11. Morning (Patreon)

“Good morning, world!” Aloe yawned, stretching her arms far up as she woke up. She looked next to her; her grandfather’s journal was opened at the side of the bed. “Damn, I was knocked cold.”

Aloe stepped out of her bed, the tiled floor feeling cold to the touch. She wasn’t against it, though. The lingering coldness of the night sent shivers down her spine, but she appreciated the refresher. Even if it was early in the morning and she was only covered by very thin blankets and her nightgown, she was beginning to feel hot.

She took out her nightgown, leaving her completely naked, and hung it in the closet. It was modestly filled with clothing; Aloe didn’t enjoy dressing herself much. Most of the clothes in the closet were actually from her mother, and not especially old considering their similar build.

The first thing was a fresh pair of underwear, though she left the socks untouched. She didn’t intend to go out of the city for a while, so she took out her favorite set of footwear, a pair of light brown sandals that reached up high on her legs with thin leather strips. As for her clothing, she just took out a simple refreshing white tunic. Modest, simple, yet fashionable. And most importantly, they were the freshest clothing she had.

Today was aiming to be a hot day with the first impressions she had gotten out of bed.

Once fully dressed, Aloe stepped out of her room and went to the bathroom to ready herself. A quick brushing of her hair, some skincare routine she hadn’t bothered to do in an outing to the greenhouse, and a swift pass through the toilet were all she needed to do to start the day.

“I see someone has woken up.” Her mother commented after Aloe entered the kitchen.

Shahrazad was reading several parchments with a focused face, that resulted in mixed feelings for Aloe.

“Doing some work?” Aloe made her way to the kitchen counter and picked up a ripe banana from the fruit bowl. She lay her back on the counter and began peeling the yellow and brown fruit.

“I fear so, yes.” Shahrazad sighed, the youthfulness of yesterday completely disappeared from her visage. The exhaustion and wrinkles made her appear more like someone of her age. “The emir won’t appreciate if I lack behind in schedule.”

“You are still on your leave,” Aloe said as she shoved the banana in her face.

“Sadly, it ends tomorrow.”

She almost choked on the banana. “Tomorrow? That’s too soon!”

“I can’t do anything else, daughter.” Her mother sighed once more. “My position is a highly needed and coveted one. If I lack behind, they won’t doubt to make me out. And talking about positions, what are you going to do with yours at the bank now that the greenhouse is on the plate?”

“Which position?” Aloe scoffed. “Farid refuses to give me one. Unless I show some confidence, the man will take my position for granted. If I leave him alone for a while, without a basically unpaid apprentice under his name, he will realize my usefulness.”

“It seems a bit... risky.” Shahrazad showed hesitation.

“Aren’t you the one who wants me to take care of the greenhouse?” The apprentice squinted her eyes.

“Yes, of course. But a job as a banker is a great one...”

“You should decide yourself. I clearly did.” Aloe finished the banana and left the peel in the bin. Hmm, I could grow some bananas in the oasis. They would certainly be nutritious and sell better than dates or coconuts. “But do not fret, I’m sure with my direction. If my bet fails and Farid wants nothing to do... I’m still a very qualified individual with a good track record and significant parents. Being on the blacklist of a bank is a problem, but others will want me.”

“If you say so... I’m not an expert in such fields. I can only but trust your words.” Her mother peered through the window at the rising sun. “Shouldn’t you go with Jafar now?”

“On my way.” Aloe pushed herself away from the counter and locked her mother in a hug. “See you later.”

“Have a good transaction!” Shahrazad said her goodbyes jokingly, knowing that the thoughts of money always populated her daughter’s mind.

Aloe groaned and took to the streets of Sadina, not before picking up the backpack from her room.

“How in the tarnished sands did Jafar manage to carry this bag with one hand,” Aloe grunted as she stabilized the backpack in her back and touched her rather thin arms with her fingertips, prompting a sigh.

The trip to Jafar’s house was short as he lived in the same district as Aloe. In the fifteen minutes that took her to arrive, she delighted herself with Sadina’s vistas. The city was mostly light brown, the color of dirt, sand, and clay reached as far as the eye could see. The main bazaar was far more colorful, the little artificial channel flowing through the middle gave the place more color, but especially more live.

The channels fed by the underwater Eyana River crossing under the city were the only green spots in the city. Mostly grass and palm tree grew around the water, but nonetheless, the green splotches of color were greatly appreciated.

It was nowhere comparable to the bountiful life of Karaim’s oasis, the botanical gardens of the university, or even the noble private gardens, but the contrast made the little vegetation seem bountiful.

Besides the greenery, the main bazaar presented a myriad of colored canopies from the endless shops sprung along the venue.

“Hmm, I could cultivate dyes. They certainly sell for a lot.” Aloe’s eyes jumped from one canopy to another. Red, yellow, green, blue... “But how do they work? I’ve heard you need high quantities of anything to make a single pot of dye...”

Before she could arrive at a conclusion, her thoughts came to an end as she reached her destination. Aloe knocked on the door. Not even ten seconds later, someone opened it. The person in question was a middle-aged woman with dark skin and bountiful bosoms.

“Aunty Mirah!” Aloe saluted the housewife with the most jovial expression she could craft.

“Oh, Aloe!” Mirah jumped toward Aloe, locking her in an embrace.

That was what Aloe feared. She suddenly found herself being asphyxiated as her face was drowned unto the tall woman’s overwhelming breasts. The sheer difference in height always ended up in such an uncomfortable posture. And like her husband, Mirah was quite strong. Or at least, far stronger than Aloe.

Aloe tapped twice on the housewife’s hips as she, unfortunately, didn’t reach further.

“Oh, sorry, sorry.” Mirah apologized as she released Aloe from her lethal hug. “It has been a while since I last saw you and I got a little too excited.” She put her hands on the shorter woman’s shoulders. “Tell me, have you grown taller?”

“Very funny, Aunty.” Aloe’s voice lacked amusement of any kind.

“Sorry, sorry.” The housewife apologized once more, though this time wasn’t as much heartfelt. “That joke will never grow old. Or tall.” Aloe’s willpower was worthy of legends as she contained herself from kicking the married woman on the sheens. “Anyways, please come inside. Jafar is still reading up, he told me about your apothecary business.

Aloe entered Mirah and Jafar’s house, instantly feeling better as the sun no longer shone on her. The couple weren’t exactly rich, their house was smaller than that of Aloe’s yet theirs felt infinitely more alive. There were plants and little trinkets around, not only giving color but also the feeling that someone was actually living in the house, unlike Aloe’s, where she and her mother were incredibly austere. They were never bothered by guests, so they hadn’t changed their home for... years.

“Come, Aya will be pleased to see you.”

“Is she still home?” Aloe asked.

“What do you mean still home?” Mirah looked at the short girl in confusion.

“You know, shouldn’t she be at school?”

Mirah laughed. “Oh, Aloe. We are on the weekend still!”

“Oh.” The sound escaped her mouth.

“Where have you been living to lose track of the days?” Mirah turned her back and said jokingly as her cleavage bounce up and down.

A not-all-hidden hint of repulsion and jealousy sprouted from Aloe’s visage. This woman... And then regretted not having kicked her before.

“In the desert.” And Aloe responded ever-so-seriously.

“Oh wow, you should tell me that story.”

“Tonight when I come with my mother to dine, if that,” Aloe responded. “For now, I’ll do with greeting Aya and get going with Jafar to the apothecary.”

“Of course, little plant.”

Aloe groaned as she heard Jafar’s nickname come out of Mirah’s mouth. The housewife cracked a laugh in consequence.