There is a knock at the door. Ariana is busy in the kitchen with Az
and the girls, so Scrapper answers the door. A young, lean skunk
wearing a postal uniform is standing on the step. He is holding a
clipboard in his left paw and a pen in his right. On the step beside
him sets a medium-sized red package with purple ribbons and a deep
blue bow.
"Hello, can I help you?" Scrapper asks.
"Yeah. I have a delivery for Ms. Arriiii..." He says as he looks up
and comes eye to eye with the large dragon and jumps two feet,
landing in the yard with a thud.
"Are you ok?" Scrapper asks as he goes to help him up. "Ohhh," he
groans. "I'm all right. I didn't expect to see you here."
"Pardon me? Do I know you?" Scrapper asks, raising an eye ridge
inquisitively.
"No! I meant that I expected Ariana to answer the door, or at least
someone who would actually fit in there. No offense." He says
nervously.
"I understand, none taken. Now, you said you had a package for
Ariana." Scrapper says.
"Yes, sign here." He says, handing Scrapper the pen after fishing it
out of the grass.
Just then, Lori comes to the door. "What's going on?" she wonders.
His eyes grew wide with nervous fear when he hears her voice and he
nearly pisses in his pants and passes out.
"Oh, nothing, I accidentally scared the delivery guy." Scrapper
explains.
"Delivery! As in pizza?!" she begs.
"No. Delivery as in a package for Ari. Be a dear and put it with the
others." He asks.
"Sure." She says disappointedly. She "hmmm's" as she eyes the
terrified skunk suspiciously before taking the gift inside.
After she puts it with the others Ariana comes over to her.
"What's wrong?" she asks cheerfully.
"Someone sent you a gift. But there was something funny about the
delivery boy. I can't put my finger on it, but he seems familiar."
Lori says, in deep thought.
"Don't worry about it, it'll come to you." Ari reassures her. "As
for my gift, any ideas as to what it could be?" She asks as she
picks it up and gently shakes it. They hear jingling and
something thumping around. They both 'hmmm' and go back into the
kitchen.
"Tell the girls the beanbag says hey and will see them later." he
says to Scrapper as he leaves. Scrapper raises a confused eye ridge
and turns to say something, but is too late. The truck had already
driven off.
"Hey girls, the delivery guy just asked me to tell you 'the beanbag
says hey and will see you later' whatever that is supposed to mean."
Scrapper says as he comes into the kitchen. Onyx's eyes light up
instantly. "HE'S HERE!?!" she gasps and runs outside to pounce on
him, only to be disappointed that there isn't anyone there. As she
is going back in, she notices a note on the step.
On the outside it says "Shhhhhh", so she slips it in her pocket.
She then excuses herself and goes into the bathroom. She carefully
unfolds the note. It reads:
Onyx, there is a special surprise for you when Ariana
opens her present. Make sure she opens the one that
just came last. And save me a piece of cake please.
I'll see 'you' later. XOXOXOX
She purrs a deep sigh and rejoins the party.
"I've looked through our red and black books, but I can't find
any
mention of a beanbag of any kind in either of them. Momma said
there'd be days like this." Lori says, more confused than ever. At
that, Onyx sighs again and smiles, imagining of what is in store for
later.
Now, lets get this party started!
Smoke Rat
Received on Wed Apr 24 2002 - 06:24:55 CDT