Part 48 (1/2)
I looked at her. Her face so hopeful. Wanting this for some irrational female reason. She just wanted to walk in the gra.s.s. Feel the softness on her feet instead of the harsh pavement. It probably twinged her somewhere inside to even have to ask permission. But she honestly didn't mind sharing the cart duty.
”Don't get too far ahead over there.” I nodded and she scampered off with a quick thank-you. Jane told the nude girl that they were allowed on the gra.s.s again, and the two of them moved to the side of the road and ahead. I kept Christi company on the asphalt.
”Thank you for the letting them walk over there.”
”I was going to anyway. How's your feet?”
”They are alright. The clothes are better. What got into you? Why do you want us in clothing? I can't believe you are just being nice.”
”Actually, I am. I just thought that you might appreciate it.”
She accepted it at face value. ”I do appreciate it. Believe me I do. Even if I can only have it for five minutes. How long am I going to be allowed it.”
”Well, I'm not going to let you sleep in them. If that is what you are asking.”
”Tomorrow?” she asked hopefully.
”Perhaps. We'll see how good you are until then.”
”I'll be an angel. You watch.”
”Oh I will. I never realized how good you could look in clothes. I'm not saying you are ugly naked or anything, but you are attractive in jeans and a sweater. Especially those.”
”I couldn't afford all these normally. I kind of picked out nicer stuff.”
”Don't tell me that I never give you anything,” I said to her grinning.
She smiled shyly and lapsed into silence.
”I don't really want to go,” she said quietly after fifteen minutes or so.
”Go where?”
”You are going to release us eventually. And. I know it sounds crazy. And I know that I have mixed feelings. But. I. Kind of like it here. No people. I can walk barefoot down the middle of the street with a shopping cart. n.o.body cares. In some ways I really don't want to go.”
”I know. I really don't know what I'm going to do. I could live here forever. *course that is easier for me to say than you, I'm sure.”
”It feels odd.”
”What does?”
”Wearing clothes. I look down at myself and can't believe it. I'm so used to seeing myself without them. Then I look over at Amy, and I know that that is what I looked like a half hour ago. And Jane. Wow. I just wish I never had to take them off,” she remarked wistfully.
”Don't get used to it Christi.”
”I know. It's going to be hard stripping these off whenever you tell me.”
I looked up. We were about halfway there. I stopped the procession.
”Janey?”
She looked over her shoulder, flas.h.i.+ng a smile at me. She trotted back. It looked strange, this woman running in an evening dress. Barefoot.
”My turn?”
I nodded and the elegant woman put her bound hands on the shopping cart. Christi looked up at me. She stood up on her tiptoes and gave me a quick kiss. I hadn't seen her this happy in a long time. She held up her wrists, waiting for me to cuff her.
”Go on, keep Amy company.”
”No handcuffs?”
”You'll behave, won't you?”
”Oh course.” She scampered up ahead. Jane let her bound hands push the cart.
She was quiet for the first while. About three quarters of the way back she asked a single question.
”Why?”
”Why what?”
”Why are you suddenly being nice to us? I don't trust you.”
”No reason for you to trust me, you minx. But I just felt like being nice to you. You deserved it. You've done everything I asked. Without complaining. Much. Why shouldn't I be?”
”You weren't going to let me have clothes were you?”
”Nope.”
”You were going to torment me. Again.”
”Yup. But I'd decided to let you have the dress even before you gave me the riot act.”
”Oh. I didn't need to do that?”
”No. But it was cute.”
She flushed.
”What have you got planned for tonight? Or is a big surprise?”
”It's a surprise. But I don't think you'll be really unhappy about it.”
”I won't?”
”Nothing strenuous. You've been through a lot today. And last night. Have to give you a rest if I expect you to remain sane.”