As newly-acquired language coalesces into sentences, she begins to write a diary. Her diary takes the form of an imaginary lover who answers to the name of Flamenco for Fragrance.
Diary entry: November 15, 2011
He catches a glimpse of her red sequins beneath her street clothes. Risking rejection, he asks if he can see her again. She gives him her mailbox address. By way of a “thank you” he gives her a gift of a perfume jar. After all, a match made in heaven doesn’t stay awake indefinitely.
He says: “Pick a number, pick a colour, fortune teller.”
She picks the colour red and the number 9.
Together they unpick the meaning of her selections.
Nine is the number of completion. Nothing blue need apply.