I've said this before and appears it won't be the last
time! Bad fur, Brandon! You've set me off again...
--- payne_brandon <payne_brandon_at_yahoo.ca> wrote:
> <BIG SNIP>
> The girls needed no more prodding than that as they
> ran to fetch
> them. Jim sat and watched them like a hawk during
> that time.
>
> 'Can't even trust them to clean up by themselves!',
> he snarled to
> himself.
Jim uprighted a chair and after wiping the water off
with his hand, sat down near the doorway to supervise.
He crossed his arms and glared at the bedraggled
skunks.
Lori and Natasha swished mops and conveyed the water
into a sqeeze bucket. Onyx used a sponge to push the
flood from the benches into the sink.
After around ten minutes, it appeared progress was
being made. Jim started to relax and the scowling
anger had disappated to a frown.
"Hey watch where you're mopping!" growled Lori as
Natasha trailed the mop across her foot.
"Sorry..." mumbled Natasha "But your in the way."
"Well why don't you mop over THERE?" Lori jerked the
mop handle toward the other end of the room.
"I'm trying to stand where it's already dry so we
don't spread the water."
"We wouldn't have had such a spread of water if you'd
turned the tap off when I said."
"The handle broke, it wasn't my fault!" whined Natasha
"And you were aiming the hose!" cut in Onyx.
"It was your silly idea! I don't see why I should have
to clean up your mess!" snapped Lori.
"Because _I_ say so!!!!" roared Jim, springing up from
the chair, red flush returning to his face. "Can't
you three just co-operate and get this done! You
aren't the only ones waiting for tea!"
"It'd be quicker if you helped..." suggested Natasha
"No, this is YOUR mess, this is YOUR punishment."
stated Jim, folding his arms across his chest and
looking down at the sisters.
Lori swished her mop at a puddle and started to
sniffle. "We're sorry, Jim. We didn't mean to mess
things up."
"We just wanted to make a cake, it was going to be a
surprise for when you got home..." sobbed Onyx
"We didn't mean to cause trouble for you, we're
reeeallly sorry..." Natasha wiped a teary eye with the
back of her grubby paw.
"Oh no..." groaned Jim grabbing his temples with one
hand and dragging his plam down across his face "the
emotional guilt ploy..."
Jim took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"Alright! Okay! That's enough! Stop the water works!
I'll do you a deal. I'm going to go into the lounge
and watch the news. That gives you half an hour. If by
when the news is finished, you have this place all
straightened out, I'll cook tea and no more will be
said. IF you HAVEN'T got the kitchen spin and span,
then I'm going to come in here and clean up, but using
YOUR SKUNKY TAILS!!!" he glared around at the
blubbering skunks, who shied back and nodded
agreement.
Turning on heel, Jim went into the lounge and switched
on the TV.
Onyx stomach growled. "I'm hungry."
"Well we know what has to be done, let's get to it
sisters..." Natasha resumed mopping.
Lori sighed and commenced collecting another puddle
while Onyx wiped down the stove top.
The cheerful music signalled the end of another morbid
news report. Jim switched off the television and
getting up from the couch went to check on the rest of
the bad news in the kitchen. He furrowed his brow as
he considered what drastic options were left to him.
Pushing open the door, Jim was astounded by the sight.
The scruffy looking skunks were putting the last of
the kitchen utensils back on the shelves. Some of the
surfaces were still damp, the water residue not having
had time to evaporate, but the puddles, cake mix and
other mess were nowhere to be seen.
Jim's jaw dropped. "I'm VERY impressed girls! Well
done! Pasta and caserol okay for tea? I think that's
about all that is left in the fridge."
"That's okay, we'll pass..." smiled Natasha weakly
"I need a bath..." grimaced Onyx, inspecting her
matted fur.
"I want some rest - that's exhausting..." Lori
blinked, her tail dragging behind her.
The three headed out of the doorway upstairs to wash
and bed. Such an exertion had left them spent.
"Well I'll be a skunk's uncle." muttered Jim as the
trio departed, a bemused expression on his face. "Put
the right conditions on them and miracles can happen!"
The End.
Scrapper, Black Dragon, who thought he'd better put a
logical end to it before it runs away... :-)
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Received on Wed Apr 10 2002 - 17:13:46 CDT