Scenery.

“Mind if I join you?”

It was Drew, Melanie knew his voice well.

“No, I was actually about to come in to find some company!” she replied, squinting in his direction. She knew it was sunny out, the sun was warming her bare back cozily. Straightening her sundress and cane across her lap she made room for him.

“I don't see why everyone is locked up in their bedrooms to study,” She began, voice crisp and matter-of-fact.

“ I mean, you have the great outdoors to sit and think in,” she added as they settled down, Drew’s foot swinging them.

“Ha! We don’t have the time to think, like you can… “ he sighed and then after a slight pause and seeing the puzzled look on Melanie’s face, quickly added,

“I didn’t mean that to sound mocking I was just pointing out that you have more opportunity to think more than others.”

“Hmmm… Actually, I do have homework I’m supposed to be working on. I mean, I know I ought to be tremendously thankful for braille but sometimes it’s just so tedious!” she cried, throwing her hands up to emphasize her feelings.

“Yeah, same… like, sometimes I get really pissed at whoever invented Calculus...” Drew cast Melanie a sideways glance, she was looking straight ahead, and the sun was making her natural blond highlights stand out radiantly.

“Looks like we’re both on the same page then” she said, tapping her cane idly against the wood of the swing. There was a small pause in which the sounds of cheery birds and the humming of bees filled the space in between them and around them.

“I was just thinking the other day,” Drew began, staring at his knees, “and realized you know this house and these people, better than anyone.”

Melanie heard the scuff of his shoe against the brick beneath them and felt a twitch at the corner of her mouth. He seemed nervous…

“May I ask why you were thinking of me in particular?”

“I was thinking of Fred first, actually-” Drew said with a laugh, “The way he’s always gushing his thoughts to everyone and the way he forgets where everything is… How clumsy he is compared to you.” He turned slightly to watch her expression; Melanie’s smile lessened and she gravely said,

“Even if I am blind, it doesn’t exactly make me any more… glorified, for want of a better word, knowing my way about here,” she waved a hand vaguely toward the large barn to their right and the fields beyond.

“I guess so… but it’s just so hard for me to imagine, not being able to see but understand everything so well, like you do.”

“Trust me, if we switched places, I’m sure you be just as good as me if not better.” She laughed and fidgeted with her cane’s head. It was polished brass in the elegant shape of an upside down bluebell. There was another pause in conversation and then Melanie said, abruptly,

“Well, would you mind walking me back to the garden? I think I’d like a change of scenery.”

“Sure.” Drew said and even though Melanie had no idea, felt an amused and amazed smile spread over his face…  

Glitter Dust.

Jack was used to the rain. He was always outdoors and the city never saw the sun. It was always stormy in the city, no sunlight and no warmth ever penetrated the place and the milk white skin of the people who lived there. Jack was a courier, he lived and breathed the water from the sky. He had learned all the deceptive ways of the mud and the tricks of the tavern owners throughout the city. Tall, sodden buildings sagged over the walkways which were forever flooded with garbage and human waste. Jack navigated the gutters as best he could but there seemed to be no escape from the floating bits of discarded food and clothing. There was always a glimmer of hope in the city that one day the weak sunlight might break through the fortresses of storm clouds in the sky above, but the day had never come, not in centuries. People were accustomed to the clothes never drying on soggy washing lines and everyone hardly slept. Beds were rarely filled and never dry and even the shelves in the bakery were warped by moisture. The tavern owners offered dry food and dry pillows but Jack knew better than to believe them. The boy had heard so many stories about how the city might have become so dismal. One tale said that the city had been cursed long ago by an aggravated rain goddess. Another folk tale said that the city had been known as the saddest place anyone had ever known, and so the rain was the tears of the gods being shed for the people living there. Jack did not know what to believe but he knew his job and so he worked hard in the city of rain. Until one morning in the middle of the dry season. Dry season was merely whenever the precipitation stopped, the roads still ran with water but at least the clouds weren't as black.

“Jack! Jack I need your help!”

“Freda?”

“Over this way!” A girl not much younger that Jack stood in an alleyway to his left and beckoned him with a dripping hand. Like all of the women of the city, she was clad in nothing but a few tightly wrapped rags and her body was shimmery with glitter. The city's permanent situation had forced long garments and carefully applied makeup out of women's minds, but the rain never seemed to get rid of glitter dust.

“Jack, can you help me with this barrel? It's too heavy and since the water on the ground is seeping through the cracks, it's making it even heavier.”

“Sure thing Freda. I like your gold dust today.” Jack smiled briefly and then bent to push the barrel further.

“What's in the barrel?” He asked after a few yards, curious why Freda would be toting such a heavy load to the market.

“Dust. I'm starting a new business in the square ahead.”

“I thought the dust market was doing poorly.” Jack grunted as he started the tank rolling again.

“It was, but this'll be the envy of all who see it. I found a way to make camouflage dust.”

“What!?” Jack stopped suddenly but Freda kept walking.

“You know, dust that makes you disappear into your surroundings. It's like the next best thing to dry bread!”

“Freda, you understand this has to be authorized right?”

“Author what?”

“You have to send in a request to sell this stuff. The mayor has to say 'Ok'.”

“ Could you ask her for me?”

Jack straightened.

“Freda! I can't just walk up to the mayor and ask her!”

“Why not?”

“Be-Because she's... well-” He faltered, “She's busy. All the time. You can't sell this merchandise without her say so.”

“What if I don't care?” Freda waved her arm around and the dull lamp light caught the gold glitter's sparkle.

“You could get arrested if you sell it without a permit. I'm not about to let you go to jail alone.”

“You really care that much?” Freda clasped her hands in mock appreciation. “I really could care less about going to jail, it'd be an adventure compared to this.” she gestured to a large piece of gunk floating past them in the gutter. Jack shivered out of disgust and turned his eyes to the grey sky. Turning back to Freda he saw her face change from a similar look of disgust to radiating mischievous light.

“Say, what if we go together then?” Jack eyed his friend. She was a pretty creature with the lithe shape of an athlete, a sign of living off her wits for some time. Jack knew her past but didn't judge her for it, although sometimes he had a hard time deciphering the truth from her stories.

“If you're going then I'm going.” He decided.

“What? You mean you want to get arrested with me?”

“As long as we're together it'll be fun, like you said.” Jack started, nervous but beginning to get excited about the idea.

“I'm tired of running from shack to shack with pay fit for a pack animal. I'll go to jail, sure. I bet it's dry!” A smile lit up Freda's gold streaked face and she put out a graceful hand.

“Then come on! Let's start selling this stuff!”  

dh