Since that night, I had begun to get a bit experimental with what I had tried. I always returned Mom’s dresses before she got back, but when the house was completely empty I would try on some and see how I liked them. Makeup was hard, but I thought that if I kept going I would master it. Why did I want to master it? I’m not sure. Would be cool to master though.

I didn’t really let my family know I did it, of course. They probably wouldn’t approve of my curiosity. Wasn’t exactly the kind of stuff they’d want their son messing around with. But I wasn’t letting their disapproval get in the way of my experimentation. I never really showed anyone what I did, but it was enough for me to enjoy. My own little show for myself, and when I dressed up I didn’t have to be Appa. I could be Lilypad.

*   *   *   *   *

“You got some mail,” Dad said, peeking in my room. I was just trying to work some writing out again, but was having a tough time.

“Is it more trash?”I asked without looking up.

“Well, it’s from the newspaper,” he said, confused. “Did you order a subscription or something?”

“Let me see it.”

Dad flicked the letter in my direction and guided it into my hands with some wind magic before walking out of my room. Maybe they had considered me for writing for them? I sent in an application and some of my writing a few days ago, so maybe this was about that. Probably to deny me. I didn’t exactly have many qualifications other than “I write” in all fairness. I opened the envelope and read the letter. 

Dear Appa,

We at The Carvation Daily have reviewed your application and writing. Not only were we interested in your penmanship, but you are the only carvation to respond to the ad in 45 years, and are very likely to get the job. To get in contact with us about a job, come to the front desk at our office. Please bring more material for us to reference if you can. We look towards your career with great promise and intent.

We hope to see you soon,

~The Carvation Daily

If there was one thing I didn’t expect today, it was for Chee to eat the elbows of my shirt while I was sleeping. But getting a job offer was a very close second. I’d never had a job before, and being able to do my job by just doing something I already did on a daily basis would be just too convenient to pass up.

They didn’t even have to pay me; I was just bored and wanted to do something. Although, when you don’t really have to pay for anything in The Village, getting paid wasn’t really useful anyway. When people got paid, it was almost always in food because we didn’t have money, and nothing cost anything really. As long as you contributed to The Village in some way and you had at least an alright reputation, you could get whatever you wanted with a smile and a hug. We were so simple that it’s kind of funny.

So without letting anyone see me, I grabbed a messenger bag, shoved a few notebooks inside, and went to the newspaper office.

*   *   *   *   *

“You’re Appa?” the woman at the front desk asked. I nodded and she put on a subtle frown.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“No, no, nothing,” she said, shaking her head. “I just imagined like… a giraffe variant or a bird one. Not a… frog.”

“Oh,” I said, looking down. “Well… I’m here about the job-”

“You’ve got it,” she interrupted.

“The letter said-”

“Nobody else has applied in forever. You’re all we have for the story editorial, so just send something in every week and we’ll put it in the newspaper.”

“Hold on…” I said, digging through my satchel and handing her a composition notebook titled Carvation Studies. “I’ve done research on our bodies, culture, and-”

“I don’t care what you write. If the boss likes it, you’ll get it in the paper. If the people like it, you might be asked to write again.”

“Who’s the boss?” I asked curiously, leaning over her shoulder at a room behind her with papers flying every which way.

“If you’re lucky, you’ll only have mail correspondence,” she mumbled. “I’ll make sure the boss gets this notebook, and we’ll let you know how it turns out.”

“Thank you,” I nodded. “Oh, I never caught your name.”

“I know,” she said moodily before opening my notebook and using it for some light reading. I guess the woman didn’t particularly enjoy her job.

*   *   *   *   *

I had trekked my way back to the pond I had found a few days ago. I planned to make it a regular spot for me to do my work alone. Secluded, quiet, and had a perfect atmosphere to be creative. At least it would if there weren’t people there.

When I arrived, three carvations were moving stuff around and using magic. They were dressed like builders, and were moving wooden planks and boards and chunks of rock. It looked like they were building a house right beside the pond. I tilted my head and approached one of the workers. A cheery-looking bird variant turned my way.

“What’re you doing all the way out here, kiddo?” she asked.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“We’re building a house,” she said with a smile. “We’re always looking for nice places to build houses and figured this spot could make a fella happy.”

“So… who’s it for?” I wondered.

“No one in particular. Whoever wants it, I guess.”

“So I could live in it if I wanted to?”

“Hey, don’t ask me,” she shrugged. “I just build the homes.”

“Oi, Geta, come on!” called out one of the other carvations. “This is a team effort!”

“Hey, gotta go,” she winked. “Houses don’t build themselves.”

She then went to join her other two coworkers and used some magic, making the marble chisel itself and the house started building itself. Well, she was a liar. Houses clearly can build themselves with a bit of motivation.

But I thought about what she said. How anyone could live in the house if they wanted to. Maybe there was someone I could get into contact with… It would be great to get out the house, and out of Mom’s grasp. In the middle of nowhere where she wouldn’t be able to find me. And I could continue my experimentation of being Lilypad. 

It was a loose plan, but I liked it. I could leave the house, and leave Mom forever. I could be happily secluded and write however much I wanted.