Dee happily submerged herself in the hot water of the outdoor baths. Li Mei had left her with scented soaps after helping to strip off the rags that Dee wore, muttering something about putting the clothing directly into the fire. It didn't matter to Dee; the bath more than made up for loosing the clothing she had been wearing. The only thing that had bothered Dee was when Li Mei had taken away the sharpened spike after finding it in the folds of the sweater.

"You will not need this anymore," she had said slipping it into her apron pocket.

After scrubbing herself down three times and washing her hair twice, Dee finally felt clean for the first time in months. On the edge of the pool was a fluffy towel, which she gratefully wrapped around her body. Li Mei returned to take Dee upstairs and into a sparsely furnished room. She sat Dee on a cushion and brushed the tangles out of her lengthening hair.

"I will see that you get a proper haircut tonight," the woman said.

Dee only nodded. Since she had arrived she had not said a word.

"Do you not know how to speak? Have you got a tongue?"

"Yes, Ma'am," she finally said.

"I suppose you're just frightened right now, hm? Don't worry. The master does not wish you any harm. Now put on the clothing I have placed on your bed. I will be back for you in five minutes."

"Yes, Ma'am."

With a shake of her head, the woman turned and left the room, sliding the door shut behind her. Turning her head, Dee saw the clothing meant for her neatly laid out on the futon bed. Kneeling next to the bed, the towel still wrapped around her, she touched the light green silk with trembling fingertips. This couldn't be meant for her to wear; it was too nice. However, there were no other clothes laid out so she proceeded to pull on the pants and shirt. The silk was cool against her skin, but rapidly warmed. Still trembling, she attempted to slip the knot of the frogs through the loops. Li Mei came back in as Dee managed to close the final frog.

"Ah! You look wonderful! Come! Come have look at yourself in the mirror!" she cried out in delight, her voice sounding like the soft ring of bells.

Allowing the woman to lead her to the full-length mirror, Dee could hardly believe what she saw. Her red hair, which had always been cropped short at the orphanage, tumbled to her shoulders in soft waves. The high Mandarin neck of the shirt flattered her features and accented her slim neck. The matching pants fit her perfectly, not being too baggy as the ones she had been wearing earlier.

"Come now. The master will wonder what's taken us so long," Li Mei said taking Dee's hand and pulling her back downstairs.

A maid, eyes downcast, bowed and pulled open a door letting Li Mei and Dee into the dining room. A short, low table filled the center of the room with colorful cushions placed as seats. At the head of it sat the man who promptly rose upon Dee and Li Mei's entry. Li Mei held her head up and smiled proudly at the transformation she had helped perform.

"Li Mei, I asked you to bring me the child I came home with today. Who is this?" the man teased with a pleasant smile on his face.

"You will have to ask her that. She has not said more than 'Yes, Ma'am' to me!" Li Mei's voice was amused, yet it made Dee flinch.

Bowing, Dee spoke. "Duibuiqi. My name is Dee."

The man raised an eyebrow at her. {You speak Chinese?}

{A little,} she replied.

He smiled. "Very well, Dee. My name is Jiaoshu. Do you have a last name?"

At this she frowned and wrinkled her forehead. She didn't want to tell him for fear he would laugh the way everyone else had.

"Well?" he asked.

"Lemma. My name is Dee Lemma," she said holding up her trembling chin, steeling herself for the laughter.

Jiaoshu merely nodded. "Come and have a seat, Dee. We will have lunch together and discuss some things."
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