2.
“I
refuse to graze!” king said. It was already humiliating enough to walk on all fours like a sheep. It was already humiliating enough to play the sheep in a game between wolves and dogs –not to mention that he had collected enough bruises to last him a lifetime. But
grazing? No way!
“Aww, it makes you look tastier!” said one of the cubs. Then all three of them grinned at him in what they thought a pleading way. “Pleeeeease?”
To King, they looked definitely hungrier.
King was about to give them a piece of his mind, when Fox’s cell rang. And so did Lucky’s. And so did Bailey’s and Jolene’s, and King’s…
Fox put the phone to his ears, hoping there wasn’t a problem. “Bino?
What?!”
And he wasn’t the only one to react the same way…
---
At Poe Plaza, everyone heard the rumble of the GM Titan’s 3,300 HP EMD 16-645E4 V-16 engines revving up. The crowd sported a forest of hearing appendages.
The three TV screens, that until now had broadcasted music, now showed the face of the Lucky Charm Grove’s Head of Veterinarian Medicine, Doctor Mordecai Stanwick. Silence was like a physical presence. No one dared to breath.
“It has begun,” Stanwick said, his eyes betraying his excitement, while he spoke in a cool voice. “The first to go into labor is…Grape Jelly Sandwich. All vital stats are normal. She is being carried at the clinic right now.”
The felines assembled and many dogs erupted in a cheer that soon involved the whole crowd.
Then the money of who had bet on Grape being first in labor started exchanging paws. Selene knew she was going to be rich today…
---
At the Police Precinct, Police Chief Horace Norton himself was at the radio. “You got green lights and zero traffic from there to the Shelter, Foster. Godspeed and good luck to the ladies.”
“Thank you, Chief,” said Martin’s voice from the speaker. “I owe you one.”
Truth be told, Horton and Martin had planned the route carefully, considering that the reconverted truck could easily squish any car like a bug and any human like an ant. But the police chief said, “We owe you, mister. Congratulations again. And Merry Christmas.”
---
Doc Stanwick was used to every possible range of problems and experience, he had seen the world during his service as military vet. It had taken a near-death experience to make him retire from duty, despite performing under the most extreme scenarios, working on patients just a step from death’s door.
Helping three healthy animals to give birth, though for their first time, in one of the most modern structures, with the best staff and tools money could buy, was supposed to be a milkrun.
Despite this knowledge, Stanwick was pacing the meeting room back and forth like a tiger. He kept licking nervously his upper lip, as if he wanted to rip it off with his tongue.
He knew he had all he needed to do a good job, and he kept listing the reasons something could go wrong and cost him his life
Grape, Mizar, Sasha. The three most popular and loved girls.
They’re only patients, they’re only patients, they’re only patients! And should something happen to them, Foster will rip my heart out to weigh it on great Anubis’ balance!
“Doctor?” a nurse asked, tapping his shulder.
“Eeep! Oh, it’s you Miss Mayers. Please, whatever you need to tell me, just bring me a chamomile, later. A strong one.”
“Uh, Doc? The Mobile Medical Unit just called. Sasha and Mizar went into labor as well.”
Until that moment, Stanwick had felt like a beginner of parachuting. He was in the airplane, looking at the wide world below, terrified to jump.
Now he was falling, and he’d better make the best of his abilities. No time for second thoughts or fears. He had studied and worked for a moment like this. This would be his finest hour!
Mordecai turned and addressed his staff. He was in full control, the man who could look a Taliban in the and tell him to get lost until he had done his job! “Ladies and gentlemen, this is it. From now on and until we won’t hear mewling and whimpering, you won’t be having friend, lovers or families. The end of the world will wait, everything will wait. Kristos, bring your team to delivery room 1. Mayers, triple check of instrumentation. Make sure there are food and snacks for the guests and that the visitors’ room can host them properly. At the first sign of separation anxiety, heads will roll!”
Men and women stood up. Mayers said, “Do you still want that chamomile tea, Doctor?”
He shook his head. “Coffee! A lot of coffee and transfusion bags and needles to shoot him straight into our veins, if necessary! And don’t forget the donuts!”
---
“Temperature range stable…”
“Good fetal heartbeat…”
“Normal pressure…”
“No blood loss…”
“Peanut!”
Jill Sandwich, sitting beside Grape, kept caressing her head in a reassuring way. “Grape, love, Peanut is in the other van. He will be with you as soon as you’re hospitalized and in your room. Shh, dear child. Did you hear your medics? Everything is going fine, you’re doing great. The kittens are okay, and you’re just scared; that’s normal. Now be my brave kitty, will you?”
