Chapter Seven

I wake feeling like I just had been kicked in the bladder. Damn that hurts. I roll over, intending to get to the edge of the bed, that is until a nipple rubs on the sheets. Ack, what the... then it hits me, premenstrual syndrome (PMS). I had forgotten that is a thing, I had been on birth control for years, which reduced the complications of being a woman. And here I am in the medical stone age. I work my way to the edge of the bed, sitting up, then check my crotch, no blood yet. Standing I make my way to the door, opening it to let in some light, then use the chamber pot. I slip on my robe, making sure it's tied well, don't want to flash Aden if I meet him. I pad down to the kitchen to speak with Tilly.

By the amount of light in the atrium it's predawn yet, I hope Tilly is up and about. I arrive at the kitchen to find Tilly mixing some bread, at least I think that is what she is doing. "Morning Tilly." I groan.

Tilly glances at me, stops what she's doing to hurry to my side. "Your majesty, what's the matter?"

I must look a fright for her to react like this.

"It's that time. Is there herb to ease the pain? This is a bitch." as another cramp hits.

"Ah, looks bad this month. Could be because of the poisoning. I have a bit of wildwood flower I could brew up, that usually helps me over the bad times." Saying this she locates a small bag, from which she pours a small mound of greenish yellow herb. This is placed in the teapot and hot water added. While it seeps, she gets down a cup and saucer which she places in front of me.

"What do women use during this time, you know, for control?" I ask.

"Depends, for light times, a bit of cloth, for heaver times a pad of sheep's wool. What did you use before?"

"We had a variety of things, pads of cloth, fiber bundles you inserted, flexible cups and medicines that would fool the body into thinking it was pregnant. I used the latter. Feminine products were a major industry."

"Trick it into thinking it's pregnant? How does that work?"

"It is really complicated, it took doctors hundreds of years to figure it out and they still don't know everything. I don't know how to explain it, sorry."

"Tea should be ready." She pours a cup for me, setting the pot by me. "You sit and let it take effect. You want your breakfast now?"

"No, I'll wait for the others. Oh, Aden stayed over, I put him in the single room upstairs. We were up late counting the treasury."

Emi choose that moment to arrive. "Your majesty, you are up early. You feeling alright?"

"No, I am not, cramps." I say with a grimace.

"Ah, that. Finish your tea and we'll get you ready for your day."

Finishing my cup of tea, I tell Tilly I'll see her later and follow Emi upstairs. She goes to the wardrobe and opens one the drawers at the bottom then removing something. "Here are the straps and pads you need, take your robe off and I'll help you put them on."

I remove the robe and she ties a cord around my waist. Then picks up a pad made of multiple layers of cloth with cords hanging from the corners. She ties this to the waist cord in back, pass it between my legs and ties the other cords snugly in front. She hands me a pair of drawers and a chemise, which I put on. "What would you like wear today, Rufina? Skirt, tunic or trousers?" as she stands looking in the wardrobe.

"Tunic I think."

I put on the tunic she hands me. She then wraps a sash around my waist, belting the tunic. When she has done that she leans in and kisses me, "Morning love." she whispers in my ear. I give her a hug, giving her kiss of my own.

"Humm, you must be feeling better." she says.

"I think you're right. That herb is working." What did she call it, wildwood flower? That sound familiar. Ah, marijuana was called that at one time and people had been touting its medical qualities of late.

"Shall we go T'ai Chi?" taking Emi's hand I lead her out the door, down the stairs and out to the garden. Once there we remove our foot wear and assume our positions. I start us with the last form I had shown her yesterday, which she did well. Then into the older forms. About half way though Aden comes out into the garden. He sat and watched us silently doing the forms.

When we had finished he asked, "Is that a form of dance from Earth?"

"No, a form of exercise that began as a martial art. Though it has been preformed as dance."

"It looks so graceful. It was really a martial art?"

"Imagine this form done at a quicker speed." I did a sink to earth with elbow strike, which I had yet to show Emi. "What would happen to person standing behind you if you did that?"

"Depends on where they were hit. It would slow them down at the very least."

"Time for a new form, Emi." Actually two, as I show her sink to earth with elbow strike followed by golden cock stands on one leg. We run though them a couple of times then drop into vertical alignment, which we hold for 40 seconds. We then slip back into our foot wear and go have breakfast.

