2020-04-30 - Friends again … maybe - Daisy and Noelle

Noelle Snow couldn’t help but smile at her son, Blaze as she lay him on the couch in Daisy Dale’s studio apartment to nap.  She loved him more than she ever thought she could love.  Possibly the only thing that pierced her heart was his hair.  It was unquestionably his father’s hair.  But at least he had her eyes.  Not to be confused with his half-sister.

She then went into the little bedroom and checked on Olivia Dale, Blaze’s half sister.  The kids were less than 24 hours apart in age and Noelle hoped that, when it came time for them to start school, it wouldn’t be a problem.

With a sigh, she quietly made a pitcher of lemonade and headed out to the porch outside Daisy’s door.  Daisy would be getting off work soon and they might be able to talk, for a change.  They didn’t always get along … having gotten pregnant at the same time by the same man.  Winding up in the same building had been the cruelest of coincidences.

There was a table and chairs here they would usually sit in awkward silence until the kids woke up and Noelle could take Blaze upstairs.  But it was a nice table and chairs.  Seamus Reinhardt had gotten it for them back when purchases were still done in trade.  She set down the pitcher, sat in one of the chairs and waited, enjoying the afternoon.

Daisy walked home with her small purse slung across her, blonde hair piled in a high ponytail and her usual sweatshirt, jeans and runners. Her mascara looked like it had run and her eyes were a little red. She saw Noelle sitting and the little table and looked humble, very humble. She didn’t say anything at first, she just sat down and tossed her puse on the table like she was very tired, emotionally and physically.

Noelle heard Daisy coming around the building and saw her when she finally tossed her purse on the table and sat.  In her usual attempt to at least make nice with her once good friend, Noelle looked at her.  “The kids just fell asleep.  Hard day?”

Daisy looked up and got teary eyed “I had a fight with Shay…...and I was stupid…..” She sniffs a bit and looks down like she’s ashamed of herself for something. “Thanks for getting Liv to sleep.”

Noelle arched her brows.  To her knowledge, Shay and Daisy never fought.  Fucked … sure.  But not fighting.  “What over?”  she wonders.  “I mean you haven't even seen each other in WEEKS.”  and then she nodded her you’re welcome.

Daisy inhaled and pursed her lips and then closed her eyes and exhaled “You….I mean I told you I was being stupid. He’s so…...he gets around and I was just sure. I mean you’re pretty….and you talk to him…” She shook her head both laughing and crying “But he told me now. I know he’s a slut but he’s never been a liar.” She blew out another breath and looked up at Noelle “I am sorry….”

Noelle tensed at the word ‘You’, but then she listened more and got an idea what the fight had been about.  “Oh … so he finally told you he’s never fucked me?”  she asks, mildly.

Daisy just nods, sobbing quietly “Why am I so stupid for him? Fuck…..” She tries to catch her breath before she spirals into a state as she can sometimes do.

Noelle watches her with a slight look of pity.  “That’s a really good question, actually” she realizes.  “I mean .. you said you were just friends … you know with benefits.”  she bites her lip.  “Is .. he more than that to you?  I mean … are you two now .. like … real?”  She finds that hard to believe, given Seamus Reinhardt’s reputation … and finds that ironic given her own reputation, which is completely undeserved.

Daisy wipes at her face and sees the makeup coming off on her sleeve “Shit. I don’t know. He doesn’t want to. I tell him I’m fine with it...because it means I’m not driving him away. But Noelle I don’t always know. It’s nice to be close to him….I like the sex too.” She laughs “Maybe it’s not so bad this way.”

Noelle has known Daisy for a long time and they had shared crushes with boys in the past.  The most significant of which had been Joey Piccolo.  So she thought she knew how Daisy thought.  “You tell him you’re fine with it because it means not driving him away … but you want more?”  she grins a little.  “Sex you can like sounds like a good thing.”  she hasn’t been with a man since Joey.  “I mean .. maybe he’s just … I dunno.  I’d say scared of ….  You know … but his reputation is probably worse than ours.”  she snorts.  “I mean … look at his family.  I heard even Owen has a girlfriend now …. More …  So …. Maybe there’s hope?”  she is reaching .. not because she thinks it's impossible, but because hope in a relationship is something she hasn’t had since before she got pregnant.

Daisy giggles “Well he is good at it. It’s distracting. I need to stop overthinking. Shay always says that...I don’t know how to turn it off. And yeah Owen has a girlfriend and she’s PREGNANT!” She gossips now fully “And she’s like way older than him too….like 10 years...Owen? Mr Klutz boy…..” Now it’s like Daisy was back in high school. Slinking up to Noelle’s locker with a You’re not going to believe what I just heard juicy story.

Noelle nods her agreement with Seamus.  “You really do.”  she agrees.  “Enjoy him while you have him, not many girls….”  but then she is snatched into something like a time machine when Daisy mentions that Owen’s girlfriend is pregnant.  She leans forward on the table, her hazel eyes wide.  “WHAT?  I didn’t hear about THAT?  And 10 YEARS?  Oh.  My.  God.”

Daisy beams. It had been too long since she and Noelle did this “I know right! I missed you Noelle. Can I have some of your lemonade?”

Noelle smiles.  “I missed you, too.”  she says sincerely.  “I really did.”  She pours the lemonade.  “It’s not mine.  I made it for US.  I’ve been hoping … we'd you know .. make up.”  She sets the now lighter pitcher down and rubs at the small faint scars on her forehead, a permanent reminder of Joey Piccolo’s temper, then snatches her hand away.  “I always forget.”  she blows out a breath.   “Dais….  I know it’s been a long time … but I want to say I’m sorry about Joey.  He told me you were nothing and I bet he told you the exact same.  ‘It’s nothing’.”  she bites her lip.  “Which reminds me …. I was GOING to say … if the rumors are true .. Shay fucks and forgets most girls.  Twice … maybe three times … all except for YOU.”  she shrugs.  “That’s why so many of the girls around our age … act how they do around you…”

Daisy looks truly touched and nods “Me too…” She noticed the scars again. She had noticed before but hadn’t asked. She frowns “Joey told me a lot of things...most of which were lies or tools to manipulate and control me. I’m sorry either of us got pulled in. But you know what? We have great kids. I don’t regret them for a second.” She looks thoughtful about Shay “That almost makes it harder...the fact that he keeps coming back to me. That he’s in Olivia’s life...like a boyfriend would be….it’s like an almost…” She trails off and sips.

Noelle smiles and sniffs.  It took them so long to stop being angry and petty and just … be adults.  She sighs when Daisy says it's almost worse.  “Almost like what?” she wonders, because she never even asks for help.  Chris Peterson was always asking to help her, but she always said no, unless she was forced to admit the job really was too much for her.  She looks at Daisy curiously, waiting for the reply.

Daisy just tips her glass as she makes her point “Almost like what…..that’s what it is. It’s never a complete...anything. I don’t even know. But apparently I’m just going to keep doing it because almost feels better than nothing. It feels better than Joey….or my mom or….just nothingness….I’m not good at being alone..” She inwardly chastises.

Noelle sighs.  “Then let it feel good.  He’s obviously a friend … and I guess friends fuck too?”  she wouldn’t know.  “And you’re not alone.”  she reaches for her hand.  “I’m here and we’re back and Blaze loves his half sister to death.”  she shrugs.  “And if Shay doesn’t realize he’s a father figure … then he really is a clueless jock.”  she rolls her eyes.  “So let him be a clueless jock.  He’s still a better father to Olivia than Joey would have been.”  she bites her lip.  “Does Olivia see him as ….  You know ….  Call him .. you know ….”  she doesn’t know what she would do if someone got close to her kid like that and then bailed.  Not that Shay had bailed, but Noelle didn’t have faith in ANY man to stick around, never mind Seamus Reinhardt bad boy.

Daisy's eyes fill with happy tears at Noelle’s words “You’re not alone either. We are back….bitches!” She laughs a little and wipes at her eyes again with her sleeve “God my makeup is just full on racoon eyes isn't it?” She shakes her head “No, Liv calls him Say, but I can see she loves him...and I’m pretty sure it’s mutual. I mean god he hosed her down in the tub after two diaper blow outs in a  row…..that has to be love!”

Noelle blinks aay her own tears.  “It doesn’t matter.  You’re home and we love you even if you go WITHOUT makeup.”  she teases and then she nods, looking a little shocked.  “He DID?”  She looks a little stunned.  “OK, that’s it.  You know what I’m going to do?  I’m going to call Owen and ask him a couple of questions.”  she suddenly looks sheepish.  “He keeps asking if he can help me … like with groceries and shit and I keep snapping at him.  But he never stops being nice.  Maybe Shay is a closet decent guy.  But I’ll call Owen.  Apologize and maybe ask a question or two about Shay.  Would that be okay?”  she doesn’t want to overstep.  Not now that they were closer again.

Daisy sips and smiles, looking like she feels a little better. She even teases her old friend “You like snapping at nice boys….and yes Shay is one. So’s the ever helpful Chris….. What’s the deal there?”

Noelle froze and blinked.  “Chris?  Chris Peterson?  What’s Chris have to do with anything?”  she demands.  “He’s .. annoying.  Always trying to help me like I’m a cripple or something.”  she huffs and doesn't realize she is blushing.  Of course, Daisy might mean some OTHER Chris .. like .. Chrostophoros Zabat, her boss .. when there wasn’t a pandemic.

Daisy almost spits out her lemonade “Wow you’re really adamant…..and a little flushed.” She throws up a hand “He’s doting on you. Enjoy it...I mean have you seen him Noelle? He’s fucking gorgeous.” She giggles.

Noelle shakes her head.  “No .. I mean … Yes, I’ve seen him.  How can I not?  Every time he sees me, he insists on talking to me … and to Blaze, if I’m with him.”  she blows out a breath and takes her glass of lemonade.  “I know he’s gorgeous.  And nice.  And sweet.  That’s not the POINT, Dais!”  and she drains the glass.

Daisy just sips now, giving a knowing look and trying not to laugh. Finally she says “You have my sympathies…..” with a  note of sarcasm. “Let’s binge watch something after the kids are down….a movie marathon or some trashy TV….”

Noelle sighs deeply.  “I’m not like you, Daisy.  I’m not strong.  And I don’t want to be found, fucked and forgotten by Chris … or any other man.  Ever again.”  then she brightens.  “That sounds nice.  Maybe after Blaze is asleep AND after I talk to Owen .. or do you not want me to call him?”  she wonders, since her friend decided to try and blindside her away from the idea.

Daisy shrugs “Oh call him. I don’t mind. It’s Owen. For the record I don’t get that sense from Chris…..I mean I don’t know him that well...but those twins are just so…” She gives an overly sweet smile and  points at her dimples “Apple pie and boy scouts!”

Noelle snorts and gapes at her friend when she gives her opinion of the Peterson twins.  She opens her mouth to protest when the door to Daisy’s apartment opens and Blaze comes out, rubbing his little hazel eyes.  “Mama.  Hungy.”  he moves to her and rests his head on her leg.  She almost snatches him up.  “You’re hungry baby.  Well let's go and get dinner started.”  she looks at Daisy.  “I’ll be down around ten, alright?” and all but flees up to her apartment … and away from any more Chris talk.

Daisy makes eyes at Blaze and waves and then picks up the lemonade things. Noelle would see it someday. The way Christopher Peterson looked at her like the sun rose and set on her. In truth, Daisy wished for that with Seamus because for her the sun only shone in him.

Noelle took her son upstairs, but before she fed him, she read him some stories she had traded for.  Now that the world was back, she wanted to save money and maybe really fix up their place.  But finally, she fed him and played with him until he was worn out and ready for bed.  At 7pm, she tucked him in and read him a story.  By 7:15 … he was asleep. She cleaned up the dinner dishes, then the kitchen and finally went into her living room, sitting on the couch, pulling out her phone and using her old contacts list to try and call Owen Reinhardt.

Owen was flopped out on the couch after work and supper watching random TV and dozing a bit. He needed to stay alert for his later call with Slaine so he did his usual trick of downing a coke and popping in a  stick of cinnamon gum. He would not sleep on this one. As he perked up RD2’s shreik let him know someone was calling. Bit early for Slaine’s time….He blinked. It was Noelle Snow. Curiously he answered.

“Hello?”

Noelle heard his voice and bit her lip for a second.  She didn’t see Owen much anymore, but … pandemic.  “Hey Owen.  It’s Noelle.  You got a minute?”  she asks as if she called him every other day and not … never … at least not since their Alexandra Academy days.  Not before she got pregnant and certainly not before the rumors started.  Not to do more than wave, if he waved first … and to snap at if she was overburdened with packages and he offered to help.

