a touch of destiny...

[bones_she_cast]

On de corner of de street dere a box an' she stand on the box in she finery and she speak. She sing. She prophesies"Mend your ways, Children of Siam," she say, with her arm lifted over her head and her smiling mouth. "It is not too late to mend your ways. Heed de word of de great Wo-man in de sky an' she will bring you peace an' solace

Comments

[maintain_right]

"Excuse me!" Fraser called politely. He nudged his way through the crowd with care until he reached the woman on the box. "Do you know the way to Madame Bailamos' School of Dance?"

[bones_she_cast]

"No," she say, and strike a pose, like the pictures in books, one hand on her hip, one hand on her breast. "But I know fare more useful 'tings, 'andsome boy."

[maintain_right]

"I'm certain that's true," said Fraser, "but I really must find that school." People didn't climb onto boxes unless they knew something, in Fraser's experience, and he felt sure that if he but held out a little longer, he would learn something. "Perhaps you know of someone else I can ask?"

[bones_she_cast]

Tia Dalma's known boys like him before, kind and clean and knowing nothin'.

"What kind of a school is it?" she croon. "Schools do you no good, my darlin'."

[maintain_right]

"Well, it's true that I've never had any formal instructors, but an education lays the foundation for a fruitful life." So his grandmother had said, and when Martha Fraser spoke, one did well to remember it, because one might be called on to recite it verbatim at a later juncture.

[bones_she_cast]

"Don' get me wrong, sweet 'art," say Tia and step down off her box, stepping into him and running her hand down his chest. "A little education is a wonderful ting."

[maintain_right]

"Ah." Fraser was not accustomed to strangers standing so close, but he couldn't step away without risking some sort of grave cultural offense. "I'm glad you agree. I've scheduled a dance lesson, but I'm having trouble locating the school."

[bones_she_cast]

"I dance wit' you," say Tia, never one to let go of a game easy. "I teach you to dance, 'andsome."

[maintain_right]

"I'd hate to break an appointment," Fraser frowned. "Do you know a dance called the Moose's Revenge?"

[bones_she_cast]

"No," says Tia Dalma, momentarily thrown off of her stride, but not for long. "But I can try."

[maintain_right]

"Actually that's just the sort of thing I'm trying to get away from," said Fraser. "You see, my date is an accomplished dancer, and I don't want to embarrass him. I suspect what few dances I know are less than fashionable on Miranda."