As the four of us eat, I ask Aden to start going though the old records in search of the inventory. But Emi and I have something to do first but would join him when we were finished. I inquire about the menu for dinner, it's meat pie again as she had gotten a hare in the market yesterday. I asked if we could have a fish some time soon, please. Thinking of cooking I wondered if the materials for the cook stove have been delivered. I ask Aden if that had been done yet. The serfs that had been assigned to that task had delivered the sand and should have the clay and straw done today. Good. I then ask him to arrange for several baskets and some canvas. He wonders about the canvas, I reply Tilly would be upset at having to scrub a couple of finger thicknesses of mud off her kitchen floor. When I said that she laughed, nodding in agreement.

When we finished, Aden headed to the study, Tilly to her kitchen work and Emi and I to my rooms, Emi carrying a pitcher of hot water. When we arrived at my rooms, she places the pitcher on the table then excused herself. While she was gone I mixed cool and hot water in a basin and gathered a few cloths. When Emi returned she held a wooden box about the size of an open hand. It contained a straight razor and sharpening stone. I removed my drawers and the pad straps then sit down on the edge of the chair. Mean while Emi soaped her hands well while kneeling in front of me. Then using her hands she cleaned and soaped my pubic hair. After she rinsing her hands in the basin beside her, she took up the razor and began shaving me. I was nervous at first but soon relaxed, she knew what she was doing. She shaved my pubes and upper inner thighs before wetting a cloth and wiping the remaining soap from my skin. She then patted me dry, covertly giving my nubbin a gentle caress which caused me to moan. Helping me put the straps and pad back on then my drawers she ended up with her hands under my tunic clutching my butt. "It felt so smooth, Rufina, I think I'll enjoy caressing it more now, without the hair in the way." My answer was a deep lingering kiss.

We both sighed as we break apart, this not being the time for play. We clean up our mess. Emi removes the chamber pot, taking it out to empty it. I followed her down the stairs but divert to go to the study. Aden was sitting, back to the door, reading a report, a stack of report folios on the desk in front of him. I suggested that we move to the dinning room as it had more room and better light. We split the stack of folios between us and headed to the dinning room, where we put our stacks on the table. We started to read, keeping them in order by year and returning them to their folio when finished. We had started with the newest ones first in hopes of finding it quickly but that was shattered, we were eighty years back and yet to find anything.

When Emi returned she picked the document case that should have contained the oldest records but surprise, held inventories instead, A complete inventory every ten years with yearly lists of what had been added or removed during the year. The yearly inventory changes for the last two years were missing, Rufina hadn't known of the inventories so hadn't done them. Each item was described and weighed, with makers mark noted if they had one. I had Aden fetch the inventory of the items found in Lian's house. When he return with it, we started the search for each item. We soon found one, a silver platter, so big by so big, weighting this much, with this mark on it. We quickly found all of the items listed. Oh, Lian you are so busted.

We were in the process of returning the report and inventories to their document cases, when there was knock on the door. Emi excused herself to answer it, she soon returned leading the wood carver. He was carrying one of the steamer baskets. "Your majesty, Master Daniel." Emi announced.

"Your majesty, as you requested I have brought one of the items you ordered." He handed the tray to Emi, who brought it to me. I examined it closely, checking the seam of the body and where the bottom mesh met the body. I could not find any obvious flaws.

"Thank you, master Daniel. You have done an excellent job. Can I assume you'll have the rest completed in a few days?"

"Yes, your majesty. I have the rest of the bodies done, I am working on the meshes now."

"Very well, I will let you return to it. Thank you for the quick work." With that Emi escorted him back to the door.

"And now I know what I am doing this afternoon," I said to the room in general.

As the four of us, Aden, Emi, Tilly and I, have dinner, I suggest to Aden that he arrange to move Lian's office back into the office next door as he and I will be doing Lian's work. He agreed to that. Tilly was again in charge of the palace. I did ask her and Emi if one of the other maids could be promoted to that job, basically moving in to the head maid job. Emi would be my personal maid and companion from now on and wouldn't have time to do it any longer. Emi thought the youngest still not experienced enough. The older maid, Molly, got good reviews from both of them, so she will be the head maid.

I did ask Tilly for more of the tea from this morning, which she gladly made. I asked how her supply of herb was, did we have enough? She answered we had enough make three more pots of tea. I say I'll go see mistress Nora this afternoon to resupply.

