Episode 31: Alchemy

Terrastina stands outside on the front step when she clips her nails to insure the pieces fly onto the lawn instead of ending up in the couch or on the floor where someone can step on them. The twins like to watch this monthly grooming. They listen for the smart snap of the clipper jaws cleaving off crescents of nail. They try to guess where the pieces will land. Terrastina never files her nails after trimming them. She likes the feel of their sharp edges, but that only lasts a day. Then they are as smooth as burnished steel.