Many of my friends, followers, relatives, and readers, are amazing and wonderful Moms. Today, May 12, 2024, is their day of celebration and recognition. This is a day where people tell their Moms ‘Thank You’, and let them know how happy they are, their Mom’s are in their lives. For our 2024 Mother’s Day I wish all Mom’s out there:
Picture courtesy of Google.com
But let’s not forget the Mom’s who have fur babies instead of human ones. They too are taking care of their ‘little ones’ and make sure they’re fine. These little ones cannot say ‘thank you’ the regular way. But I thought they need a thank you too.
Two months later, I was working with Tez, a few of his friends, and a few of mine, busy moving the entire shop to the warehouse hall I owned. I had cleaned out and organized that hall, and Orson built me a divider wall between the warehouse in the back and the temporary store in the front.
Orson and his crew were the most fantastic troop; they were helpful, friendly, funny, and caring. They didn’t want me to do too much. And they didn’t care much about Tez’s alienated looks and behavior. To them, he was just a bit different, and they all considered themselves the ‘weirdos’ and, therefore, didn’t judge.
In the meantime, I could work myself through my grandmother’s Estate without bursting into tears. Tez was around me nearly all the time in a very protective manner… the tension between us intensified.
I had talked to Lachesis a few times, desperate to ask a question but fearing the answer. At the third call, she laughed. “Come on, Klotho. I know you. You want to ask me something particular, and I’m tired of waiting. What’s wrong?”
I sighed. “I’m scared,” I admitted. Lachesis replied softly: “Of course you are. If you weren’t, I would say you didn’t understand the responsibility of being you. But you’ll learn, girl. Every day, you are learning more and more. Are you going to tell me the problem now?”
After a moment, I finally replied: “I know someone ill. It seems the person doesn’t know it, and I know I’m not supposed to tell… but am I permitted to help?”
She asked carefully: “What kind of ‘help’ are we talking about? I mean, after the books we sent you and the instructions we gave you, it is absolutely clear that you’re not supposed to intrude into humans’ lives. If they have to go, they’ll have to go. Death is part of life, and we’re not to intrude! That is what you need to remember. Remember it at all times! Why do you think that old cabinet in the store is protecting that half-done knitting thing? The thread of life and existence is not bendable in whatever direction you want.”
I interrupted her lecture: “I know, Sister, I know! I didn’t plan to bend it or change it. I briefly considered giving that person a tad more time.”
Through the phone, I heard her scream! “Whhhhaaaaat?”
To be on the safe side, I hung up. I didn’t want her to travel through the phone line to catch me.
When I turned around, Tez stood in the door, leaning at the doorframe, idly smiling. “I take this was Lachesis?” I nodded. Tez laughed. “What did you tell her?” I shrugged. “Something that she definitely didn’t like to hear.”
Tez laughed again. “Getting Orson a bit more time?” I nodded unhappily, and then the tears came. Tez came over to me in several long strides to pull me into a bear hug. Caressing my hair, he whispered, “You’re a sweet, sweet person. But you know that Lachesis is right. I like him too. But you can’t get him more time. You can, however, create a little accident.”
I pulled my upper body away from him and stared up at him. “What good would that do?” Tez smiled sadly. “If we had to take him to the ED, they’ll discover something wrong. It might even be possible with human medicine to give him more time.”
I grimaced, which made him laugh. “What was that for?” I chuckled. “I remember that first doctor at the ED… the one you stared down before he darted out of the room.” Tez rubbed his chin. “Yeah… right. I remember.” He replied slowly. I took a deep breath. “That guy creeped me out.”
Tez shrugged. “That proves your instincts are intact and you’re listening to them. Keep that up, girl. It might save your life.”
I looked up again. “So he is a shapeshifter, too, then?” Tez nodded. “In a way, yes. However, while I’m a born one, he’s created. He was born human and created to become a shapeshifter. You could call the difference a ‘minor transformation variation.’
He is what we generally would call a ‘Wer’ animal—a human-animal transformer. While changed, their instincts and thinking remain mostly human. Mine don’t. Once switched, I’m purely animal… and sometimes, that’s not particularly beautiful nor easy.”
I frowned. “Ahem… you know I’m grateful for your presence, Tez. But if it’s hard for you… why are you here?” the man chuckled. “Apparently, you don’t know how many enemies you have. And also, because our connection goes far, far back.”
I frowned. “And that seems like your duty to care for me?” Tez smiled. “Not in that sense of way. “There is no duty. But we were a unity for a very, very long time.”
I sighed. “Why can’t I remember that anymore?” Tez laughed. “That only means Klotho’s personality in you hasn’t been fully awoken yet.”
“If Klotho’s personality in me keeps on sleeping like that, I’ll be as old as my grandmother once it awakes. And then it has another few years on Earth before Klotho dies and has to go through that process once again,” I replied sourly.
Tez grabbed my hair, bent my head back, and kissed my throat softly and with such sensitivity that my skin tickled.
Behind us, the door opened, and everybody’s attention turned to the newcomer. It was Lachesis marching into the warehouse, her face a mask of rage and worries. As soon as she spied me, she stomped across the ground, only briefly stopping in front of Orson and looking up at him. The huge man froze on the spot while she stared at him. Finally, she barked. “Go to the doctor, now. Something ain’t right. The last time I saw that in someone’s skin, the condition was serious.”
Then she trampled further in my direction.
I caught Orson’s eyes wide in shock, and I slowly nodded and mouthed. “Go to the hospital.” He nodded, mouthed back, “Thank you,” and disappeared…
Lachesis arrived, grabbed me by the neck, and dragged me through the door. While Tez made sure the rest of the moving crew would return to the store to load some more stuff, Lachesis stared at me before talking.
“That’s the guy you planned to bend the rules a little, right?” She hissed.
For a moment, I was confused. “What? What do you mean, bending the rules?” Lachesis yelled. “You want to give him more time, don’t you?” I sighed and admitted: “He has a wife and a small kid. They should have their Dad and husband a little longer.”
Lachesis sighed and let herself fall onto a chair. “Shit, girl. You can’t play with people’s lives like that. They have their own fate. You are not to play with it. Remember what happened last time? Since then, Apollo is after you… millennia, you’re paying now for one simple mistake, remember? Don’t challenge the Gods, girl. Not again.”