I ask Aden how much coin was available to spend, I would need some for herbs and had somethings I would like to order while I was out. He would get me a few coins, I suggested 20 copper and 5 silver at most and I would get receipts for my purchases. I did ask about the prices of clothes, stockings and heavy work trouser to be specific. The answer was the stockings would be cheap, a few coppers a pair, the trousers would more expensive, much more.

We discussed why the price of clothes was so high. They told me of the process of making cloth, of growing the flax, of the many steps to get it ready to spin, of the spinning of the fibers into thread, the amount of thread needed to make a piece of cloth and finally the weaving. All by hand, hundreds of hours of labor and that is just for the cloth. Then it needs to cut and sewn, which is actually one the faster parts. The two parts that take the most time are spinning and weaving.

If it takes two square meters of cloth to make a skirt and it takes sixteen spools of yarn to make them that's 32 copper. That nearly nearly two silver just for the material add another five to ten coppers for labor and other materials. Yike. I guess a pair of my current trousers is going to get very dirty.

I mention to Tilly that as soon as the molds, tarps and baskets arrive I will be starting on her stove but she won't need to move out of the kitchen just yet.

As we finished our discussions and our meal I ask Aden to fetch Kalvin to guard and guide Emi and I around town. Then ask Emi to fetch a basket to carry the streamer ring and our later purchases. I then helped Tilly clear the table, I may be queen but I'll not be a layabout.

Aden brings Kalvin down from upstairs, Emi returns with a large basket and I return from the kitchen. Aden then fetches some coin for me, while Emi and I return to my rooms to change foot wear. When we return I am carrying one of my slippers which I put in the basket. Aden hands me a pouch containing coins, but as I have no pockets today I hand it off to Emi. I fetch my stack of sketches from the study, placing them in the basket. I then lead Emi and Kalvin out, bidding Aden fair well.

"Where to first, your majesty." Kalvin asks as we head to town.

"The blacksmiths we visited the other day, please."

As we walk Emi asks why I wanted heavy work trousers, I tell her we, her and I, are going to build Tilly's new stove and will be getting dirty and I hadn't wanted to ruin our good clothes. But after learning the cost of clothes I have changed my mind, we can just wear our oldest clothes. She doesn't think she will be of much help. I tell her she can do anything she puts her mind to.

We soon arrive at the shop, Kalvin goes inside to bring the smith. He soon reappears with the smith in tow. "The smith, your majesty."

"Good day to you, master smith. I have brought the item that you will need to size the pot I asked you to make." I nod to Emi, who brings out the steamer tray. "Please try to keep it clean as it is for food preparation."

"In that case, excuse me a moment," he reenters the shop returning shortly with a clean rag. He picks up the steamer using the rag, examining it closely. "You want the pot to be a little larger in diameter than this, correct?"

"Yes, this will sit inside the top of the pot, steam will rise through the mesh, cooking the food. Any steam that reforms as water will then drip back into the pot. If it couldn't fit inside, the dripping water would go into the fire. Have you started the pot yet?"

"No, your majesty, I have run out of iron. I am currently firing the bloomery."

"It dawned on me the other day that the pot could be made of brass if you had that. Do you have enough of that?"

"I do have brass, your majesty. I could have a pot by next week. With the bloomery finishing its run tomorrow, I can make a brass pour the next day. It will take that long to do the die and prepare the mold."

"I understand, it takes time. I will change my order to a brass pot then. You say you are running the bloomery now, may I observe it, please."

The smith gave me a strange look then shrugged, "Yes, your majesty. Follow me, please." He lead me though the shop to the back, bypassing the forge, going to the yard beyond. In the yard was a tall cylinder of stone and clay, fire flaring from the top. There is a scaffold around three sides of the stack, where a pair of men are pouring charcoal and iron ore from piles on the scaffolding in to the top of the stack. There are two holes near the bottom where clay pipes connected to large bellows. Two men manned each bellows, pumping air into the stack, with each stroke the flame shot high into the air.

"Do you get good quality metal from that?"

"It's a fair grade of metal, in a fair amount also. The ore from Iron River has a low iron content but is easier to smelt, unlike some higher content ores I have smelted."

I thank him for allowing me to watch them work and excuse us, as Emi and Kalvin accompanied me. We showed ourselves out.

"Next is the carpenter, Kalvin." as we remount .

