Karma appeared out of the mist and strolled up to her sister. “No need to holler. Are you looking for me?”
“Damn right I am. Sit your ass down and tell me all about this Karma Cleaners agency of yours.”
Karma shrugged. “Okay, but why don’t we find a nice spot in the French countryside and have a couple glasses of champagne?”
“That sounds good. Wait! Are you just trying to relax me so I won’t be mad at you?”
“I figured it couldn’t hurt.”
“I’ve heard of this champagne, but isn’t it used for celebrations? We are definitely not celebrating!”
“Do you mean to tell me you’ve never had champagne?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Well, we must remedy this situation immediately.” Karma snapped her fingers, and they were sitting at a sidewalk café in Paris. A waiter appeared. “Garçon, we’d like two glasses of your best champagne, please.”
“Oui, madam.” He walked briskly into the restaurant.
“Nice one, Karma. You said French countryside. Now here we are in a densely populated city where I can’t shout at you without causing a scene.”
“Oh, is that what I did?” Karma smirked, and Gaia’s eyes narrowed as she stared down her sister.
At last, Karma sighed and snapped her fingers again, and they sat in a field of lavender. She opened a picnic basket and withdrew a bottle of champagne and one crystal flute, which she handed to Gaia.
“Nice try again, Sister. You and I both know that lavender has a relaxing effect. Why do you think I invented it?”
“Because people need to relax.” A loud pop exploded as she released the cork from the bottle and Gaia jumped. “And so do you, especially if we’re going to have any kind of polite discussion.”
“Polite? Was it polite to completely shut me out of this little business of yours? And which goddesses are you employing? And how many humans know about this?”
Karma filled Gaia’s crystal glass to the rim.
The powerful goddess took a tentative sip. Then another. “Mmm… This is an interesting beverage. I like the little bubbles tickling my nose.”
Karma smiled. “I knew you’d like it.”
“Aren’t you having any?”
“I will. You enjoy yours first.”
“I think I will.” Mother Nature took a big gulp the next time the goblet met her lips and the next. She giggled.
“Yummy, isn’t it?”
“It really is. There’s a touch of sweetness but not too much.” After another big gulp, Gaia drained the glass.
“Have another. This time, I’ll join you.” Karma watched her sister place one hand on the ground behind her and recline slightly, holding out her glass for more of the potent wine. As soon as she’d refilled Gaia’s glass, she began her sales pitch.
“I didn’t think you’d want to be bothered with my little enterprise, dear Sister. After all, you have enough to do.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
“I know, right? So when the goddesses were complaining they were bored just sitting around playing harps all day, I thought ‘What would Gaia do?’ Then it occurred to me that I’d seen good parents deal with this. The most effective strategy was to put them to work! The kids either welcomed the task or complained but did it anyway. The chores got done, and they didn’t complain about being bored anymore.”
Gaia sipped her champagne quietly. Some of what Karma said made sense. She hadn’t seen her goddesses for quite a while, and that was just fine with her. She had enough on her hands trying to keep track of her modern muses. Former humans with minor goddess status required frequent monitoring. And the gods! Holy moly, they were always trouble.
“I’m still miffed you didn’t share this with me. A human had to tell me about this enterprise.A human!”
