Glinda took her time getting ready for bed. It was still relatively early, but she was tired, It had been a long and emotional day. She still had trouble believing that her beloved cousin possessed such a bias. She also fervently hoped that she had not been that hateful towards Elphie when they first met. She could laugh about their less than stellar beginnings when they were together, but privately she still cringed at the thought. Ready for bed, she walked across the hall to check on her love. Her precious Elphie was still sound asleep, curled, or rather folded up into that odd looking position she only seemed to get into when she was in a deep untroubled sleep. Glinda went over to her and carefully replaced the cover she had kicked off. She wanted so much to crawl into bed with her and fall asleep in those gangly green arms, but knowing how badly Elphie needed to sleep she simply kissed her lightly.
"Good night my love." Glinda whispered, then went reluctantly to her own bed
Lying in her own bed, Glinda felt sad. It was at times like this that she tended to become very upset and have bad dreams, because she thought of her friend Minka and everything she wasn't able to share with her.
She felt very alone, even though she knew she was surrounded with people who loved her.
Thinking about what Elphie had told her, she tried to talk to her friend. It was so hard to even say her name, and it hurt to picture her face. Closing her eyes, taking a deep breath and drawing on her connection to Elphaba she forced herself to start.
"Minka" She whispered starting to cry, "I wish you were here. There is so much I need to talk to you about. My friend Elphie says it's possible, that others do it all the time. I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I need to try."
Tears were still falling from her eyes, and she was sad and a little frightened, but surprisingly calm. That first step was painful, but she had taken it. Glinda talked out loud about the ball, about dancing, Jilla and about Elphie.
"You'd like her. She is the first friend I've really cared for since you left me. But we'll discuss that later."
She had stopped crying and was getting very tired.
"This is so hard for me Minka, but I'm going to keep trying."
She fell asleep thinking about her two best friends and how different they were, and how alike.
Glinda slept soundly until close to dawn. She startled awake from a bad dream, not really frightened, but very unsettled and disturbed. She tried to settle down and go back to sleep, but couldn't. Padding across the hall to Elphie's room she debated about waking her. She really, really needed to feel her right now, to make sure she was still here.
"Elphie" She whispered getting into bed beside her now stretched out love.
"Elphie" She shook her lightly, knowing full well she was a massive grump when she was awakened like this, or at all.
"What, Glinda?" She mumbled.
"Hold me please" She pleaded
Even in her sleepy state Elphie complied, turning and wrapping her arms around the blonde intruder. Feeling Glinda snuggle into position she woke slightly and curbed her grumpiness.
"Are you alright?" She asked
"I am now, go back to sleep my love, we will talk later on." She kissed Elphie's cheek and closed her eyes
"If you are sure, my sweet" She shifted slightly and got comfortable
But Glinda was already asleep again. Elphie drifted back off too, wondering what sort of bad dream her love had suffered through.
Three or four hours later Elphie tried to move but her arm was pinned, she felt a flash of panic and yanked her arm, waking the girl sleeping beside her
"Hi" Glinda said sleepily, smiling broadly
"I'm sorry I woke you."
"Turn about is fair play, I woke you up a little earlier." She smiled and kissed Elphie's forehead.
"Did you have a bad dream my sweet?" Elphie asked
"Sort of, we'll discuss it later. Did you sleep well? You needed it"
"Since I'm still in yesterday's clothes, I'm assuming I fell asleep before you got back home. Why didn't you wake me?"
"Oh I thought about it, but you looked so peaceful I couldn't bear to. So I removed the unnecessary items and tucked you in for the night" She giggled
"Thanks Mom" Elphie chuckled wiggling her bare toes.
"Let's go eat, I'm hungry. You must be famished, did you eat at all last night." She said climbing out of bed.
Elphie shook her head and climbed out of bed after her, pulling her into a massive hug.
"This to make up for last night." Elphie said holding her close.
They held each other for awhile, kissed then went to get cleaned up and dressed.
"Elphie, I need to take a walk today, maybe. Dress comfortably and wear your normal boots, or your riding ones. Please."
