Page 19 of Hey Girl

“Oh Chris,” the woman beams between me and her son. “You’re right, she’s absolutely precious!”

Without another word, she glides through the doorway and takes my hand in hers, placing something smooth and warm in it.

“I’m Kimberlee, and it’s such a pleasure to meet you. Hold this honey,” she refers to the object that’s about the size of an egg in my hand. “it’s an amethyst, and it will ground you and keep you calm while we have a little visit.” With that, she breezes past me and into my home.

I can’t even get my mouth to make sounds, let alone words to stop her.

Chris comes to stand in front of me, hands in his pockets and looking very pleased with himself.

“Vv-v-v-v…visit?” I repeat his mother’s word to him, and he casually shrugs as his mother makes exclamations from my living room.

“Oh my gosh, I love it! It’s so cozy and kitschy!”

“Don’t worry,” he assures me. “I wouldn’t bring just anybody over here. But if there’s anyone that can put you at ease and get you to give me a chance, it’s her.” He juts his chin in his mother’s direction.

“Rebecca honey, you’re not sensitive to any scents are you?” Kimberlee calls and I look over my shoulder to see her saging my living room.

“Um…what are-?”

“I’m just creating a calm, safe, and balanced energy, not to worry,” she responds.

I think I like her, but this is…too much maybe? I don’t even know what to make of what’s going on right now and that scares the bejeezus out of me.

I step timidly into my own house and watch curiously as Kimberlee finishes cleansing bad juju from the room, or whatever.

“Now!” She claps her hands together with a joyous smile. “How about some tea?”

“Oh, uh, okay,” I hesitantly agree as I go to step towards my kitchen.

“Oh no, no, dear, I’ve brought my own that I think you’ll love! And please, let me!” she skips towards the kitchen and when I raise my free hand to protest, adds “Don’t you worry, I know my way around a kitchen!”

“Um…what the hell have you got in here?” Chris questions from the far corner where the cat tree stands.

“What?” I ask, turning to him.

He points at the hidey hole. “Why is there a naked alien in your house?”

“It’s a cat.”

“Impossible. He has no hair and he looks like E.T.” Chris sticks his finger into the hole. “Phone home,” he says in a creepy alien voice. “Ow! What the shit?” he pulls his hand back and examines his finger. “Your naked alien has claws!”

“Here we go,” Kimberlee announces her reappearance serenely carrying in a tray with three cups full of steaming tea. Apparently, she does know her way around any kitchen. “Now, I’ve added a special herb from my, and I always find it very calming when I'm a bit keyed up, so how about it?" She asks.

Natural but calming? That sounds amazing… I mean, I don’t know if it can help a hyper-anxious case like me but it sure couldn’t hurt any. It’s not like it’s peyote or anything.

“S-sure,” I respond, nervously adjusting my glasses. “That sounds good.”

“Wonderful! Let’s sit down and get to know each other. How is the amethyst doing for you honey?”

“Oh,” I look down at the pretty purple stone I’m still holding. “It’s…n-nice?”

“Good! Now, Chris tells me you have a difficult time with new people, so I won’t make you talk any more than you want to, but if you could just spare me half an hour to just listen to what I have to say about him and sip your tea, you’d be doing me a wonderful generosity.” She puts a hand to her chest as if she means what she’s saying with all her heart.

A half hour. I can do that for this woman who, although she caught me severely off guard, is being very kind and sensitive.

“Awwww…who’s this little guy?” Chris coos over by Howie’s cage. “Who’s a cute little hedgehog? Huh? Who’s an adorable little hedgehog? Wanna be besties? Come here and be cuddled, you cute little—OW!”

I turn in Chris and Howie’s direction before Kimberlee stops me.

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