“Are you scared too?” Grape asked. She didn’t feel brave, she didn’t feel relaxed. She wanted her mommy, she wanted Peanut! Where was that stupid mutt when she needed him?
“Grape,” Sasha’s voice said, breaking into the cat’s wall of anguish. The German Shepherd’s voice was like a sun beam into the storm.
Grape turned her head to meet the dog’s candy-pink eyes, those eyes full of life, of trust. Sasha knew that things would be all right, perhaps in some weird way she knew the truth about the litter, and yet there she was, having the time to share her love. To console her. “They will be beautiful, Grapey. Everything will be fine, and our kids will play all together, like a biiig family.”
“You know, I wish I could share your optimism,” Mizar said, trying to smile, failing. Luckily, the contractions weren’t frequent, but heck if they
hurt! “What if no one of them is white? Alcor wishes so much that at least one of them shared our fur color. I understand him, it’d help him feeling more…daddy, you know.”
“Oh, I’m sure they will be,” Sasha said. And, to Grape, “And I’m sure one of them will just look like…”
“Peanut!”
“Eh? What?” Peanut looked at his father, Budweiser, and at the same time looked through him. “Uh? Dad?” His eyes went to the crowd of guests. The gigantic refitted van could easily host everyone that had attended the party, with room to spare.
Peanut looked through Budweiser, staring at the wall as if it was made of glass, trying to imagine his wife laying there, calling to him…
“If this is of consolation, son, I was equally terrified when your mother went through her labor.” Bud held Peanut’ knee in his paws. “You’ll be so scared that you’ll feel like tearing the world apart just to be with her. You won’t feel happy until you hold your firstborn in your arms. You’ll want to bite ad growl at everyone who will speak to her but you. Because you can’t imagine being separated from her now more than ever.
“But, Peanut, now you must check yourself, stay in control. Grape is in the best hands humankind can offer, she’s with friends who understand her troubles. You’re so worried that you would only get on her nerves right now.”
Peanut whimpered.
“Now be brave, son. For her and for the family you are going to raise.”
“D-dad?”
“Yes?”
“Do you…do you still remember my sister? What happened to her?”
“I remember her when she was a wee puppy, but after you two got separated, well, I never heard about her again, or your mother. I can only hope she’s fine, so you see, Peanut. And you, Bino, and you, Alcor: enjoy this life, this gift you have been given. You won’t have a second chance at it, take it from an expert.”
Bino didn’t exactly look like he was sharing Bud’s thoughts. But he was having second thoughts.
He had worked hard, was still working hard, to become a good police dog. To relish in sweet glory. To set an example.
But now he was going to be a father. For real.
Stupid stupid stupid! How did he end up in this mess? He just couldn’t leave Sasha to her own devices. What if Sabrina or Fido tainted the pup with their cat-loving ideas? Even worse, if he started making friends with Peanut’s litter?!
His pup…growing up all soft and a cat-lover.
But would the Club members understand if their President dropped the run for the police?
“Hey, Bino,” Peanut said, patting his back, startling him. “Why the long face? You should be the coolest of us right now, don’t you trust Sasha to deliver the pup safe and sound?”
Bino chuckled. That weird dog was right, after all, he had to be a model, not just another anxious parent. “Heh, for all I know, she might be trying to convince the other girls to fill their rooms with stuffed unicorns.”
“And then she will ask for her Peanuts piano and try accompany Mizar in her AAAAARRRGGH ballad in si bemolle concerto,” Alcor added.
Silly jokes, but enough to release the tension in a good laugh.
Wiping his eyes, Peanut said, “So, Bino, did you already chose the name?”
“We asked our parents to keep the gender secret, so that if it’s a boy, I’ll name it. In such case, his name will be Bosco. T.G. Bosco, tough stuff. And you two?”
Alcor shrugged. “Dad chose them already. We owe him, he saved our lives, he gave us the best of life. Though we’re pretty sure he’ll take inspiration from the stars, as usual.”
“What’s the ‘T.G.’ for?” Max asked.
Bino sported a triumphant grin. “The Game. And you just lost.”
Peanut was about to cry. But before the others could try to maim Bino, the slight lurch announced the truck’s halt.
They had reached the shelter.
---
Foster Mansion
The new villa, destined to host Martin’s expanded family, was ready at last.
Gone were the workers, gone was the cube hiding the construction site.
The palace was larger, sturdier, a Shingle Style building.
A building waiting patiently for the arrival of its inhabitants. The doors were closed, the windows shut, not a light was shining, everything was quiet, outside…
…and inside. The anteroom’s white marble floor was so shiny, one could reflect oneself in it. The plastic wrapping had been removed from the furniture. The curtains waited to be moved away from the windows.