Owen’s gum chewing could be heard through the phone and he sounded happy to hear from Noelle “Yeah sure. What’s up?”

Noelle paused.  Owen sounded so happy.  But he was always lighthearted, she seemed to remember.  Back then, she was happy too.  She had changed.  “I just wanted ….” she begins.  “I just wanted to apologize to you for the way I’ve treated you the last time I … well the last two times …. “  she blows out an exasperated breath.  “For how I’ve been the last … hell …  the last three or so years, I guess.  I’ve been a defensive bitch and you never deserved it.  So I wanted to apologize and say I’m happy to hear about your girlfriend and baby.  Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.  Really.”  there she’d been nice and not bitchy.

There’s a pause from Owen’s end where you can just hear slow gum chewing and then he exhales “Noelle. I wasn’t pissed at you or anything. You’ve had some shitty times. Besides, have you met my sister?” He laughs “Thank you, truly. We’re cool though you and I. Are you ok? This isn’t like some kinda 12 step program or something?” He seems a little confused by the need for the apology.

Noelle laughs with Owen.  “Shitty is sort of an understatement.”  she tells him.  “But I have Blaze now and he makes up for everything.”  The love that she has for her son can probably be felt through the phone.  “And Fiona .. she’s kinda .. scary.  I always thought so.”  she chuckles a bit.  “No …  I’m not in Bitch Anonymous.  I just … me and Daisy made up after all these years, and it got me to thinking about how, when it all started … I lost everyone, really.  And I’ve been … scared to get close to anyone for any reason.  I want to be strong, so Blaze will have a mother he can look up to.  That won’t happen if I’m pushing away anyone who says even a kind word to me, yanno?” she thinks for a second about chris … and basically shoves him out of her thoughts.  She might apologize to him too … but later … much later.  Start with sweet, goofy, clumsy Owen and work her way up.

Owen is truly touched “I’m glad you reached out. And that you and Daisy are cool again. I can’t imagine bringing up a kid all by yourself. I can hear how much you love him...Saline talks like that about hers…..” He sighs a bit “And hey I might need to bug you and Daisy for advice so I don’t look like a total noob dad….i mean whatever I’m going to be. You’re doing awesome Noelle. No Bitch Anon required.”

Noelle smiles.  “Blaze is my world.  But don’t let me go on, cause I will.”  she arches her brow.  This Slane had a kid already?  Just wait till Daisy heard.  “Well you have me right here right now.  What do you want to know?  I mean you already know how to make one and be a man about it.”

Owen almost chokes on his gum as he laughs nervously. He’s guessing Noelle can almost see the blush from her place. “I guess my anxiety is about things like...things that are out of our control….the sudden death thing….I have an ex who had a kid who had some kind of heart thing and died….I mean knowing all the bad things….and we’re not even through the first trimester….how do you not just fucking lose it?” He admitted fully. Owen had been reading, maybe too much lately.

Noelle listens and nods, even if no one can see it.  “Yea … that’s … don’t read that stuff, Owen.  It’ll keep you up at night and when the baby comes you’ll be terrified of every little germ in the world.  Stick to things like what the baby is doing at whatever week you're at.  And think about seeing the baby when the sonogram time comes … and hearing the heartbeat … and learning the sex, if you want to.  If you worry about things you can’t control … you’ll go nuts.”  she blows out a breath.  “I was pretty stressed.  Dr McKinney sort of lectured me, because I didn’t even come in to see her until I was already showing.  My second trimester.  I was too scared to before.  By then my dad had thrown me out and I was living with Lydia Alvin and trying to just finish high school and decide what I was supposed to do.  You know .. get a decent job and at least a diploma.  I knew there was no point in even telling Joey, but he found out and confronted me and … Now I get to look at those scars.”  she blows out a breath, feeling like she’s gone off on a selfish tangent.  “I’m going to assume that you’re healthy.  That she’s healthy and so your baby will be healthy.  So relax .. believe me you need that sleep now, before the middle of the night feedings and constant diapers.”  she laughs.

Owen smacks his gum and agrees “I went down a few panic rabbit holes. And shit Noelle I didn’t know the half of that. Your dad….you said scars? Did Joey...hurt you? When you were pregnant?” His voice got an edge of anger to it as he went on….. She tripped that day...or so she said. He remembered it.

Noelle giggles.  “It is a lot more than just rocking back and forth knitting booties.” and then she falls silent.  “Yea ….  He backhanded me in the art room.  He dragged me in there to see if the rumors were true.  I told them they were and … in the end he backhanded me into an easel and took off.”  she sighs.  “Never lie, Owen.  You’re bound to forget them in time and be busted by an old school friend.”

Owen could be heard walking around. He spit his gum out loudly into the garbage under the sink after the cupboard door opened with a little squeak. It closed again with a thud and he muttered “Motherfucker...I should have held him down for Vincent so he could have punched out all his stupid teeth.”

Noelle bites her lip.  “That’s very sweet.  I saw that fight, you know.  The one where Vincent got suspended?  It’s actually what made me keep my mouth shut about being pregnant … and what Miss Spanner did later?  Ya .. that's a lot of why I didn’t tell anyone, not even the doctor.  But thanks for saying it.  I don’t have a lot of defenders.  Maybe just Blaze.”  she chuckles a bit.  “So …  how are you besides the pregnant girlfriend?  How’s Fiona … and Shay?”  she finally found an opening for the playboy Reinhardt.

Owen smiled a bit but still retroactively despised Joey Piccolo and Mrs. Spanner “Ugh….” was all he could offer to it. “Hey three year olds can be pretty mighty.” He puttered around the kitchen and another cupboard opened. The sound of something being set down on the counter and then the cupboard door closing and a drawer opening which rattled a bit like it was possibly a cutlery drawer. The clink of a spoon being set in the bowl confirmed that. Then another cupboard, a rustling and the unmistakable sound of cereal being poured into said bowl. The fridge opened and then shut, the creak of the floor and then milk was poured in and Owen’s mouth by the phone made a little crunching sound as he took a bite. His mouth still a little full he answered “MmmmFone’s gang mayed…..” He swallowed “Shay’s good. They’re both better….Shay, Fi and Vincent all had Covid eh?”

Noelle giggles.  “He’s my little warrior.  Or I’m his.”  she listens to the preparation of food and then tries to understand what he’s saying.  Then she nods.  “Yea, I heard.  I’m glad they're better.”  she pauses again.  “You know Shay still … sees .. Daisy, right?”  The word ‘sees’ seems right.  Cause … they see a lot of each other, or did before the quarantine.

Owen is chewing again while she talks and then pauses to swallow “Uh yeah?” He questions back like he doesn’t understand her question. The spoon dives into the cereal again as he waits for more information. Where was this going?

Noells rolls her eyes.  “Well what do you think about it?”  she demands.  “He’s in Olivia’s life and I know she doesn’t call him Daddy or anything, and Daisy claims it's all casual but .. still ….”

Owen sets his bowl down shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. He had his opinions. But he sure as hell wouldn't throw his brother under the bus “Uh…..how does Daisy feel about it? I kinda feel like this is their deal Noelle…” His tone is careful.

Noelle considers the words.  “She goes back and forth.”  she admits.  “I just …”  she sighs.  “I guess I worry.  Especially now.  But … you’re right.  I should mind my own business.”  and if she did, Daisy might mind HERS and they would never have to speak about Chris Peterson ever again.  “Well, he’s your brother and all of you guys are in good relationships .. love and all that shit.  But yes ..  I’m going to mind my own business on this one.  Thank you for straightening me out.”

Owen sighs “Noelle I’m not judging you for wanting to protect your friend. I’m biased too...with Shay...of course. And the romantic in me says what the fuck dude? Just be with her….but we’re not them...and we can’t choose for them…” There, he admitted it. Shay knew his point of view so he hoped that didn't come back on them badly.

Noelle listens while staring up at the ceiling.  “I know, right?”  she more than half sighs.  “And I can’t talk.  Ugh.”  she stands and goes to look out of the blinds at 1st street.  “And Shay won’t hurt her.  He’s a good friend to her and thats all my bullshit anyway.”  she turns her attention back into the house.  “I’d better go.  I’m supposed to go downstairs for some adult time with Daisy and I wanted to make her some avocado toast or something to snack on while we do.  She keeps forgetting my diet and drowning popcorn in butter..”  she giggles.  “Thanks for accepting my apology … and good luck .. if you need anyone to calm you down about the baby … you know where to find me.”  and she prepares to end the call.

Owen tunes into some of Noelle’s more subtle statements within the mix. He doesn’t push, he just notices and comments “You say you can’t talk...but Noelle if you want to...I’m here ok? I mean you’re talking to someone who’s perpetually been a bit of a fuck up in relationships...so yeah if there’s stuff…...but I won’t keep you from your avocado toast either….” He gives her an option and an out.

Noelle smiles faintly.  “Thanks, Owen.  For everything.  But, believe me … I’m the Queen Fuckup in relationships.”  she doesn’t want to get into it and curbs her jealousy.  She has Blaze .. and he is all she needs.  “You take care .. of yourself and your family.  Bye.”  and she clicks off.

2020-04-29 - Fairy Realms - Pixie, Sajani and some gamer boys

Sajani finished teaching her early morning Sadhana class, answered all the questions and had greeted all her little yogis like she was on the romper room. She was happy but a little spent. She flopped on the couch with her phone in hand. She could hear her father putting around in the kitchen and a moment later he walked by her and placed a cup of tea on the end table closest to her.

“Good morning Saji.”

“Thanks Papa. Full day?”

Gushan Singh sighed but smiled “Yes. Back to back sessions. I’ll see you later.” He was already dressed for work in a shirt and tie and dress casual pants. His deep blue tie matched his turban. Her father’s home office was now his real work office and he slipped down the hall and shut the door.

Sajani sipped her tea and scrolled through her feeds. Terrible news, funny videos and everyone’s stay sane pandemic coping modes displayed. Sajani enjoyed the clever Austrailians with their costumes to take out their garbage bins the most. The Bin Isolation Outing it was called on Facebook. The crossdressers, the chewbaccas, the T-Rexes, the weird old ladies wearing bikinis….she loved it all. Sajani especially loved that there were many folks posting different people with various disabilities both physical and cognitive and the group was very inclusive and supportive of everyone. Go Australia.

She hopped around on social media options and then clicked on Discord decided to message Pixie. Sajani hadn’t checked in for more than a quick hello with her lovely outspoken friend since she had just started her new job.

Sun Salutations to you Pixie. How’s the grocery store life? Missing you:) Want to play FR later?



Pixie hand just finished up her work for college  .She was grateful  for  a job after see the unemployment crisis all over the world  but the extra shifts to meet the customer's demands  were taking a toll on her.

Pixie was resilient and still met it with a smile. She was just happy she could pay her bills and put food on her table.

She is about to log off her computer  when she notices her notification to discord goes off. Its her bestie Sajani

She brightens up  to a 1000 watts and replies quickly "hey Saj .did hear this morning Walter show.. pretty hysterical lol but yeah tots up for some FR . Need to get my fairy on"


Sajani beamed when she saw Pixie’s online indicator switch to green. She was already in the game, fixing up her avatar with some new lavender coloured wings to match her hair. Korra was her fairy name.

She read the message and cringed at it:

Don’t you mean the Sally show? I’m team Carpenter all the way. That guy’s so extra. I’m in game whenever you’re ready. Wait until you see Korra’s wings!!



Pixie laugh " i was joking he so weird Lydia had to threaten  him with a spoon the other day.   Oh ..m gee.. thats not that happen.. daisyy.. had puppies today in the back store room.. "she coos "so cute too back my landlord doesn't allow doggos.. i so wanted a puppy..  " she exhales dreamy and "iYeah tots ready.  Just need to go to the marketplace before we go questing Bubblebumble needs an upgrade. My armor was really  frag last quest . Those trolls.. you know are you sure they didn't base the troll on the walrus.. "

Her avi was yellow skinned fairy with bumblebee wings and black sparkling dress


Sajani giggled and then typed:

No the trolls are nicer. Buzzy buzzy buzz buzz bee! Oh I just saw the new missions. We could go to the crystal cave thing? Or the mushroom ring party. Those servers get pretty laggy though and sometimes there's the other kind of trolls…..OMG the police dog had puppies! At Thrifty’s? Maybe you can just sneak it in in your purse. Pretend it’s the TV when it barks? Stupid landlords.