"Alright my sweet, I wish you would tell me what is wrong"
"Nothing's wrong, honestly. I'll come over when I'm dressed" She kissed Elphie quickly and left.
Elphie washed up and cleaned her hair, pulling it into a ponytail. She put on a favorite old loose fitting skirt and short sleeved blouse.
Worried about her love, she decided not to wait on her and walked over to her room.
"Lyndie?" She called walking in.
"Couldn't live without me?" Glinda chuckled, but she looked as though she had been crying. She was half dressed, drying her hair.
"Actually, I probably can't" Elphie smiled
"In case I didn't say it, or even if I did. I love you Lyndie" She took a dry towel, put it over Glinda's wet hair, and then pulled her into a hug.
"I need this," She said into Elphie's chest
"I know" Elphie said holding tight "I'll wait right over there while you finish up."
She settled in on the sofa and they chatted about Glinda's night out with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins while Glinda tamed her hair. She came out hair in a rather sophisticated ponytail, still in need of a top.
"Elphie, I love that blouse, but you may want to put on long sleeves, we might walk through the woods." She said slipping into long sleeves her.
"Ok, but will my choice of footwear and skirt be acceptable" She chuckled
"Perfectly, now go change, while I put on my boots and don't forget your umbrella."
Elphie changed shirts and picked up her umbrella, and slipped the small bottle of aloe oil into her pocket, just in case. She had a feeling this was going to be an interesting walk.
After scolding Elphie for not eating last night, Cook made them Elphie's favorite, huge vegetable omelets.
Glinda's parent's had to go into town, but would be back for lunch, so they were on there own for breakfast. They ate heartily and Elphie drank two big glasses of cold milk. Glinda chuckled at her milk mustache.
"Cook that was wonderful" Elphie said finishing the last bite "And I'm sorry I missed dinner."
"Well, sleep is important for a growing girl too, but no more missed meals. Or I'll get my spoon after you!"
"Yes Ma'am" Elphie said chuckling. She liked Cook.
"Cook, Elphie and I are going for a walk on the trail, more than likely to the other side of the creek."
Cook looked surprised "Alright Miss Galinda, I'll inform Gardener."
"Thanks Cookie, breakfast was yummy." She kissed the weathered cheek, grabbed Elphie's hand and headed out the back door.
"Creek?" Elphie said amused
"It's little and there's a bridge, of sorts, don't worry. I'm overprotective, remember"
"Good point" Elphie said still holding Glinda's hand.
They walked down to the horse meadow without talking, As they walked through the meadow to the path, Glinda tightened her grip on Elphie's hand.
"Ok Elphie I guess I should tell you what's going on."
"Yes please" Elphie said concerned
"Last night I tried to talk to Minka, like you told me to," Glinda said shakily.
"Oh Lyndie, why didn't you wake me." She held her close
"I wanted to try alone, and I did fairly well, I think, but when I woke up from the dream I realized I needed to go back there"
"Where Lyndie?" Elphie asked gently
"To where Minka died" Tears started to flow, but she bit them back. The back path gets us there. I'm going to try and tell you the story while we walk there, but if I can't do anything once I get there, at least you'll know what happened. Nobody knows what happened, not completely anyway."
She buried her head into Elphie's chest, but didn't cry. Elphie held her tightly and whispered in her ear
"I am very proud of you my sweet, This must be very hard for you."
"It is, but this is the first time it has even crossed my mind to go back there. And I wouldn't be now, if not for you."
"Take what you need Lyndie" Elphie whispered softly
She kissed the slightly trembling girl tenderly then stroked her cheek. "Whenever your ready my sweet"
Glinda took a green hand in hers and they headed off into the woods.
"Minka's house was down the road and around the bend that way" She pointed
"We used to ride our horses back and forth all of the time. One day while we were exploring we found this path. It leads to the outer part of her property, somehow. Directions aren't my thing" She tried to smile and Elphie squeezed her hand.