I looked down to the ground. “I know.” Lachesis sighed. “I can see Klotho’s personality hasn’t entirely manifested yet. There will be some more work to do. But I promise you’ll wake up one day, and she’s there. Then you will understand.” She came over and hugged me. “Until then, promise me, you won’t do anything illicit. If in doubt, call. – Get yourself a distraction, sister. The boy you hang out with is perfect for you. And it’s not like that would be the first time.”
She laughed, kissed my cheek, and walked out again. On her way to the hall door, she called over her shoulder, “I saw the paint, yellow, hm? I like it!” Then she was gone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of Getty Images
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
It took me a moment to get ready the next day, but I managed to be downstairs, fill a coffee mug, and run out the door before anyone could see me. (Running may be exaggerated; I hopped out the door, but you get the drift.)
Tez waited outside and was around the truck before I did a few steps, swept me off the floor, and stuffed me onto the passenger’s seat.
When he sat in his driver’s seat again, he seemed to hesitate initially to look at me, but when he did, he saw my laughing face. “You’re not mad?” he asked. I grinned. Why should I be mad? You saved me from the family. What are you waiting for? Step on it, man, before they discover I’m gone.”
That’s all he needed. We were on our way. It only took a few minutes to get to the shop, and he entered it with me. His nostrils widened when he stood inside, and I had closed the door. “I’ve always felt like being home here. Everything seemed warm and cozy, even more so when I was still little.”
I carefully looked at him. “You sound like that’s centuries ago,” Tez laughed. “Not in human years, no. But don’t forget, being me means accepting who I am and that my time will never pass. I’m born, born again, and reborn. I’m going through childhood and puberty over and over again, having to go to school, learn how to drive, kiss, or be with a woman for the first time.”
I tilted my head to the side. “Hm. I’m not sure if I’d like to do the same. I mean…” I was interrupted when Tez laughed boomingly again. “Don’t you forget something, Mia?” I sighed. “Right. – So it’s new all the time? I mean, every single time?” Tez nodded. “Of course. Don’t forget, as old as we are, the Earth, humans, technology, everything progresses and develops. We learn different things in school, new things. Despite our way of reincarnation, we’re still humanoids who must fit into this world as long as we remain here.”
I chuckled. “Humanoid, hm?” Tez grinned, stepped forward in two quick strides, grabbed me around the waist, and kissed me. Once again, I melted into his arms and chest until I heard a hoarse voice suggest, “You two should keep the door locked if you want some privacy.”
We turned around and grinned. And there stood a tall guy, maybe around 6’4″, with the body of a Football player, strong and heavy by muscles, not fat, and with the widest, friendliest smile on his face. He stepped forward with his hand outstretched. “I’m Orson Welles. Nice to meet you, Mia.”
I accepted his hand and was almost sure he had to control himself so as not to squeeze my hand too much to hurt me. He looked at my bandaged hands. “How did that happen?” I shrugged. “I fell,” I replied shortly, which told him clearly that I didn’t want to dive deeper into that subject, and he seemed to understand the hint.
Tez and Orson seemed to examine each other with utmost discretion, trying to keep a distance. I knew that Orson was happily married and had a daughter. However, a few years back, he lost his son in an accident. He was a wonderful husband and father and was an endless worker, always worried he couldn’t support his family. Instead, he did unusually well. – And he was sick. He had a progressing illness that would, without a doubt, prove to be fatal. There was no cure at this time. I suspected he’d leave this Earth in about five to seven months.
I caught a glimpse at Tez, who stood half behind Orson, and the man nodded. So, he knew it, too.
But I wouldn’t do anything at this moment. I would do what I had planned to do when I called him. I gave him the tour. We wandered around the shop. Orson asked questions, and so did I. We went upstairs to the stockroom in the back and looked at the office, the inventory in the store, and the restrooms.
He looked around, nodded, and drew pictures and a primary ground plan. Then he asked for the blueprints, which I handed him copies of. “Thanks a lot, Mia. This helps enormously. It’s far easier to calculate material and hours with this information.” He briefly went for another round and took notes on his copies of the blueprints.
Then he looked around and explained: “It shouldn’t take me longer than a couple of days to provide you with the renovation offer, at least regarding the workers, the hours, and the basic material. We can look at the paint, decoration, and other things later. I might help you purchase special things since I get them at a special discount.”
I smiled at him. “That would be amazing. Thank you!”
“Of course, to do the perfect job, the store will have to run on ‘limited capacity’ for the time being.” I nodded. “Sure.”
Then he stared at the dusty corner cabinet. “And this has to go.” I laughed. “Well, that’s the only thing that’s going to remain. It has to stay here or, if renovated, with utmost care and expert hands. That cabinet is hundreds of years old.”
Orson scratched his chin. “Hm… I could simply cover it carefully until I found an expert for old furniture. That would work.” He looked around. “Do you think you could move the shelves and furniture to one side once we begin and then move them all to the other side when we get to the other half?” I laughed.
“Technically, yes. But I’ll have a storage hall, which I can use to clear out the entire shop, so there won’t be any moving around necessary. I can run the store from the storage hall during the renovation.”
Orson smiled. “All right. I’ll get that offer to you as quickly as possible. Do you have email, or would you prefer the old-fashioned way, in paper form?”
I laughed loudly, “Email will be fine.” I handed him over the shop business card, to which I had added the email address by hand. Orson chuckled. Then he waved briefly and was gone.
I went to look for Tez and found him rolled up on the old sofa in the back of the shop. Once again, I thought I heard a soft purr, but he suddenly opened his eyes, and the sound was gone. Completely alert, he sat up. “Is everything all right?” I smiled. Sure. It’s all good. Orson is gone. I’ll hear from him somewhat in the next few days.”
Tez nodded. “Fine. Can I take you out for lunch now?” I shook my head. “Not today, dah’ling. I need to have a look at my Grandmother’s bookkeeping. I should find out how on Earth I will pay for that renovation.”
An elegant female voice replied from the doorstep. “That shouldn’t be a problem, girlie. Our sister was financially covered. She wouldn’t have given you a task like that if she weren’t 100% sure you could pay for it.”