Arriving at the carpenters shop, I have Kalvin stay with the horses, with Emi and I entering. The bell over the door tinkles our arrival. Soon the carpenters wife comes out of the back, "Good afternoon, how may I help you?" as I am behind Emi, she doesn't see me right away. "Oh, your majesty, you have returned."

"May I speak with your husband, goodwife? I have another small project for him to work on."

"Of course, your majesty. One moment." she retreats to the workshop. "Mister, her majesty is here again to speak with ye. Move yer arse." Hearing that Emi and I both giggle, we know who rules that household.

We put on straight faces as the the carpenter appears in the showroom. "Ah, your majesty, how may I help you today?"

"I have a farm implement that I wish made." I have Emi hand me the stack of sketches, which I dig though until I find the scythe cradle sheet. "As you see here, it is an addition to a scythe." I show him the plans, explaining how it works. He says that the upper plan is more a new handle for the scythe than an add on. I ask if he can bend wood sharp enough to do the lower plan in one piece instead of in multiple parts? He replies, why would it need to be bent? Could it not be a straight piece with the piece for above the blade socketed into it? Would that not be heavier than a bent piece? A small amount, yes. Is weight a factor? Would he like to swing the extra weight around all day long, is my reply. He asks if this is a rush job, could he make a couple different types to see which would work best? The harvest starts soon, I would like to be able to have this available for the farmers to use during the harvest. He says that he could make a socketed model much faster than a bent one. How many did I wish made? Ten, I reply. He thinks for a bit, then says all right, he will make ten socketed models for five coppers each. I counter offer four copper each. He replies four and a half coppers, which I accept. Emi hands me the coin pouch from which I remove two silver and five copper, handing them to the carpenter. A recept is written and signed. I ask if he could have the first one sent to the palace as soon as it is finished. He agrees, thanking me for my business.

"Where to now, your majesty?" inquired Kalvin.

"Somewhere I can order some stockings made."

"I am sorry, your majesty, but I can't not help with that."

"But I can." quipped Emi, taking the lead, "Tilly told me the other day."

She leads us to a shop about as far away from the blacksmith's as you can get. Emi and I enter, Kalvin remaining outside. The obligatory small bell tinkling our presence. A lean woman comes from the back, "Hello and welcome, how may I help you today. Oh my, excuse me your majesty." She is shocked to see me in her shop, I think.

"Greeting my good woman, I would like some stocking made, please. Not the normal knee high style though, these are to only come up to the ankle. Emi my slipper, please." Emi reaches into the basket and remove the slipper I had placed there earlier. They should be no higher than this," I tap on the back edge of the slipper, "And I would like small ball fastened on the back."

"A small ball, your majesty?"

"Yes or a tassel, to prevent the back of the stocking from sliding down into slipper."

"Ah, I see, that would be useful. How many would you like?"

"Four pair, please. Would they made of cloth or knitted? In linen or wool?"

"Which would you prefer, your majesty, I can do both methods in both materials."

"How much give is there in knitted linen, more or less the wool?"

"Less."

"Oh, then wool would be prefect then. Alright, how much for 4 pair knitted wool stockings."

"Five coppers a pair, your majesty."

"And how long a wait?"

"I have a supply of woolen yarn, so four days or less, your majesty."

"Would you take half now, half on delivery?"

"Yes, your majesty, gladly. Deliver to the palace?"

"Yes, please. Ask for Aden, Emi or myself. Emi the pouch, please," Emi hands me the pouch of coins. " Thank you. Here you are, ten copper. Have you pen and paper?"

"Here you go, your majesty." She leads me to the counter.

I quickly write at the top and bottom of the paper, "To be delivered by the fifth day, four (4) pair of woolen stockings. Ten copper paid, with ten copper due on delivery." I date both parts, then sign, top and bottom. I hand the owner the pen, she signs also. I then fold and tear the paper in half, giving her one and handing the other to Emi to put in the basket. I thank the shop keeper and we depart collecting Kalvin on the way out.

"Now to mistress Nora's, Kalvin."

He leads us a short distance out of town, ending up at a cottage surrounded by a low stone wall, inclosing a large bountiful herb garden. Emi and I, again leaving Kalvin at the gate, make our way to the door of the cottage. Emi gives a sharp rap to the door, while calling," Hello mistress Nora, are you home?"

"Yes, I am home, please come in."

