Page 14 of Ra
Azi reached out and took him by the hand. “Come on.” She led him down the hallway to a room at the end. She opened the door and flipped on the light. “This was my father’s room. You can use it while you’re here.” But rather than walk away and leave him in the room, she continued through it, her hand still grasping his. She went into a smaller room, opening the door and flipping the light on in it as well. “This is your bathroom.” Azi pushed the shower curtain back and turned on the water, adjusting the water to a comfortable temperature before turning on the shower. Water started spraying out and Ra looked atit with wonder. “You’ve called forth a waterfall! It is a small waterfall, but a waterfall nonetheless! It is excellent work. I feel you may be a demigod. It is the only explanation.”
“I am not a demigod. This is a bathroom. Everyone has one in their house. Get in.”
“What?”
“Get in the shower.”
“I do not need a shower.”
“Yes, you really do.”
He looked at her, then at the water pouring from the shower head.
“Seriously, it’s not that big a deal. It’ll make you feel so much better and refreshed.”
“There are no oils.”
“We don’t use oils like you’re used to. We use soaps and washes. They’re right there. Decide which you like the scent of and use it to clean your body.”
“And what will you do?”
“I am going to my own bathroom to take my own shower.”
“You do this often?”
“We do this daily. Sometimes twice a day.”
He grimaced and pressed his hand to his bladder again.
“I promise it will make you feel better.”
“Very well,” he said, stepping over the side of the tub and standing beneath the water with his shendyt on. The moment the water started coursing down his body, his bladder let go. He released a long, grateful sigh as relief began to overtake him.
“And… there you go. Don’t wait so long next time. When you get out, leave your shendyt hanging on the side of the tub. I’ll show you how to wash it later.”
“You did that intentionally! You knew with the water flowing over my body I would not be able to withstand the need!”
“Yep. You’re welcome.”
“What will I wear? My only clothing is wet and soiled!”
“You’ll find a closet in the bedroom full of my father’s clothes. Find something that you don’t mind wearing and that fits more or less, and put it on. Clean yourself and find something to wear. You need to blend in with the rest of society. I’m going to take my own shower.”
“You said we would obtain clothing for me. I will wear my own, not your father’s clothing.”
“Yes, and I decided that I’m not up to it tonight. You can use my father’s in the meantime. He won’t need them.”
“Why not?”
“He’s in a care facility at the moment,” she said, not angrily, but not too far off.
“A care facility?”
“Just, clean yourself and get dressed! I’ll be back when I’m done.”
Chapter 4
Azi did her best to finish her shower quickly, not wanting to leave Ra on his own for too long. Instead of lingering under the hot water as she usually would, she washed everything that needed washing, ran some shampoo through her hair, and got out. She wrapped a towel around her head and hurried into her bedroom to pull on a pair of leggings and an old t-shirt. Somewhat rejuvenated, she started downstairs, but then thought better of it and went to her father’s bedroom, tapping on the bedroom door softly. When there was no answer, she let herself in and smiled at the sound of Ra humming to himself in the shower. He was obviously enjoying the warm water pouring over him.
