“Always… You didn’t wear glasses when you first came to me.”
“Yeah, that was one of them.” I surrender myself to handing them all over.
She flips through all the papers, skimming over each.
I clasp my hands together.
“Open your mouth,” she requests without even looking up.
And I do.
“Do you ever experience tooth pain or other issues?”
“No.”
“You’re allowed a day off of your choice for a regular exam, but the aesthetic trips aren’t mandatory. Optometrist is.”
I rub my arm. “And the hysterectomy?”
She narrows her eyes. “I was waiting to discuss that in the car, but if you don’t mind speaking publicly on it: technically optional. You’ll become sterileeventuallyeither way, but there’ll be a longer discussion when the conversation of your consorting comes up. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“Her work really is blessed by the Ring…” she whispers before taking off.
I run just behind her and pester, “is it that good?”
“Stella is a wonder with her art. Her brother too.” She adds, like she’s looking for something negative to say, “they were overzealous with the concealer and hid your freckles, but that’ll be fixed once you have a patron and replace it with magic.”
“I didn’t know you knew I had those.”
“...And I wasn’t supposed to notice, how?”
“I mean—I just… I wouldn’t know if you had freckles.”
“I do.”
“Oh, sorry.” I only avert my eyes for a moment, a curiosity to check taking over my dread.
She really does. Not a lot—she does seem unnatural outside—but there’s a couple dots.
“Are you overacting due to energy, or is some deficit sapping your self-control? Did you eat?” she asks like an accusation.
“Yes, Mistress. Some bread. Rye.”
“The specifics aren’t necessary, but I do appreciate your good behavior with calling me ‘Mistress.’ You might make an okay apprentice yet.”
This smile comes easily, and it lasts. From when we enter the car, to when I bob my head to the swing playing on the radio, to when we get out and prepare for the rest of the day’s labor.
I might just be an okay apprentice. Maybe decent too, one day?
Mistress Vincenza unlocks the front door exactly at 11:00, taking down the ‘CLOSED’ signage.
Piero walks in somewhere around 11:00:07. “Your apprentice looks charming in her new gown.”
“She does,” Mistress Vincenza factually replies.
“I didn’t expect you would get her the whole set so soon.”