In the kitchen, the most modern room of the house, an assortment of stainless steel, copper and marble tools waited to meet the ingredients from the pantry to work on new delicacies for demanding palates. The ranges held their scalding breath, waiting to be touched by the pans hanging over the big counter. The oven’s mouth was patient, it knew that its hunger for big dishes would soon be sated….
Inside the game room, only the empty chairs confronted each other, before the excited players started using them.
Inside the library, the books and the e-readers waited, patiently, as always. They knew someone would come to turn their pages to seek solace in a quiet corner away from the frenzy.
This was a good place. A place clean from the dark presences that had haunted the previous house. Now this land was at peace, Foster Mansion would be a sanctuary, not a receptacle for sorrows.
The Aztec Jaguar spirit walking around the house, diffusing an eerie blue glow, would make sure of it.
This was his task, now, after all.
---
The shelter’s guests had seen their share of medical emergencies, and even a couple of deliveries. They were used to a certain degree of excitement in that place. And then there were the school, and the theater and the games… One got never bored, there.
They still had to see the procession of three stretchers surrounded by medical and security teams, and after them a thick crowd of pets and wolves and humans chatting excitedly between themselves and at the phone. Even that Otis guy was in the crowd, rumors were he was a friend of Sasha.
Sure thing, if someone tried to harm the three females laying on the stretchers, chances were that someone would get
extinct.
---
“Good evening, lucky ladies. I am Margaret Redwall, and I will be your doctor for this final stage of your trip to maternity.”
Grape, Mizar and Sasha looked at the smiling woman, her face marked by the happy wrinkles, green eyes set between wisps of blond hair. Maybe it was the drugs they had been given to calm the labor pains, but for some reason the veterinarian’s smile looked like a velociraptor’s. A hungry one. “I will be your physician until you enter the delivery room, where Doc Stanwick and his equipe will take care of you. After that, congratulations! You will live the most beautiful time of your lives, although for now I must ask you to refrain from cursing. Questions?”
Sasha raised her paw first. “Will we get ice cream, after?”
“The nurse will give you a list of allowed post-partum foods. Remember, what you eat goes to your beloved children, so take care to follow that list, no exceptions. And this means, no ice cream, Sasha. Sorry.”
“Aww.”
Mizar raised her paw. “Will we deliver in one single room?”
Margaret nodded. “Yes. And under the very eyes of your relatives and friends. There will be a glass wall and a speaker to allow the others to see and encourage you.”
“Can our mates be present?” Grape asked. “During delivery, I mean.”
“Of course. Your husbands will be there for you all the time. Only the other relatives and friends will stay in the adjacent room.” She turned and went to the door. “Now I’ll leave you with them. We’ll be checking on you every thirty minutes. You see those buttons? Press them for any necessity. The hospital is at your disposal for today, enjoy it ladies.”
---
For some reason, the sight of the crowd assembled in the ‘show room’ close to the delivery room made Stanwick think about those zombie movies. And he was really happy that the glass was bulletproof.
The head veterinarian cleared his throat. The crowd fell silent. Thirty heads turned toward him. Stanwick almost heard them thinking
Braiinnnss.
“Ah, gentlemen, gentlefurs, really, you don’t need to stay here. Why won’t you go to the cafeteria? You will find foods and entertainment to spend these hours before—“
“We can’t go,” Jill interrupted him.
Stanwick tried his most diplomatic smile. “Ah, Jill, believe me dear. I understand you, you are involved after all, but really, you need to relax a bit while waiting—“
“I can’t go,” Jill corrected herself, “because I too must be hospitalized.” The woman pointed at the pool of broken waters drenching her feet and the pavement. “Martin got a place for me too, in that delivery room, right?”
Mordecai Stanwick decided to faint…straight into the arms of Father Ghetti, who was smiling like the most blessed of souls.
“Praise be!” the priest said.
---
“Hi there, Princess Periwinkle! Sorry for being late!” the malamute said, walking into the room. “Nice place, you got.”
“Lucky!” the lavender cat gladly accepted a hug from him and a peck from Felix, her old, first friends. “It doesn’t matter: it’s important that you two are here, now.”
Felix took a seat and sat next to a very happy Peanut. “So many adventures together, Musketeer, and now…this. Who would’ve predicted it? We’re so proud of you two, guys. Right, Lucky?”
The big dog nodded. “You can say that again! Don’t worry, Princess! We’ll help you raise your litter like true fighters!”
Grape sighed. “I’d prefer them to be good-natured, book-lovers like my Peanut.” She caressed her dog’s cheek. “But I know it’s wishful thinking.”
