Big Love (16 page)

The women, including Betty, stood in the parking lot of Nell’s apartment building. She lived in a three story brick building. It was old and had ornate facades and limestone window ledges.

“What now?” Carol asked.

“We’ve got to get her to open the door for starters,” Miracle said.

“I’ve already knocked several times. She won’t answer the door. And the only reason she even speaks to me is to tell me to go away so I won’t knock anymore. At least I know she’s still breathing—even though Nell’s not the kind of person who would hurt herself,” Carol said. She cleared her throat.

Miracle took her hand. “She’s not. We’ve just got to make her see sense.”

“Correction. We’ve got to make her see
Zing
,” Carol said.

“That too,” Miracle said. “But I’m not certain how.”

Betty looked up at the building. “This place should have a fire escape. It was built during the forties.”

“How do you know that?” Carol asked.

Betty pointed to the cornerstone where “1942” was carved in the limestone.

“Right,” Carol said. “Let’s go check the alley.”

The fire escape was no longer in any condition to be used. It was rusted beyond repair, steps were missing, and the entire antiquated structure was chained off with multiple yellow warning signs that showed stick people falling to their deaths.

“There goes that idea,” Miracle said, staring up at it. “I guess we’ll have to camp out in the hallway or break down the door.”

“I’ll go up the fire escape,” Zing said.

“No, you will not,” Miracle said firmly.

“It’ll be all right. And Nell will have to let me in because I might fall.”

“But what if you do fall?” Carol asked.

“It won’t do anything to her. Will it, Zing?” Betty asked.

“I don’t think so. I’d lose this form but it wouldn’t kill the angel part of me,” Zing said.

“You two go inside and I’ll keep watch on Zing,” Betty said.

“I don’t like this,” Miracle said.

“I’ll be very careful,” Zing said. She climbed over the chain that blocked the fire escape. She gave the staircase a good shake. Rust rained down on her, but the escape stayed intact. “See, it’s pretty sturdy.”

“Promise me that if it’s too unstable at any point you’ll come down,” Miracle said.

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” Betty said.

“Can you turn into a bird and swoop up and catch her?” Carol asked.

“No worries,” Betty said. “Now, go.” She gave them a gentle push.

Miracle pointed at Zing. “Be careful.”

“I will. Don’t worry, this thing is way safer than it looks,” Zing said. She pulled on the railing just as they rounded the corner. It came off in her hand.

Betty took it from her. “That’s okay. It’s not an integral part of the structure.”

Zing studied Betty. “You seem to know a lot about things not of this world—even guardian angel stuff—why is that?”

Betty shrugged. “I read a lot.”

“Well, here goes,” Zing said. She clambered up the rusty staircase. It groaned and shook under her weight.

“You’re doing great,” Betty called up.

One of the stair treads collapsed right after Zing had stepped on it.

“Okay, not that great. Tell Nell she has to let you in because at the rate stuff is dropping off you won’t be able to come down. Make sure you tell her that,” Betty hollered.

“I’ll bring her a souvenir to prove my point,” Zing said, holding up a chunk of rusty railing.

Another stair fell through and clanked when it hit the ground. Geez, Zing thought, maybe this really wasn’t a good idea. She wanted to keep her corporeal body long enough to tell Nell that she loved her. Finally, she reached one of the windows. A cat peered out at her.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Zing said. “You’re just an alien.”

The cat hissed and ran away.

Zing looked in the next window. There was a stack of newspapers piled neatly against one wall and an old man sitting in a chair reading. He waved at her. Zing waved back.

Finally, Zing looked in another window and she saw Nell sitting at her kitchen table trying to reassemble a computer. It looked in bad shape, like maybe she’d thrown it and was now regretting doing so. Zing didn’t know much about computers but Nell’s seemed broken beyond repair. It looked more like Nell was attempting to keep busy by trying to reassemble what could not be reassembled. Zing tapped on the window. Nell’s eyes got big and her mouth made shapes that indicated she’d said, “What on earth?”

She ran to window and opened it. Another piece of railing fell off and clanked to the ground. “Zing, what are you doing? Do you know how dangerous that fire escape is?”

“Yes, that’s why you have to let me in.” She held up the section of rusty railing as proof.

Nell pulled Zing inside. She gave her a huge hug. “Don’t ever do anything like that again.”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Most of the fire escape crashed to the ground.” She tossed the piece of railing out the window. Then she leaned out the window, cupped her hands around her mouth, and yelled down, “It’s all good. Nell will let us in.”

“Who’s that?” Nell said, leaning out the window. Nobody was there.

“Betty the-Sapphic-shaman. We hired her to scrub your soul. Carol and Miracle want to come in, too.” As if to emphasize the point, there was a series of rapid knocks at the door.

“I can’t see them. I feel so stupid and ashamed. I should’ve listened to you all. I must have known something was wrong and chosen to ignore it,” Nell said.

“You’re seeing me.”

“I had no choice. You were in serious peril.”

There was more knocking.

“I’ll let them in,” Zing said.

“If you must,” Nell said, defeated. She plopped down on the couch.

“I must.” Zing walked through the apartment to the door. “It’s really clean in here. Do you clean when you’re sad?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a good thing to do. I was afraid you’d be dirty and smelly and your apartment would be full of beer cans and pizza boxes.”

“I’m not like that. Cleaning gives me a sense of control.”

Zing opened the door. Carol rushed in. She flew across the room and embraced Nell so fiercely that Nell squeaked, “You’re going to break my ribs.”

“Sorry,” Carol said. “I was so worried.” She straightened up and looked around. “Wow, it’s really clean in here. And it smells like lemons.”

“She’s a sad cleaner,” Zing reported.

