Calci knocked on the window.

"Seeing as we're getting somewhere, why don't we kick start with the clichés?" Calci interrupted the still sound in humour and plausible impatience "Ask me about myself?"

"Who where you?" Phyllis asked abruptly "and how long have you lived?"

"Well" Calci started as she plonked herself down to sit on the balcony "I'm Calci. I was Cale in my last generation, pronounced like Kale but with a C, and Donia before that, also Cally like the Goddess, but with a C, my birth name Caledonia, I got to use that again, also, Nia, Lele, Eddi, Cal..."

"How did you become what you are?" Phyllis interrupted.

"Curse, I believe? Or blessing? Or will power? Or genetics? I don't know?" Calci though.

"So you weren't sired?" Phyllis quizzed.

"Like in films and TV, no, more, initiated" Calci answered.

"So how did you know you were different?" Phyllis asked.

"Well, I died a horrible death during said initiation, had trippy dreams, roamed around, watched the people in my town, realised my presence was draining their energy, then, I started to, repair" Calci claimed as she moved to lay on her side, supported by her elbow "not a pleasant process; thirst, exhaustion, hunger, and, bodies sweating out their liquids and insides, as, slime"

"Well that, doesn't really explain much" Phyllis claimed with a shrug.

"Just think... Strawberry jelly, haemorrhaging out of your pours, until your nothing but a skeleton in a puddle" Calci explained.

Phyllis uncomfortably shifted on the spot, she appeared to be sweating.

"You asked" Calci chimed.

Some time had passed.

Now a fairly bright morning, Phil, clad in a jogging suit, stopped, wiped his sweating brow and looked up at the clock tower.

"Well done mate, you're in better nick than me" a young male seated on a bench proclaimed as he looked from Phil to the path he had scaled "I couldn't hack an uphill run at that speed"

"Thank you" Phil said with closed palms "but never write yourself off, I believe I was older than you when took control of my body and today, I work through physical barriers"

"Well, you're an inspiration mate" the younger man offered as he pulled out a large, flat, active cell phone and put it to his ear "I'm busy" he yelled down the device in an instant; kicking off his new conversation.

Phil turned and made his way down the hill, slowly, seemingly dejected.

Inside Rosies Posies, Channel pushed a small trolley filled with around a dozen potted poinsettias, centre in their pots, surrounded by a clusters of rosemary.

She stopped, held one of the plants up by its red shiny pot and studied it, before looking to the plants that decorated a shelf beside her, a shelf full of Christmas Cactus and watercress.

She seemed lost - in thought, or perplexed.

The front door opened, sounding a sharp bell.

Channel stood to attention, looking startled.

"Morning Channel" Phil said as he entered the store.

"Thank God it's you" she sighed "I though I was going to have to, know stuff" she said as she freed up one hand to pinch and lift a pot seated on the shelf "and explain these?" she finished.

Phil moved towards her and looked closer, Channel was gently pruning a plant and herb arrangement.

"It's been a few years since she's done something like this" he finally said once his analysis was over "it makes sense, to her anyway, but sense doesn't always sell" he said with a subtle shrug.

"I swear she put these together early this morning, she's on a roll right now" Channel claimed wittily.

"She's awake?" Phil asked in surprise.

"Can you believe it!? Awake and in a good mood, I'm tempted to push my luck and ask for a raise" Channel said.

"Hmmm" Phil loudly wondered.

Channel placed the Christmas Cactus back in its spot and pulled out her mobile from her.

"That mardy cow bounced 'round here last night and all, wonder if she put her in her place?" Channel enquired towards Phil whilst focused on her device.

"Do you mean Phyllis?" Phil asked.

"Pixie cut, big knockers, looks like she's sniffin' a fart" Channel offered.

Phill nodded his head in confirmation, a slight worried look graced his face.
"I think I'll go and say hello to Calci" he stated to the girl as he passed her.

"'K" she replied as she rested her elbows against the trolley.