"Yeah and less likely to hit on you. Pardon me while i go upchuck. I know tell me about sooo tempted to just sneak one in and just say its a robo dogggo or something ahh well.. "Pixie types as her curvy blonde rapunzel like haired avatar flies to the medieval store her long braid flying behind her "ohhh really new mission.. im game gurl..meet me at ye olde armory in Glitter canyon. I think i just have enough rubies for the sunshine armor. Are ya free to mic once we start the quest"

She teleport her avatar to diamond esq looking canyon with  green sparkling grass

"Tell me about it. I had some 12 year old flashing  penis emoticons  at me all day yesterday in buzzard cave"


Sajani shuddered and typed

Barfzilla! I wish we could sick the buzzards on their penis emojis...that would teach them. Grabbing my headset. On voice in….3...2...1..

Sajani calls.

Pixie has her purple cat ear headset  laying on her computer  desk and puts it and answer  the discord call just as her character is interacting with the portly npc shop keep

"Hey girl.. yeah.. i did one better . I pantsed him royally and told him the magic crystal looking glasses wouldn't  help me even find his micrometer pixel sand grain he called a dick..

Sajani bursts out giggling “I love it. OK tp me? Where are you anyway? Did you go to a  bee place?”

Pixie just giggle snorts along with her best friend "He called his mom and he got grounded.. never saw someone  log off so fast.. i sorta took the rubbies he left from the bogbreath demon he was fighting "

She didn't sound guilty  at all but proud. "I just bought  the sunshine  armory ans it ramped up my hp about 100 points  but my mana is abit lower.  She right clicks  Korra's name and selects pixie portal on the pink pie slice menu.

"Im in front of Merfolk tavern. Getting grilled by a wood nymph player."


Sajani bopped her head around waiting for the area to load “Shoot my camera’s being all….oh there you are Bubblebumble. What is that nymph’s deal anyway? I swear they’re just jealous because we can fly.” While they escape into this world, she does ask about real life.”So did you say that cashier Lydia threatened Walter with a ? Like she had one in her pocket? Do you sell spoons?” Sajani hears a little ding and clicks around on her screen “Someone’s IMing me...who’s Gnimble? Because they spelled it wrong…..oh wait he’s a gnome...it’s meant to be clever. …..He...if it is a he, wants a team up? Do we party with gnomes...how do we feel about gnomes Pixie? I feel like this could get political…”




Pixie  pfft loudly "heck if i know.. they're  saying  girls cant buy the sunshine armor because girl or fairies  can't be tanks " Bubblebumble knees the wood nymph  in the groin as they gone on ranting . Pixie walks her avi to sanjani and looks at gnome.."looks like his stats are high enough  that's all that matters  in the game

Pixie types to the gnome.."im fine with it as long as you're  not dick..and have great mana

"Lets kill some orcs"
Yeah i dont know if we sell spoons but it would be funny if she did have on one hand."


Sajani gasps at the nymph getting kneed and then laughs “You’re incorrigible. Alright I’ll invite Gnimble into a party then. That Lydia’s both awesome and terrifying….hmmm..let’s see what the gnome is up for.” She clicks away on her keyboard and types to the party group now formed:

Hi Gnimble. Welcome. Have you done the Crystal Cave mission yet?

Sajani sits back and takes a little slurp of tea and then murmurs “He’s still typing.”

Gnimble types back:

Yes, but I’d do it again. I’m collecting all the mounts from that one. Thanks for teaming with me. It’s instant death trying that run solo. BTW that nymph is a fuckin tool. Sorry Bubblebumble.


Pixie just chuckles and type

I'm not normally this violent you know that but i just cant stand misogynist trolls, especially cowardy keyboard ones ‘ she just shook her head and chuckles ‘you should have seen the vile shit he had been saying in my dms.. I've reported him .

Hey Gnimble.. Ya seem like a nice person and we be more then glad to have you show us the pitfalls and we can share the loot .


Gnimble typed back:

I understand. I will attempt to be an ally to feminism and bring honour to the name of gnome. Thank you both again. When we get to the cave, don’t rush in all Leroy Jenkins….step in and then step out. The orcs are stupid and they’ll turn on eachother. That’ll save us some health points. Other than that, I’ll follow your lead. M’ladies. *bows*

Sajani giggles “I like him. Ok Pixie I’ll set us up to tp to the cave entrance.” She types the same to the group so Gnimble is aware and then clicks away and disappears before sending a group tp. The wretched cris of the orcs are hideous upon landing.

Gnimble tps first after Sajani and waits to rez in and regroup.


Pixie just chuckles softly in her mic "hes kind of smooth abit all nacho but hey love me some nachos" she say to sajani "extra cheese

Sounds good . Im looking forward to powering up my solar sheild. Ill set up a sheild and give yall cover from behind .


Pixie lands as she takes the teleport and mid landing . She powers up her solar shield. It makes her glow yellow and orange and her body thickens up with the armour and she lands with a cascading reverberating thud that echoes in the cave. Her avi pull out big shield and yelllow mace

Just as she does a tiny dwarfmouse with  in blue armor with tiny shield and  a long staff has landed after them. The character has male peasant clothes under his armor. Hes tag over his head shows that his screen name is Pyreball

Pyreball can be shown typing

Mind if i join you guys party..this avi had low hp but massive mana..dwarfmouses are mages...very powerful mages. Ooo sweet you have a tank  and two warriors .. all is l needed now dreis a healer mage..

Pixie clears her throat "what ya think Saj"

Sajani breathes louder into her mic than she means to a for a sec “Gah Luke, I am your father…” She laughs at Pixie “Is the dwarf boy the nachos  or the cheese? This has seriously Fruedian overtones.” She sees Pyreball and reads along and then answers Pixie “Sure...the more the merrier.” She invites him into the team up and types:

Grimble, meet Pyreball, Pyreball, meet Gnimble. Gnimble has kindly advised us to step in to the cave and then scoot out again and let some orcs eat one another so we have less to kill. So follow that plan Pyreball and we’re golden. BTW your avi is adorbs.

Gmimble types:
Hi Pyreball. Welcome to the team.

Sajani leads them in and then steps back out, giving room to the others to exit. She equips her armour and weapons as fast as she can once outside, dual wielding her magical swords.

Gnimble ends up right after Sajani but then very clearly moves to allow Bubblebumble and Pyreball to pass out of the cave before him if they’re noticing the option. After which he’ll step out and arm himself to the teeth. He has a sturdy broad sword and an impressive shield.



Pixie chuckles and snaps her finger "ill come to darkside for cookies and kylo ren." She giggle snort  speaking over the mic "Tho that Finn doh."she exhales and goes "yumm" she chuckles " though mr gnomeo over here is  bees knees cheesy cheese.  Smooth though.  Speaking of smooth.  Or the late of. ..member when i told i i thought owen was cute.  "

She types
" k solar shield up  and Big DOUBLE B ready for the attack  . I go in  set up my radiation  sheild and be a prime meat shield  then will back off and let you two warriors hack at them

Pyreball types " ill come in and put a glitterspell and blind them and be around to heal and take cover behind double B while my mana heals ill take a 30 sec recharge and thanks  warrior princess Korra . I like you avi too love the details on the skin...yeah my dwarfmouse's great!! hes tiny like me  but packs a lunch like a stick of dynamite.. . Lawl  ^  ^ Nice to meet ya Gnimble. Love the name brah

 
Pyreball  charges up his tiny staff  then blue stone on the tip glows and a purple swirl envelops him.

Sajani laughs “Cookies and Kylo Ren? Emo cookies…..he’s so extra. And yes Finn’s hot. Gnomeo….I like it. Look him he’s practically opening doors for you in there Pix…..” She sighs a little “Yeah Owen Reinhardt. Did you guys get together or something? I’ll try and overlook that his brother is friends with he should not be named.” By that of course she means Dan Moore the man who broke her heart into a million pieces.  They’re back in the cave now and fighting orcs and Sajani takes her residual Dan angst out with her blades on the small hoard in front of them. “Pyreball’s a bit of a kiss ass but he’s got some skills…” She types to thank him for a healing spell after she takes a hit from behind.

Gnimble is an old school fighter relying on a series of combo moves he’s been perfecting over what could be guessed to be some time honing them. He fights what’s in front of him and then moves to help fight attackers coming at the teammates too and strategically protects the mage Pyreball as he recharges. He’s a good team player. At what seems like the end of the fight he starts typing and doesn’t notice, possibly from his current camera angle that he’s being closed in on by two last orcs:

It gets narrower as we go in. We should plan our line up based on our stats so we all make it….shit….

Gnimble rounds on one orc but another is lunging, mouth open and club ready to come down on Gnimble’s head.

Korra is too far away and Sajani calls to Pixie on voice “Pixie! Gnomeo’s about to get killed….”


Pixie just giggle snorts about the emo kylo comment "right Emo Ren.. yeah never got those bad boy thing.. gimme a sweetie pie anyday. " She hmms abit as she watches the Gnome on her screen battle "bet he's  a real lady killer irl "she exhales at the mention of Owen "yeahhh . That took a nosedive right into the elephant graveyard…"she makes explosion noises "nah… that didn't  work out..i got him by the time clock and ask him he was single.. ohh hes not.. is very much not single like girlfriend pregnant with baby not single " she exhales watching pyreball flank up to heal her "yeah pyreball is a kiss as but he seems ok. No flashing peeners"

Pyreball charges up his staff after saying  you're wish is my command to Korra and goes back to heal up Pixie

Pixie just hears sajani say gnomeo  is about to be grilled and jumps up and lands next to him in and lands swirling her mace over her head and the sun mace lands square in the orcs jaw "eat sunshine ya ugly demon"

Pixie giggles "eat your heart out Gnomeo "

Sajani slurps some more tea “Ladykiller is an odd word to associate with a Gnome avatar.” She gasps about Owen “Wow dodged a bullet….a fertile bullet there. Isn’t he younger than us? Because the gay ones are closer to our age….Logan and the hugging German….I agree on Pyreball….oh and my wish is his commmand. Oh boys….” She giggles.

Gnimble turns towards Bubblebumble’s impressive attack and engages an animation of a deep grateful bow to her with his gnome hand over his heart as he types:

I am forever in your debt fair bee shield maiden. I pledge my sword to your service.

Reading that, Sajani laughs so hard she almost knocks her headset clean off “Oh Pix, Gnomeo’s pledging his sword to you. That’s like a medieval dick pic! In fact I’m gonna call him on it….” She types her exact joke:

Pledging your sword Gnimble. Sounds a little bit like a medieval dick pic.

Gnimble engages an animation of  a face palm on his gnome and quickly types:

I chose my words poorly. My deepest respect to you both and apologies. I assure you. I would never. I am at your service is what I meant. Thank you for saving me from grave peril.

Sajani just lets out a little curious “Hmmm…”


Pixie just laughs along with Sajani  then nods heavily "yeah.. yeah  hes not quite our age and hes a quiet one.. but you know what they say about  the quiet ones. But yeah not ready  for babies yet. "

Bubblebumble makes an fanning motion  with her hands "oh my Gnimbles what a big sword ya got and all too just for little old big me" the avi pushes its hands on her hips "I'll take ya up on that offer especially on then next battle for mushroom mount.. "

Pixie laughs softly "that came out wrong"

Pyreball  shrugs "well i got to respect you lot are great gamers and put together  some fine looking avis to boot. Lets tag and bag these swamp orcs . He's miniature dwarfmouse waddles up between the orcs legs and taps his staff on his butt " boot to booty"


"Hey . Gnimble " pixie types can you boost men up i see one of the infinity gems " Bumblebee points to a high climb i can't fly there cuz of the slime dripping but if ya give me boost i can share the spoils with all the team.. it'll boost us all for 2 months if we split it. " Bumblebee types


Sajani agrees “No...no babies. Just weird little mice and gnome men to run around caves with. Oh now you’re just flirting with him.” she teases on voice and then types to Pyreball:

Those boots were made for booting?

She watches the interaction between Bubblebumble and Gnimble with a grin.

Gnimble’s avatar does another little bow and then he types:

Why certainly my lady:)

Some highlighted green text appears in chat: Gnimble has invited Bubblebumble to an animation called shoulder step up boost.

Sajani makes a little “Oooohhh…”


Bubblebumble curtsey and steps up on his shoulder
Green text and cutesy  sound "ally oop" proceeds Bubblebumbles bee fairy's signature fly through the spin airkick. her braid drills at the infinity gem and she land down back on the gnome shoulder  then waves to home landing on the ground. She blows the air in a  glitter kiss lips mark."thank ya kindly good qnome

The infinity gem falls down

Pyre does a mini jump and his tiny boot kicks the orc right on his coccyx in a tiny red spot.