“Well, honey, you sure are handling your broken heart a heckuva lot better than I did,” Miracle said.

Betty stood back waiting to be introduced. Zing did the honors. “This is Betty. She’s going to clean your soul until it’s as shiny as this apartment.”

***

Betty pulled out an unused white
taper candle, a carton of large, organic, free-range eggs, and two glasses. She set them all on the coffee table.

“You sure have a lot of stuff in your purse,” Zing said.

“A Sapphic shaman must be prepared,” Betty said. She also pulled out a book of Sapphic
verses.

“Eggs? What are you going to do? Fix her an omelet?” Carol asked, her voiced laced in skepticism.

“No, I’m using an egg cleanse. It has been practiced by Mesoamerican curanderas on the indigenous Pre-Columbians. It’s a very powerful cleanser. It restores balance and connection, aids in the spiritual, physical, and mental health of the person undergoing the cleansing.”

“That’s a lot of things,” Zing said.

“Yes, it is, which is why it is so powerful. The cleansing will heal Nell’s spirit and her soul will be regenerated and stay attached to her body,” Betty said.

“I think this is fabulous,” Miracle said. “Do we need some green tea before we get started?”

“That would be nice,” Betty said.

“I don’t have any green tea,” Nell said.

“I brought some just in case,” Miracle said. She pulled a box from her enormous purse.

“I’ll go put the kettle on,” Nell said.

“Then you need to take your clothes off. You can leave your bra and panties on,” Betty said.

“Why?” Nell said, holding the box of green tea to her chest and looking terrified.

“Because I need to lather your body with raw egg.”

“Why?” Nell said again. She evidently hoped that further inquiry might warrant a different response.

“It’s part of the shamanic egg cleansing. It requires lots of skin,” Betty replied.

“I’ll make the tea,” Miracle said.

“I’ll come with you,” Carol said, getting up. She looked at Nell and said, “You go take your clothes off. We won’t look.”

“I’m not comfortable with this,” Nell said in a creaky voice.

“No one ever is, but you’ll get used to it. Believe me, the results are worth it,” Betty said. “Afterwards, I’ll perform a reading that will give you insight into your future.”

“Won’t that be fun?” Zing asked.

“Fun is not the first word that comes to mind,” Nell said.

***

Nell lay on her back, arms to her sides, on a bath towel on the living room floor. Zing marveled at the whiteness of Nell’s bra and panties. Nell must have good laundry skills, Zing thought. None of Zing’s or Miracle’s clothes were white because Miracle was not good at laundry. If they started out white, they didn’t stay that way for long.

Betty, Zing, Carol, and Miracle sat Indian style around Nell holding cups of green tea.

“This feels very odd,” Nell said through tight lips. Her eyes were closed. She was lying so still and straight, she resembled a virgin on her wedding night who viewed sex as her duty, not a delight.

“Wait until you get slimed by the egg,” Carol said. “Then you’ll feel odd
and
slimy.”

Miracle nudged Carol with her elbow and whispered, “You’re not helping.”

“Sorry,” Carol mouthed.

“Are you ready?” Betty asked.

“Is anyone?” Nell replied.

“Not really,” Betty said. She picked up the glass containing three broken eggs and rolled it in her palms to warm up the mixture. She dipped the basting brush into the glass. Betty began painting Nell’s skin with raw egg. She started with Nell’s neck and worked downwards.

Zing studied Nell’s lithe and muscled body, her perky breasts, and her lovely ears. Zing felt a flash of heat and a not unpleasant cramping in her groin area. She looked down at her lap, but nothing seemed amiss. She’d read about desire in Dove Lance’s book. Was this what was happening in her below-the-belt area? She wished she could talk to Annabelle about it. She’d know. Wouldn’t she? But Annabelle had never had a corporeal body. It made her sad realizing that she was changing in ways Annabelle could never know.

She watched Nell’s stomach quiver as the raw egg was painted across it. It was a very nice stomach and Zing wondered how it would feel licking that stomach. And licking lower. . .

“How does it feel?” Carol asked. She blew on her green tea until it was cool enough to gulp. Carol gulped all her drinks when she was stressed.

“Like I’m a loaf of bread getting ready to be put in the oven,” Nell answered.

“All right, now I will read verse from Sappho while the egg soaks in and dries. Then you can shower and we’ll do the reading,” Betty said.

“Okay,” Nell said with a sigh.

Betty picked up a book and read aloud, “Throned in splendor, immortal Aphrodite! Child of Zeus, enchantress, I implore thee! Slay me not in this distress and anguish, O Lady of beauty.” She clapped the book shut and set it aside.

“That’s it?” Carol said.

“You can read the rest, but the first verse contains the power. Now, Nell, let’s repeat it together three times.”

“Why three times?” Zing asked.

“Three is a mystical number. It has been used through the ages as a source of strength,” Betty answered.

Betty closed her eyes and recited the verse three times. The others, Nell included, stumbled along behind her, their tones not nearly as enthusiastic as hers.

By the time they finished, the egg mixture had dried on Nell’s skin and she glistened in the light pouring through the squeaky- clean windows.

Zing thought she looked like a glazed goddess.

Betty clapped her hands three times. “We’re done with that part. Nell, go shower and we’ll move on.”

Nell got up and stumbled. Quick as a flash, Zing leapt up from the floor and caught her. They looked into each other eyes and Zing felt herself glow. Nell seemed momentarily stunned.

Carol broke the spell. “Damn, Zing, that was fast. You were up and caught her before my brain had even registered she was falling.”

Miracle said, “She’s a guardian angel, darlin’. They have to be fast.”

Zing held Nell in her arms. She didn’t want to let go. “Are you all right?”