At the first word, I whirled around and stared at two elderly ladies. Both were dressed elegantly, one in a lavender-colored business suit. Her white hair was coiffed in an extraordinary updo, and she wore a small, old-fashioned but cute hat.
The other lady was more on the ‘Boheme’ side of the fashion palette. She wore a brown-grey, slightly asymmetric frill skirt with a leather and metal belt loosely around her hips. Her upper body was covered with a cream-colored blouse with bell sleeves, and she had a beautiful greyish fringe shawl draped around her shoulder and neck. Her hair was long, white, shiny, and reached her collarbone.
Both ladies entered the room and hugged me. “Oh… poor, poor girl.” One of them called out. I stared at her. “What?” They were a bit confused about my tone. I turned to the lavender-colored lady. “Atropos, there’s no reason to pity me. I had the most amazing Grandmother in the world, and she, apparently, made sure you both would be without your sister.” Both of them seemed irritated. “Why do you know who of us is who?” I grinned. “Grandmother said Atropos’ favorite color is lavender.” She smiled. “Right. Talking about that… you should consider lavender here since you’re renovating.” I hid a laugh. “I’m going to think about it.” Behind Atropos, Lachesis winked at me.
Then she smiled softly. “Look in the right drawer of your desk. Pull it out entirely; a tiny hidden box is below the drawer surface in the back. Inside, there is a key. Remove it, then turn around and open the painting of Apollo like a door. You will see a wall safe. Use the key on it, then turn the wheel six times counterclockwise. This safe isn’t going to open with a pin code, a number, a key, or electronically. It’s opening with time.”
When I looked at her, my face must have expressed surprise or doubt. Still, she smiled. “Don’t worry. We’re not here to steal, girlie. We’re here to help.”
My eyes wandered over to Tez, who casually sat on the couch, carefully watching me. After his brief, absent nod, I hobbled over to the desk and opened the drawer.
I found everything the way Lachesis had told me. When I reached the point of turning the wheel counterclockwise for the very first time, I felt a movement deep inside of me. It seemed that for the very first time, I was in control of my life and my duties, and for the very first time, I felt I had reached my destiny and my tasks and was doing exactly what I was supposed to do.
Atropos nodded encouragingly. “Ah… there we go. Welcome home, sister.” She said. I turned the wheel six times… then I heard an audible click, and the door to the safe sprung open. I swung the door to the left and stared at the safe’s contents.
There were a few notebooks in my Grandmother’s handwriting in front, saying. “Bank Accounts – Private,” “Bank Accounts – Store,” and “Investments.” When I opened one of the notebooks marked with ‘Bank Accounts – Store,’ my eyes widened. Then I nodded, returned the booklet, and peeked into my Grandmother’s private bank accounts; the same thing happened there. She had more than I would ever have thought. “My caring, modest and kind, honest and sweet Grandma,” I whispered. Atropos snorted. “Yeah… sweet – my ass.”
I frowned at her. “What did you say that for?” Atropos grinned. “Klotho is one of us Fates; she’s the Spinner… holding the threads of the Earth in her hands. Your Grandmother wasn’t any different than any other host before or after her. She’s one of the oldest Nature Spirits, spinning the fabric of time… You will see that sometimes you have to make callous decisions. Lachesis is there, as the Allotter is in the same boat. As for me, I make my decisions and stick to them. There’s a reason they call me the ‘Inflexible’ – I stick to what I said. Your Grandmother was many things, but she sure wasn’t sweet.”
I sighed. “Can you give me an example of a tough decision?” Atropos looked around, and her eyes caught Tez. “Oh… hello there. Long time no see.” She turned to me and predicted darkly: “There’s no need. One of them is right around the corner.” She nodded sincerely, handed me a piece of paper, and sighed. “Here’s our phone number. I still have problems handling one of these smartphones. And so does Lachesis. We, therefore, share one. Most of the time, we’re together anyway. So, if you need us. Just call us, ok?” I swallowed and nodded.
“Any questions?” Lachesis asked softly. I nodded. “Yes, please. What’s with that hourglass my Grandmother left? She put a sticker on, telling me to ask you about it. Lachesis smiled. “Of course. This is a unique hourglass. It’s been handmade for Klotho by Pan.” She took a creative break, then she continued: “I still suspect they had an affair, but I can’t tell for sure, and our sister always refused to tell us.” She took another break, looking expectantly at me. But I merely shrugged. “Don’t look at me like this. I won’t tell you either.” Lachesis chuckled but continued: “This hourglass is going to help you keep your time thread in the eyes without actually spinning it.” I was confused. “That’s possible?” Lachesis nodded. “Of course. But we’re getting there next time we meet. We have to leave. Duty calls. Ta ta.”
With these words, my sisters sailed out of the store. I closed the safe, whirled the protective time up, and removed the key to return it exactly where I took it.”
Then I looked at Tez. “I think I need something to eat. That was a bit much on an empty stomach.” The man smiled softly. “I get it. Let’s go have lunch.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of Getty Images
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
I watched Tez carefully while he was driving. His handsome features, sensitive lips, straight nose, and unusual golden eyes were already attractive. His movements, similar to those of a big cat, made him fascinating. I was intrigued, tempted, and seduced. I looked out the window; I urgently needed to calm down.
At that moment, I realized we were not on the way to my parents’ house. “Where are you taking me?” I asked him before I could stop myself.
Tez smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not kidnapping you. I’ll take you to an ED. I want your injuries looked at.”
I was about to jump out of the truck, but Tez held me back. “Come on, Mia. You can’t just walk home. I’m very sorry for how hard I pushed you, but you needed to get out of reach for that dagger. It would have killed you immediately. And there is no replacement for you yet.”
I stared at him with wide eyes. “What does that mean, yet?” Tez chuckled. “We’re getting there, okay? But right now, you should relax, enjoy the drive, and care for yourself..”
I leaned back and closed my eyes. He was right. In this state of mind and physical condition, I wasn’t any good for anybody.
My phone rang. I dug it out of my purse and picked it up. “Hello, is this Mia DeLuca?” – “Yes.”
The friendly male voice explained: “My name is Orson Welles, and I’m calling from Welles & Sons Construction. You left a message on my voicemail.
