SPACE ODDITIES

CoLORFuL

Darren explained he owned a bakery in town during lunch, and he and Kitty had met there.

Kitty laughed, "his head barely poked out of the counter."

"After, she tattooed me," Darren added.

"And we fell in love," Kitty concluded while gazing at him with loving eyes.

Ziggy listened; she liked them; they were simple people, she thought. Even though some might think they were unconventional, to her, they were the most ordinary people she met.

"Honey, if you feel like it, we can go and get you some new clothes if you want," Kitty said, thinking that such a moment would help them to get to know each other.

"I don't have any money."

Kitty glanced at Darren.

"You do, a little; daddy opened an account for you when you were born. Since he could not meet you, he put 1000 dollars on it every year on your birth date. Daddy died five years ago, so you have a little more than 12 000 dollars.

Ziggy was shocked; a man who she never saw, a grandfather deprived of his right to spoil his grandchild, left her heritage. She, who never had a gift apart from the cell phone, was now 12K richer.

"Of course, it's for college, but we can buy you a few things."

They were kind people, Ziggy thought; they could have kept the money for themselves. Unaware of what she possessed, the girl would never have reclaimed anything. Still, they choose to let her know.

"Yep, you should get rid of the black, be colorful," Darren said with a grin that made him look like the Cheshire cat.

"Colorful," Ziggy repeated. The word rang in her head like an alarm; it was the first dilemma of her new life. How was she to live colorfully?

Darren went back to work while Kitty unboxed the things he had bought for the baby's nursery.

"Aren't you scared?" Ziggy asked as she watched her aunt install the stuff in her old room.

"Of what, sweetie?"

"Having a baby,"

"Of course, I mean, I've never been a mom, and I've never known one. So yeah, I'm terrified."

"But you are still going through with it, and you seem happy," Ziggy added.

"I am happy; I'm having a baby with the man I love. I love my job. I've got a roof over my head; now I've got you and my pets. I mean, I have a family; that's what matters. I think that I've never been happier," Kitty said, smiling.

"Can I help you?" Ziggy said she did not want her aunt to think she was a freeloader. She wanted to show her gratitude.

"Sure you can," Kitty said, smiling.

The next day was less fun. Dr. Pryer was like a guru, Ziggy thought; the girl came out of her therapy session feeling like she had listened to Mr. Claymore recite her mantras during detention.

"Okay, honey, let's go shopping to cool your head off," Kitty said. Ziggy felt as though Kitty looked forward to the expedition more than her. The tattoo artist knew everyone from homeless Sam to Ms. Renata, where Ziggy bought half of her new wardrobe.

"Do you like these?" Kitty asked, showing her light blue slim pants.

"I've never worn blue before," Ziggy answered.

"I think they'll look good," Kitty said, putting the pants in front of Ziggy.

"How about this?" Kitty said, showing her dungarees, "I think they have personality."