The Gemini: Emancipation

28 - Manipulation & The One

January 10, 1999

Swaying feet grow restless with staying still. Antsy toes fall victim to a fidgety wiggle. A tickle that didn't exist five minutes ago suddenly tingles under the touch of Prince's working hands. His mouth draws taut as Brie's let out a jumpy laugh. It's ingenuine. That dramatically helpless sort. Her newly acquired talent.

Keeping his right hand steady, his left clasps onto her ankle. Flicking eyes up at the little faker, "Hey wobbles, hold still will ya? We're almost done."

"How many more toes?"

"Count 'em."

Staring down at her partially painted piggies, "One, two, three," Brie tallies.

Wand dipped into the bottle, Prince glides the excess polish off the brush before neatly applying baby blue to the next toenail.

"That's right. And after that you have to be careful so you don't mess them up."

"'Kay. Can boys get nails done?"

Swiping a touch of blue from her cuticle, his brows hike. "Well...maybe."

"Why yours not?"

A chuckle. "Because it's much prettier on girls." Finishing off the last toe, he points. "See how beautiful they are? You like it?"

"Yep. They look like the sky."

"They sure do." Sealed bottle set on the table. Prince's hand held out motioning a gimme grab. "Alright, that'll be five dollars."

Though his voice change makes her giggle, Brie's quick to remind, "Nuh-uh. I'm a princess!"

"Oh yes-huh! Princess doesn't mean free. Hand over the money, honey."

"I can't cuz I mess 'em up." She explains, showing her fingernails. The ones that dried twenty minutes ago.

"Well you gonna have to give me somethin'."

"Do you wanna...." Dragging out the final vowel, her eyes scan around the room. Spotting a plastic dessert by her kitchen set she perks. "A piece a cake?"

"Nope."

"How 'bout...my sparkle hair doll?"

"Nope. You ain't got anything better than that?"

"Hmm... A kiss?" Leaning forward she plants one on his forehead. "That's enough?"

Tapping his jaw, "Lemme get one more right here."

Brie pays up generously, smacking more smooches all over the side of his shimmery face. She finishes with a loud raspberry on his cheek.

Wiping away the wet, "Thank you for the shower," Prince frowned. "You so nice."

Pausing before hopping off the bed, "Can I walk?" she asks.

"Yeah just don't get the floor on your toes."

Taking on a wide leg stance, she starts a Wild West gait. "Like this?"

He had to laugh. The genuine kind.

"Perfect."

Brie cowgirl steps around the room going toward nothing in particular. Just moving for the sake of moving. Sitting here watching, Prince wonders how he can keep her entertained next.

"When mommy coming home?"

"You miss her already?"

"Yeah but I'm not sad. I jus' wanna know."

He doesn't even know. His guess is as good as Brie's. The new pest in town swooped in an hour past noon to take Jody away. When Prince asked their planned destination, Nikki smiled saying, "It's mother's day."