Dressing room, guessing room

Maydene led the two young women through the cloaked wall into a room filled with costumes, head dressings, boots, slippers, capes and racks of textiles that could be pinned or knotted together for a desired look. "Come to be costumed," Larkin quietly repeated what May had written in the invitation.

"I will let you to it," May was excited to see how the room would inspire them. "Before I leave though I would like to tell you a story. A ... Short-ish story." A twinkle lit the tiny woman like a candle. Both girl-women laughed at the pun knowing a May Short story could run for moments or meander into the night.

"No. Truly this might be one of my shortest Short Stories." Upholstered chairs and a bean bag chair Larkin remembered from her first visit made getting comfortable a simple affair. Larkin sank into the brown velveteen bag of a chair. Caitlin curled up into one of the chairs and pulled lengths of silk and paisley shawls about her. Stuffed animals were already piled in huddles. She nestled those close.

"Once upon a time two very young women had dreams. One half the dreams could fit with the other half, but only if Lightning was involved." May paused to catch Caitlin's eyes, the older woman winked at the younger. "And so, the Elementals sent Lightning and as it happened the dreams became common magic and born from that was a Birthing Place. A place built of solidly mortared hand-built brick gave its permission to the dream. You know of course it's always a good idea to ask permission of a Place when such important dreams are being birthed?" Again May paused and sought the body language of understanding from her audience. Larkin and Caitlin nodded.

"The Place and the Dream lived together in an up and down and inside out journey. The gifts, talents, sorrows, mishaps and deeds of heroism played themselves out as Sun rose and set and Moon shone bright and dark and in between. Births and deaths have bled their meaning into the brickwork of This Place and still ... the dream has grown. Only one of those two very young women whose dream was lit by Lightning long ago lives still in flesh. She grows older now this once young woman with a dream ... and ready for a return to her Place of Birth." Larkin could not hold her tongue, "You. You are going back to London?" May did not quite break the spell of Teller, but nodded.

"With this Full Moon of December, This Place will be renamed, and a slightly new game begins when the Year of the Fire Monkey starts come February." A large flowing board of letters stood almost unnoticed it was covered with textured capes and lengths of rainbow ribbons.

"Darlin's help me with this please." The story was nearing it's reveal. Two foot high letters spelled The Calypso. "We are turning The Place into a home for those without a home of their own. Named for your grandmother, The Calypso will be a 2016 version boarding house for children, women, men, grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, aunts and all the versions in between. It is your father Daniel who carved this sign, and your mother Peg is the painter. They have been very busy at this conversion."  

"Who will replace you here?" Caitlin wanted to know. Larkin guessed at that answer but waited.

"The Silver-bird and Fairy will move from Salish. They don't require much space to live and a special roost is nearly finished in my former apartment. Driver and I will fly to London after the Year of the Fire Monkey has been welcomed." Caitlin blushed at the thought of the mysterious Driver and May, a couple. 

"There is one part that is still missing in this conversion to The Calypso." May finally unwrapping the whole package.

"Is that where we come in then Aunty May?" Larkin didn't often call her that, but really felt about ten years old at this moment. 

"Clever girl. Raven and Fairy are essential old magic necessary for transitions. Both of them are facile with changes and familiar with the twists and turns involved in nurturing and nourishing the Faceless. But they do not have the magic of youth and that energy is what you two have." 

Maydene called on her chits as elder and hostess of this gala, and asked both young women to be with this story for the while. "I am needed with the others and the other things of tonight's reveling. Take your time sorting and enjoy the dressing room. Now that you have no need to guess what I had in mind ... let the story make its way with you." She kissed each of them on both cheeks and stepped through the cloaked wall.