Mother Nature glanced around the room and finally pointed to a spot by the table where an extra chair appeared. “Sure. But first, I’d like a glass of water. Do you have any on tap?”
Drake moved quickly to the refrigerator. “I can do better than that. I have bottled water.”
“Ack!” Gaia turned her head and shielded her eyes as if just seeing the item might offend her delicate sensibilities. “Don’t tell me you buy water in those damn plastic bottles. It’ll take centuries for them to decompose.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t… never mind. I can get you a glass of tap water.”
Still frowning, Gaia sat in the chair, then popped back up. She pointed to the seat and a cushion appeared. When she sat again, she wiggled a bit as if getting comfortable. “There. That’s better. I don’t mind a few modern conveniences as long as they don’t muck up my world.”
She tapped the chair next to her, inviting Bliss to sit down.
“Can you make one of those cushions for me too?” Bliss asked.
Gaia leaned back and studied her for a moment. “If you took the muse position, you could make it yourself.” She sighed. “Let me give you a taste of what it would be like to be a goddess—even a minor one. Just point to the seat and think ‘cushion.’”
Bliss could hardly believe this was happening. Did she have the power to make things appear and disappear at will now? She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and thought, “Cushion.”
Something soft landed on her head. Opening her eyes, she noticed a matching cushion to the one Mother Nature had conjured tumbling onto the floor.
Gaia reared back and laughed.
Bliss glanced at Drake, who appeared to be trying hard not to smile. He set the glass of water in front of Gaia.
“See? I’m not cut out for this,” Bliss said.
“I’ve heard you’re a quick study,” Gaia said. “I won’t have the time or patience to train you.”
Bliss’s eyes rounded. “Then how would I know what to do? I might transport myself into the middle of a tree or accidentally blow up the Internet.”
Gaia smirked. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let you loose on the world without supervision.” She snapped her fingers and another young woman appeared. She looked exotic and was wearing colorful silks in the style of a belly-dancing costume. “Where were you, Thalia?”
“Just having a bit of fun,” the young woman said and chuckled. “Some kid found a beer can on the beach and rubbed it, wishing for a genie.”
Mother Nature rolled her eyes. “Oh, yes… you’d get along just fine. Bliss, this is Thalia, the muse of comedy. If you take the offer, she’d show you how to be a muse. And, Thalia…” Gaia pointed to Bliss. “This one doesn’t need you putting crazy ideas in her head. She has enough of those already. I’d just need you to teach her to be a well-behaved minor goddess.”
“Of course.” Thalia bowed to Mother Nature and rested a hand on Bliss’s shoulder. “You can count on me. What will she be the muse of?”
Mother Nature pointed to the middle of the room where a desk and computer appeared. “Keeping electronic communication healthy. Not poetry readings like the rest of you ninnies. She’ll be in charge of the Internet.”
“Whoa.” Bliss held up one hand. “Don’t I get a vote? Because if I still have a shred of free will, I don’t want the job.”
Thalia muttered, “Damn! Me and my sisters would love to be rid of that responsibility.”
Bliss shrugged. “Sorry.”
Mother Nature folded her arms. “Are you sure?”
Thalia draped an arm around her shoulder. “We could have so much fun! Think of the video bloopers. You should at least try it.” Thalia pointed directly at her. “Don’t touch the politically incorrect jokes, though. The jokes are mine.”
Bliss was tempted to back away. “Watch where you point that thing.”
Thalia leaned back and laughed.
“Look, you make it sound like fun,” Bliss said. “But I’ll bet there’s a whole lot of unfun stuff you’re not telling me about.”
Gaia straightened to her full height. Actually higher than her full height. She appeared to be hovering a few inches off the ground. Thunderclouds appeared in her eyes.
Oh, shit. Now I’m in for it.
Just as unexpectedly, Gaia floated to the floor and her whole demeanor changed. “How about a bribe? If you live in this little hovel, you can’t be making that much. Here’s a money tree.” Gaia pointed to the spot where she’d put the desk, and it disappeared. A second later a tree with rectangular leaves replaced it.