"We had found, a year or so earlier this old rundown shack that we got permission to use as a playhouse of sorts, a hideaway. We were elated to find out that this path led close to it. We fixed it up with makeshift curtains and old chairs and tables. We cleaned it up and were trying to talk our fathers into letting us paint it. The only time they ever went down there was to inspect it and I think make big repairs, and I suspect evict any new occupants that might have set up housekeeping." She laughed, but looked sad.
She was quiet for awhile, and Elphie didn't press.
"There's the creek Elphie, good not to high. Wait here I'll test the bridge"
Bridge was a bit of an overstatement. It was more like two logs with a few planks of wood across them.
"Glinda, you'll hurt yourself" Elphie said firmly
"Nonsense" She stepped on the planks, bouncing a little as she went. She bowed when she hit the other side.
"See safe and sound" She said walking back over "Come on my love"
She took Elphie's hand and walked her across the bridge. Mid-way Elphie stopped and looked down, the water was maybe a two or three finger from the planks. She watched it flow by under her feet.
"Did you ever play in this creek?" She asked
"We would wade in here, yes. It was cool on hot days."
"Shell used to like to do that" She remembered "Well onward!" She pointed forward and left the bridge quickly.
"Are you Ok, my love?"
"We are dealing with your issues now, not mine remember" She smiled and hugged her friend "You are doing so well, my sweet." She said taking her hand
They continued walking
"We went to that hideaway three or four times a week for years and years, changing the décor every so often to reflect our styles" She chuckled "And since our styles were not always similar, sometimes the décor was rather…eclectic. Over time it became a little more run down, and we learned how to fix things ourselves.
Bet you didn't know, but I'm a whiz with a hammer." She tried to chuckle
"Good to know" Elphie chuckled
"One spring, I went with my parents on a trip for a week or so. Minka didn't come down here when I was gone, and I didn't when she was."
Glinda stopped walking and looked at Elphie.
"While I was gone, it stormed, lots of wind and rain. We met at the hideaway on my first day back to assess the damage. To us it didn't look so bad."
Tears were forming in her eyes and Elphie wiped them away, but kept silent, her heart breaking.
"We went in and cleaned up all the wet and dirty stuff, and moved some wood and other things that had fallen from somewhere. We left to go up to her house and get some more supplies and tell her father things were looking a little shaky, but forgot the buckets."
Her voice was cracking and she was speaking in barely a whisper, but she wasn't hysterical.
"I sent Minka back to get them, While she was in there the shack shifted and the roof collapsed"
Tears were streaming down Glinda's face. Elphie stifled a gasp and resisted the urge to hold her friend close.
"I ran back, but I couldn't see her at first, A beam or something hit her and knocked her down and she was trapped under it, She wasn't talking or moving. I was frantic and hysterical. I couldn't wake her up and I tried and tried."
She stopped talking, dried her tears and took a deep breath, looking into Elphie's dark loving eyes for support.
"I ran to her house and told the first person I saw, her groom. He yelled and five or six men ran down there, I wanted to go back to be with her, but someone made me go to the house. Finally they brought her there, but wouldn't let me see her. The doctor came, everyone was crying, but no one would tell me anything. I was angry with all of them. When my parents finally came, they told me she had died. That she died as soon as it happened, they thought"
She put herself in Elphie's arms and clung to her, not crying, just needing to feel her.
"I couldn't see her, they wanted me to, to say goodbye but I couldn't because I felt so guilty. I didn't even go to her funeral."
Glinda looked up at Lyndie. "The shack is just over there, I thought I could see it but I don't think I can"
"You've come this far Lyndie, don't sell your self short now." Elphie said quietly
""Your right, come on" She took a deep breath
Elphie took her shoulder. "I will go with you my sweet if you ask, but I think it is best if you go alone. I'll stay in sight and you can call me if you need me, but you need to do this on your own"
"At least stay with me until we can see it. Please"
Elphie put her arm around Glinda and they walked a very short distance then the collapsed shack came into view, it was in shambles and overgrown with weeds. Glinda inhaled sharply and let out a strangled gasp, Elphie held on to her, as she recovered from the sight.
