FIFTY-TWO: Gingin

FIFTY-TWO: Gingin

Priscilla knew that not only was Arous mischievous but she was stubborn, too.  She had the energy and stamina to force her will on anyone caught in her grip.

One day Priscilla took Arous to a market in the Cusp.  A couple of Skin-Dancers, old friends of ours, were performing. They promised to perform a forbidden piece:  the Eternal Breath about the creation of people.  After the performance, while she waited on our friends to meet up with her, she took Edlawit and Arous walking through the market.

“I want,” Arous said after spying a stuffed gingerbread man.

“No, sweet, not today,” came her Priscilla’s melody.

But Arous had already reached up and grabbed the gingerbread man.

“You can’t. No.” Edlawit’s firm compassion rang up the isle as she tried to pry the stuffed toy from Arous’ tiny fingers. Edlawit was only a year older than Arous but her mind and body passed her by about two years.

Arous believed that some stuffed toys contained a real self; a shadow trapped in cloth and thread. She made herself responsible to release them. This simple gingerbread man had caught her eye.  In the tradition of gingerbread men, he was brown.  A white zigzag ribbon gave the impression of a jumper.  He had two red glass marbles for jumper buttons.  Two black marbles outlined with the same white zigzag ribbon make his eyes.  A piece of ribbon went across each writ to simulate cuffs.  There was nothing fancy about Gingin.

“Please.  I love it,” said Arous.

“You can’t. Hikeuh Pris?” said Edlawit looking for adult help.

“No,” said Priscilla and turned back to continue her conversation with a vendor.

 “I love it. Gingin. My Gingin.”  Big tears had welled in her eyes and already begun to run down Arous’ face.

Edlawit grabbed Arous by the other hand. She reached up and grabbed Priscilla, not tugging, just waiting.  Priscilla looked down.

“I know that I told you-” she began as she looked down on the pair.

“But she’s named it already,” said Edlawit.

“Let her have it. She’s named it already,” it was the Diofe’s voice coming out of the little girl. As bad as what Arous did was, Priscilla had to work hard not to laugh. It’s like when a kid at the table opens her mouth and shows her food.  It’s funny even if it’s gross.  Like she told me later, it was just so funny hearing that big voice coming out of that tiny little mouth.  It was so real, yet so ridiculous.

“Oh, Arous, no.  We Skin-Dance. Skin-Dancing is okay. Skin-Walking is not.  You cannot use your gifts to lie.  You cannot be the voice of the Diofe just to get what you want.”

Arous left with her new special Gingin.  Priscilla didn’t hesitate to go straight to the Diofe’s Willing Room with Arous in tow and tell him. He didn’t laugh.  But he sat her on his lap for the next hour in his Willing Room alone.

            We were never surprised by Arous’ Skin-Dancing shenanigans after that.  It was her favorite thing the Diofe had gifted her with. Until they day with the dogs, she had only used it for good.