"Guess me being a pain in butt pays "

The orc explodes then turns in millions of purple butterflies

Pixie reddens abit glad sajani can't see her but her voice gives it away " ill take raiding with mice and mini men over diapers any day. Though i love the Reinhardts. They multiply like bunnies.. kick ass Weasley bunnies  but yeah.. why i see that coming..well not from owen but hey more Reinhardts the better. Sweet family but too pillar of  the community  for my liking don't want the attention they get
." She softly "don't tell anyone. I know it'll get around cause their status on the island but i don't wanna betray Owen's trust..

She giggles about Gnimble "oh he's sweet and badass ass gamer.. but he could be from anywhere.. anyways..i think that's just how he is, but I'm a sucker for that fairytale prince vibe..  or flynn Ryder even better you known how i roll"


Sajani was ever the skeptic “As long as these guys aren’t ten year olds, or 50 year olds, or gay…..” She snorts “Whatever we’re just gaming. If you ride off into the sunset with Gnomeo you’ll have to find him a miniature poneo.” Suddenly Sajani can’t stop giggling at her own joke “Poneo!” She howls “Ah...I kill me…did Bubblebumble blow Gnimble a kiss? You better hope they’re not 10 year olds….That butterfly trick of Pyreball was cool but he’s still a suck up. And yes, best not to date a Reinhardt...for many reasons.”

Sajani now types:

So if we gather enough of these crystals we each get to crack one and that’s how you get the mounts? I was reading on the forum earlier. But each colour is a different one…..

Korra cracks open a light blue one and a giant dragonfly emerges. Sajani types again:

I like this. Pixie, crack yours. I wanna see. Boys, get collecting or Gnimble can keep boosting Pixie for the high ones. I see orange up there and green….what did you get before Gnimble? Pyreball that was cool with the butterflies.

Gnimble types:

A hamster. I call him Hamlet. Bubblebumble I would be happy to boost you again.

Sajani almost spits out her drink. This is too good.

Pixie shrugs " i'm losing it Sajani ..why did  just do that animation.  " she shakes her head .  "He could an obese 80 year old perv from Fresno  for all i know. God.. saj..just stop me"

Bubblebumble crack her gem and a big lady bug flies out "aww how pretty look it has hearts instead of spots

Pyreball just does a shrugging animation. "Its the only move this dwarfhouse to literally  kick orcs butt. But its worth gaving nearly unlimited mana..what i dont have in size i have in my potion and magical ability "

He looks around spotting gold gemm "hey gnome.  Look up there by that big spider.. do you have a glitter bomb..in your inventory..

Pixie voices to sajani"well i'll let him make the next move

Sajani slowly recovers from her sputtering “ Sit on your hands Pixie...your real ones.” She teases and then comments on the lady bug “Oh that’s cute. Oh the mouse is posturing. Shoulda chosen a bigger avatar...I mean whatever I’m a fairy.” She laughs. “Ooooh you’re testing him…” She giggles and then types to Pyreball.

You have all the mad skills Pyre. And you may have all the cheeses…..

Gnimble types:

AFK

Sajani mock gasps “Uh oh we lost Gnomeo. Maybe he just had to pee in a tiny gnome sized toilet. Do you want me to go get the one by the spider or are you gonna wait him out?”

Pixie nod "noted.  You know thats not my style.. oh my god.. yeah.. lets just hope he has gone to vomit and not worst jack off...its happen before.. not him  but some another gnome name ticklemagnome..watch out for that one..

Pyre shrug" well that's great t cuz i like cheese. Sounds gouda to me. i need to log off soon.. he types.  He jumps up and collects a pink crystal and a two headed purple dog pops out " sweet that works and he mounts it.."gtg got some work  to do youll gor this " point to the spider.his little mouse wave "thanks for the raid. I could stun blast him right quick "

Bumblebee looks a Korra. Ill fling you..up lets do that fairy boomerang animation

Sajani makes a retching noise “Rooting for Schmebulock...not Ticklemagnome…..gross!” She reads Pyreball’s message on the screen and types back to him:

Thanks for the team up. You’ll have to feed it twice you know. TTYL.

Sajani then makes a little snap noise “Bet it’s his bedtime. Maybe Gnomeo stayed up past his too and got caught. He seems a little more articulate though….he might be your 80 year old perv. K fling me. I guess I should type it too in case Gnomeo comes back.”

K fling me!

Gnimble’s avatar was still slumped forward in the AFK position.

Pyreball  just types " lol thats fine ill run quicker  that i do on my short tiny mouse legs. Can i add you for future quests


Pixie laughs "i'll just be careful but i got a gut feeling  about gnomeo..maybe he'll ask to buy me a honey mead at mermaid  tavern.

Bubblebumble  goes to grab Korra arms and swings her around and tosses her up.

Get it bestie  " she types

Sajani types back:

Ride like the wind Pyre. Go for it. Good to meet you.

Pyreball is asking you to be his friend.

Korra and Pyreball are now friends.

Sajani can’t help herself “And then he’ll ask you for a very tall stool. So handy that us fairies can just plunk down on the tables. Weee!”


And Korra is flung, grabs the crystal but kicks the spider on her way back down and low and behold it’s a whole nest of them. The big one was the mother but the babies start trailing out of the sack and filling up the cave.

“Holy Harry Potter forest! Look at them all. I don’t think the small ones can bite yet…” Sajani says out loud and then she sees Gnimble’s head move and types.

Can the small spiders bite or only the big mama? I seem to have released them all. Sorry.

Gnimble doesn’t answer but the gnome avatar just runs from the cave like it’s on fire.

Sajani laughs and laughs.


"As long he doesn't  ask me to be his queen then want to eat. Me. Shesh i didnt mean it that way . Gawd  why does my talk get dirty when i around him. "She exhales.. " but yeah he'll need a one of those booster seat just to see us and we can just sit on glittery toadstools like queens on the table.

Pyreball is asking  to be your friend

Pyreball  and Bubblebumble are now friend



Pyreball  types "been reall" and does a salute animation to the fairies and the slumped gnome and disappear not even showing a home teleport like he log off right away

Pixie voices "yeahh momma  or daddy definitely  made him log.. he didn't even tp home."

Pixie watches the  spider  gather round and
Bubblebumble stomps her heel activating her armor and readies her mace "time to get big can of raid. " she exhales  as she watches him run away.."well lady.. or spider killer he aint. Do you want the golden mount Korra  or should we run it too.. the big ones give up more Xp" she says on voice now the gnome ran away. "I'm up for more xp. Maybe my gut has a stomach problem" she says as she looks out the cave entrance  the gnome ran out


Sajani snorts “Lights out kid...you have school tomorrow.” She does a mock dad type voice. “Oh let’s fly on that mount….they can’t jump yet...we’ll be fine. Maybe we can offer Gnomeo a ride if he’s really spooked…..gotta say...it’s kinda funny…”

Gnimble has teleported away and will be nowhere to be seens. But he sends three requests before logging off.

Gnimble is asking to be your friend.

Gnimble is asking to be your friend.

Gnimble is asking to be your friend. User Pyreball is offline. Request saved.


Bubblebumble nods and gives as thumbs up.

."follow the spider..why not follow the bubblebee. "pixie says in ron Wesley imprison "h3y maybe it's ron Wesley " she jokes " yeah girl lets get a golden gem.. It's probably worth the spider.. I heard it may be a dragon.. "

Bubblebumble  jumps up and offers her braid "climb up.my braid and go get that baby dragon"


Gnimbe and Bubblebumble are now friends

" you know he kinda now reminds me of someone irl but.. That guy hasn't barely said hi tonne.. At work." Pixie shrugs " I just get squeaks from him not mushy Knight talk.

Sajani nitpicks “I thought it was butterflies….oh I see what you did there. Clever girl. You think Rupert Grint is our Gnomeo? That wouldn’t be so bad….” she muses.

Korra climbs the braid and clambers to the gold gem. She cracks it open on the wall to avoid the spiders below and grabs hold of the little golden dragon. It bucks around and hiccups, coughing out fire. She tries to maneuver by Bubblebumble.

“Pixie, fast….it’s a little wobbly.” She comments on the coworker talk “Well does the squeaky one look like Gnomeo? Maybe Gnomeo is a really short guy...trying to work through his Napoleon complex…..oh my god this thing bucks!! Oh hey I see a friend request from Gnimble...did you get one too?”


Bubblebumble pulls a rope bag

" Here put the little guy in here and I'll help you fly him down the slime's stop dripping so we can fly down and get him out of here "  pixie then just chuckles " no squeaky is tall and gangly .. Maybe he's just sick of being tall or likes that gnomes have a great defensive and attack range . dunno.. Yeah I got that too I accepted cuZ squeaky and kiss ass are great players..

Bubblebumble goes to help her get the dragon. In the bag stretching her bumblebees wings quickly


"It's not rupert.  He's engaged .. i don't think he be hitting on  digital maidens"she sounds sad


Korra co-wrestles the small dragon into the rope bag. It starts to smoke a little and the hiccup sounds are still emitting from it.

Sajani pouts “Engaged? Bloody hell. This dragon's still hiccuping! Squeaky tall and gangly doesn’t sound like a fun coworker. Don’t settle for the gross weirdos just because Owen’s off the market…” She teases “Besides, we don’t need boys, gnomes or dwarfmice...we HAVE a hiccuping dragon!!”


Bubblebumble struggles as she flies down with the burning rope bag.

"It made to stand some fire but maybe we aim the hiccups baby dragon at the entrance  to burn our way out.:

Look i'm not trying for anyone right now.. though gnomeo  is sweet.  I'm not going to have all of thrifty  or Alexandra  talking  about me.. he's not too gross. I mean he's no rupert grint.. but .. " she shakes head "lets just worry about the dragon for now. I was dumb to ask owen.. at work.. period.. dudes had some fudged up stuff between that multiple gendered Victorian mute person..?.. and now hes a daddy.. thought that seamus guy was fast work.. i need to shut up...i don't like gossip and here am i...woahh!!


Bubblebumble’s player cuts off as the baby spider rears its leg up squeaking.. "i'll shut up..it's what i get for gossiping  and thinking  bad stuff about people.. im no perfect  angel"


Sajani agreed about burning their way out “Maybe if we burp the baby dragon it’ll really throw some flames! Come on little guy...let it out…”

Korra pats the dragon’s back. Korra thumps the dragon’s back hard. A burst of flame disperses the spiders.

“Yes!!! Look you know I’m just teasing you about boys right? I’m one to talk. I’m still trying to get over Dan….and I know how long ago it was. I’ll always be on team Pixie though. They should all just be falling at your feet and singing songs to you because you’re fantastic and beautiful. You know how I feel about the Reinhardts. Maybe I’m judging too because of rumours, reputations, and who they’re friends with. But you’re right. We shouldn’t. I’m sure everyone has their stuff…...just like us. It’s a mad world out there. I’m glad we get to be fairies and have fun in here.”

Pixie giggles " I'm forever team Sajani.”

Bubblebumble and Korra grabs the dragon shouting "bffs for life"as they fly out the cave's mouth into the hue of purple and pink glittery sunset.

2020-04-29 - Just Cut it Out - Owen and Seamus

Owen’s day off had become miraculous to him. He had begun to understand his parents all the more though nothing could compare to what he imagined his mother’s exhaustion to be. He woke up feeling a little gross though. He had fallen asleep in his clothes talking late into the night with Slaine. She had actually fallen asleep first and he just lay there watching her sleep on her screen, waiting for the day he could do that every night. He had started to drift and vaguely remembered her waking long enough to say goodnight and end the face time call. He ran his fingers over his phone and then rolled over a bit, thinking he should send her a morning text and then his hair stuck to his pillow as he tried to lift his head.

“Ah fuck!!” He had been chewing gum last night and while he didn’t choke on it in his sleep it had managed to get squashed into the pillow and work it’s way all through his hair. He fought to free himself from it and lost and then just picked up his pillow attached to his hair and walked into his brother’s room as the door was open. Seamus appeared to be reading on his bed.

“Shaybus...I have a problem….”

Seamus is on his bed, laying back with a magazine open in front of him.  Most might assume it was pornography, but it was the Latest issue of Archetecture Monthly.  He was in clean jeans with a clean shirt, looking like he might go out on the town at any minute.  When he hears Owen’s voice, he replied before he looked.  “I know, but you have a girlfriend for that now.”  and then he looks up and blinks, raising both of his pale brows.  “What the actual fuck, Owen?”  he asks, placing the magazine aside and standing, looking at his brother, perplexed.

Owen sighs while turning beet red “I fell asleep in gum…...please save me from myself...just cut it out if you have to...seriously….I’ll wear a hat for the next 3 months…...I can’t even….”