"Lyndie, you can do this, I know it. You have been very brave and strong. I'm so proud of you."
She kissed her and let her go.
"You left me angry and terrified on the floor of our room, and that was the best thing you could have done for me"
"And the hardest" She smiled wanly
"I know that now, because this is for me. Go Lyndie; I'll be right here, I won't move. Go see what you need to, and say what you need to say. Go on my sweet." She gave Glinda a very light push.
Glinda walked slowly towards the collapsed shack, Elphie saw her tremble as she walked around the perimeter, tears streaming down her face. When she came to the door, she reached out and touched it, then fell to the ground sobbing. Elphie held her ground with great difficulty. Glinda cried and tried to talk.
"I'm so sorry I sent you back, I'm sorry I didn't stay with you, that you were all alone. I'm sorry. I tried to come back but they wouldn't let me. I'm sorry I left you alone." She choked out the words, anguish in her voice.
"I didn't know what to do, I couldn't help you, I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry. I'm sorry" Her tears were subsiding and she shifted onto her knees.
"Please Minka, please forgive me. I know I didn't cause this to happen, I've been told that often enough, but I didn't help, I was useless. You needed me and I left you, and you left me. You left me all alone, because I couldn't help you."
She knelt there talking quietly for a long time, Elphie could only catch snatches, but it seemed as though her distraught friend was trying to work through what if scenarios and If had onlys. Finally she seemed to convince herself that going for help was the correct course of action.
"Elphie" She said quietly, and within moments the green girl was kneeling on the ground beside her.
"I think I did the right thing to help her. I ran for help, I didn't abandon her, right?"
"Right, my sweet, very very right" Elphie looked deeply into her eyes.
Glinda got up, but motioned for Elphie to stay there. She went to a patch of wildflowers and picked a bunch then came back and put them by the door.
"This is the closest thing I have to a grave to visit, She was buried in her family plot in Tenniken. My parents took me there hoping I would attend the funeral, but I didn't. I felt too guilty."
She lowered herself back down to the ground, leaned against Elphie and cried quietly, drawing on the support of one best friend to grieve for another.
After a long while Glinda stopped crying. She felt raw and exhausted, but better, like a weight had been lifted. She held Elphie's hand and they walked slowly back to the house. Glinda talked a little about Minka and some of the things they did along the trail, but mainly she was quiet. After they crossed the bridge and were heading back to the house, Glinda stopped by a small clearing.
"Here is an amusing point of interest. "It was the first stop on the Jilla and Pajul's sex on the grounds of Upland Manor tour."
"Glinda!" Elphie said shocked "Out here in the open"
"She said it was some of the best they ever had." Glinda giggled "Even when it started to rain"
"I wouldn't have to worry about the rain, just the thought of… Never mind" She shook her head and laughed
"When your older my love, I'll show the other places, in and out of the house. I didn't get a chance to ask her about this trip's indoor adventure, but I think it was in the laundry room or maybe the butler's pantry.
"I don't remember reading anything about a butler's pantry in my human anatomy or biology texts" Elphie chuckled.
"I guess I shouldn't bring up the library" Glinda was still chuckling
"I would appreciate that. Shouldn't we be getting back? I fear we have missed lunch completely and your parents are probably worried.
"When I told Cook I was crossing the creek, she knew exactly where I was going. It's Ok, plus they know I'm with you." She smiled warmly at her still flustered friend
"Well that may save you, but I missed another meal, It's the spoon for me."
They both laughed and headed back up towards the house.
As they entered the meadow, Elphie steered Glinda away from the house and towards the stables.
"Elphie, where are we going?" Glinda asked bewildered
"I think you should run my sweet, with your horse." Elphie explained
"Elphie…"
"You put yourself through a lot of emotional turmoil today, You enjoy it and it helps you, so go run."
"I guess it would help me settle down a little before I talk to my parents"
"Good, I'll watch in awe and wonder just like I did the last time."
They went into the stable and Glinda asked Tymik for Starlight's blanket and a boost onto her horse. He complied, but did not look happy.