I admit my first reaction was rude, but I couldn’t hold back. “You’re kidding, right?” Instead of getting angry, the man laughed boomingly. “No, unfortunately not. We’re not related to the film director, but my parents still found it hilarious to name me after him.”
I chuckled. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Welles, that was very rude of me. Please accept my apology.” He laughed again. “Accepted. What can I do for you, Mrs. DeLuca?” – “Oh, Mia, please! Mrs. DeLuca is my mother.” – ‘Then just call me Orson.”
“Now, Orson. I have a shop, which I inherited not too long ago. It’s family-owned and has been for a very long time. I love the shop, but it needs some freshening up. What do you think? Could you drop by within the next few days so we can take the tour together for an estimate?”
I heard Orson smile. “That’s great… and yes, I’d like to see what you want done and how we can work together. I will be available Thursday morning. How does 8:30 a.m. sound?”
I beamed. “Excellent, Orson. Thursday it is. I look forward to meeting you.” Likewise,” he replied. Where is the shop?” I laughed. Oh, of course! I’m sorry. It’s the ‘La Magia del Segreto’. I will text you the address if you call me from your cell phone.”
I heard him smiling. “Not necessary, Mia. I know where it is. Corner Hampton and Lexis. I had no idea that the store still existed. My grandma used to buy her yarn there.” He took a little break as he was lost in memories. Then he added, “All right, see you at your shop on Thursday.”
I thanked him, then I hung up, just when Tez reported: “We’re here.”
Tez stood by my side the entire time I was at the hospital and made sure that I was comfortable and treated with the utmost respect. One of the doctors attempted to flirt with me, but at the same time, he didn’t feel an X-ray or any other exam was necessary until Tez reminded him. “You might want to change your mind, Doctor. I can smell that something isn’t right in her knee.”
The Doctor snorted but was interrupted by what he had planned to say since Tez unexpectedly showed up before him, staring into the doctor’s eyes. I thought I had seen Tez’s nostrils slightly opening for a moment, but I might have been wrong. However, the two men didn’t interrupt the staring contest until finally, the doctor gave in. He ordered the nurse. “Take Miss DeLuca to get an X-ray without taking his eyes off Tez.” While we left the room, the two men still stood there, their eyes locked. I was almost sure, Tez would win that battle, but then, I might have been biased.
When we returned, Tez sat in one of the chairs. His head leaned back, and I could have sworn I had heard a soft purr, but his eyes opened abruptly, and the sound was gone.
It didn’t take long for a doctor to enter the room, and I saw it wasn’t the same one I had met before. This one was a little bit older, friendly, polite, and apparently quite caring.
He checked out the X-Rays and nodded to me. “You got a bad bruise there, lady. That takes time. Also, there’s bruising on the abrasions on your hands. Thank God your nose isn’t broken, but I’m still worried about your knee. Why don’t we now ice, rest, and treat the pain? I’d like you to see your primary care doctor for a follow-up. If everything works out fine and the pain lessens, things are good. If not, he’ll take care of that.”
Tez nodded. “I make sure she’ll take care of herself, and I’ll keep an eye on her.” He promised. The doctor beamed. “Excellent.”
We left the ED a while later, covered with papers, instructions, and prescriptions, and by then, I was limping.
************************
The rest of the week, I spent more or less time on the couch, hating every minute of it, and started searching for my own apartment. I was desperate to go to the store, but the pain (and my mother) held me back. I lived off spaghetti until I finally decided: “Tomorrow it’s Thursday. I have to be at the shop at 8am. And no matter if I have to crawl there, I’ll get out of here.”
My mother refused to listen, my father buried himself in his study, and I was fed up with being baby-ed and called Tez. He didn’t answer the phone, but I left a message. “Hi Tez, it’s Mia. Would you mind freeing me from prison tomorrow at 7.30am? Please? I need to be at the shop. And I can’t limp the way over… Thanks for giving me a ring.”
I didn’t have to wait long for his reply: “Will be there at 7:45 am”…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of Getty Images
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
Katie and her friends Sundance, Zepheira, Simin, Koyu, and Eavan love to cook together, even more so since Katie initially needed a lot of help getting a decent meal together. In the meantime, her cooking significantly improved, and the five consorts and one warrior generally cook together because it’s fun to spoil their respective partners or to just enjoy time with their consorts—club.
This time, Simin brought up a side dish that can easily serve as a main dish if one doesn’t always need meat.
Let’s see, what they’re cooking.
Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
3 bay leaves
2 sprigs thyme, plus more to finish
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 ounces unsalted butter
¼ cup all purpose flour
4 ounces brie, rind removed
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2-3 pounds cauliflower, cut into florets
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
½ cup Panko bread crumbs
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 F.
In a medium oven proof saucepan, simmer the milk, bay leaves, thyme and garlic over medium heat for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from heat and remove the bay leaves and thyme with tongs.
In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour to make a roux. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking until evenly incorporated and starting to thicken. Add chunks of the brie and nutmeg, and continue stirring until the brie is melted. Carefully nestle in the cauliflower florets and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper, transfer the entire pan into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. After 20 minutes, top with the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, place back into the oven and continue baking until bubbly and the cauliflower is tender. Serve immediately.
Notes
1: this is made in 1 pot! Brilliant + less dishes
It’s basically like a mac and cheese but without the pasta. Don’t get me wrong – I live for a mac and cheese on my Thanksgiving table, but some people are anti. This is an excellent sub
There is brie! So if you buy a lot of brie for cheese boards in the coming weeks, save some for this!
I blinked a few times, trying to remember how he jumped out the window, but I could not get a clear picture. It happened far too quickly for my eye to really see.
Confused, I shook my head. “He’s right,” I sighed. “It wouldn’t be right to go on with him.” I grabbed my phone. “Hey there, Can we meet somewhere today?” I texted. His answer came back pretty quickly. “Sure. I wanted to talk to you anyway.” I chuckled. He was always so serious and cryptic. But this time, I had a feeling that he wanted to make sure he would be the one breaking up with me instead of the other way around. ‘Why not give him that chance so he can leave in dignity?’ I thought. And typed: “IHOP, at 11.30 am?” He gave me the thumbs up. “So, that’s done,” I muttered, got up, and climbed into the shower to prepare for the day. If I only had known…
After showering, I typed a brief resignation letter for my employer. I also took a picture of it, saved it in the respective folder, and folded it neatly before stuffing it into an envelope, which I placed in my purse. Then, there was nothing to do, and I finally walked downstairs to face my parents and brothers.
