Ahnaheeta's Bath

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Ahnaheeta and Pahn
they are in an old house
...........................with Penelopeya
collecting dust.........................
on their clothes
.......................................as they wait in the dining room
for a dinner .......and watch
.......................and listen as Penelopeya performs
her shy....
frail..........
..........................................confidence in her domestic tasks—
..........hostess
..................table-setter

She is dark
..........................and light blue

She excuses herself half timid
half admonishing
...........................................................fleeing to another wing

Ahnaheeta asks for a bath
and is shown the large
.....................................Victorian baignoire…

…after a while Pahn goes in
..........................to see how Ahnaheeta is doing
and he is surprised to find
...............that she has strewn ....her
......................................................................clothes
and towels...........................................................
............................................around
the room.............

She is reclining..........................
in the claw-foot tub
..............looking at him with her
..................................................................controlled interest
only a hint
..........................of awkwardness
.......................................on her cheeks

He sees her thin
.....................................................pale chest .....in the water
cloudy
...................................................with suspended soap
...............................................................................and minerals

He walks to the edge.................
........................................of the tub ....and bends
down to her.....
asking
....................................................if he may kiss her

She almost smiles.....................
her small delicate mouth
parting
...............and tilts
......................................................her head..... just enough

They touch dryly.......................
at first
.............then bend their lips a little
............and he is relieved when
..........................her shoulders loosen
......................................................and she lets her eyelids
rest

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