[Ed. note: republished with permission from Jasmine's blog.]
 

"You've both got your cellphones, right?" They nodded eagerly. "Good. I have to get back to my apartment to get my gear. Skinny, get us some transportation and meet me at my apartment."

Skinny nodded and turned into the crowd.

"Pretty, I need you to follow him. Keep your phone on. Do not lose him! We'll catch up to you as soon as we can."

Pretty lifted his right leg to step over the metal fence.

"Wait! First lift me up."

Pretty looked puzzled.

"Now, man, now!"

He grabbed her at the waist and lifted her as high as she could. Thanking providence yet again for her tiny frame, Jasmine crawled onto a stranger and began to run toward the end of the plaza. It's was difficult half running on people's shoulders and she took a great deal of care to keep her weight balanced on her toes, lest she hurt someone with her heels.

Soon she was on the ground again and running full speed toward her apartment. She kept her eyes open for taxis, but saw none that were not already full. Her frustration grew with every step. With every second, he's father away. Maybe it's not meant to be? A little too lost in thought for running in heels, she misstepped and broke a heel. With a tinge of regret she examined her broken shoe and her skinned knee.

For a moment, she despaired. Then she broke the other shoe and resolved to keep moving. A few minutes later, she was at her apartment. After her brisk fourteen block run, she no longer looked like the delicate flower of womanhood she did a few hours earlier. You can do this, Jazz. World speed record. Faster. Faster!

Too impatient for the elevator, she bounded up the stairs to her fifth floor apartment. After spending far more time that she'd have liked fumbling for her key, she was inside and shimmying out of her dress on the way to the bedroom closet. She grabbed the dress that looked most like the one she'd just removed and dashed to the bathroom. A washcloth, a towel, two hairbrushes, a lipstick, and a few other sundries began to fly about her head. She was moving so fast that an observer might have incorrectly assumed that all these items were moving on their own, when in fact it was just Jasmine doing her impression of a one-woman makeover pit crew.

Satisfied that she'd done all she could with the time she had, she slid into her dress and ran to the shoe room. She darted in, this time not even bothering to close the door. The remote was in her hand in a flash and again the mechanical racks resumed their frenzied dance. She chose the first pair of shoes she could live with and was on her way back to the bedroom. This time she grabbed a much larger bag. She tossed her tiny bag inside and then added her favorite tools. Her phone rang and she cursed her foolishness. She dug to the bottom of the bag to retrieve the chirping sliver of electronics.

Caller ID showed Skinny's number. "Skinny?"

"I'm outside. I've got a ride."

"Good girl. I'll be down in a minute."

Jasmine snapped the phone shut and headed for the door. Her bag over her shoulder and her shoes in her hand, she slammed the door and ran to the stairway. I hope there's nothing sharp on the stairs. I piece of glass will end all of this.

She made it to the bottom of the stairs with feet intact and sprinted for the front door. Skinny was directly in front of her building. To Jasmine's great consternation, she was seated atop a horse, with another horse next to it.

"Skinny?"

"I don't know what the hell is going on in this city, but there're no taxis anywhere in this damn borough!"

"Horses? This is the best you could come up with?"

"Mounted policemen. You have no idea what I had to promise them. You owe me BIG."

"But Skinny… I don't know how to ride a horse!"

"It's easy. You just work your thighs. You'll be a natural."

"Hey!"

"Close your mouth and get on. If I got these horses for nothing, you just might have to die."

Jasmine gulped noticeably and climbed on to the second horse. She fearfully dug her heels into the animal's sides. I'm going to kill myself.