Peanut held her paw, giving her a smile that counted like a wink.
At that moment, silence fell in the room. Many hostile eyes followed the movement of a familiar Doberman, followed by a patchwork-colored puppy.
“Uh, hi, Sasha,” the big dog said, his ears cast low. “You okay?”
“Yes, she’s okay, and you can go now,” Bino retorted, before his wife said, “Otis! Mirai! Aw, it’s good to see you again!” Sasha waved to the couple. Bino facepawlmed.
“Look,” Otis said. “I never had the occasion to tell you I’m sorry for the troubles I caused.”
“You bet your sorry tail you’re sorry, mister,” Bino growled. “How did you
dare to endanger—“
“Bino,” Sasha chided him. His eyes shrunk.
“B-but he
kidnapped you!” he said. “He made you
steal stuff!”
Sasha pecked him on his cheek. “Love, Otis was only worried for Mirai, he didn’t mean ill. I helped him because he had only me to help him, even if he should have told me the truth. What matters, now, is that Mirai has found a home, right girl?”
Hiding behind Otis’ legs, the puppy nodded. “Can I play with your pup when he grows up?” she asked shyly, her tail giving trembling wags.
“But of course, sweetheart! And I too hope it’s a boy, so he’ll grow strong and noble like his daddy.”
Bino just couldn’t stay angry when she was like this. Sasha just…trusted people. She wouldn’t have it against someone, and he couldn’t spoil her mood.
And even if Bino knew he was the best dog in the neighborhood, only Sasha could speak of him that way, the only canine who believed in him!
Bino stood up and offered his paw to Otis. “If she forgives you, I guess I can do the same. Just watch it, okay? Next time I’ll be a cop and will keep an eye on you.”
“You know,” Mizar said, looking at those scenes. “I wish there was someone of my old pack to share this moment with.”
Alcor looked puzzled. “Didn’t you tell me that they’d bite off your tail rather than allowing you to have your pups?”
The white-furred dog grinned. “Exactly. I would so love to see them getting jealous.”
“Vindictive. I love your mean streak… But seriously, we should start cultivating some friends of our own. Our life’s been too limited to our family, so far.”
“And do you really think we’ll be having time to look out for friends, after the pups are born?”
Alcor’s tail swished. “I do. Pups are friends-magnets. Ralph is on the list already, and many will follow, even if we’re one weird couple.”
Max didn’t know what to say or do. This wasn’t definitely his moment: he was just there to…root for Grape, though he hadn’t really a place here. He was a good friend, and Grape had enough of them right now.
If only he had someone with him to be happy with, even Bino! But of course Bino had better things to do right now—
Max’s cell buzzed. The black cat took it, hoping it was Selene, or even Allegra…
He didn’t recognize the number on the screen. “Hello?” he answered prudently. Then his eyes shrunk. “Ivan? Is that you? Yes, of course…
What? You can come back? When?” He was now grinning from ear to ear. “Of
course I’ll be waiting, this is just great! Yes, yes, of course. I’m still here. Thank you for calling, pal! I miss you!” He stuck out his tongue at the phone. "And no, I am not
that desperate!"
And when he put the phone back into the collar, he was sure Someone had listened to him.
Yes, this was going to be a great year!
---
Security Offices, Level 1, Terrace High
“Odearodearodearodearodear am I still on time mind the doggie victory drink incoming wee-o wee-o wee-o!”
The black furred paws grabbed the bowl with the special punch the minipinscher was carrying.
“Yeah, you’re still on time,
perro loco,” Hannibal ‘Psycho’ Bates said, putting the bowl down next to the snacks buffet. “I hope this beverage of yours is as good as you claim.”
S.A. Tobee Gallant threw an indignant look at the bigger dog. “It will knock you straight into next Christmas mister I can bet mah cookies on that!”
Sigmund Follett stepped between them. “Heel, boys. We’re here to celebrate the paternity of our friends Bino and Peanut. Let’s try to remember that, will ya?”
The cat Clementia just sat at the monitor synched on the veterinary clinic channel.
“You’re rooting for Peanut, are you?” the husky Athena said, not less focused on the show. “C’mon, I know you had set your eyes on him.”
The Brazilian Shorthair snorted. “Admittedly, he’s cute, for a dog, and too sweet to be a cop. But I guess that’s what makes him a good mate for Grape. I’m sure he’ll be a good parent despite the species barrier.” She shrugged. “After all, humans can be good parents for us.”
Athena looked perplexed, while she scratched her head. “I don’t know why, but you can make it sound offensive somehow.”
