Calicode: Chapter 11: Masks: Jill
#15 of Calicode
Jill Now
Jill followed behind a tall Desert Fox sales agent who kept giving Tanner uncomfortable looks. Tanner kept his arms crossed over the shirts large font as best as he could, but Bi and Why were still visible.
"Danielle wants to learn to swim," She said, "do you think it would be weird to teacher?"
"You were the swimming coach," Tanner said, "Plus you're a girl why don't you teach her?"
"Because I'm very pregnant and I just don't teach swimming anymore," she said.
"Ma'am do you know your friends size," The agent asked when they reached the racks of dark cloth.
"Well, I don't know her exact height, and jumping to demonstrate is both undignified and not possible in my current state... uhm, she's about his height but a hyena," she said pointing at Tanner, "Wider and shorter muzzle and similar shoulder width."
The agent indicated she wanted Tanner to put his arms to his sides so she could hold a few Niqabs to him.
He grimaced but complied.
The sales woman chuffed after reading the shirt then held up the garments, "Ma'am based on your input I recommend this head cover and this gown, if they don't fit please come back in, I'll give you a gift receipt." They walked to the cashier's desk.
"Oh thank you dear," She said unable to see over the tall checkout counter, "Do you have a stool?"
"Please step back," The agents said then twisted a crank till the desk accommodated her height, "Sorry my last customer was a Giraffe, poor girl had to crouch through the doors."
"Well everyone's a giant to me, I have no idea what that would be like," She said making her payment.
"Thank you for stopping by," The agent said, "... Sir are you a Welles?"
Tanner grimaced again, "Yes I am."
"Ah, I will pray for you and your family," the agent said rereading the shirt.
"I'm sure they'd appreciate that," Tanner said then they left the store.
Tanner didn't speak till they reached the car, "Jill what the hell was that, can you believe the nerve of that lady?"
"I'm sure she feels the same about what you are wearing," She said.
"I am no lady," Tanner said.
"Oh I know, you're not refined enough for a lady, despite your elegant shoulders," She said buckling up then her phone buzzed.
"I don't have elegant shoulders, thanks for hitting a guy where it hurts... looks like Paul wants to get food," Tanner said.
"Yeah and I'm not crashing at Oliver's... I wonder what's up," She asked.
"No clue, hey we aren't far from that Ethiopian place, let's go there," Tanner said.
"Yeah that sounds good I'll let him know," She said typing at her phone, "So is that place Halal?"
"I think so... wait Jill you can't be thinking... but we are right nearby," Tanner said.
She messaged Xander, " hey don't know if I'll see you at dinner so IM me, I need to get to know you."
"Please, I doubt she's eaten yet and we can give her the present," she said.
"Fine," Tanner said turning south on 45th.
Her stomach squirmed, "Hey peanut, settle down, I think he likes Ethiopian."
"Probably all the tart flavors," Tanner said.
She leaned back breathing calmly to try and settle Peanut down.
She opened her eyes when the car stopped.
"As it is a women's shelter I'll wait right here... please hurry before people think I'm suspicious," Tanner said passing the shopping bag.
"Ok... can you get the door peanuts making it hard to get up," she said.
"Yeah I'll get it, thanks for the reminder to never get pregnant," Tanner said then stepped around the car for her.
Xander messaged while she relaxed, " hey Jill I doubt you'll really need to know me."
"Ha ha, I know you've been trying so hard," She said taking his arm on the way down, "See you in a sec."
She dialed the number on the card the front desk lady gave her when they dropped Danielle off, "Hello, I'm Jill from earlier, I have some extra cloths for Danielle Jackson, is she available to pick them up," She asked.
"Yes one moment please," The lady that answered said.
The door buzzed and Danielle and two other ladies step out.
"Jill you are back with haste," Danielle asked.
"Yeah, you seemed uncomfortable in those clothes so I got you this and I wanted to know if you had eaten," She said holding up the large paper bag.
Danielle said, "I can't be in your debt how can I-"
"It's nothing that you owe me, it is a gift to a friend, I'm about to be a mother and I know I'd want someone to be here for you if you were my daughter, please," She said putting the bag strap in Danielle's paw, she stood waiting on Danielle holding her belly.
Danielle opened the bag, "thank you Jill, I wish I could repay you."
"Then come to dinner and teach Tanner some manners," Jill said. "I will thank you again," Danielle said.
"Dear," one of the ladies, a dove, said, "Just dial the number and we can let you back in."
"Thank you Miss Chelsea," Danielle said holding the bag by the straps in front of her with both paws.
"Come on Peanut is hungry."
Danielle followed, "Who is peanut?"
"The belly bump, still need to pick a name, but I have three that I think Paul will like," She said as they walked back to the car, "do you like Ethiopian food?"
"Yes, it is nice," Danielle said.
She got to the door took a deep breath then Danielle helped her to her seat, "We are ready Tanner Danielle likes Ethiopian."
"That's great, glad I picked it then," Tanner said with an unusually bright smile for Danielle.
"I hope not to be rude presuming to teach you but Jill has requested I provide you a lesson in manners, do you know how to eat in public," Danielle asked.
Tanner scowled then backed the car up, "Seriously Jill, not cool."
"Hey it's a win win for me entertainment and good company," She said, then added to Danielle, "You'll get to meet Paul my baby's father."
"I will be glad to meet him," Danielle said softly, "You said you could not find a husband I am sorry, in my culture a mother finds one for you."
"Well, I had a partner for three years, we were engaged then he did the fertility immune system compatibility test, we weren't compatible. He said it didn't matter but a month later he left me. My best friends Paul and Timmy offered to help if I needed help being a mother," She said hugging her belly, "Peanut here is my dream come true and its thanks to Paul. Not a normal family but it's what I have."
"I am glad you will not be alone as a mother, but why does your immune system keep someone from having a child with you," Danielle asked.
"If not compatible my body attacks the fetus and it dies before it can grow," she said, "But not this one, it was a slim chance. Thankfully it worked, a second attempt with Paul would have been even less likely to work, but we got this blessing."
"I am happy for you," Danielle said, "Will you and this Paul marry?"
Tanner laughed, "he loves her but she isn't his type."
She ignored Tanner and wrote Xander back, "Why wouldn't we meet Paul's been talking about you for days and mentioned you even before you two ever went on a date."
"I understand but would of the babe, should not his parents be wed," Danielle asked.
"In a perfect world he, and I'd be able to have a child easily and be attracted to eachother in the same way," she said, "Paul and I will just have to do our best."
"So besides teaching me manners Danielle what do you like to do," Tanner asked.
"I like to be active and creative, I learned to dance from my mother," Danielle said.
"Oh nice, Jill did ballet," Tanner said.
"Yeah could you show me I love learning new dances," she said.
"Yes I can, would you show me your baking," Danielle asked.
"Can I watch," Tanner asked.
"Uh no, you are not getting to make fun of me all pregnant in a leotard," she said.
"Plus I've never danced for a man," Danielle said.
The car pulled into the Afar Kingdom Parking lot.
"Ah well I'd love to see a traditional dance but I understand," Tanner said.
They got out and reserved a table for four, as Paul had yet to arrive.