Seamus stared for a while, trying to process what his brother was telling him.  “You….”  he blinks, still a bit slack jawed from shock.  “Let me see…”  he moves to his brother and tries to take pillow from hair.  He can’t help himself, he starts laughing lightly.  “I’ll help you.  I will.  I should do that by drowning you in the toilet, but it’s too late.  You’ve already reproduced.”  he shakes his head and points to his desk, which is neat, like the rest of his room.  There is a large mirror on the wall.  “Have a seat.  I’ll get my hair cutting shit…”  he opens the bottom drawer of his dresser and starts searching.  It doesn’t take long.  Seamus is neat and organized.  It’s one of the things that seperates he and Owen.

Owen laughs a bit too “I feel like an idiot. Please don’t butcher me for it. I don’t want to scare Slaine off…” He laughs nervously but Seamus has been cutting his own hair and it looks amazing every day “Don’t put a bunch of smelly shit in it either please. That stuff makes me want to puke.” He notices Seamus’s set up and looks impressed.

Seamus gets things ready.  It’s really pretty simple.  A comb, scissors, electric trimmers.  There is a container of … something on his desk, but he isn’t touching it yet.  “You should feel like an idiot.  Let me guess.  Chewing gum in bed?”  he rolls his eyes and removes the pillow from the pillowcase and tosses it onto his bed.  “Hold on….”  he hurries into the bathroom and comes back with a couple of large towels, one of which he sets on the floor and the other he sets over Owen’s shoulders.  He balls up the pillowcase and holds it away from Owen’s head so it tugs but not painfully.  He looks and then cuts the case away from the hair.  “OK …. Now … a real, proper haircut.  You haven’t had one of those since you were in single digits.”  he rolls his eyes.  “Mom and not stunting personal growth.”  he shakes his head as if in disbelief.

Owen shifts his lips sideways and admits “Yeah.” and then he argues “Well when you have long hair you don’t have to cut it. In a few years I would have just been Uncle Jude….” He jokes. “Mind you mine’s not like his and I’m not nearly as bad ass. In fact I’m really not bad ass at all…...I can’t remember the last time I had a hair cut...maybe grade 8 before school pictures that time when Mom made us.” He confesses.

Seamus begins by combing through Owen’s hair … which is not as easy as he thought it would be.  “My guess is that Uncle Jude doesn’t chew gum when he’s tired.  Plus his is kind of curly, but very cool.  You’d think he’d be rocking come kind of military cut, but his hair is so long .. he has too have been growing it out for YEARS.”  he reaches a tangle and begins to work through it .. not gently because he isn’t spending the rest of the spring combing his brother's hair.  But not like he’s mad at Owen either.  “I remember that.  She got us the exact same haircut, and before we even got to school, yours was a mess.”  he rolls his eyes.  “Don’t squirm.  Jesus you’re worse than Olivia.”

Owen wasn’t at all used to someone else brushing his hair. Their mother had given up on him some time in late elementary school. He had been pulling away without realizing it, twisting as he pulled which really did make it hurt more. His teeth were gritted and he breathed out little grunts like he was being tortured. When Seamus called him on it he closed his eyes and took a  deep breath. “I can do this...I am a grown up...adulting...this is what adulting looks like right? Haircuts and having big relationships and babies?” He sounded happy and nervous “If I don’t fuck it all up…”

Seamus rolled his eyes, worked through one tangle and moved on to another.  “Yes.  That is what adulting looks like.”  he shrugs.   “Like I said, I’ll help if you want .. with what I know from helping Daisy with Olivia.”  he keeps combing out the odd tangle.  Not only did Owen sleep with gum, he panicked and came to him with bed head.

Owen sighs “I graciously accept. Although you’re not going to believe this...I helped deliver puppies at work….7 of them. I mean I didn’t do much but pet the dog...but it was wild. It still blows my mind that creatures grow inside humans and then come out and just…” He waves his hands around, accidentally shaking his head a bit “This….just human…..ow fuck…

Seamus is working.  He’s got the worst of it.  “No shit?!  Really?”  he snorts.  “I’ve never seen anything born before.”  he grabs Owen’s head when it starts moving forcing it to be still.  “Yea that’s really weird.”  he begins to comb around the whole head, looking for any tangles he’s missed.  “Just wait till her body starts changing.”  he speaks absently, looking in the mirror and considering what cut to give Owen more than watching his mouth.   “Daisy had the flatest little belly the first time we fucked.  And then it got bigger and bigger.”  he snorts.  “And sometimes Olivia would kick me.  And you could see her foot through Daisy’s belly.”  he shakes his head, making something like a decision.

Owen nods “Yeah me neither. Except those videos in health class and back then I closed my eyes. I didn’t tell Theo that though. I didn’t want him to laugh at me. I mean he’s probably stuck his whole arm in a  cow or something…” As Seamus talks about Daisy his eyes go a bit wider “You guys had a lot of sex when she was pregnant? Weren’t you worried about hurting the baby?” Owen’s betraying a genuine fear of his own with Slaine. Then he has another thought “Where did you even...I mean she lived with her mom and god knows we didn’t have any privacy……”

Seamus snorts.  “Thanks for that visual.  Looks like I’ll be vegan for the rest of the week.”  he quips.  Then Owen asks about him and Daisy.  “Yea, I kinda was at first, but she told me not to be stupid and I did some research on my own and ….  Turns out sex doesn’t hurt the baby and can actually be GOOD for the mother.  Orgasms can help with labor, so towards the end I got to make her cum … a lot.”  he shrugs when Owen asks where and hikes a thumb over his shoulder.  “In that bed.”  he isn’t really thinking.  “Not many other places for us TO fuck, but the first time no one was home and she’d been crying and I comforted her and … then we fucked.”  he nods to himself and finally picks up the scissors.

Owen seems to accpet this, thoughful about the info that sex wouldn’t hurt a baby and then his eyes bulge “Wait...THAT bed?” He points without moving his head “Shay….it was Fi’s bed then. You had sex in Fi’s room in her bed? Does she know this? I’m kinda thinking no. Because you’re still alive…”

Seamus froze when he realized that Owen was right.  His bed HAD been Fiona’s bed.  “Uh … yea .. she doesn’t know.  She doesn’t need to know that.  It was YEARS ago, for fucks sake.”  he clears his throat, now desperate to change the subject.  Casually he begins to cut a lot of the length off of Owen’s hair.  “So you getting little Liam a puppy.”  he isn’t even remembering that the kid isn’t even with his mother anymore.

Owen just blows out a big breath about Fi’s bed. “I’m not gonna tell her. She would just kill us both.” He laughs and then frowns about Liam and the puppy “Well no because he’s not with her…..I don’t want to remind her of that. I’m hoping we can...Bitteto can help her solve it…..And I don’t think that apartment building will allow dogs...cats maybe. Best to leave that alone…..I just want her here...Liam too if we can.” He smiles a little “Paul asked for a puppy for his girls. It’s the police dog...Daisy so Chief Greene makes the call on who gets one. I’m assuming his granddaughter gets first dibs. Theo thought the papa dog might be the fire dog...that beagle. Just when I thought work couldn’t get any crazier….we had puppies in the back room….” He laughs again as he has an after thought “Oh and I got hit on earlier in the day…...must have been a full moon….”

Seamus laughs a little.  “I’d appreciate that, thanks.”  then he winces and groans.  “Oh fuck!  I’m sorry O-man.  I didn’t forget.  I was just thinking of Fi castrating me and …”  he sounds and looks truly sorry he’d brought the puppy idea up.  “Oh .. Daisy .. yea … Daisy the human used to get teased a lot cause they had the same name.”  he rolls his eyes, but then they widen.  “Wait, the lazy one?”  he snorts a laugh.  “Well, whatever, but they might be some strange looking dogs.”  then Owen mentions getting hit on.  “Who hit on YOU?”  he demands to know.  “I mean you had to leave the island to get laid in the first place.”  he teases, beginning to cut Owen’s hair in a professional like manner.  Quasi-professional.

Owen protests “Hey! I’m being insulted by my hairdresser…..no tip today sonny!” He shoots back and then backtracks “I do appreciate the haircut….seriously I’ll cook for you and do all your chores for a week Shay.” He looks guilty “This girl Pixie….funny name I know. She suits it though, cutesy with cat hats and pink hair and rainbow makeup and stuff. She’s actually really nice and I feel bad if I hurt her feelings. She just asked if I had a girlfriend and then got all oh of course you do look at you...and kinda...I dunno mushy and stuff. So I just blurted it all out. Slaine, the pregnancy….” He holds up a finger indicating a new point “and then Ziggy Alvin falls through the door...she heard it all. She works with us now….so yeah I’m sure everyone’s gonna know between my big mouth and the two of them….” He throws up his hands in a mock dramatic gesture.

Seamus snorts and outs his hands on his hips, assuming a pose like he thinks Kurt might if Kurt ever got insulted.  “I vill give ju a style like zat Greene.”  he threatens and then can’t continue.  “Oh fuck yea.  Cook for me.  I’ll order some spices from … someplace.  Maybe you can get a recipe from online someplace, unless Slaine cooks Thai food. Not trying to stereotype here.” He listens to the Pixie come on.  “Jesus Christ, Owen.  I’ve seen Slaine, so I know you can attract a very pretty looking girl, but … fuck.  Cat hats?  How did I miss that one.  Give her my number.” he winks and then he begins to laugh as Owen explains how he wound up telling the whole story of his girlfriend and their baby.  And then Ziggy.  “Hey, I like Ziggy.  She taught me how to tag.”  and then he stops.  “Yea .. don’t tell Mom … or Uncle Mike because when I did get busted that time I didn’t tell them anything. They just think I’m artistic .. cause … I want to be an architect.  I let them think what they want.”  he chuckles.  “It’ll be all over town regardless.  Mom probably told Stephanie, who probably told Indoa Tor who probably told YouTube.”

Owen smirks “Yeah she cooks Thai. It’ll be a good balance if we both cook...like Mom and Dad.” Which was really all Owen ever wanted. A family like the one he came from. He looks intrigued by the tagging “I’m not gonna tell them...but what did you tag?” He bites his lip looking at Shay for a second and then curiously asks “You really want me to give Pixie your number or are you just being an ass? Because right now with social distancing it would all be…...” He makes a blatant gesture for masturbation in front of his abdomen “Show and tell…” He adds now cracking up.

Seamus snorts a bit.  He knows what his brother wants.  Well, he was getting his family.  He trims a little from the left and then the right of his brother’s head.  “One of those buildings down in the Bottoms.”  he tells him.  “It got cleaned up pretty fast, so i don’t think it was good.  People tend to leave Ziggy’s alone.”  he chuckles as he trims.  “Show and tell .. well she wants big Reinhardt cock, I can show her big Reinhardt cock.  I can’t take long drawn out showers all the fucking TIME and some variety from Daisy is always nice.”  it's a statement for him.  “And if neither of us is bored once quarantine breaks … I have a nice new supply of condoms.”

Owen tries to keep his head still now. His long hair is gone and now it’s just taking shape. He feels an odd shift in identity from a long haired dude to a short haired dude and he feels air on his neck….air. He listens about the tagging with quiet fascination. He’s never done anything like that. Owen makes a face when Shay goes right for it in his description “Wow man...I know I started that….but you fuckin win..” He laughs and looks awkward. “I’m not going to advertise your phone number that way to anyone unless you want me to write it on the staff bathroom wall…..but seeing as how we have the same last name…..all the nopes dude….”

Seamus chuckles and strikes a pose when Owen says he’s won.  He looks closely at Owen’s head, not rushing the haircut at all.  “Fair enough.”  He agrees and starts cutting hair again, making sure the sides are symmetrical.  It’s coming out a bit longer on the top, medium in the back and shorter in the sides.  “So … boy or a girl?”  he asks.

Owen chuckles at the pose and then admires Shay’s work on his hair “You’re actually….GOOD at this man.” At the baby gender question he shrugs lightly “We dunno yet. I’m not sure when you get that information...but later right? I mean I don’t even know if I want to know or need to know. I just want a healthy baby and for it to be healthy for Slaine….and as easy as it can be I guess. I know it’s not easy….but it can be easier in some cases I guess. Maybe I should read one of those books because I’m way out to lunch on all this……” He snorts “Poor Slaine.”

Seamus grins.  “I bugged the barber so fucking much during the Fog he wound up teaching me some things.”  he confesses.  “I was supposed to start some apprentice work as soon as I graduate, but at this fucking rate I’ll be rushing to get my application shit for college in and classes and shit.  If we’re not all still quarantined by then anyway.”  Owen is super hyped and excited to start college.  Then he nods.  “I think it's later.  It’s been a long time since Daisy talked my ear off about pregnancy.  And no … it’s not easy, but it helps if you have help., and Slaine has you, so … that’s help … “  he snorts.  “After a fashion.”  he grins and combs Owen’s hair back.  Then forward.  Then left.  Then he starts combing and snipping again.  “We’re not in the fog anymore, dufus.  Go online and search all about pregnancy and childbirth and all that.  Diapers aren’t hard, really, but those blow-outs can be fucking gross.”  he proclaims.

