The Pretts, Part Four.

Josellia couldn't believe her ears. This Giant who haunted her dreams and terrorized her days created her? She lived in his garden?

"Why do you torture us with rain?" she spat as she looked up into his huge eyes.

"Josellia, my child," Josh began. "I have to water the garden so the plants will grow. If I don't water the plants, you'll starve. You can't tend to them on your own."

She lay motionless on his work table, confused and still bitter. "I've spent years crippled because of you!"

"Can I help you stand?" Josh asked.

Josellia shrugged, so Josh reached down. His hand enveloped her completely. He slowly brought her to feet, and placed her in front of a shiny metal tool box. The instant she glanced at her reflection, she inhaled sharply and raised her hand to touch her lips. Every rough spot on her skin now felt like velvet. Her legs matched each other and her arms gracefully rested at her sides. Josellia's face looked like it did before her first rain.

"I've been longing to make you new, but you always run away. I know that you're afraid of the rain, but you've also been so scared of me that you haven't let me fix you," Josh said with a sigh. "I come to the garden every day without my watering can, but you all still run away. You Pretts won't even let me tell you that I love you."

Josellia remained in shock as she said, "Well, why don't you protect us from the rain? You know that it burns us and cripples us. Why do you do that?"

Josh responded, "Do you see how you look now?"

Josellia nodded as she smiled at the lovely reflection staring back at her from the side of the tool box.

"I want to make you even more beautiful. I want to make you look even more like me; you're designed to be more real than you are. But, you're made out of clay. The water that burns and changes you is what allows me to reform, transform, and mold you. When you ask a friend to work on you or when you try to put yourself back together, you end up crippled. I'm the only one who can shape you into the Prett you're supposed to be. And, I use the rain to do it."

With eyes full of compassion and understanding, Josh watched the tiny clay woman tilt her head to the side, raise her eyebrows, sit down on the table, and then place her head in her hand.

"You've got a lot to think about," Josh chuckled. "Why don't I take you home?"

Josellia nodded again, and he picked her up. She noticed for the first time how warm and comforting his hands were. She felt safe, protected, and at home. She peered over his thumb as he walked toward the garden, where she saw Pretts running for cover. Josellia heard their screams, and she looked into the giant gardener's face as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

He placed her at her doorstep, and she thanked him for taking her home. Josh handed her enough fruits and vegetables to last her for a few days. Josellia closed the door, ate dinner, and then got ready for bed.

When she woke the next morning, her head was still swimming. For the next few days, no one heard the Giant's footsteps.

On day four, Josellia heard a familiar rumble; the same one that always sent a chill down her spine. She heard the Pretts shouting and saw her peers running for shelter.

Josellia jumped up, dashed out the door, and ran outside to play in the rain.