My mother briefly looked at me and set a strong espresso before me. “Drink.” she briefly ordered. I drank it in two big swallows.
I needed to be distracted from all the information I got when facing her. It was overwhelming. I tried to sort through her life and secrets and discovered a lot she had never told a living soul about. She married my father because she sought protection, not out of love… that I was not the dream child she had planned since I was apparently conceived before she agreed to marry my father. She had an older sister who took her own life, an aunt who spent most of her life in jail, and a few more things she desperately tried to keep hidden. She was far smarter than everybody thought, but she was content with her family and duties despite being overwhelmed with the youngest two boys. Apparently, she wished sometimes she was only babysitting them and could return them at the end of the day. She had been grateful for my grandmother… but she was a strong woman, mastering everything she was burdened with.
My father’s information was more relaxed and calmer. He was a modest man, content he had found a woman to take care of him and his needs, which were as easy as his wishes. He was happy to spend most of his time alone, and surprisingly, he knew that I wasn’t his daughter, despite my mother never telling him. He loved the boys, but I was his favorite. He always loved his mother but suspected that there was more about her than what she’d ever let her family know.
The boy’s information was short and simple. They were all of mainly mediocre intelligence and not destined to accomplish grand things in life. At this time their interest circled around playing practical jokes, trying to get out of homework and hoping to take a few sick days off from school.
“Did your Grandmother leave you the store?” I nodded. “Yes. I will take over.” She smiled briefly. “That’s good.” and took a deep breath. I stared at her, and she explained. “Grandmother has always told us this shop was in the family for generations, and it seemed very important to her to leave it to you.”
I nodded. “I know. And she has left me numerous instructions. Also, I have friends of hers to support me. However, I need to renovate it. It has been the same way for decades and looks quite outdated.” My mother seemed to be startled. “Where does the money come from for this kind of construction?” I looked at her, surprised.
She chuckled. “Really, don’t you think I learned a thing or two while living under the same roof as my mother-in-law? She’s been a good teacher, and I liked her very much. You kids only might have seen our differences. But we also had peaceful, nice, and friendly times together. Not that often, but often enough for me to appreciate her knowledge, experience, and wonderful personality. She knew so much… like she held the thread of life in her hands.”
I stared at my mother but only saw the loving, caring, warmhearted Italian Mamma who gave the most comforting hugs on Earth. Her expression was mild and a bit worried. I got up and hugged her. “Thank you, Mom. I’m glad I have you.” Then I left the house.
My employer didn’t take it lightly that I decided to leave. “I’m so sad, Mia.” Monica from HR told me. “Please, if you ever want to return, let me know, ok?” I nodded. “Thank you very much, Monica.” We hugged briefly. And that touch made me flinch. The second she touched me, I knew she didn’t mean anything she said to me – ever. She couldn’t stand me; filled up with jealousy and her own feeling of importance, she radiated so much negativity that it made my skin crawl.
“Do you need to pick up something from the office upstairs?” I shook my head. “No. I don’t have anything personal up there.” She smiled so sweetly that it made me think of sugar and ice cream. I returned her smile. “It was great being part of this. I’m very proud to have belonged to this amazing team.” I smiled, only to see her face falter, and she barely kept her facade up. I turned around and walked toward the exit, my head held high, and I chuckled.
Then I drove over to IHOP. Their parking lot was nearly empty, and I saw that my soon-to-be Ex-boyfriend’s car was nowhere to be seen. I checked my watch to see it was exactly 11:30 am. But I knew he’d be late, so I grabbed my phone and searched online” for construction companies who were able, open, and willing to renovate my Grandmother’s store for a reasonable price.
I talked to two very nice company owners and left messages on the voicemails of two others. When I hung up, I saw J’s car entering the parking lot. I got out of my car at the same time that he did.
He looked at me. “Mia,” he said shortly. I nodded. “J. Good to see you.” He briefly kissed my cheek before we turned to the entrance door, which he opened for me. His other hand was carefully placed on my lower back as if he wanted to protect me. I had always appreciated these gestures, even though they were old-fashioned. But that day, I found it disturbing and smothering.
I didn’t move or act differently than I would have any other day. The host led us to a booth, and we both sat down. Our waitress approached us, and since we had eaten at IHOP numerous times during our relationship, we both knew what we wanted. She beamed, nodded, and turned from us to get our meals.
As soon as she was out of range, J. asked me: “How are you holding up, Darling?” I frowned at him. These kinds of nicknames were normally not his thing, but I politely replied. “I’m okay. Really. No need to worry.” He clapped his flat hand on the table and said, “But I want to worry! Don’t you get it?”
I stared at him. “What?”
The few people in the restaurant turned around, startled by the sudden noise.
I never had seen any impatience, nervousness, or anger in his behavior. This outburst came out of the blue. Finally, I replied. “Joseph, what’s wrong with you? I don’t know you being this unbalanced.”
His voice lowered the volume, and he bent over the table to take my hand. “Mia, my heart. I want to worry because you are the most important thing in my life. I want to worry, protect, be there for you, and always be with you.”
That was not what I had expected, and I sighed. “What are you talking about?”
He searched his jacket and finally unearthed a small blue jewelry box. I tried to sigh as unobtrusively as possible. “Please, J. Don’t do that!” I pleaded. At that moment, the waitress returned with our plates. She saw the jewelry box and smiled widely. “Oooohhh! What a wonderful, beautiful picture! I always wanted to see a prop….” I interrupted her sharply. “Don’t you dare! This is none of your business. I would recommend you leave the plates here, turn around and leave. And I’m only saying this once.”
Her face fell, but she did as she was told. And I turned back to Joseph. “J. Let’s eat before it gets cold. After this brunch, I will tell you what I have to say. Right now, I don’t have any head or heart for talking about a common future. Is that clear?” He nodded, a bit intimidated.