Owen makes a face “I don’t think I need an explanation on that part. That sounds disgusting. What did you mean about the colours? I mean shit is shit right? Baby shit...big adult shit...Uncle Uilick shit…..never mind that’s some kinda toxic shit he’s got. He always clogs the damned toilet…….” He shudders “So you’ll design hair...and buildings. Maybe you need to be a salon architect?” He muses.

Seamus snorts.  “No but the pay plus tips will keep me in books and hopefully decent clothes throughout my college career.”  he has a lot of his financial plan worked out in his head, already.  Then he smiles.  An almost evil looking smile.  “Oh no, no, no, no, NO. big brother.”  he protests.  “Shit is NOT shit,  Shit sort of grows with your body.  Like Uncle Ulick.  It’s like black at first and then it can be green or mustard yellow and sometimes orange.  After the liquid comes the REhydrated shit .. raisins … and other stuff that rehydrates in their little bodies.  And it doesn’t get solid and brown for a WHILE.”  he stops cutting and stares at his brother through his mirror.  “And the baby …. It has no timer.  Like … Olivia had a blow out .. when the shit literally blows out of the diaper .. arms and legs and the top part.  All over her clothes.  I cleaned her up and put on a clean diaper and put her in a new outfit.  I pick her up and she's smiling at me and …”  he makes like a fart noise.  “She did it AGAIN … ANOTHER blow-out.  Had to clean her up and everything all over again.  I mean .. how much shit can one little girl have in her?”  he demands to know.

Owen begins to look truly frightened. He wasn’t a squeamish person by nature. He had once wanted to do a whole scince experiment about the power of flatulence, but the force of excrement in a  small person exploding twice….”That sounds like a fuckin horror movie…..”

Seamus just shakes his head in amazement reliving the experience all over again.  “Bro….”  is all he says about it.  Then he brightens.  “But they’re cute when they’re not screaming at you.  Like I’d turn on some music and sit on the couch and put Olivia on my chest and she’d fall asleep.  Sometimes I would, too.  It’s not ALL a nightmare.”  he assures his brother.  “And they grow up, so there’s that.”  he takes another look in the mirror and at Owen’s hair and finally reaches forward for what looks like a glass container full of … vaseline?

Owen looks suspiciously at the container but more suspiciously at his brother “Shay….you realize you sound like….” He hesitates and then says it “A father figure to Olivia. Are you sure you and Daisy are just casual? This is like bragging rights coming across here...and you sound like you love the kid….”He screws up his nose at the jar “What is that stuff?”

Seamus freezes with his hand halfway to the jaw and actually looks at his brother, instead of at him through the mirror.  “What?  I mean … no .. well … I guess I kinda am.  I mean I baby sit Olivia, but she doesn’t call me ‘Daddy’ or nothin.  I told you.  I’m ‘Say’.”  he rolls his eyes.  “And, yea.  Me and Daisy are friends with benefits.  I benefit her by babysitting when she works.  She benifits me by lettimg me fuck her.  And … love …  I dunno.  O’s a good kid.  And both of them are happier now that Daisy’s mom is out of the picture.”  he looks at the jar and actually reaches it this time.  “This stuff….”  he tells him.  “Is aloe vera.  Buni told me about it.  We went nearly three years without hair gel …. This works as hair gel.  And if you’re a politically correct pussy or one of those people who freaks out about animal testing, its all natural.  Buni hooks me up when I need it.”  he shakes the small container.  “And you need to use it.  It’s good for your hair and it will keep it styled.”  which probably sounds like too much work for Owen, but Seamus is going to use this opportunity to school his unfashionable brother and change the subject all at the same time.

Owen looks even more suspicious now but doesn’t say anything more. Shay had revealed a lot more than in previous conversations. He leans over the aloe vera and sniffs it “Ok...do your worst. It’s not too flowery and I’m a politically correct pussy.” He chuckles now. “Go Buni.”

Seamus rolls his eyes.  “When have I ever smelled like fucking flowers, man?”  he demands.  When he could get scents, he gravitated more towards the woodsy kind.  “Now pay attention…”  He unscrews the lid and sticks in two fingers.  “Rub it between your hands…”  and he does.  “Then rub it through your hair…”  which he does for Owen, obviously.  “I gave you a cut you can kinda do without a mirror .. because you are you.”  He works the hair into a nice shape that isn’t ‘businessman neat’, but also isn’t ‘Owen morning’.  “Now …”  he looks at Owen.  “Don’t mess with it.  Let the aloe dry and don’t fuck with it.  Hands OFF.”

Owen holds his hands up like he’s being held up “Yes Sir……” He smiles genuinely “I like it. Thank you Shay. Can I ask one more favour? Would you take a picture of me with my phone? I want to send it to Slaine…..like in front of the house maybe…..”

Seamus chuckles.  “It’ll take you ten seconds to do your hair in the morning.  And you’re welcome.”  he starts to take off the towel from Owen’s neck and drop it on the floor.  He even has a brush and brushes the hair off.  He initially rolls his eyes, but then smiles and even says “send it to Slaine.”  at the same time Owen does.  “Yea.  I can do that.”  he looks at him.  “Might want to get dressed.”  he teases.  “You look like you just rolled out of bed with perfect hair.”  he looks ready to go when Owen is.  “Have you ever considered like a walk through tour of the house?  Hell, of town?  I mean she IS moving here.  Are you furnishing the place already or .. what?””

Owen nods and stands, impressed by how pro Shay’s set up truly is. Ten seconds. He’d try and live up to the cut...at least for the first week. Owen looks down at his worn old Jurassic Park shirt and ripped jeans “I am dressed. It’s cool man.” Slaine would know he wore the same thing the night before but he was pretty sure she was on her third day on one of her shirts or maybe she just had a few that looked similar. “I’m thinking about some kind of tour today. And I’ve asked around at work. Lydia has some stuff to get rid of and Paul’s brother has an extra futon. Cory says his folks have some kitchen stuff. It’s coming together……” He passes Shay his phone and begins to walk towards the stairs and down them if Shay is inclined to follow.

Seamus facepalms when Owen announces that he is dressed.  Then he snorts.  “Your place will look like Fi and Vincent’s.  No two pieces of furniture looking alike.”  he shakes his head, then looks at Owen’s hair, memorising it because it will be a miracle to him if he is still looking that good in a week.  He takes the phone and heads down the stairs with him.  It will be a damn good picture, if Seamus has anything to say about it.

2020-04-28 - Surprise Delivery - Paul and Thrifty customers

Paul McLeod was at his usual post at the door, locking and unlocking to let customers in a few at a time. As he opened the door to let a very gracious older Chinese couple in he could hear a laugh down the line...and unmistakable laugh. He leaned around the door and saw his brother Walter hamming it up for the crowd. He was a famous radio personality and he was always recognized and then subsequently, always on. Walter had once had an epic handlebar moustache and so his nickname was The Walrus. His beard had grown out and he trimmed the stache but he still did look a little walrus like. His radio show with his ex Sally Carpenter had been duly named The Walrus and The Carpenter. They were way better suited as co hosts than they had been as cohabitors.

Wally saw him peeking and hollared “Pauly!! Come on man speed up the line…..” Walter was the only one with no mask now in this group.  Paul gestured at his own mask with raised brows.

“No man...it’s the beard……” He protested.

Paul sighed and went back inside. As a staffer walked by him he nabbed their attention “Cory…..can you go grab me a mask from the back please?”

Cory scampered off. He was a scrawny beanpole pimple faced kid who looks like he's barely out of high school with glasses so thick you could barely tell his eye colour. Cory was painfully shy. Paul kept hoping he would come out of his shell but most of the time Cory just restocked shelves and bagged.

By the time Walter came through the door, Paul presented him with a mask “I insist. Besides, why didn’t you just call? I can bring stuff home…”

Walter grumbled but slid on the mask “Aw fuck it’s hot already…..And I’m bored man….I finish by like 11 am and then what?”

Paul flagged down Cory again “Hey can you take the door for a few?” It wasn’t ideal but the customers knew the drill so he hoped they didn’t try to stampede Cory.  He started to step aside with his brother and lecture him a  bit “Do you hear yourself? People would kill to be you and have that schedule. Watch TV…..read a book…..I don’t know social media…maybe wash a few dishes?.” Paul was staying with his brother and Walter’s house made his kid’s rooms look pristine.

Walter threw up his hands “I just need a few things. We’re out of tomatoes.”

He really was bored. Paul made a sweeping motion towards the produce and then halted Walter “You gotta use the arrows…..wait for those people….”

“Yeah man...I know.”

A middle aged woman with frosted 1980s era makeup passed and waggled her fingers “Hi Walrus.”

Walter leaned towards her “How you doin Lorna?”

Paul physically tilted him back which was a bit taxing given the fact that Walter outweighed him by quite a bit.

They got to the tomatoes and Paul, being in work mode took the box from below and automatically started restocking them.

Walter leaned on the displayer sideways, his hand dangling and brushing three “So I get this caller today on the show, and you know what she says?”

Paul stops and blinks at him and then hands him the three tomatoes he touched.

“No no man...I only need one of those. What the fuck do you think I’m making?”

Paul pecks at him in the air, looking like a feice chicken “Dude, you touched three. You take three. We’ve got signs…” He gestures to the one over the lemons.

Walter lets the three tomatoes fall into his little basket and walks to the lemons “Don’t squeeze me…” He reads “What is this a fruit porno?” Walter laughs his deep belly laugh way too loud as always “What else are you gonna do but squeeze the fuckin lemons man?” He laughs harder and Cory looks over at them and stares. Walter gestures at him “That kid….you better believe he’s squeezing the lemons man. Fuck me, look at him.” Cory looks affronted and Walter just bellows out “How you doin lemon squeezer?” and laughs some more.

Paul looks like he doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry “Just tomatoes right Wally?”

Walter twists back to him and looks thoughtful “I dunno man maybe some luncheon meat. Let’s do deli tonight eh?”

Paul sighs a little “Sure….come over to the meats.” Paul goes to the prepacked selections in the cooler only to be thwarted by his brother.

“Ooh no no man...let’s do the fresh stuff.” He leans on the meat counter now putting his entire hand on the glass and breathing at it so closely it fogs “Hey you got some corned beef in there?” He asks the deli server who’s pulling out an empty tray to refill it with more chicken legs. She slides the tray back in, customers first of course. Melissa Taggert was a seasoned employee in her mid 20s and she worked well with the butcher who conveniently was her husband Mitchell. He was in the cooler arranging some stock. Melissa looked up after scanning the shelf of deli meats “Sorry Walter we’re out. Would you like some pastrami? We even have turkey pastrami…it’s on sale this week.”

Walter snorted and slapped the cooler’s top, making everything shake a little “Turkey pastrami? Pauly what the hell kinda shitshow you running man?” He held up a hand to Melissa “No offence to you or your hubby there. How you doin?”

Melissa was mildly amused by Walter with an undercurrent of please let it just be one item he’s ordering “I’m alive Walter. Still breathing the oxygen.” She deadpanned.

Paul just laughed and then looked at Melissa like a boss “Give him the turkey pastrami…..300 grams shaved.”

Walter opened his mouth to object but Paul just pinched his cheek with absolute brotherly condescension. “I’ll get you some cheese and bread….then we’ll ring you through.”

Melissa’s jaw was clenched as she tried not to laugh out loud. Only Paul could tame the Walrus.

Sally Carpenter watched all of this with a very resigned expression.  Ahhh the brothers.  She adjusts her mask and says, in a quiet voice, more than half hoping Walter doesn’t see her.  “Let me have one of those chickens please.”

Melissa was just weighing up the turkey pastrami and smiled at Sally “Yes just one moment.” She stickers the package and slides it across to Walter.

Walter does hear Sally and leans way too close to her for social distancing “Salady Sally buying the meat. Are you cooking for me man?” Walter called everyone man, man woman and child.

Sally leans away from him.  “Why would I do that?”  she asks, almost innocently.  “Don’t you have a perfectly good brother trapped in your house to cook for you?”   This may well be a show for observers.

Melissa handed over the nicest looking chicken from the whole tray of them. She listened to their radio show and knew how much of Walter McLeod this poor woman endured.


N - ((Narrator)) It was a small store with thin walls. The break room was behind the meat department and all chatter in front of it could be heard word for word, which sometimes meade for less than quiet breaks but allowed workers to keep their awareness about what happened out on the floor.

