Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

nibble on me just seemed wrong, but the peer pressure kept me from running out of the salon screaming, to wait in Jo’s car.
    We stood up and followed the ladies into another room where a rounded bench seat surrounded a shallow tank. A bunch of little gold colored fish swam around in the water.
    Jo sat down and plunged her feet into the water. The fish instantly swam over and covered her feet and toes. I gasped.
    “Does it hurt?” I asked while squinting.
    “No, it actually feels good. Are you going to try it?”
    I sat on the bench and hovered my feet over the tank. Was I actually going to do this? The only reason I wasn’t begging for a normal pedicure was because Jo was enjoying herself. So, I closed my eyes and before I could think, put them in the water. It surprised me that the water was warm. I opened one eye. My feet were covered in fish and it tickled. I let out a squeak.
    “This is so weird,” I said, trying not to wiggle.
    “I know, but just wait. Your feet are going to feel so soft,” Jo said.
    The fish worked their way around my cuticles and heals and I fought the urge to flick them away. I didn’t realize I had so much dead skin.
    “How did you hear about this?” I asked.
    “They suggested it here when I got a regular pedicure. I was apprehensive at first, because I hate fish. But you know me; I’m always willing to try anything one time.”
    “Well this is something I never would’ve guessed I’d do and can’t believe I’m doing,” I said while shaking my head, still gritting my teeth. “They seem to be finding a feast on my toes.”
    “You’ll thank me later,” she said while grinning. “How’s school?”
    “Fine, I guess. Algebra is going to kill me though,” I complained.
    “Oh, really?”
    “Well, Sam’s been helping me a lot because she’s really good at math. I just hope she doesn’t get so frustrated with me that she pulls out all her hair.”
    Jo chuckled. “You’re so dramatic sometimes.”
    “Hey, I try.” I swished my feet around forgetting that the fish were doing their job and then froze thinking I might have accidentally kicked a few in the process. But they came back unafraid, nibbling hungrily again. I still couldn’t get over how weird it was.
    “I do have some good news,” Jo said with a big smile.
    I’d noticed Jo seemed happier than usual, both on the inside and outside. She had a huge smile plastered on her face the entire time we’d been together.
    She pressed her lips tightly together.
    “Yeah?”
    “John and I are expecting a baby.”
    My eyes grew big and I screamed in delight.
    “Oh. My. Gosh. That’s wonderful!” I threw my arms around her neck and gave her a huge hug. She had tears in her eyes.
    “Oh, Auntie, I’m so excited for you guys.”
    I had an unfair advantage when it came to babies because I knew exactly what they wanted. Mothers were amazed at my ability to get even the fussiest baby to sleep so easily. Thoughts of holding my new cousin whenever I wanted was so exciting. Their sweet emotions were up there with the blissfulness of falling in love and it had been a long time since I’d had the privilege of holding one.
    “You know, I wasn’t ever sure if I’d get to be a mommy, I mean I will always feel like your mom in a way, but to have a baby of my own. We are so excited.”
    “Yeah, this is really awesome. You feeling okay?” I asked
    “So far so good. I’m a little tired, but I’m four months along already.”
    Jo took out ultrasound pictures from her wallet and handed them to me. I tried to find the baby in the black and white photo, but all I saw was a peanut looking thing.
    “The baby is right there. See?” She pointed to the dark blob in the photo. I squinted and it came into focus. The larger part of the peanut shape suddenly looked like a head and I could see where arms and legs were forming.
    “Wow. This is truly amazing.” Seeing the picture brought it all to reality and I had tears in my eyes too. “Have you thought of names yet?”
    “Well, a few but we want to wait until we know if it’s a girl or a boy. That’ll make it easier.”
    I instinctively reached over and felt her flat tummy.
    “I think I feel a bump already.”
    “No, that’s just the cookies from earlier. I’ve had the worst sweet tooth. It’s horrible,” she complained, but with a giggle. I saw a light in her eyes I’d never seen before.
    “Then it’s going to be a girl,” I joked, not sure if that was how the