Emi opens the door, holding it so I may enter, then closes it behind her.

Mistress Nora is standing near the fire, stirring a pot of something with a long handled spoon. She turns when I say, "Good afternoon, mistress Nora."

"Ah, Good afternoon, your majesty. Is all well with you today?"

"Not really, mistress, my moon time started this morning with heavy cramping, Tilly has brewed a wonderful tea that relieves those but she tells me our supply of the herb is in short supply. I have come to acquire more."

"And which herb is this?"

"I believe she called it wildwood flower."

"Ah, yes. That is a wonderful herb for that. One moment while I fetch some."

I look her home over while she is in the back room. It's a neat, tidy room, braided rag rug on the floor, a scrubbed table with chairs and neat shelves along the walls. There are windows open on each wall except the back, just a door there. The walls are white washed, the ceiling beams festooned with drying herbs.

Nora soon returned with a basket and a small square of linen. She lay the linen on the table, then place a double handful the contents of the basket on it. She gathered the corners of the cloth together to form a bag, which she tied off quickly. She hands me the bag, which I hand to Emi who places it in our basket. "That much should last 15 days at 3 cups per day. One silver, please, your majesty."

I'm handed the pouch from which I remove a silver coin, handing it to her, "Thank you very much mistress Nora." As we turn to leave, she asks, "Has the poisoner been apprehended?"

"He has, though he appears to have an accomplice still at large. We are working on it."

"It has been noted that minister Lian has not been in his office the last couple of days and there is a guard at his home. Would this have any relation to the poisoner?" Oh, she is a sharp one.

I glance at Emi, "Maybe. There will an announcement in a few day. Until then please keep any speculation you have to your self, please."

I thanked her again as I walk out the door.

We collect Kalvin at the gate,"Off to the town hall, let's see how Aden is doing with the move."

As we approached the town hall I could see I a cart parked in front. The door was open, soon a man exited placing something in the cart and returned. I stick my head in the door, looking around, "How's it going Aden?"

"Ah, good afternoon, your majesty. We should be done here in a few minutes, only a few more things to move. Is your business taken care of?"

"Yes, thank you. We'll see you up at the palace." With that we head to the palace.

When we arrived at the palace I had Emi give the Tilly the herbs and basket, then return the slipper to my room. Kalvin followed me into the office next to the dining room, where the things from the town hall were being place. My goodness, what a mess. Emi joins us as we are looking thing over. "Now lets start rearranging this mess," I start looking though bags and chests, moving them about so that like items are together. Aden will have to go through it all anyway to arrange it in logical order. As Kalvin doesn't read well, he gets to do the heavy lifting. Thinking of him not reading leads to others not being able to, which lead to teaching reading to all that want to learn. It appears that I'll be starting a school.

"Emi, when and how did you learn to read?"

"Mama taught me when I was little, I can remember sitting in her lap, her reading to me and my siblings. Later I would read to her. Later, my siblings and I would sit at the table practicing our letters."

"Did your parents teach you Kalvin?"

"I am the son of a serf, neither of my parents can read or write more than their names. My older brother inherited the land, so I became a guard, I learned to read after I joined."

"Would you like to learn more?"

"Very much."

"I'll see what can be arranged. There are probably others that wish to learn, you should all be given the chance. Another thing to add to the list."

"List, your majesty." Kalvin asks.

"The list of things to do, buy or build. It keeps get longer and longer." Build, it reminds me of something, "Kalvin, who built Lian's house?"

"There is a man in town, if I remember correctly, though he doesn't do fancy stonework. Did you want to talk to him?"

"Yes I would. Could you have him come early tomorrow, 700 ish, if he would."

"I will go now then, I well need to find him first, he is a busy fellow."

"That is fine, thank you." He excuses himself.

This is when Aden and his helper arrive, each carrying the one end of a medium sized chest, which is place against the wall. Emi and I go back out with them to help carry bags. No cardboard boxes in the here and now. Just barrels, crates, chests, baskets and bags. The cart they are using is the first one I have seen, also. Thinking about it there are no roads, just trails, the only roads I have seen are in town. And they are dirt, not even graveled, just dirt.

We soon get all the items brought in, Aden dismisses the helper, who takes the few coins Aden gives him with a smile. He is apparently the owner of the mule and cart used to haul it all. Aden ask where Kalvin was headed, he had seen him as he left. I told him of the builder.