Pixie is sitting  a breakroom table. Her pink hair is now gone due to she was just trying out sample dye but would save her money for necessities now that all she can order. Its still a nice dirty blonde and she still love how cute she thought she look in her short pixie hair cut. That was its saving grace. She opens  a brilliant pastel blue lunch bag that she had  purpose from old jean and painted blue . She had minimal  makeup  due to the way wearing  a mask was melting  her usually  vibrate eyeshadow.  She still had her brilliant  smile and bubbly personality that pulled her usual wild look together. That was the heart of her look. She pulls out her container and opens  the lid to reveal chicken enchiladas. She is about to take a sip out her pink smoothie shaker when she hears on cue her usual break time entertainment.

She always  loved the way you could hear the store in the breakroom. It was like listening to those radio shows her and her dad would hear together  . She listens in on latest  broadcast  chuckling as she attempts to eat her delicious  enchiladas without choking  from  the laughter

Owen walked towards Thrifty's after taking a deliberate walk past the building Slaine had mentioned. He stepped in through the loading door with a soft smile on his face like he was thinking about something happy. He slid his mask up from around his neck and onto his face and the smile extended to his eyes as he saw Pixie there eating her lunch “Hey there.” He offered in friendly greeting. He walked a safe social distance around the table to go stash his jacket before going back around again to swipe for his timecard from the wall “How goes the day Pixie?”

Walter snorted at Sally “He’s not trapped in my house...he’s right here…” He looks around and bellows “Pauly!!! Pollywog!” Walter knows that’ll get his brother’s attention.

Paul whips back around. So much for taming the Walrus “Don’t you call me that….hi Sally…” He yanks the basket and Walter with it “Come on asshat, let’s ring you through….”

Walter protests “But I still need some dental floss!”

Lydia heard it all from the cash and just shook her head while she rang though person after person. She had pimple faced Cory bagging for her and he hadn’t said a word in at least 20 minutes.

Sally looks at Walter.  “Did …. Did your mother have any kids BESIDES Paul that lived?”  she sounds genuinely curious.  Looking at Paul, she smiles.  “He’s adopted.  You can tell me.  I’d understand.  EVERYONE would understand.  It’s OK … just admit your mother found him in a bog someplace .. and brought him home … after strange lights were sighted …”  then Walter mentions dental floss.  “Use thread .. and get moving.”

Ziggy has packed and packed, then packed again.  But she thinks she needs a little break.  Maybe out back looking at the loading dock door.  How should she paint it.  But for now .. she just does her job.

Pixie eyes light up as Owen walks in she smiles  wide and runs a hand through her hair "Oh hey, Owen." She puts her lunch away noticing the clock . She hears the commotion going  on in the store and makes her even more giddy.  She stands to go put up her belongings  and exhales like she prepares to say something " Can i say something  crazy "she says to Owen

Owen punches in and slides his card back in the wall files. He hears the conversation outside the lunchroom too and snickers “Oh shit it’s Walter….did he just call him pollywog? Like Shay calling me Zeroman…” He looks over at Pixie when she starts talking, still laughing at the chatter outside, especially the well known Carpenter’s voice asking if Walter came from a  bog. Cheily he quips back to Pixie “Something crazy, sure you can.” His confidence was unusually a little higher today.

Paul grabs a random pack of dental floss of the end cap as they go by “Here….floss…” He looks back and grins at Sally “Definitely a bog although some have said aliens….we’re still waiting for the full reports.”

Walter pushed the floos back at Paul “No man it’s not mint….I need the fuckin mint.” He gives Sally a little wink “Pairs with Eu de Bog….”

Paul shoved him towards the endcap “You’re worse than my kids. Go find your minty floss.”

Lydia calls out to Paul “You need my wooden spoon?”

Sally is not at work.  There are no sponsors to freak out on her and pull their money.  She’s in public and she is the mother fucking Carpenter.  Looking at Walter she sounds disbelieving.  “Are you fucking FIVE?”  and then she looks eagerly at Lydia.  “Yes!  Please!”  she doesn't care if Lydia isn’t talking to her ...she wants that spoon.

Ziggy is almost ready to go back for a break when she hears her mother offer up the spoon.  “Run Walter!”  she calls out.

Pixie starts to ask her question but is interrupted by the outburst and says " ohh bog alien babies.. i bet they're  cute" She just chuckles as she listens then looks at owen "ain't that something .. wait."she holds up her hand " that's not the question..." She exhales as she prepares  herself she beams at him "i was just wondering if you're  single.. ya probably  aint cuz you're  sweet and cute.. but just wondering " she say cheerfully. The whole conversation had her extra bubbly as she looks at him hopely knowing  it was a long shot but she could atleast try

Owen had casually picked up a pricing gun from the shelf by the punch clock from Pixie, still a safe social distance he started casually spinning it in his hand as he was known to fidget sometimes. Walter was really causing a ruckus out there. His money was on those women. Pixie was being funny...but Pixie was funny. As she went on he fumbled the price gun and ended up pricing himself for $2.99 with a flattered but flabbergasted “Wha….oh oh geez..” He blushed and smiled apologetically “Pixie, I do have a girlfriend….she’s….” He gets a kind of melting look about him at the thought of Slaine and then looks at Pixie earnestly“ You’re awesome though...thanks for asking.” He sighs “Her name is Slaine and she’s...well we’re pregnant...so life’s a little happily complicated?”

Paul manhandles his brother just as he gets the mint floss in his hand and steers him to till two “As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm ladies only I get to beat up my baby brother…..” He opens the till and keys in his code.

Walter still protests “But Pauly...they both want me...your cashier wants to spank me with a  spoon….and now she’s fuckin inspired Sally. I can’t leave this party now….”

Lydia completely ignores her customers and starts walking out from behind her till. She walks right up to Walter and tugs him down to her by the ear whispering something that looks fierce before letting go and going back to her post. No one ever gets to hear the tale of what she said but we can only imagine it was Lydia for you will die today.
Walter contritely bags his own groceries and gets out his card. He looks innocently back at Sally and smiles almost shyly.

Sally is disappointed in the restrictions Paul puts on who gets to beat Walter.  But when Lydia comes marching up after Walters' next words, and Walters' reaction TO said words she looks at Lydia as if she is the Great Mother come to life.

Ziggy had warned Walter and done her bit to keep him safe.  She continued walking to the back, placing her hand on the door and pushing it open softly.  The door is barely open when she hears that chick who she met at the laundromat and now works with asking Owen Reinhardt if he was single ... and Owens reply.  As soon as he finishes speaking, she nearly falls through the door.  She stumbles, rights herself and stands looking like she meant to enter the room like that.  She lifts her hand.  "Um ... hey ....."

Pixie nods and smiles.. "like i said i had a feeling  you  did.. a person has to be completely stupid not to scoop ya up and hold the heck on to ya" she looks mild disappointment but smiles at him looking happy for him"Thats grat she chuckles "i thought  you look like a man  in love ans she chuckes "and wow.. guess youll be having your own baby" she nods then starts to say "i.." before she wrinkles her face overhearing  walter "oh my god. I wish.. all men were more like you shesh the fuck is going  on" she shivers at walter.  "Get then spoon " she Yells from the back " she looks up as ziggy walks in abit embarrassed and reddened  face letting  on to how the shut down was really  effecting her but says  a happy and bubbly "Hi again" she says "you well we all missed out on spooning a bog alien"

Owen blushes some more and then notices Ziggy sort of fall in through the door “Oh I’m not a model for all men...believe me…” He thumb points towards where the ruckus was “He’s pretty much always like that. It’s kinda funny…” He gives Ziggy and assessing sort of look “Hi Ziggy, did you overhear everything I just said?” He’s hoping it was too loud out in the store but she was just suddenly...there…..

Walter takes his bag and his leave quietly and gives only Paul a little nod as he exits.

Paul just stares after his brother in disbelief and then calls over from his still open till “Lydia, you should give lesson. You could charge people anything you want. Close your till after Sally. I can take people over here until Pixie’s back.”

Lydia  just smiles sagely “I know. Ms. Carpenter, if you’re ready, you can be my last sale of the day?”

Sally steps up to get checked out.  “When this is over, you and I need to have a drink.  You don’t have to tell me your secrets, but I’m willing to pay for them.”

Ziggy watches Pixie and feels a mild sense of pity, but mostly she looks at Owen with less than no shame.  "I sure did!"  she confesses.  "Oh my goodness!  I remember when Logan and I would talk about trading our babysitting gigs .."  she goes up to him.  “Now look at you!"  she hugs him.  "Portrait of you and the mama to be .. free of charge."  she offers. She's known to be a pretty good artist.  Even when she isn't gagging buildings with graffiti.  "And same when the baby comes .. I Love family portraits."

Pixie just smiles appreciating the sympathy not so much as the pity. She just makes a ya win ya ;ya lose some shrug  after the inital shock of it
She just chuckles hearing Paul  state hed cover til she got till the til and goes to clock in humming  happily as she puts her mask with a  butterfly print that she made with old bed sheet"thats my cue"

"Lock and load comrades"she says as she dons her apron going to the register . She looks at Paul just as a teen with walks up to get checked out . She beams happily at Paul
"I gotcha sir" she does a salute

Owen blushes again at Ziggy. He’s not sure he should be telling people about Slaine and the baby but he’s also rather overflowing with the joy of it. “Uh...thanks Zig. Time flies….” He’s not sure how Slaine would feel about a portrait as they're both just jumping in a  little wildly. “She’s not here yet…..but we’re working on that. She’s in Vancouver.” He sighs a little and then nods t Pixie “Give them hell out there.” He is flattered she asked and feels a little bad if it’s at all possible he’s hurt her feelings. He’s also on task for the training today on deliveries “So you want to drive or operate the tablet? When you’re solo you’ll have to do both so you could also do that and I could just hang out and direct you if there’s questions.” He looks past and sees the boxes of orders ready to just pack in the van.

Paul chuckles at Sally and then when Pixie arrives he does the social distancing dance to get himself out of the cash desk so it can be all hers “Thanks Pixie. You’re all set. Feel free to steal Cory if you need a bagger…” He gestures at Cory who’s still at Lydia’s till putting Sally’s chicken in a bag.

Lydia throws her head back and laughs “No money. It’s just a thing. Maybe it’s the power of the spoon. Kid’s today all emo and entitled.” she gestures to Paul “The McLeod boys...they had a proper mama. We can work with that…...we should call Joan McLeod in on that drink. Hey you know they have a ladies night on Zoom for that Statutes? I missed the first one because I found out after…..but give em your email for the next.” She taps away at the screen “  be $43.20.” She slides the debit machine through the little plexiglass passthrough.

Ziggy would have laughed had she known that Owen wanted to keep his girlfriend and their baby a secret.  On Alexandra island?  Good luck with that.  She hears her mother laughing in the store and arches her brows at Owen.  “I’ll drive.  You just got here.  I’ve been here.  Love my mom, but .. yea.  I’ll drive.”  Her family was large like the Reinhardts, but with changes that you only find in foster families.  Sometimes it was a bit much, which is why Ziggy had finally moved.

Sally laughs with Lydia.  “I’ll put it on your PayPal or transfer it to your Swiss Bank Account … “  she glances at Paul.  “Learn something new every day.  And I will definitely get my email out for that Zoom thing.  That’ll give me some extra company.  I’ll tell Izumi, my building mate about it, too.”  she gives her card, then takes it back.  “You have a great day, hun.”  and she’s out the door, making room for the next in line.

Pixie looks determined  and not like some lovesick girl. She was taken abit but not surprised or hurt by Owen and knew it was for the best. She didn't  like being the center of attention and being apart of the most prominent family on Alexandra caused that attention.  She was grateful  that her business wouldnt be so easily fodder  for town gossip.  She was young and wasnt quite ready for motherhood and glad she dodged that handsome but fertile bullet. She just smiles and shakes her head as she rings up her customer ans bags just waving Paul off "i got this for now " She looks over the scrawny bagger and decided she had a better chance on her own for now. She  just hums as she overhears the whole zoom thinng. She shrug "oh i saw that in my mail.. but was under the weather.. maybe ill join the next one and bring Saj in

Buck waits at the door patiently as per order these days behind several people . Hes looking over his list

Lydia puts up her this till is closed sign and steps away with a grin “Thank you, you too.” She gives Pixie a nod “You do that Pixie. Us front line ladies need that ladies night….have a good shift now.” She starts untying her apron casually at the back as she begins to walk away towards the staff room. She’s almost ready to pull down her mask and walk through the door when Cory flags her down. She leans on the door, opening it a bit. She was so ready to head home and have a nice long soak in her tub with her trashy romance novel.

