the plan for the day?”
“Breakfast!” beamed Theodore.
Emily laughed, “Well that, yes. Then I think it would be
good to get you back in town. You both need a few more changes of clothes and
those things take time.”
“I did bring a bit of the local currency...”
Emily just tutted her away as she brought out their piping
hot breakfast, “Keep your purse here for now. If you find something silly or
fun, spend your money on that. A few souvenirs from the Highlands would be no
bad thing.”
Anna was quickly learning better than to argue with Emily's
odd sense of hospitality and they both quickly devoured their breakfast while
Emily left to tend to little Abby.
Rose poked her head into the kitchen and grinned at the
couple.
“You eaten yet, little one?” asked Theodore.
Rose just beamed and nodded, “Ate with Father. We still
going into town? Second Mama said we needed to buy Anna a new pretty dress!”
Theodore grinned, “Why, yes, that is the plan. You been
practicing your writing?”
Rose nodded and grinned proudly, “In three lettering styles,
too!”
“Excellent! Soon you'll have a scholarship for off world as
well!”
Roses eyes went wide, “No! I'm staying here! Off world is
too scary!”
Theodore frowned, “Um, it doesn't have to be. Most of it is
quite safe...”
“Not going until you go back!”
He laughed, “Fair enough there, little one!”
Emily returned with little Abby on her shoulder, trying to
coax out a burp, “Oh, good. Everyone ready?”
Half an hour later Theodore found himself, sitting at a
dress shop while the owner and attendant were busily trying to fit Anna to a
series of dresses. It was quite the show!
“Okay,” grinned Anna. “It feels very nice in the torso, but
the back feels a little... breezy...”
There was quite a bit of laughter as they tried to work out
the most pragmatic way of dealing with a dress designed for a Taik, but fit to
a tailless human. The giggles ran fast and long as all other aspects of
the dress seemed so perfect. It was finally decided the best course was to
just create something custom rather than try to fit an existing piece.
“Won't that be kinda expensive,” asked Anna nervously.
The owner would hear none of it, “Mary came by this morning,
nonstop gabbing about the wonderful job you did for the Fairwinds! She dropped
a spot off in your name. She figured you'd be wanting something more local
pretty quick. She was right!”
Emily grinned, “Good to see Mary's gossiping being used for
good and not evil!”
“Oh, she isn't that bad!” mock groused the owner.
“And you know, coming from her, if it is something good to be said, she really
means it!”
“Okay, Second Mother, was this all part of your
before you close up the windows. Make sure the bulk of the smell is gone.”
“Thank you. Thank you all!”
All the ladies beamed.
“Well, good night, all of you. I'm tired early,” began
Fiona. “I'll see you kids in the morning!”
18
“I take it from the scream this morning that I accidentally stole
your hot water there for a bit,” apologized Emily as Anna entered the kitchen.
Anna was all grins regardless, “Yeah, caught me by
surprise. I guess I shouldn't have loitered in the shower. But it felt good!”
Emily just laughed, “No, my fault! I'm not used to it being
a full house and I could have just as easily waited until you two ate before I
did the dishes.”
“Um, are we late to breakfast?” asked Anna apologetically.
“Nope,” grinned Theodore. “It's just that Third Mother made
herself breakfast at four in the morning and Second Mother can't stand the
sight of dirty dishes.”
Emily grimaced, “I will try to be more careful. I
should have listened to the pipes. Sorry again, dear.”
“It's okay,” grinned Anna. “Not the first time that has
happened to me. What's the plan for the day?”
“Breakfast!” beamed Theodore.
Emily laughed, “Well that, yes. Then I think it would be
good to get you back in town. You both need a few more changes of clothes and
those things take time.”
“I did bring a bit of the local currency...”
Emily just tutted her away as she brought out their piping
hot breakfast, “Keep your purse here for now. If you find something silly or
fun, spend your money on that. A few souvenirs from the Highlands would be no
bad thing.”
Anna was quickly learning better than to argue with Emily's
odd sense of hospitality and they both quickly devoured their breakfast while
Emily left to tend to little Abby.
Rose poked her head into the kitchen and grinned at the
couple.
“You eaten yet, little one?” asked Theodore.
Rose just beamed and nodded, “Ate with Father. We still
going into town? Second Mama said we needed to buy Anna a new pretty dress!”
Theodore grinned, “Why, yes, that is the plan. You been
practicing your writing?”
Rose nodded and grinned proudly, “In three lettering styles,
too!”
“Excellent! Soon you'll have a scholarship for off world as
well!”
Roses eyes went wide, “No! I'm staying here! Off world is
too scary!”
Theodore frowned, “Um, it doesn't have to be. Most of it is
quite safe...”
“Not going until you go back!”
He laughed, “Fair enough there, little one!”
Emily returned with little Abby on her shoulder, trying to
coax out a burp, “Oh, good. Everyone ready?”
Half an hour later Theodore found himself, sitting at a
dress shop while the owner and attendant were busily trying to fit Anna to a
series of dresses. It was quite the show!
“Okay,” grinned Anna. “It feels very nice in the torso, but
the back feels a little... breezy...”
There was quite a bit of laughter as they tried to work out
the most pragmatic way of dealing with a dress designed for a Taik, but fit to
a tailless human. The giggles ran fast and long as all other aspects of
the dress seemed so perfect. It was finally decided the best course was to
just create something custom rather than try to fit an existing piece.
“Won't that be kinda expensive,” asked Anna nervously.
The owner would hear none of it, “Mary came by this morning,
nonstop gabbing about the wonderful job you did for the Fairwinds! She dropped
a spot off in your name. She figured you'd be wanting something more local
pretty quick. She was right!”
Emily grinned, “Good to see Mary's gossiping being used for
good and not evil!”
“Oh, she isn't that bad!” mock groused the owner.
“And you know, coming from her, if it is something good to be said, she really
means it!”
“Okay, Second Mother, was this all part of your
Similar Books