---
At the police precinct, Janet was sitting in a meeting room, together with hose colleagues who could spare some of their free time. Danko was sitting on her lap. A delivery, even if one so peculiar, wasn’t an event for which the police staff would ask time off, but everyone rooted for Foster, they just wanted to make sure that guy got the best deal, after what he had done for the community.
“So?” she asked to the screen. “Any news so far?”
The webcam sent her the image of a man who could be smiling and being hysteric at the same time. “We’re running the last yard, dear. Jill is in labor, we got a poker. Ghetti is having a mystical, Stanwick wishes he was in Timbuctu, security is having puppies themselves. I am discovering my inner clerical. Wish you and Danko were here.”
The woman laughed. “Yes, we’d like to be there too, but I guess there are already enough people as it is—What was
that?” All of a sudden, a piercing cry had broken the silence. The tension in the meeting room raised up a notch.
Martin looked toward the corridor. “That was Jill. They’re carrying her to delivery room right now… Oh.”
“What?”
Martin’s mouth had fallen. He looked really silly when he said, “She’s not the only one.”
---
Poe Plaza
“Gentlefurs,” Mordecai Stanwick said through the screen, causing the excited crowd to fall silent again. “We announce you that Mizar Foster, Sasha Byron, Grape Jelly and Jill Sandwich have been brought to delivery room. The final phase of the labor has started. All vitals are normal.”
And, again, the crowd saluted those words with enough passion to make glasses tremble.
Fiddler and Keys stepped onto the stand. In that moment, no one noticed them.
Then. Fiddler tapped her foot on the wooden floor. Her paw moved, and notes started flowing from her violin, accompanied by Keys’ faithful keyboard.
The voice of the violinist cat started singing the first notes of that sweet ballad…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfBBMhn5nL0
Dancing to the feel of the Drum
Leave this World behind
We'll have a drink and toast to ourselves
Under a violet Moon
---
It was this that made life worthy to be lived.
It was for this moment that every sacrifice, every joy, and every pain had a value.
The value of a new life.
Sasha’s mind went back to the breeding farm, to the sweet tongue of her mother cleaning her, in the warm haven of their bed, while she tasted the nectar of her suckling. It went back to the pride when her future parents chose her, before giving her the heart-shaped tag that she still wore.
A happy life, all in all, despite the problems, despite the troubles of her family, despite Daddy’s problems, but having always Bino at her side, and an awesome friend like King, and then the new house, living with Fido, knowing she had never been alone…
Bino saw all of that in her, and he knew his dizzy doggie had grown, although he could barely realize it was for real.
He saw the minuscule shape Sasha was gently cleaning with her own tongue, that blind, whimpering, suckling shape who still had to grow into a definite aspect, although his body already sported a nice brown spot on his back and white forepaws and legs.
If this was a dream, Bino didn’t want to wake up. Fot now, he was at peace with the world, with himself.
A boy.
“Welcome to the world, little Bosco Byron,” Sasha said in a soothing tone.
Bosco Byron.
Not only Sasha’s pup, but a member of the family now and forever.
Bino turned his head in time to see, through the glass that separated the delivery room from the show room, Fido, Joey and Max pumping their arm in perfect synch, chanting with the biggest grins, “Dududududududuhnnn…
Boscooh!”
Ryan and Beth Byron hugged each other. “God, he’s so
cute! I can’t believe it!” Beth said.
Jeff gave Bino a thumb up. “Congratulations, buddy! You were
great!”
And, for once, Bino was barely listening to them, as he spent those moments licking Sasha behind her hears, and sniffing his son.
---
“1-0 for the Gardens’ Police YAY!” Tobee said, jumping up and down on Psycho’s lap.
Sigmund and Athena hi-fived.
“Relax, you guys,” Clementia said. “Next litter incoming.”
---
Tudor Rose with her Hair in curls
Will make you turn and stare
Try to steal a kiss at the Bridge
Under a violet Moon
For many, many males at Poe Plaza, that birth meant that Sasha would be no longer the object of their Valentines.
But little did that matter, for the general attention was like magnetized by the screens. Those same males who cared for Sasha had rooted for her happiness, and there it was, in its best shape ever.
There would be time to start collecting presents for the pup…
---
It was this that made life worthy to be lived.
It was for this moment that every sacrifice, every joy, and every pain had a value.
The value of two new lives.
Twins. Male and female, both white as the purest milk, with only brown muzzles and ears. Two new lives for now conscious of their hunger and their new condition, while their mother cleaned them and fed them, the previous pains all forgotten.
Mizar’s mind went again to her feral days. So long ago, when hunger and thirst were constant companions, and when even the cold bars of a dirty cage could be called home, or rather, the last place to live before she died… And now all of that belonged not only to the past, but to a dimension of dreams, a memory that would never live again. Thanks to the love of a cat, love found in a place where love had died. The love of a human who had believed in her. The human who had earned the right to name them.
