Manjula did not know a lot about the gods. She’d always heard they were fairy stories back when she lived in an actual home. Her brother would tell her, don’t worry about things like that, Jules, they’re tales people tell themselves to give their lives purpose and to explain the world. They were what people in Lith used to make sense of things they were not capable of understanding. So, Manjula had not learned anything about them. She did not know their names, she did not know what they did, and she did not know how to pray.
This caused a fuss in the nursery.
“What do you mean you don’t know who the gods are?”
“Not everyone was taught about them, Mieke.”
“But, Georgie, they’re so important! How can’t she know? Even you knew a little bit about them!”
The patchwork girl pursed her lips and tapped at the side of her face.
“Yes, but, that’s because there was a tv show I used to watch where they lived in Navroya and went to high school together.”
Mieke giggled and pressed her hands over her mouth. It came out as a soft, happy hiss.
“Oh yeah, that sounded so silly!”
Manjula leaned back in her seat. She still felt lost in this conversation, but years at her family home had taught her never to show when she was confused. It was always best to keep a neutral, but pleasant, expression and manner. That was just what worked out the best. She folded her hands together in her lap and smiled at the tiny princess.
“Will you tell me about them, Miss Mieke?”
“Well,” she flickered a few times as she considered Manjula’s request, “see, I don’t remember the stories so good, I just know how to believe really, really good!”
Manjula nodded her head. Mieke hadn’t been old when she was found and taken in. It was not too much of a surprise that she didn’t know how to explain the gods she’d grown up with. Manjula supposed it would be like her trying to explain how lights turned on, or what cars were. She could do it, but it might not come out making any sense.
“Wait, what are you asking about?”
Jula turned to the side, caught off guard by Gigi’s sudden entrance into the conversation. The older girl usually stayed out of discussions and kept to herself. She assumed it was because of her condition. She never looked comfortable, no matter what form she was in. Jula wondered if the doctor would find a way to fix that someday. She never seemed to return from her sessions with him in any particular state of comfort.
“We’re discussing the gods, Miss Gigi.”
Gigi curled her tail around herself and scratched at the tip of it.
“The gods? Which ones?”
“Any of them, miss. I don’t know anything about them, but it feels like I should start to pray.”
“Woah, really? You humans need to get on your game. Though, I guess, maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t waste your time learning them, you know?”
Manjula tilted her head to the side in confusion. This was a new line of reasoning. She hadn’t heard any of her other fellows bring this point up.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, look at where we are now. Look at what’s happening. I’ve prayed to the gods so many times since I got in here, but things just keep getting worse and worse. The gods can’t help us here, kid. We’re on our own. You don’t need to pray to anyone. There’s just no point.”
Manjula lowered her head, her eyes fixed on her hands. She had only recently known there were people around who believed the gods were real and had any form of power over the universe. She liked the idea that they cared for the gods and that maybe, just maybe, the gods really did exist and really did look after everyone. She shut her eyes and thought about what Gigi said.
Maybe it was a mistake to want to believe in the gods like Mieke did. Maybe there were better ways to spend her time that didn’t end in disappointment. Still, Manjula thought that maybe it would help to put her faith in. It could be a good distraction from the work the good doctor did on her, and, goodness knows she needed a distraction right about now.
Dear miss and mister gods, she thought, hello. My name is Manjula and I am ten years old. I have never talked to you before because I did not believe you were real. Some of my friends say you are real, though, so I am praying to you today. I am worried about Wikk. I think he is lonely. Please help him be better so he can play with us. Help Gigi, too. She keeps scratching at herself more than before. I think her skin is dried out. Fractal always does her best for us. Please let her be happy and keep her safe. Make sure my brother does not get into trouble. Thank you for your consideration, yours formally, Manjula.