While we ate, we mainly talked about his job, his mother, and when his newly ordered car would arrive. After the meal, I asked for a box, as I always do, and watched him frown. However, he didn’t say anything, and I cleared my throat. “Joseph,” I said. He flinched. He didn’t like me calling him ‘Joseph’. He preferred J., but I couldn’t be considerate at that moment. I had to finish this to concentrate on the tasks and duties ahead of me.
“J. I will have to break up with you, I’m sorry. I won’t have time for you, taking over my Grandmother’s shop, with everything else on my plate, and I want to make this short. You’re a great guy, and I enjoyed the time with you. With all the changes in my life, there is no room for you anymore. Please forgive me. I know I’m being rude; I don’t like that at all. And I don’t like to hurt you either.”
Joseph sat across the table, looking like I had hit him with a baseball bat. “But… but…” he stammered. I smiled at him. “You’ll find another girl soon enough, J. Don’t worry!” I patted his hand, got up, grabbed my box, and left the restaurant.
I was crossing the parking lot to get to my car when I heard my name called from the back. Joseph hadn’t given up. With a sigh, I turned around, only to see my ex-boyfriend staring at me, with bloodred eyes in his hand, a green shimmering, wildly formed dagger that he threw at me.
Everything went so fast, despite me thinking of ducking, I was completely unable to move until a brick wall hit me, and I found myself kissing the asphalt, my nose bleeding, my hands burning like fire, and my hip protesting. I tried to look up, but when I heard a door going and footsteps, even voices, everything seemed to be far, far away.
Until I found myself pulled up and set onto my own feet, my bleeding nose covered with an old-fashioned white handkerchief and pressed to a rock-hard male chest. Tez’s voice sounded dampened when he said: “I can’t even let you out of sight for one minute without you getting into trouble.”
I looked up at him and replied angrily: “That’s as sure as hell not my fault. What was that, anyway?” Tez chuckled. “You tell me! I saw you guys having breakfast, which you should have had with me. Just saying.”
After a deep breath, I replied, “Who I saw was Joseph, my ex-boyfriend. But it looked like he wanted to throw a dagger at me, and I couldn’t believe that’s what I saw. Joseph has always been a balanced, well-controlled man, mild-mannered and caring.”
Tez laughed. “Joseph, it is, nowadays? Well… I know that creature differently.” My eyebrows narrowed. “What creature?” The man who held me up smiled. “This guy’s name for the past millennia has been Apollo.”
The shock must have been visible on my face. Tez hugged me, then again lifted me up in his arms and carried me over to a huge pickup truck. He stuffed me into the passenger seat and fastened my seatbelt.
“What are you doing?” I inquired. Tez laughed. “I’ll take you home. You’re shocked, injured, and shaken. I won’t let you drive like this. I wanted to protest, but his lips were on mine, and every word was silenced while I was melting within the kiss.
Tez smiled. “Don’t worry… things will work out. And for the moment, you got me.” He ran around the truck, climbed into the driver’s seat, and started the car.
My brain started to crumble, and all I could think at that moment was: “What a mess…”
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
When the stranger stepped into the modest flood of light, I had a gut feeling that this creature was not human. I tilted my head to the side, my nostrils opened slightly, and I smelled the distinctive odor of a cat—in this case, probably a tomcat—and I frowned.
“A shapeshifter?” I asked, scared that my predicted instincts had played a trick on me. The stranger smiled a bit sadly. Klotho.” He sighed. “I should have known when I saw that the walls and windows of this store kept resisting the repeated attacks of a chair, a baseball bat, a cowfoot, and a few bullets.”
For a moment, we stared at each other; our eyes didn’t blink or disconnect, and for the next few seconds, I knew I had met someone who could hurt me very much.
The stranger stepped to me, far too close, violating my personal space, grabbing my waist, bending over me, and then our lips touched. It was like an explosion of light and electricity. My knees turned into pudding, and I held on for dear life to avoid falling unceremoniously onto my back.
The man interrupted the kiss and snorted. “Oh, pa-leeeeze.” He growled. “I’m a cat and a pretty strong one, too. I won’t let go of you.” I felt my cheeks becoming hot.
“Well, Stranger, would you mind setting me onto my own two feet and ensuring I get something back that I just lost?”
His eyebrows lifted, and he asked carefully: “And what would that be?” I sighed. “My inner balance.” He laughed.
This encouraged me to remind him: “Can you please make sure I stand upright now?”
He simply replied. “No.”
I swallowed. “No?”
The smile enhanced his already handsome countenance, transforming it into a strikingly beautiful visage. “You used to call me ‘Tez’.”
Despite my confusion, I suddenly knew who I dealt with. “Tezcatlipoca.” ** I whispered. The man lifted me up into his arms and carried me to the back of the shop, behind the curtain, where he carefully placed me onto the daybed, bent over me, and kissed me again. That was the moment I literally passed out.
When I woke up, I was lying across my bed in my parents’ house, fully dressed, teary-eyed, frustrated, and sad. I had no idea why until I remembered my dream about my Grandmother being Klotho and me inheriting her tasks and duties as one of the Fates. And I blushed, remembering the passionate kiss I shared with Tez.
I sat up and flinched. He sat in the corner on my old rocking chair, beaming at me. “Good Morning.”
“So, it wasn’t a dream, then?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid not, my dear.” He rose, kissed me again, and walked to the open window. “You should end your relationship with that man,” he said curtly before he jumped out the window and was gone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of Getty Images
** Originally a deity from the Toltec peoples, Tezcatlipoca was primarily seen as the god of night and sorcery and the patron god of kings and warriors. He was also believed to be a prolific shapeshifter, more often transforming into a jaguar, his spotted skin and fur representing the starry night sky.
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
I was starting to get curious about the ‘big secret’… How big could that secret be in a yarn and fabric shop? I was about to find out. My adventurer blood stirred, and I was eager to get to the next page.
There I read,
“Time is the only thing humans are unable to touch. There is no playing with it; time doesn’t repeat or run slower or faster. The Mastery of Time must be left to the Gods.”
This, dear Mia, is the quote from an ancient scroll. And until this day, it’s simply true. Now, as for the ‘Gods,’ we learned that there is only one God; everybody else is His helper. If you remember correctly, we have discussed History numerous times and included the Greek Gods in our discussions. Of course, you learned about Zeus, Apollo, Hera, and the others… but there is a triad we never discussed, and I’d like to introduce you to them right now.
