Perspectives

Asleep - PART5

Kate's apartment was full of everything.

"Contraband?" asked Josh.

"I prefer to use the term 'Less Than Legal Pleasures' but yes." Kate smiled, Josh laughing.

Kate skipped to a small counter and put a really old kettle on. She hoisted herself up onto the counter hopped down with a small sieve and some ground leaves.

"You're making tea?" Josh was astonished. His fascination with 20th Century British history was coming in handy. He found Kate fascinating too.

"Yep." Kate replied, pouring the tea.

A peppermint aroma entered Josh's nostrils, "Oooh..."

"Try some if you like." Kate suggested.

"I'm fine." Josh shook.

"Let me give you a house tour," Kate stepped forward and grabbed Josh's wrist, leaning closely. "Are you afraid of bugs?" She asked, half smirk / half smile.

"No...?" Josh replied, disorientated by the intimacy.

She dragged him into the next room which was inhabited from floor to ceiling in a collage of animal tanks.

Josh peered around and saw a Yellow-bellied Tree snake, covering most of the bed. Thankfully, it was asleep.

Kate sat him down right next to the snake. "This is Sock," she said. "Would you like to hold her?"

"Oh... I've never held one before..." Josh cautioned.

"Don't worry. She won't bite!" reassured Kate, mildly ineffectively.

Sock awoke and Kate put out her arm. The snake uncurled and slithered around Kate's shoulders. Humming soothingly, she took Josh's hand, moving it so it rested on her shoulder.

Sock climbed him and wraped around him like a sash. She rested her head on Josh's lap, falling back asleep.

"Wow."

Kate shifted in front of him. "Snakes are deaf, they hear through feeling. Hum for her."

Josh hesitated then stared humming Avenged Sevenfold - Almost Easy. Kate put her tea aside and lay down, eyes closed.

What a morning.