remembered what Wan had said to the Wise One: “What is needed will be provided.” The trick, of course, was to know the difference between needs and desires.
Apparently, Heaven saw my need.
“These ladies need clothes,” I said with a smile before turning to my wards, who were all clustered behind me with looks of stunned astonishment on their faces. Surprised at their reactions, I paused. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s . . . h-her skin . . .” Cloud stuttered.
“She’s black-skinned,” one of the girls hissed.
Edna drew in a sharp breath.
They were staring at her like she was a thing, less than human. Mortified, shamed, I lashed out. “Oh my God—you will apologize this instant!” I snapped. “Were all of you raised in a barn?”
Instantly all the girls fell to their knees and kowtowed, their arms outstretched towards us. “No, Wise One,” came Glorious Phoenix’s voice, muffled by the floor. “We were raised in the Monastery of the Distant Clouds, beyond the influences and corruption of the modern world.”
Edna gave me the eye. “For real?”
I smiled weakly. “Exchange students.”
“Got your work cut out for you there, that’s for sure.” She shook her head. “Get ’em up off the floor, and let’s get ’em dressed.”
We needed two carts for the jeans and tees, enough so that each girl had one to wear and a spare. Glorious Phoenix found one shirt that said Princess in sparkling rhinestones, much to my horror.
Edna was truly a miracle, as far as I was concerned. She dealt with the girls kindly, ignored their stares, and did not take offense at their sideways glances and whispers. She even walked with us when we headed toward lingerie, and got me through the worst of that with minimal fuss.
She took a moment to slide up next to me when the girls got distracted. They’d found the D-cup bras, and were holding them up to their own chests and giggling like mad.
“You had the talk with these girls?” Edna asked, pretending to re-arrange the panties display.
“Talk?” I asked absently as I counted out pairs of socks. All white, damn it, I was not spending the rest of my life trying to match socks.
“You know,” she kept her voice low. “No glove, no love.”
My heart stopped as it hit me. Oh dear God. Virgins.
I took the carts and the girls to the pharmacy area, wherein I initiated a very awkward conversation about feminine hygiene products and protection.
Twelve faces flared bright red, and from nowhere twelve pastel-flowered fans were produced to hide behind.
So I threw everything in the cart I thought they’d need, and a couple boxes of condoms. Then we detoured to the fresh fruit section and bought a huge bunch of green bananas.
Demonstration purposes, you understand.
And a large bag of dark chocolate-coated pretzels with kosher sea salt, because I was really not looking forward to the rest of the evening. Virgins, for the love of God.
What the hell—didn’t Heaven think sex education was a need? The next time that all-powerful, all-knowing Dragon appeared before me, he and I were going to have words.
We got to the checkout. Heaven apparently decided I needed a pimply-faced young man to ring up our purchases. He blushed while scanning the bras and panties, trying not to actually touch them, mind. In between exchanging shy glances with all of the girls.
The girls blushed too, giggling and fluttering their fans and not helping at all, except to get in my way.
I really tried very hard not to roll my eyes at the lot of them.
I got everything unloaded from the carts, praying that the kid would not topple over at the sight of the condoms. Honestly, he did fairly well until he saw the bananas. He couldn’t meet my eyes, his face beet red as I swiped my card and held my breath.
“Th-th-that’s $6.25,” he stammered, and then handed me the receipt.
Yup, that would be Heaven again. Needs, not wants. I made the girls pick up the bags and carry them, all but the bag with the pretzels. The doors slid open as we walked out and I glanced at the receipt. I hadn’t been charged for anything except the pretzels.
Apparently Heaven didn’t think chocolate was a need.
Nuts to Heaven. Digging through the bag, I brought forth the precious treasure. I needed one for the road.
Surrounded by the girls, loaded down with bags, I headed out into the dark and forlorn parking lot. Storm clouds had gathered; it looked like it was about to rain. I barely gave them