"And I'll not need a stalker, Miss Elphaba will keep a close eye on me." Glinda said firmly
"As you wish Miss Galinda" Tymik replied but all three of them knew he would be hovering somewhere out of sight.
Elphie walked beside her friend on her horse until they reached the meadow, where she went to sit on the old stump. Glinda undid her ponytail, letting her hair fall free, then signaled the horse and off they went.
The sight was just as magnificent and no less spectacular than it was the first time Elphie saw her do it. The horse raced through the meadow, then out onto the grassy strip. Hair flying behind her Glinda sped by the stables, and turning the horse expertly she dashed by in the other direction
"I love you Elphie" the green girl heard as she passed
She was running the horse hard as she came back into the meadow and zoomed past Elphie on the stump. They circled the meadow a few more times, Glinda slowing the horse's gait with each pass ending in a walk.
At last she came up to the stump and slid off the horses back into Elphie's arms. She was breathing heavily and slightly sweaty.
"Glinda that was unbelievable, It still amazes me that you can do something like that."
"That's the hardest I have ever ridden, I just seemed to need to see how fast I could go."
They walked the horse back to the stable and gave the usual post run instructions, then headed back to the house.
"Thanks Elphie, you were right, that made a big difference" She slipped her hand into Elphie's wanting to do more, but didn't knowing that her love was pushing her comfort level just by doing this simple thing.
Glinda's parents were in the parlor and as soon as they saw their daughter they knew immediately that she had run with her horse again.
"I'm sorry we are so late, I lost track of time." Glinda said, knowing that she wasn't in any trouble at all.
"Cook told us you were out walking with Elphaba" Gwenot said
"And apparently running with Starlight as well" her father tried to scowl, but knowing where his daughter had more than likely been, but was not very convincing.
"Galinda darling, did you really go to the playhouse?" Her mother asked in astonishment.
"I did Momsie, and I want to talk to you both about it if you have time."
"Of course we have time dear, always for you" Samion said
Gwenot asked cook to bring a tray in for the girls.
"I'll be upstairs Glinda" Elphie said
"No, Elphie, please stay." She looked into her loves dark eyes. "Please" She pleaded softly
Elphie smiled and sat on the sofa beside her.
Cook brought a tray with salads and sandwiches and drinks and Glinda told them the whole story as she nibbled on lunch. She explained why she went there and what she did. Several times during this odyssey, one or both of her parents hugged and kissed her. They asked questions and Glinda answered. She cried a little, as did her parents, Elphie even found herself wiping away tears at times.
"Galinda, my darling, we are so very proud of you. What you did took great courage and strength."
"I borrowed some from Elphie," She said looking with great affection at her love.
Elphie flushed slightly at the attention and the outward display of such affection.
"I was just returning a small amount of what I have taken from her," Elphie said trying to deflect the praise.
"Everyone needs support in times of pain and struggle. You two are very lucky to have each other to rely on." Samion said
"Galinda, did you get your sense of closure, release your guilt?" Her mother asked in a professional sounding tone.
"I think so." Glinda said "I don't feel responsible anymore, or guilty or even angry. Well maybe a little angry, and sad, but I said goodbye. I finally said goodbye."
She cried a little more, and they talked some more about how she was feeling. Then the conversation took an unexpected turn, for Elphie anyway.
"Elphaba dear, how are you feeling about all of this, I know it had to be hard on you."
Elphie was truly shocked that Gwenot was considering her feelings at a time like this, when the focus needed to be on Glinda.
"I'm fine" she said uncomfortably "It was Glinda that had the hard time."
"Do not minimize the effects of this on you Elphaba, or on you Galinda when she is hurting, Although I think you are more readily able to admit how you feel to one another, and I'm assuming have."
Elphie smiled shyly still amazed by this woman's insight and knowledge. Glinda simply nodded.
"Galinda, all of this is very exposed for you right now, so if you need to talk about it some more, do so
Or if you feel the need for a little extra coddling, request it. Along those lines, your father and I need to be in town tomorrow afternoon, so how about some shopping. You have not bought one new outfit since you've been here Galinda. The boutique owners think that you are ill." She laughed
"Oh- yeah!" Glinda squealed "Shopping. What a great idea. Elphie?"