Meet ‘The Fates’ (Moirae). The Fates were said to be the daughters of either Nyx (the Night) or of Zeus and Themis (Law and Justice). There were three Fates: Klotho (the Spinner), Lachesis (the Measurer/Apportioner), and Atropos (the Unbending/Inflexible one).
The Fates, masters of the time, are very much existent until this day. I don’t know where their roots are… too much time has passed to determine that part. But The Fates weave the thread of life for each individual human being. Now, the power of this task is immeasurable and can easily be abused by the wrong person. And that’s what needs protection.
With me gone, you will take over, Mia, my child. You accepted your faith, future, and duties by opening this box.
Of course, it is clear, by now, that I was, indeed, one of the three Fates… and to be precise, I was Klotho. (And yes, the K is the European way to write that name, and it has nothing to do with the Kardashians).
I chuckled. I had no idea my Grandmother was familiar with that TV show. However, in addition to being amused, I also realized how enormous the responsibility my Grandmother handed me was. I turned the page and continued reading.
“I know you, my girl Mia. By now, you must have understood the responsibility of the burden I loaded on your shoulders. But fear not. You are me, as much as I was you. I gave you all you need to master these tasks, including my instincts, my knowledge, and the love that goes with these duties. You know what to do and how to do it. But you will have to work with your sisters, Lachesis and Atropos. The Fates come in three and always work together. They might be strangers to you, but they will also seem oddly familiar. Don’t be surprised; they both are ancient, and that’s what they look like. Despite our tasks, duties, and endless existence, we are still subject to the restrictions of the human life span and the aging process that comes with it. Occasionally, we live a bit longer, but we must move once our human time has come.”
Now, I come to a significant chapter. Mia, my darling girl. Me not being here anymore and having to die is not your fault! I had no idea my time had come until Lachesis contacted me. I was joking when I said you ‘jinxed it.’. I was not dying from a jinx. I passed away because my human body was mortal, and its time had come. I could tell you about every lifespan I have met, but I could not predict my own. You will face the same challenge. But then, You are a triad. And my sisters and I always worked closely together. You are not alone.
And now, don’t be afraid, Mia. Get up, walk out, and stay strong. You will have to overcome a few difficulties that will influence your life as it has been until now. They will become instinctual with time, and you will master them perfectly. But it might be a bit scary to begin with. Once you leave this shop, you are going to know things in every person’s life who you will meet. It might be a bit overwhelming at first, but it will be fine, I promise.
Just one essential thing: You are the Spinner of their threads, but you are not allowed to change anything in their lives—never! And you are never allowed to tell anyone what to expect or how short their life will be. I know your first reaction will be that you would never have thought about doing this. But it won’t be easy, considering you are going to face your father and mother in the next few hours.
Remember that you are Klotho but will also be Mia, my granddaughter. Nothing will ever change that. Stick to who you are. And first thing tomorrow, quit your job. You will not only take over the shop and supervise the renovation, but you will also be busy with the fates of innumerable humans. (Talking about the renovation and me telling you not to use lavender. It’s Atropos’ favorite color, and I think it’s boring. But that’s only a detail.)
Be happy, be yourself, and do what you have been sent to do.
With all my love
Your Grandma, Alessandra K DeLuca
That was the moment that changed my life entirely. Now I knew what she meant when she wrote that my life would never be the same and that going forward with exploring the secret would mean I couldn’t go back. And she was right.
Children’s tales, magic, and life-changing decisions took a new dimension. I was, indeed, scared. But I took a little comfort in knowing that I was not alone. I was curious about ‘my sisters’. But tonight I wouldn’t be able to do anything more… I packed up the box and the letters and finally discovered something else was in the box. When I lifted it out, it turned out to be an hourglass. A small sticker said: “Ask Lachesis about this.”
I sighed, placed everything carefully in the safe, locked it, and turned around to leave the shop. Then, I suddenly discovered a tall, dark silhouette inside the store by the door. I screeched briefly but heard a hissing noise like the stranger had ‘shushed’ me.
I curiously stepped closer, instinctively feeling that there was no danger from this human, only to realize that this being wasn’t entirely human.
“Who are you?” I asked.
The stranger stepped forward, closer to the light, and I held my breath…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of Getty Images
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
After reading my Grandmother’s note, I stared blindly at the old wooden box. My Grandma’s warning stood clearly on the box in the form of my name. She had written ‘Mia’ in strong, nearly angry letters… and I re-read her words carefully several [hundred] times: “… be aware, once it’s opened, you won’t be able to go back. Decide wisely”.
Had I followed my instincts, the instincts of an adventurer, I would have opened that box in a heartbeat. But I also had a Grandmother who reminded me clearly: “I don’t care what decisions you make on your clothing, makeup, or dinner… but if you stand at a fork and have to decide which path to follow, you better darn well hesitate for a moment to think about the consequences this takes on your life.”
(She had also said, “I have no idea where the Hell you got your adventurer gen from… nobody in my family had it, or your mother’s family. Unless you count Grand Uncle Luigi, your Grandfather’s brother. But that’s a story for another time.”)
It took me somewhat three hours, then I decided… “What the ….” I opened the box, and – it changed my life forever.
*****
On top of the box, I found a quite large envelope with my name on it, once again. Grandmother had apparently taken a lot of time and effort to make sure I was well-instructed and followed her wishes. If only I had known how wrong I was.
I opened the envelope, expecting a legal document, muttering. “You got quite the will here, Grandma. I have no idea… wow!” I didn’t get a legal will; I got a booklet. To be precise, it was a collection of scribbled on parchment sheets that were closely connected by an awkward purple thread. The parchment seemed to be very old but in a decent shape. I also found a sticky note pinned to the front. “Put that aside for the moment, Mia. It is not my will.” I chuckled.
Then I held a few closely written sheets in my hands, addressed to me once again. I turned the first page and began to read:
“Mia, once you read this, I’m gone from this Earth. I know that sounds dramatic, but please be assured that it isn’t a problem. It doesn’t mean I’m completely gone. I just basically transitioned from one dimension to another. But I’m still around to guide you. Don’t be scared, please. I haven’t gone mad. I know how that sounds, girl. As much as an adventurer you are, my child, you will go on a ride wilder than you will ever imagine. Nobody will be able to follow you. And still, you won’t be alone.
