Page 30 of Salty Pickle

I’ve learned to love my pudgy, short toes and wide instep. My feet are good to me, taking me where I need to go. I’ve even traversed one of the biggest cities in the world, my tough, calloused soles never giving me any trouble.

Janet, the manicurist, consulted with me about how much of my well-toughened hide to remove. Apparently, they have booties full of treatment that will peel off layers of skin.

I said, “None.”

And she’d understood, growing up on a farm herself, the value of tough feet.

But I got a good sudsy soak, warm paraffin treatment, and pretty pink polish. When she sits back, I lift my legs to admire them. My skin glows, and my nails sparkle. “I love it!” I tell her.

Kaliyah from the front desk comes in to check on us. “You’re all done!” she says. “Simone and Matilda have settled in for a nap. You might have to wake them.”

“Poor dears,” I say. “Matilda didn’t like the subway at all.”

“The subway!” Kaliyah shakes her head, sending her dangly earrings to swinging. “We have to fetch our truck to move Simone around.”

“Nobody bothered us, not really. But Court requested an Uber Pet for tonight. Do you think they’ll take Matilda? The first driver took off.”

“It’s risky. We’ll cross our fingers for you.” She helps Janet put away her supplies. “I talked to our owner, Monique, about Matilda.”

“What about her?” I set my feet on the floor, and the smooth coolness of the tiles feels like a brand-new connection with the earth.

“Since Simone isn’t producing, Monique was wondering if you were selling milk, or maybe your soap. She’d like to talk about your ingredients.”

“I’d be happy to.”

“Here’s her card. She did say she’d like to make an offer on the milk you have on you, if you have some to spare. She loves making cheese, and store supplies are always a few days old or more.”

“I’d be happy to sell it to her. Did she have a price?”

“I’m authorized to negotiate that with you.”

Kaliyah leads me down a hall to a breakroom. “Court gave them to me to put in the fridge. I unpacked seven bottles. That’s probably close to a hundred ounces.”

“Yes, she produced quite a lot today since she was delayed.”

Kaliyah opens the fridge to reveal the bottles. “Those are glass lined?”

“They are. I washed them with goat soap.”

She reaches in and pulls one out, unscrewing the top. “May I take a sniff?”

“Absolutely.”

Her eyes close dreamily as she takes it in. “This is perfect.”

Janet leans in the door. “Her friend is back.”

I reach out to Kaliyah. “It would mean a lot to me if I could pay for the pedicure with the milk and not have Court cover it. Is there a way we can barter? I can bring more milk if I need to cover the rest.”

She nods. “How about we exchange it for the pedicure, including a cash tip for Janet? And you’ll talk to Monique about providing more and negotiate a going rate? Maybe weekly?”

“Yes!” I’m giddy that I’ve already found a way to make a little money here. I know Court is covering my room at the goat farm, but this way, I can pay for Matilda’s feed and food for myself. Maybe I can grow a few things on the farm or work on it and keep some vegetables.

“Perfect.” Kaliyah opens a cabinet and pulls out a pair of glass pitchers with lids. “Let’s empty your cups.”

We quickly transfer the milk to pitchers and rinse out Court’s bottles.

Kaliyah repacks them into the coolers, other than the one filled with my leftover food. “This is a great way to transport them.”

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