10 and a half months later
Pa had packaged all the outfits for the Night of the Asters dinner. He ironed them, folded them neatly and locked them in transparent bags.
“Zi, how much longer before you finish that?”
“Just a minute!” Zina answered, not raising her head. She was put final touches to a dress and applying heat to the clear crystal stones she wa using to beautify it, so that they can stick properly.
“Allll done!” she beamed, holding the dress up for Pa to see. It was her design: a short, velvety black dress that had a lacy trail behind, puffy sleeves made of Ankara and the entire chest and torso area was decorated with stones.
“Wow, Zi. You are magical.” Pa clapped as he took the dress from her and gave it to Zo for f