Let me give you the instructions first, and please follow them to the tee.
Re-arrange the store, with everything in it, renovate, re-furnish, and paint. You can choose whatever color you like, except lavender. You will later find out why. You can change and switch whatever you want, but leave the showcase cabinet in the corner by the cashier’s desk untouched under all circumstances.
Organize a grand opening, introducing yourself as the new owner. (When I had to do that, we sent out letters to returning customers; you can use the email list. It’s on paper in the top drawer of the desk. The password is there too, somewhere)
Do not show any surprise about the people you will meet at the opening. They are quite unique.
Two of the ladies you will meet are going to introduce themselves as your sisters, don’t be shocked, please. Because it’s true. You three are blood-connected. It’s a very, very old bloodline, and once again, I’ll get back to that later.
When one of our neighbors are entering the shop, sell them, whatever they need. It’s all fine merchandise. The supplier list is in the drawer as well.
The invited guests to the opening of the shop are different. They don’t come for the yarn, knitting needles, or crochet instructions… they come for something else.
Under no circumstances should you ever open the corner cabinet and continue the knitting project there or try to finish it. Guard this project, the wool, the knitting needles, and the secret with your life.
Now, I will come to a chapter within these instructions that will change your world forever…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of Getty Images
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
The day was cold and gray, and the rain was drizzling—the kind of weather you would expect when having a funeral.
My family was shocked to the core when Grandma passed. The boys cried openly, my father tried to hide his tears, but occasionally showed up with red eyes. My mother was petrified. She seemed unreasonably scared. Yes, it wouldn’t be easy to bring up three young boys and a husband all by herself, but she was a strong Italian woman, stubborn and righteous; she would do what had to be done.
As for me, I felt guilty as hell. Since I said, Grandma looked healthy and well and her visible fear, I felt like I had murdered her. Maybe not with a knife, but with words, and that thought didn’t let me go. I was devastated. Later that evening, when the boys were in bed, mother cooked spaghetti, as she always does, when something is bothering her, my father called me into the ‘library’ he used as a study and office. The room didn’t deserve either one expression and usually served as a protected cave where he was safe from the boys and his wife a little bit, too.
I walked in, and Dad got up and hugged me. “It’s a hard time, girl.” He said with a sigh. I knew he referred to the death of his mother and not the times we were going through. It wasn’t like the family was on the edge of starvation. But Dad had a tendency to drama, and I just let it go. When he sat back down, I let myself sink on the stool next to the fireplace and looked at him expectantly. He had called me in for a particular reason, and I wouldn’t ask him to tell me. He’d get to that at his own pace.
“Mia…” My father began slowly. I looked at him. “My mother told me that she won’t stay on Earth much longer. And she made me promise that I would give you this envelope once she’s gone.” He took a deep breath, which ended up sounding like a sigh, and continued. “She made me swear I wouldn’t interfere in your life, as it would be from now on. And she clearly told me that it would be your decision to accept or decline her offer.”
I stared at him in naked horror. “What kind of offer?” My father shrugged. “Grandma was always quite mysterious when it came to life-changing decisions, Karma, death, and things like that. I didn’t ever ask questions.”
He handed me the envelope and gripped his chin. “Whatever it says, girl, whatever it is… I’m not included, and neither is your mother. I’m supposed to tell you that. Everything else is in here.”
With these words, he got up and left the small room.
I caught myself staring after him, feeling helpless. After the door closed behind my father, I looked down at the envelope in my hand and didn’t move for a long time. I couldn’t decide on whether I should take the challenge or not. My Grandma might have been theatrical and overly dramatic at times, but she was also my Grandmother, who had been fighting all her life. She was strong, independent, and with great power but always human and with understanding and love. That love that I had felt surrounding me all my life, coming from her, finally made me open the envelope.
With one swing of my hand (and a quite deep papercut) I picked up the chaotic future of my life, not knowing what would be next.
The envelope contained a folded piece of paper and a key.
I picked up the latter and unfolded the sheet to read my Grandmother’s handwriting. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I could barely read what she wrote. Finally, I carefully wiped them off and looked at the paper again.
“This is the only key to the ‘Magia del Segreto.’ I want you to go to the store, behind the desk, and open the top drawer on the right. From there, I will guide you. Don’t be afraid, child. You always were closest to my heart; my love will be with you all your life. – Grandma (Alessandra K DeLuca – La Donna dei segreti)“
I knew I had my second name from my grandmother, which was no surprise there, but her theatric ‘La Donna dei segreti’ made me giggle.
I got up and walked outside. The store wasn’t too far, and I needed some air, that’s why I decided to walk. I put on my coat, grabbed an umbrella, and left the house.
The evening had turned into a night, and further away from the house, I passed a few dark alleys and a couple of shady characters. But I held my head high, and nobody bothered me. They looked at me almost shyly and then lowered their eyes. I was surprised. There were moments in my life when I had to defend myself with everything I had from dirty passes. But this evening, it seemed, I was lucky.
When I arrived at the ‘Magia del Segreto,’ I used the key in my fist in my coat pocket. The old door opened without any further problem.
After closing the door, I went to the desk, as instructed, and opened the top drawer on the right. There, I found a seemingly old wooden box with my name on it and another folded paper. I curiously sat down but then realized that the light in the store permitted everyone to look into the store’s windows and see me. Therefore, I decided to lock the door, pull the old dark green curtains, and turn on the desk lamp instead of the ceiling lights.
Finally, I took place, opened the next folded sheet, and read: ‘Mia, as of now, this is your store. It’s your responsibility. You can do whatever you want with it. If you like, sell it. But if you want to go on a wonderous adventure, joining the ranks of us ‘Women of Secrets’, please open the box. Just be aware: Once it’s opened, you won’t be able to go back. Decide wisely. – Alessandra K DeLuca
TO BE CONTINUED…
Picture courtesy of ‘Getty Images’
Please respect the writer’s copyright (Copyright: A. J. Alexander – April 2024)
Writer's Treasure Chest 
You must be logged in to post a comment.