"You're giving me an option?" She laughed
"No not really, I'm just being polite" Glinda giggled
Gwenot was very amused by this exchange; it was obvious that they had had similar conversations before. And it was equally as obvious that Elphaba would never dream of not going with her.
"I'm pleased. We will go in town and have lunch together, then while your father and I are in our meeting, Galinda you can look for a new outfit or two and Elphaba you can follow along, and tell her she looks lovely at the appropriate moments and hold her things while she tries on clothes."
"Mother!" Glinda said in an exasperated tone
Elphie chuckled "As long as she doesn't try and outfit me I'll do whatever she likes"
"Aw come on Elphie, one new skirt, or a blouse… please please" She was being deliberately annoying
"We've had this discussion," She said smiling
Although Gwenot and Samion were enjoying this immensely, they did have some work to do before dinner.
"Galinda darling, if you no longer need us, your father and I need to go."
"Oh sure Momsie, I'm fine" She hugged her parents
"But come to us if you need to, nothing is more important to us than you are my precious little girl." Her father said.
"I will, I promise" Glinda said wiping away tears.
"Good. Now you two continue your discussion. Hold your ground Elphaba" Gwenot laughed
"Absolutely my dear" Samion said, "No one should be bullied into new clothes"
Glinda's parents left arm in arm laughing happily.
"Great, Now my parents are siding with you, against their own daughter" She pretend pouted "I'm so happy"
"They know I'm fighting a losing battle" Elphie laughed.
Glinda flung her arms around Elphie's neck and kissed her. "I love you so much, and I'm so happy right now."
"I am happy as well, but would be even happier if we could move this little display up to one of our rooms."
She flushed
Glinda smiled and they walked upstairs.
"I need to clean up and change, will you stay with me Elphie?" Glinda said as they walked into her room.
"Certainly my sweet."
She ran her own bath, using some of the purple bottle in her water. Riding like she had was exhilarating, soothing to raw nerves and a good way to vent, but a little hard on her leg muscles. She lowered herself into her steaming bath, sighing as the hot water covered her body. Elphie was sitting in her usual position by the tub.
"Elphie, you know you have another oil bath coming to you" She sighed
"I know, I won't forget, although I feel rather…. I don't know, presumptuous asking someone to get it ready for me, can't I just do it myself?"
"Elphie, the staff would hunt me down if I allowed that. They were thrilled to be part of a surprise like this it was so unique. They all adore you and would do whatever you asked of them."
"Says the girl who has them all wrapped around her little finger."
"I'll request it for you, if you wish" Glinda said soothingly
"It is very strange for me knowing that a large group of people are aware of my personal hygiene habits"
"Oh, You've fit in so well around here, the oils and things are just par for the course now. It wouldn't surprise me if next time we show up, you bathroom is stocked with the appropriate oils and a warm bath is awaiting you. Scrub my back please"
Elphie did, pondering what Glinda had said.
"Are all guests treated this way?" Elphie asked
"Elphaba, you are not considered a guest here, not anymore anyway. This is your home now Elphie. Where else do you consider home?"
"No where I guess, except our room at Shiz."
Everyone needs a place to call home Elphie, A place where they are loved, accepted, nurtured and are allowed to be whoever they are. I realize not every has that, but you do. If for some reason you showed up here unannounced without me. You would be welcomed with open arms, just as if you were born here."
"Wouldn't that make us sisters?" Elphie chuckled wanting to end this emotionally charged conversation
"Oh- your right, that won't do. Ok skip the born here part, but you get the idea. You do right?"
"I do" Elphie said quietly
"Good. Towel please" Glinda said gracefully rising from the tub.
Occasionally, Elphie allowed herself to admire Glinda's body. She didn't feel she should be allowed to, that this was not an acceptable thing to do. Sometime she knew she would have to discuss this with her, even though she had no idea in Oz how too.
