The Mantis Equilibrium - Book Two - 20. Chapter 20 - Auntie Peg & Ninyani

After the fundraiser, it was late, and Auntie Peg brought Ninyani back to her home that was above her shop in the Spritehood. The mystic and Tchama both left earlier in the evening, but Ninyani wanted to stay to the very end of the event. Auntie Peg was happy to stick around with him, and she told the mystic that Ninyani could stay with her for the night.

The next morning, she asked him, “How would you feel about hanging out with me today? I suspect the boys will be helping with the injured in Gate Town. It’s very kind that the mystic and Theolan have given you a place to stay.”

“And Laghari,” Ninyani added with a smile.

“Yes, indeed,” Auntie Peg concurred, “but you are more than welcome to stay with boring old me as long as you’d like.”

“You’re not boring!”

Auntie Peg smirked. “Well done, you must remember to always give a compliment to someone who goes fishing,” and she laughed. “Why don’t we keep the shop locked up for the day and start out by making ourselves some breakfast?”

Ninyani perked up at the mention of food and asked, “Can I help you cook?”

“If that is something that you would like,” Auntie Peg replied, “I would love for you to assist me in the kitchen!”

They left the CLOSED sign on the front door of her shop, but the two spent the morning there, away from the destruction in Gate Town. Several times, Auntie Peg noticed people through the window, and she popped her head out the door to ask for details and updates about what was happening in the rest of the city. With the information she gathered, she decided that they would remain at her house until things calmed down everywhere else.

Morning became afternoon, and soon the night of the early winter was smothering the evening in its darkness. Auntie Peg lit several lamps and set Ninyani up at her kitchen table.

“How would you like to make some jewelry?” she asked.

Ninyani’s face lit up with delight.

“I thought you might enjoy that,” Auntie Peg added. “Why don’t you take a look at some of what I’ve made?” She placed a fancy box onto the table and lifted its lid. Two necklaces, three rings, and a pair of earrings were inside of it. Each was rustic and possessed a handmade quality. “Go ahead,” she urged.

Ninyani picked up each and examined them with sparkling eyes.

“Do you want to try one on?” Auntie Peg helped him clasp a dainty chain behind his neck.

“You made these?” he asked.

“I did, indeed!” she declared. “And I bet you’re able to make some lovely jewelry. I’ve got a whole case of interesting charms and pretty rocks and gemstones. We can use wire to make the settings or I have some clasps that will work.”

She collected her tools and a spool of wire, and she also placed a large container that was made up of much smaller compartments in front of Ninyani and told him, “Peek inside each of those little boxes.”

He found sparkling stones in a rainbow of colors. There were little charms of animals, suns and moons and stars, flowers, even skulls. He took his time and looked in every single one of the compartments.

Auntie Peg sat across from him, working on a pendant that she started at an earlier time. Watching the boy made her smile; he could not decide where to start.

“So many of them are so pretty!” Ninyani declared. “I can’t choose one!”

Auntie Peg chuckled and recommended, “So, then, pick a bunch of them. Make your jewelry as fabulous as you want it to be!”

He looked astonished. “I can use more than one?”

“That’s up to you,” Auntie Peg replied. “You might decide one stone or one little pendant is exactly what you want, but you might go for a whole array of stones and dangling things.” She leaned over the table towards Ninyani, put up her hand in a conspiratorial way, and whispered, “I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m a little over the top!” She laughed and made a funny face at him. She pointed at the necklace she made that was now draped around Ninyani’s neck. “That one’s got five stones on it. Be as creative as you want to be,” she told him.

Then there was a knock at the door✪