“Welcome to the world, Naos Foster…” she kissed the male puppy’s back. “…And Rigel Foster,” she said then to the female.”
Antares and Aldebaran did their best to crunch their Dad’s bones with their mightiest hug. “We’re uncles! We’re uncles! EEEEEE!!!” and then licked like crazy the human’s face, licking away the copious tears of joy.
“What kind of
names are they?” Reuben asked. His wife punished him with a hard slap behind his neck. “Ow!”
“Blue supergiant stars, Puppis and Orion constellations respectively,” Martin said, his eyes glued to his girl, his arms around the shoulder of his boys. He turned his head only to address Ralph, “Thank you. Thank you so much..!”
Ralph too almost paid no attention to the man. He wished with all his heart he was there. “I thank you for allowing all of this, Uncle Martin. I’m sure you’ll do a great job with them, as grandfather. Oh, and great names too.”
Bud rubbed his chin. “They’re really big already: I believe we have two great candidates for the Academy here, Sarge.”
“Best miniralphs
ever!” Kevin said, slapping hard the German Shepherd’s back. “Never seen such perfect pups! They’ll make great cops!”
“Dream on,” Martin said. “They’re going to be spoiled and loved, and theirs will be a pacific life, not one of danger or violence. No offense, Sergeant.”
---
Raise your hats and your Glasses too
We will dance the whole Night through
We're going back to a Time we knew
Under a violet Moon
More toasts where raised in honor of the three new lives. Now almost everyone was dancing, cats and dogs together, without distintion of class or species. Even Selene joined Fiddler and Keys, adding her voice to the song, giving it an almost supernatural quality.
Cheers to the Knights and Days of old
the beggars and the thieves
living in an enchanted wood
Under a violet Moon
Close your eyes and lose yourself
In a medieval mood
taste the treasures and sing the tunes
Under a violet Moon
This my delight on a shiny night
the seasons of a year
to keep the lanterns burning bright
Under a violet Moon
Of course, no one among them could perceive two certain presences enjoying that party as well.
The aquiline paw went to the green-scaled reptilian one.
“Would you allow me this dance?” Pete asked to Spirit Dragon.
“Today is a day for joy and for a truce, don’t waste it brooding.”
The cosmic female smiled and started dancing around the gryphon, creating universes in her spires.
“I hope you’re not going to ask me for a date. Cerberus would take it personally, though you two are no longer an item.”
“Or perhaps she’s still waiting for me to apologize,” the griffin said, assuming an awesome rampant pose, with his wings spread out in full.
“Who knows? Ohm, and by the way, it’s good to see you back. I thought Heaven would be less…lenient.”
Dragon smirked.
“You hoped so.”
“You know she’s the last to die, dear. But you know what I mean. Had I done something that magnitude, I would still be locked in the shape of a parrot and eating cheap seeds.”
That image made the reptile chuckle.
“Let’s just say that my privileges have been revoked. From now on, you have the favor –that is, until you’ll make a mistake big enough to equilibrate our parts. I hoped you would like it better if it was I to tell you. Oh, and I…” here her expression went somber for a moment. “
I apologize for acting like I did. It was…egoist of me.”
Pete was almost ecstatic, even his feathers had ruffled up in joy, making him look buffier.
“Best Christmas present ever, dear. I forgive you. Now, please, let us forget about work and just enjoy ourselves!” Pete spread out his arms, his head to the sky…
…and the sky was filled with fireworks! A shower of them, in a multitude of colors and shapes, much to the joy of the celebrants.
Raise your hats and your Glasses too
We will dance the whole Night through
We're going back to a Time we knew
Under a violet Moon
---
It was this that made life worthy to be lived.
It was for this moment that every sacrifice, every joy, and every pain had a value.
The value of five new lives.
Grape Jelly Sandwich felt at the same time completely exhausted and fueled up with new energies. It had been so painful, but oh so sweet! Everything had gone smoothly, just like the vets had told her. Like Sasha had told her. She had only to follow the voice of her body, ignore every other presence that wasn’t the new life fighting to come to the light, to meet the world it would grow into, to breathe, to mew their need for a presence to give them comfort, protection, food.
Grape did no longer feel clumsy, tired, embarrassed… She felt proud. Her five kittens were fighting at her belly for the best suckle, and she was living moments that she knew she’d carry in her heart forever. Not forced to worry about finding the next meal, not scared of losing everything. They were here, and they were here to stay.