"What are you building now, your majesty."

"A bathhouse, in the northeast corner of garden, where the large tub I ordered will be put upon delivery. I have a list of materials for it, but I will wait to talk to the builder first."

"May I see the list first."

"I'll go get it, I'll be right back."

I walk over to the study, got the plan of the bathhouse as it had the list with it. As was leaving the study, Tilly step out, saying that supper is ready. I hadn't realized it was that late. I told Emi and Aden supper was ready when I returned and we headed to the table.

Tilly was setting it when we arrived at the table, soon finishing then disappearing back into the kitchen. Aden held my chair, then Emi's before seating himself. Tilly soon reappeared with a tray holding a platter with a large roasted fish on it, two smallish bowls, a pair of teapots and a plate of buttered bread.

The fish is served, a good sized piece to each of us, one being saved for Kalvin. The bowls contain boiled carrots and turnip greens, which we each have some of.

As we start eating I hand the plan to Aden, who looks over the plans. I explain which materials go where and the purpose of some of them. I then explain how a bath is taken. After entering you remove your clothing, fetch a small bucket of water then sit and wash yourself, then rinse off and finally get in the tub of warm water. You needn't soak in the tub but I think that is the best part.

Kalvin returns and reports that the builder will be here in the morning at approximately 700, then begins to eat.

Afterwards I ask Aden, "Do you remember a few days ago you asked what a bid was and I gave a vague answer. Imagine that you own an object, you know the object has value but not the precise value. You invite Tilly, Emi and I to examine it then name a price we would be willing to pay for this object. The three of us all would like to have the object so we each write down a price, giving it to you. These prices are bids, with the high bid winning the object. If there is a tie for highest bid, you ask for new bids. Each person knows what they bid but not what the other bid. Again prices are written, until there is a winner. This is a ascending first price sealed bid demand auction."

"If there is one buyer and many sellers, it would be a first price sealed bid supply auction. This is what I did with the potters yesterday, I can get the items I need at the lowest price."

"If the bids are public, so all know what you bid, it's called a open auction. In an open auction, I ask a certain price for the object, one of you agree to that price but another rises the price, this going on until the price goes no higher, the winner paying the last price."

By this time we have finish our supper so we, Tilly, Emi and I, bid farewell to Aden as he need to do some things at home. Before he leaves Emi returns his razor, with apologies for keeping longer than intended. He accepts the apology and assures her she can borrow it again anytime.

Kalvin has also excused himself and returned up stairs.

Emi and I help Tilly clean up before sitting back down at the table. We start thinking of the things that could be of use on the island. I start with different seeds and/or plants to get the little gray cells working in all three of us. Soon there is a list of a couple hundred different items, plants, animals, natural resource, manufactured items, basically anything. We then start to weed them out. Expensive items first, items of precise metals and gems. Then item that are frivolous or just decorative. Then thing that would have high maintenance costs or require something else to get them to work. The list is soon down to basic level items.

Then we start a list for personal that would be useful or do something that no one on the island does, but this list is harder to make as none of us know what the people of the island can do. Is there a stonecutter, a stone carver, or someone who can teach the three Rs or even one just one R. Soon Tilly is yawning, sucking the oxygen out of the air making Emi and I yawn also. We decide to go to bed, as we have an early start in the morning.

Emi and I say good night to Tilly at the kitchen where Emi fetches a pitcher of hot water. She then lead the way with the pitcher and I follow lighting the way. We prepare to bathe, she getting out wash cloths and towels while I mix the water. We strip until I get to the straps holding the pads, where I have a problem, knots. I can't get them undone. Emi finally gets them undone though it takes a while. While she is fighting the knot, I think of a way to fix this.

As she scrubs my back I explain my idea, replace the cords with narrow strips of cloth, a wide one around the waist like a belt, with a button to fasten it together. Then a wider strip front and rear with buttonholes to hold the pad, which has buttons near the corners. You could change the pad without removing the waist band or the whole thing with one hand. And no knots. Emi thinks it sounds like a good idea, we will have a make one.

We switch places and I start scrubbing, soon however I am scrubbing places other than her back and we end up on the floor trying to be quiet but are soon giggling. We finish what we started, washing, then dry off. I remember to re don the straps and pad, which is still clean and get into bed to cuddle with Emi. Soon Emi is asleep in my arms. I turn my head and blow out the candle and soon join her in sleep.