Glinda dried off and slipped into fresh clothes.
"Elphie, do you have enough hair dust for me to try some?"
"I'm sure I do, would you like to now?" She was amused at this notion
"I was thinking tomorrow, before we go shopping for a new outfit for you"
"I'm not going to be drawn into this conversation," She said smiling and sitting on the sofa
Glinda joined her "but you said if I saw something for you, you'd get it as long as you bought it yourself."
Elphie sighed. "We'll see"
"Goody" Glinda snuggled in Elphie's arms, knowing we'll see meant I give up.
They spent a good part the rest of the afternoon chatting casually, laughing and teasing. It was a nice relaxing time.
"Elphie, I'm sorry I was teasing you earlier with Jilla's escapades."
"It's alright my sweet, I'm getting used to such frank discussions, somewhat, maybe" She chuckled, then sighed
"Did you really learn about sex from textbooks?" Glinda asked
"My sweet, all the things I'm sure your mother has already explained to you, like, what happens during your time of the month, how babies are conceived and born, and what makes teenage boys so unreliable, I read about in books. We received more or less the same information, only yours was couched with talk of love and emotions and the right someone, and mine had very nice diagrams and drawings and text passages about physical processes." Elphie chuckled
"So you're saying we need an intellectual exchange of information. A you show me yours and I'll show you mine" She laughed
"Well… what?" Elphie looked confused
"A boy said that to me once, it prompted the unreliable teenage boys part of my sexual education"
"Glinda! You didn't…"
"Elphie, goodness no, although I admit to being curious. I did see my father once, by accident, when I was young. Mom then explained the difference between boys and girls. So I guess all this kind of talk has been woven into my life since I was small."
"I learned the difference the difference between boys and girls when my baby brother was born, I assumed he had some sort of birth abnormality. A I mean after Nessa and me it seemed a logical conclusion. A book explained it in more detail." She chuckled
"I walked in on my parents once while they were making love," Glinda said smiling at the memory.
"Oh my!" Elphie nearly choked "What did they do?"
"They put on robes and told me about sex, love and the right someone" She smiled "I thought they were kidding"
"I have been thinking about enrolling in a psychology course, so I read through some psychology books in the Shiz library, One of them had a chapter on human sexuality and I learned quite a bit about primal urges and mating rituals even a little about where desire stems from. And there were some interesting how to drawings. Come to think of it, one of them might explain the butlers pantry."
Glinda's eyes shot up in surprise. "Elphie, you made a joke about something sexual. And do you realize we have been talking about it for quite awhile, and you haven't changed shades once" She smiled warmly at her love.
"We've been speaking in general terms and textbooks. Trust me before this is over I'm sure a few new shades of green will emerge."
" Our previous conversations, our spectacular waltz and our little adventure on the terrace have pointed us in the right direction I think. But let's take baby steps my love, baby steps. We had to start somewhere. This was safe for both of us, and now we understand a lot more about each other." She put herself back into Elphie's arms
"Lyndie, did you and Minka ever talk about this stuff" She said taking a big chance.
She cuddled close "Are you kidding, all the time. Once we figured out boys weren't the enemy, we spent massive amounts of time and energy trying to figure out how to get them to notice us while at the same time trying to keep them away from us. We even had crushes on some of the same boys. Jilla taught us quite a bit too."
"She does seem to want you to …experience life, so to speak" Elphie chuckled
"If you mean she thinks it's high time I had sex, you're correct. But I am far more conservative in that regard than she is. Just because I'm comfortable talking and joking about it, even dreaming about it, doesn't mean I'm going to run out and do it. If that were the case, I have ample opportunities at Shiz, according to you at least" She laughed
"I took my mothers wait for the right someone talk very much to heart. Now that I've found her, everything else will happen in it's own good time. I'm in no hurry and I'm happy"
She had been playing with Elphie's fingers and as she raised them to her lips she saw the hand they were attached to was a deep, deep shade of green
"Maybe we should go see if dinner is ready," Glinda said smiling
"That's a very good idea," Elphie said trying to recover.