Grape was purring, purring as she had never done, and Peanut was leaning on her, licking her, kissing her. The sweet dog that had sworn eternal love on the roof of a barnyard, a lifetime ago, before they knew miracles could happen.
And who cared if now everyone was looking with wide, incredulous eyes, divided between shock and acceptance? No one would make these creatures less hers because of someone’s prejudices.
Bino couldn’t believe it. Sasha was grinning happy, but Bino couldn’t share her joy.
What he was seeing was…impossible. Simple as that. He wanted to comment, say something, but he also had the impression that if he tried to, he would sign his death warrant.
Eventally, Bino decided that there would be time to get to the bottom of this…thing.
“No, Doc, you’re
not going to take a sample of their DNA,” Martin said. The man was smiling, but back was that hint of steel that made Stanwick realize he’d never see his Noble Prize. Not if he wanted to live. “Just accept it as this season’s miracle. Like Father Ghetti there.”
The priest, dressing a sterile gown despite his protest, was looking at the litter with eyes full of love. A miracle, indeed! One of those things you didn’t ask explanations about. The Almighty had wanted to add His touch to the love of His two children, and William Ghetti wouldn’t dare to insult such gift with his presumptuous doubts of a mere man.
Jill looked terrible, she
felt terrible. She felt like dying. How could something so beautiful be so painful?
And yet there she was, her girl, who had just given birth to five! “Look at her,” she said, crying with joy instead of pain. Even her labor was forgotten, at that moment. Her husband was caressing her moist hair, holding her hand tenderly. “God, Earl… We are grandparents. For real. Can you imagine those fuzzballs running around the house, playing with our kids?”
Earl nodded. Nature had taken a bizarre turn, here, but who cared? Those were his grandkids, and he would raise them as he had raised Peanut and Grape. To be influenced by the looks would mean refuse the same, powerful love that had driven a cat and a dog together. “I imagined it for so long, my dear. I prayed every single day that his dream became reality.”
Jill waved to Grape, letting her know she was proud of her. “I will pet them until their fur starts to fall. I must only decide who’ll be the first—“ Another contraction made her crunch her husband’s hand. She snarled like a lioness. “Earl, if Billy the Kid won’t come out soon of his own, you’re authorized to get a crowbar and pull him out of here!”
Grape returned her mother’s gesture. She nodded to Peanut, and then, to Father Ghetti she said, “It’s the moment.”
The priest nodded and wet his thumb into the stoup and repeated the ceremonial done with the previous litters. “Welcome to the world, Dayshaun Sandwich,” Grape said, with the man running his finger on the kitten’s light fur. A kitten whose fur pattern reflected in every detail Peanut’s. The son of love and ancient magic. Grape had no doubts that Dayshaun would share his father’s eyes color as well.
Then, while the priest proceeded to wet his thumb for the second blessing, she licked her second born’s lavender fur, a uniform purple hue interrupted by a single white spot in the middle of her brow. “Welcome to the world, Tarot Sandwich,” she said soothingly for the dog to whom she owned this miracle. Tarot had loved Peanut, and had blessed him, no both of them, with the supreme happiness.
Grape looked at the glass wall, finding Max waiting. This was his moment. She owed him too, she owed him for bringing her out of the shell, for making her realize she loved Peanut after all. And Max was still her best friend, she wouldn’t let him down on this…
She saw Maxwell licking her finger and running it on the glass, as if he wanted to bless the white kitten sporting a tiny lavender tail. Through the speaker, she heard him say, with tears of joy in his eyes, “Welcome to the world, Parnok Sandwich.” Parnok, an epic name! Grape really hoped he’d live to be worth of it and not ashamed of it.
It was the turn of Grape’s parents now.
Jill felt almost too thrilled and moved to say out loud the name she had chosen, hoping her daughter would like it –but now it was too late to back off, right?
“Welcome to the world, Louise Sandwich,” she said. Father Ghetti blessed the tiny female, identical to her third born sister.
Earl saw his wife going really pale. The moment was coming for them too, and so he had to say it without further thoughts. “Welcome to the world, Nutella Sandwich,” she said to the fifth born, entirely brown like Peanut’s darker shade of fur.
Then Jill started screaming.
“Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to have them all in a single room,” Martin said. “Ow!” he shouted when a familiar pain burned behind his skull.
And there she was, Evelyn Sunman, tapping her faithful ruler on her palm, while staring coldly at her boss. “With all due respect, I couldn’t agree more on that. You could avoid this embarrassment with just a bit of good sense. You only needed to ask me.”
Martin massaged his throbbing head. “Miss Sunman, I did consult with the Sandwiches! It was their idea to deliver in the same room of their daughter—Ow!” a second hit interrupted him.
