Angelica, who was sitting next to the pool, petted Fluffy, oblivious to the adults.

“It’ll be okay, Harry. It will. It has to be,” Alice said, nuzzling the chimp’s face. “Bette’s just got some monkey on her back. No offense.”

*** *** *** ***

Helena drew back the sliding door leading into Bette’s kitchen.

She found her there.

Bette leaned over her countertop, bracing herself with her hands, her head bent forward.

“Darling?”

Bette slowly turned her head and looked over her shoulder. She returned her gaze quickly to the counter.

“Helena,” Bette said softly

“Darling?”

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Bette said reluctantly.

“Do what?” Helena asked, approaching Bette slowly from behind.

Bette took a deep breath. And sighed.

“Do what?” Helena asked again, wrapping her arms around Bette’s waist.

Helena lay her head on Bette’s shoulder, comfortingly. She nuzzled her face into Bette’s neck and kissed her there, breathing deeply.

“Bette?” Helena inquired for the third time, “do what?”

Bette caressed her cheek against Helena’s.

“Have you,” Bette murmured, nuzzling her nose against Helena’s. “Be happy.”

Helena turned Bette around and took her into her arms, kissing her passionately.

Bette pulled away and turned her back to Helena, sobbing quietly.

“Bette?”

“Helena. I’m nothing. Nothing compared to you. Do you understand that? You’re Helena Peabody…a billionaire heiress extraordinaire…I’m just a … a fucking… person … without a job … I have nothing but … but … responsibilities…”

Helena caressed her hand soothingly down Bette’s torso, over her behind, taking in her aura, feeling her metaphysical pain.

“That’s why you’ve always hated me, isn’t it?” Helena thought out loud, and inadvertently saying it.

As Bette sobbed, Helena turned her physically around with her hands at her waist and looked her in the eye.

“Bette. I cannot help my lot in life. That I was born privileged. To wealth. But it does not define me. I’ve worked hard to present myself to… to the fact that it does not … that it doesn’t matter!” Helena stopped and took a breath, gazing into Bette’s eyes. “I understand that you want to be the self-sufficient you. That is your demon. That is the monkey on your back. We both have problems. And if we are smart…if we are discerning…and competent human beings…we will talk through them. You can’t be afraid of me and walk away. I won’t allow it. I can’t. And I know you are not a woman who would ever allow herself taking care of…financially.”

Bette began to walk away, hunched over and overwhelmed.

“Stop, Bette,” Helena commanded, grabbing her. “Please. Don’t walk away from me.”

“I don’t want to!” Bette screamed, turning to face Helena.

Helena froze. She stared Bette down. Like a jaguar.

Bette’s eyes glared back at her.

“I. Have. Nothing. Helena. Nothing!” Bette screamed. “I don’t have a job! I’m on my last dollar! And I don’t want you to rescue me! Not from my penniless self!”

“Damn! You’re stubborn!” Helena yelled, frustrated.

“Yes, I am! So live with it or get out!”

Bette’s cell phone rang.

Helena’s phone rang.

“Fuck!” they both screamed.

*** *** *** ***

“And then the Momma monkey-witch said to the other Mama monkey-witch, please, sweetie, have some more special monkey porridge, because I wuv you so much,” Alice said, taking Angelica’s hand and kissing it as she continued her poolside story. Fluffy curled up in Alice’s lap. And Harry stroked Fluffy’s fur.

“And Mama monkey-witch said to the other Momma monkey-witch, “But maybe I don’t wants any ov your hi-flalootin porridge!” Alice continued.  "And then, Momma monkey said to the other Mama monkey, ‘I wuv you, Darling. I will take care of you forever.’ And then…oh my gosh!”

Angelica looked up at Alice, eyes wide. “Whats happens den, Ant Awice? What?”

Alice squinted her eyes and looked at Angelica.

“And then…an’ then…the Fairy Goddess-Grandma Monkey-Witch came hovering down in a shiny golden ball!” Alice’s fingers twittered in the air as she looked up to the moon.

“Yay! Oh Yay! Oh yay!” Angelica clapped. “Is she a good Monkey witch?”

“Well, maybe…I think so. That’s what all the munch-monkies thought, ” Alice replied.

“Whatz her name?” Angelica asked excitedly, jumping up and down on her butt.

“Her name is … um … Peggy, the Good-Pagan Monkey Queen of the West!”

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh,” Angelica exclaimed happily, her eyes grown wide with anticipation. “ An’ den whats happenz Ant Awice?”