A Boy, a Dog Girl and Honey's Revelation: Part Four

Honey leaned back into the warm water. The woman’s hands massaged her hair and scalp, gently washing it. Two smooth stones rested on her eyes, cool and calming, while a cleansing mask of various creams, balms and oils covered her face. An entirely contented sigh escaped her lips.

“I know. Right?” Vessria said to her right.

“When we’re right, we’re right,” Isadora said to her left.

“Being pretty is good…” Honey purred.

“Since you’re so relaxed now, I’d like to hammer another point home,” Vessria said. “We know all about the whole wizard rank scandal in your home.”

“Sibling rivalry. Hate to see it,” Isadora said.

“How do I fix it? I don’t want Chista to hate me,” Honey asked.

“No wrinkling your face, dear,” the beautician said.

“Thank you, hon. See, Honey? You’re trapped for now. You are not allowed to make a sad face,” Vessria said.

“Diabolical, sister,” Isadora said.

“Now, the question. How do you fix it? You don’t. Chista has to deal with Chista. You did nothing wrong.”

“She’s right. After my transformation, I was irrationally mad at Vessria at times. She got to stay a woman. She got a husband and children. She doesn’t need special skin care to keep from growing facial hair. But I had to deal with the consequences of the actions I chose. And she, for her part, gave me the space to.”

“So I let her be mad?” Honey asked.

“Wrinkles!” the beautician scolded.

“No, you give her a reason not to be. You act like a sister towards her. Not out of obligation. Out of privilege,” Vessria.

“Speaking of privilege, up we go ladies! Let’s go make some eyeballs explode!” the beautician said, helping them up. Honey giggled, wondering how she would look once it was over.

*

It wasn’t her. It couldn’t be. She kept poking at her cheeks and lips and eyes. They were somehow more innocent yet more mature at the same time, her lips plump and red yet pouty and soft, her eyes smoky, mysterious, yet wide and innocent. Her face was framed by hair which flowed like a golden cloud, voluminous and swirling down her back, with two small braids dangling over her shoulders.

“Stop poking it! This is the fifth window you stopped at! If you see a puddle you might drown yourself!” Vessria said, pulling Honey away.

“Sorry! But it’s so…”

“I know what it is. Let other people enjoy it too! And swing those hips when you walk!” Vessria said, standing behind Honey. She placed her hands on her hips, moving with her. “Invite eyes to your butt. Let the boys see your girls. They are the invitation. The destination is your eyes. Lead them there.”

“Oh, I think she only wants one boy’s eyes, sister,” Isadora laughed as they walked. Honey joined in the laughter, not completely understanding it but liking people laughing. She was enjoying being seen by all the people around her. She waved at several men who stared as they walked by.

“I wouldn’t wave, but…hell, at least you’re enjoying it,” Vessria said.

“So, about our question from earlier…” Isadora said, bumping Honey with her hip.

“Which question?”

“What do you want? Care to give it another go?”

Honey went quiet. Her eyes focused. The sun was starting to set on the horizon, the great bell ahead shining. The wind blew her hair. Everything felt the same as it had in the morning. But as she opened her arms, embracing the wind and the sun, smiling wide and free, she knew it wasn’t.

“I want…Zack to be happy. Because it’s what I want. I want my sweetheart by my side. I want to be with him forever and have lots of babies and become a wizard and help Chista become a wizard! I want…I want to help! This is who I am! I am a helper, and I love my people, and it is my choice!”

“Good,” Vessria said, smiling and proud, ruffling Honey’s hair. “Now ask the boy on a date.”

Honey screeched to an immediate halt.

“A date? Oh, I…no, I can’t do…isn’t Zack supposed to ask me? Yes, I’ll wait for Zack to ask me and…”

“Honey, Zack is a wonderful, kind, brave boy. He is also, in many ways, an emotional idiot,” Isadora said, putting her hand on Honey’s shoulder.

“He sleeps in the same bed as you, yes? Has he ever kissed you? Grabbed a boob? Smelled your hair?” Vessria asked.

“He nearly choked on my hair one night…” Honey said.

“He will never ask. He is too polite. Ask him,” Isadora said.

“Ask him?” Honey asked.

“Ask him!” Vessria demanded.

“I’ll ask him…”

“You ask him!”

“I’ll ask him!”

“What are you going to do?!”

“I’M ASKING MY SWEETHEART ON A DATE!”

*

The door to the apartment slammed open. Honey stood in the hallway, her pose confident, her voice unwavering, her eyes closed because she was still nervous.

“I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY! I WANT A DATE WITH YOU BECAUSE I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH YOU!”

Slowly Honey opened an eye. Chistos stood before her, walking towards his chair, a steaming bowl of soup in his hands. Chista sat on the couch, book on her lap.

“While I am flattered, I think our age gap is too severe to overcome,” Chistos said.

“I like boys,” Chista said.

“Where…where’s Zack?” Honey asked, her posture slowly reverting to normal.

“Not back yet. I’m deciding whether to turn him into a snail or goldfish as punishment,” Chistos said.

“Oh…”

Honey walked to the couch, sat down, ate a peanut from the bowl on the table, and waited.

*

Zack grunted as Blarth moved on his back, the moon high overhead. “Stupid goat guy. Why’d you drink so much?”

“We lost…”

“You won, actually.”

“I meant my fist fight with their coach.”

“Chistos will never believe me…”

“You’d be surprised, kid.”

“I think I hate you.”

“You tucking me in when I get home?”

“…fine.”

“Good kid…”