Evelyn nodded. “I know it, boss. And I know that a pregnant woman will take the most absurd decisions if you let her. And in cases like this, husbands will become victims of such decisions. A third opinion is required.”
“I’ll remember that. If I survive this multiple trauma. Ouchie.”
Raise your hats and your Glasses too
We will dance the whole Night through
We're going back to a Time we knew
Under a violet Moon
Once a time, not so long ago, there was a man that had suffered and had become a bad man.
Then that man had been turned into a dog, and he had found friends, and love.
And one day, King knew, he would seal his bond with this new life with a litter of adorable corgi/husky puppies to take care of.
For now, King was happy to be with his family, to witness these special moments. He encircled Fox’s waist with one arm, while Bailey bent down to hug the corgi.
Joey knew this was a miracle, something so unique that he and Blanche were privileged to see it.
It was a miracle, something that belonged to Peanut and Grape only.
But it was also the proof that cats and dogs
did mix well together. That his club wasn’t just a hobby, but soon it would become the center of something important, much important to many pets…
“The guys and I will sew them some nice suits,” Blanche said.
Fido and Sabrina too felt blessed just for seeing this day.
Yes, it was a shame that they could not conceive… But seeing the expression on the faces of Peanut and Grape, they knew that what mattered was that they had each other. That the future was a bright pathway for them, that they shared a bond as unique as the litter that Fido knew he would protect from all harm if he could.
And he knew that Sabrina was thinking the same thing. This was not the time to be envious or jealous. This was the time to help the new generation carry on the new status quo. And even if she couldn’t change the world, she’d show the world that there were far more important things than old prejudices.
And so Sabrina added her silent blessing to Peanut, Grape, and their children.
The first time Grape had seen a butterball, she was surprised and fascinated by how much they could be small, noisy…and naked. How could one of those things live without fur was a mistery to her. And even more of a mistery that they could grow into the tall beings that ruled the world…
When Grape had met her first baby, she was sure he’d be her playmate, someone to have fun with –surely not the cause of her first run from house, the start of her problems…
But today, those thoughts had no space anymore in her mind or in her heart. When she saw Mom’s human cub, just like Peanut she knew she would love him and protect him to her best. Just as she would do with her own kittens.
Ad when, at last, the nurse handed Jill the cleaned baby, wrapped in a cover, with a beret over his tiny head, Jill looked at her cat. “You’ll choose his first name, love.”
*!* Grape almost collapsed. Peanut’s eyes shrunk and he only said, “Wow!” reflecting the others’ reaction in a most efficient way.
Father Ghetti knew he’d need a face transplant after smiling so much in a day. This was going to go down in the annals of the Order of Saint Anthony Abbot! A human allowing her pet to choose the first name for her own son!
Grape gulped. “Mom…”
Jill looked at her as if she wanted to hug her. “You earned it, girl. This is your little brother, and it’s only right you’re involved in his life. Perhaps not in the law’s eyes, but in ours you two are equal, and that is why you will choose his first name. Come on, don’t be shy: Peanut is right, you have taste.”
In that moment, Grape’s mind was being assaulted by a series of the least fitting names a baby could have, from Frisky to Zorro! Tiger? Already taken! Baron? Too vain! Yoghurt? Out of this world!
Then it came. Yes, it was simply obvious. Why not dedicate the name to the person who had made this all possible, the person who had rescued her the first time, allowing her to reach the safety of a shelter, and then a wonderful family?
Not to mention that there was a sandwich with that name too –and the most expensive sandwich in the world at that! It had been created by a chef called “Martin. His first name will be Martin.”
In the show room, the man almost collapsed into the arms of his dogs. “Grape…”
“I owe you my life and thus my family, and my beloved dog, Uncle Martin. I am here thanks to you. It’s only right the baby got your name. And I’m sure he’ll run the shelter one day.”
Earl nodded. “We knew you’d choose well, girl. We are proud of you. And we’re sure our little Martin Gordon Sandwich will be the best brother for you and Peanut. Father..?” he added, to the priest.
Father Ghetti wet his thumb with the holy water for the last time, to run it over the baby’s head. “By the power bestowed by the Holy Church and by the Order of Saint Anthony Abbot, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, I welcome you into the world, Martin Gordon Sandwich. May your life be long and wonderful, surrounded by the love of your peers and by the unconditioned love of these creatures. May you respect and love them in return with as much passion. Amen.”
Raise your hats and your Glasses too
We will dance the whole Night through
We're going back to a Time we knew
Under a violet/Under a violet/under a violet MOON!
AND GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN!!
HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES
Episode 20
FIN
SEASON II - FIN