Cory stammers “I think we’re running out of paper bags……”

Lydia shakes her head at him and puts a  hand on her hip “Where did you look boy?” She looks at the line of people out the door and debates if she should offer to pull a double and then sees one she knows, Theo, her son, standing behind one of the town’s firemen. She gives him a little wave, not sure if he sees her and then her stare bores into quivering Cory.

“Under the tills….in the back…...I’ll check again...sorry.” He looks at the door, which she’s still in front of nervously like she might bite him.

Paul scoots back to his door duty and lets out Sally with a big wave and then Pixie’s customer who just finished and then a random lurker who bought nothing. 3 out, 3 in. He waits until they all walk 2 metres past the door and then beckons to the line, inviting a woman in a hijab, at this point followed by Buck the fireman  and then Lydia’s son Theo. “hey folks...space it out...social distance as you file in please...lots of room…”

Owen notices the door half open and hears Lydia and Cory but shrugs it off as a fairly unusual interaction. He points to the keys on the hook “All your Zig….let’s load it up….” Owen saunters to the back and double stacks boxes in his first carry out, trying to haul ass and get it done. He hip checks into the door and it won’t budge. He hip bumps it again and still no go “What the?” With a little noise of irritation he sets down the boxes. “Did someone lock the loading door?” He calls out towards the staff room. He pushes the handle and it gives “Nevermind…” Facing the door now he bends his knees and pushes again hard. It opens a little and something it blocking it from the outside. It was a dark cloudy day and in the dimness and overhand of the loading area it looked to Owen like it was a person lying in front of the door with brownish black hair facing them. Owen felt panic rise immediately. Was it a drunk? Someone dead on the loading area with Covid? A murder scene…? He pulled the door shut again and yelled “Help!! There’s someone hurt out here...Call 911! Help!!!”

Lydia jumped and pushed the door all the way open and Paul bolted from his post at the door towards the back.

Ziggy grabs the keys and is ready to go when Owen starts yelling for help.  Her brows lift and she almost instinctively moves against the wall, out of the way.

Theo waves to everyone he sees wave at him.  He, of course, is masked and gloved, but does say hello to his mother and Paul.  Barely beginning his shopping, he hears a nearly panicked cry from the back and glances around.  That firefighter should have this, even though by no, working with so many humans, he knows that the man is not an EMT.  But they’d just call 911 and they would get the whole FD, with all of their equipment. He doesn’t go towards the voice.  He already knows half the town is weirded out by him and his brother helping.  But he and Saimon made the best of it.  However, he was not a human doctor, so he simply plays the role of curious civilian.

Pixie just waves her off politely "oh im up for a good time.. but as just a regular woman.. front line.. no offense " she pfts with a smile "i run food across a scanner . Im not storming a horde of zombies  with a butterknife.. everyone is just vital we are all cogs in beautiful machine.. everyone gambles their lives when they just take a breath...but heck i say i put my money  on 11 red and let it ride.. she hcuckles "have a good night and totally  can wait to crush a cup of wine with fellow goddesses anyday.  She is middle of her monologue  even holding up an air goblet in the sky when she hears owen scream.  She looks curious towards the back

Buck waves at  lydia knowing her from seeing her  many times  in the store before. He says a happy Hello to paul beaming as as he enters grabbing  a cart and directs his cart to pick up some cereal as he hear the call for 911 . He ditches his cart .He runs to the back.  He knew his comrades would  be there soon but went to offer he basic first aid skills if needed in the meantime. He hastens as goes to see what the screaming  was about

Lydia flattens herself against the door, just like Ziggy had done with the wall. Buck runs by her and then Paul right after him, sprinting past Buck to the back door where Owen was still standing.

Paul looks at Owen “Who’s out there?” He’s worried it might be one of their staff.

Owen looks at the door like it might burst into flames “I dunno they’re jammed against the door pretty good……”

Paul readjusts his mask and gestures for Owen to do the same. He looks back at the rest in range “Cover up!” He puts his hands flat on the door “Gently but firmly Owen….help me open this.”

Owen looks hesitant but they do need to know so he complies, pushing the door with Paul until it slides open revealing not a person, but a large dog, a german shepard to be exact. It was a familiar German shepherd even. At this point they’ve opened the door enough so that the dog’s head is fully in view of anyone else who might be behind them.

Ziggy watches, her mask securely on and, under it, her lip formply between her teeth.  She watches as they force the door open and then gasps.  “Is that ….  Daisy?”

Theo is not in the back, but is waiting for things to get more or less back to normal.  He considers his shopping list … and the time .. it’s been an interesting day.

Pixie just tries to keep the customer from the back as she watches a nervous Cory blink she stands at the door to the back keeping  the customers calm and assures  a startle Cory as she peers curious back

Buck puts up his mask as they open the door then looks  over and his eyes widen as he recognizes the police dog "Daisy Duke" he says as that what he called her. He looks just as concerned  if it was a human

Ziggy sees Daisy and watches as no one does anything but stare at her.  Her mask still on, she calls “Theo!”

Theo is still not shopping .. or really doing anything but standing when he hears his sister's voice.  He heads towards it.  “Hey Zig …  I waved.  You didn’t see me.  I’ll call you later, OK?”  he doesn't walk in the room yet, but chuckles to himself.  Little sisters.

Paul was now standing on the other side of the door and dog and looked up at Buck and nodded “She looks hurt.” Daisy was making some strange noises, like she was struggling.

Lydia hears her son’s voice and lunges at him trying to grab hold of his arm “Theodore Jacob Alvin! Your sister is talking to you! Get your ass in here…..there’s a dog out back that looks half dead!”

Owen looks up at Buck and then Paul and then kneels down tries to comfort the dog with pats “Daisy...Daisy what happened to you? It’s ok…...”

Ziggy rolls her eyes at her brother's dense statement and then half laughs when their mother calls him by his full name.

Theo blinks and straightens the moment his mother calls his middle name.  He’s moving by the time the rest of the sentence is out of her mouth.  “Shit….” he murmurs, coming through the door and kneeling beside Owen.  “Hey there, Daisy…”  his already smooth voice sounds even more soothing.  “You’re supposed to be at home…”  he pets her and runs his hand over her side.  Daisy had looked to most like she was gaining weight.  After all there were no drugs or anything else for her the last several years.  He arches his brow.  “I think we should get her inside…”  he looks at Owen who is closest.  “Congratulations.  You’re the assistant to the assistant.”

Pixie goes back to the front as she sees theo go back qs Lydia says something about dog .she knows Theo and everyone that was back there had it under control She goes to check out her next customer to customers occupied.

Buck looks at theo stepping foward.."Did you need help carrying  her or anything . He offers not stepping  up earlier since he wasn't  the one closest ans didnt have a good look if daisy was okay but reacts after.

Owen nodded at Theo “Uh thanks?” and then looked up again at Buck before asking Theo “Is it safe to move her? What’s wrong with her?” He’s worried about hurting her more if it’s like a broken back or something.

Paul looks past them into the storage area “Theo, should we put her on something, a tarp maybe?”

Lydia watches for a moment and eyes her grown children and then hears Pixie trying to ring through everyone and do all the crowd control out front. She steps back into the store area and walks to take over the second till “I’ll take who’s next in line.” She shouts to Cory “Cory, deal with the door please!”

Mitch and Melissa had come out from behind the meat department to starre but as Lydia started working again they followed her cue and did so as well. The dog had lots of helpers.

Ziggy stands aside, out of the way, but ready to help if anyone needs her to.  Her eyes watch her brother with admiration, respect and love.

Theo looks at Owen and says, in a voice as calm as you please.  “Yes.  Better to move her now out of the weather.”  he smiles slightly.  “The lady is about to give birth.”  he moves Owens hands to better positions.  “A Tarp would be great.  In a corner if possible.”  he pauses as that’s done and then looks at Oen.  “Slow and steady.  Don’t jostle the lady too much.  On three   One … Two … Three .. lift…”  they lift Daisy and move her smoothly into the corner where a tarp has been laid.  “Paul, could you get me as many of the following as possible?”  he asks, checking Daisy’s position and rubbing her head.  “Newspaper, non-skid bath mats, dry, clean towels. Paper towels, a thermometer, unwaxed dental floss, Clean scissors, A heating pad or hot water bottle, iodine and a scale that weighs in ounces.  If you don’t have them all, that’s okay, but as many as you’ve got.”  he looks at Owen.  “Stay with me, Owen.”  he kneels beside the German Shepherd.  “We’re here for ya, girl.”  he soothes the dog and leans back.  “Now we wait, but I don’t think it’ll be too long.”

Pixie mouth thank you then a "i was about  to go find that spoon of yours" to Lydia as she rings up her next customer as Cory question

"He sqeaks in confued manner

Buck nods as they seem to have it under control.. and pets daisy "its okay girl they have you " he smiles at Theo and owen knowing shes in good hands and he then makes his way into the store.. going back to cereal aisle to fetch his cart.

Owen's eyes go wide before he helps with the lifting and settles back down beside the dog. Birth? “Well I guess I can see a dog do it…” He muttered almost under his breath with a chuckle.

Paul assisted in all ways needed. The tarp was laid. He took in all the items Theo was asking for and committed them to memory. It helped that Paul had that kind of cataloguing eidetic memory. He could remember codes and lists of things in an instant and picture each thing perfectly. He rushed off as the log was laid down, pulling in some help as he passed the meat department “Mitch, I need you to sanitize one of your scales and bring it to the back. Mel, can you grab a hot water bottle and take it to the staff room and boil the kettle to fill it?” They both set to their tasks and Paul rushed past Buck with a laugh “Never boring at Thrifty Foods. Eat happy. Deliver puppies…” He joked like he was doing a radio commercial. Paul rounded the corner to the first aid and toiletries area and just started grabbing things off the displayers, not even stopping to inventory them out. It could be a paperwork nightmare later. Thrifty’s didn’t normally sell towels or bath mats but Paul knew he had some beach towels and sand toys in the back that had already come in for the summer end cap promos. He didn’t know if they’d get any tourists this year but he could pull a few towels out of that box for the puppies. Within minutes he returned with a grocery cart full of the items on Theo’s list.

Lydia laughs at Pixie and sees Cory look between them with the look of a frightened field mouse. “Just keep an eye on that door boy. You may have to talk to some people today Cory.” Lydia liked to prod a bit at Cory’s shyness. Something had to give someday. She had a teenage couple step up to her till blushing and giggling. The girl awkwardly set a pack of condoms down on the counter. Lydia just looked them up and down “Mmhmm.” and keyed it in. Best they were safe but damn these kids were getting younger by the day and she hoped they were isolating together. Maybe best not to know.. They paid quickly and Lydia shrugged “So how many puppies do you think they're gonna get Pixie?”

Ziggy bounces on her feet in excitement.  “Maybe I’ll put puppies on the main store posters and fliers.”  she offers, already planning it all in her head.  Then she realizes that the door is clear now.  “I have deliveries.  Good luck, Theo.  Good luck Daisy.”  she smiles over at the corner.  “And good luck Owen.”  she doesn’t elaborate, but she figures giving birth is giving birth and Owen could practice being a good father that doesn’t freak out in the delivery room.

Theo settles down with he and Owen on either side of Daisy.  Owen at the head and Theo at the end where his and Simon’s new patients will come from.  Slowly the supplies come to him, and slowly he directs here they should go.  Hearing Owen speak, it doesn’t exactly register, but answers as he takes Daisy’s temperature with a Thrifty thermometer.  “Well, she'll give us more than a human would.”  he croons.  “Simon thinks there's at least three, but you never know.  We got called in for a species change in the middle of everything so we’ve told our patients that, if it isn’t an emergency, not to worry.  In our office, Simon is the doctor and I’m the nurse and lab tech.  So I’m qualified for this, unless something goes wrong.  Daisy here would usually go off in a corner and give birth.  I think little Maddy was hoping it would happen in her room.  But Mama here can recover there.”  he glances at Owen.  “Now … we wait….”

Pixie puts a hand on her wide hip and looks thoughtfully.  "Maybe 6 or 7 dunno "she chuckles and smiles "is that great i sorta want a puppy but i dunno if my landlord will let me.. she chuckles " i have to see ". She look back lydia "how much do you think she have and most importantly  who do you think is the papa " She continues to bag her customer's groceries

Buck just chuckle watch paul pick up items for Daisy "ill want one for Arthur .. that way itll keep him company while im work. He finishes his shopping and heads to check out  in Lydia line.

Owen waits, petting Daisy and hoping it all goes well. “You know I’ve  never seen anything born live. I mean scary videos in health class or nature documentaries but…” He leans sideways noting the back end of the dog “Not like this……” He thinks about Slaine and wonders if she’d find this all amusing or insulting.

Paul had heard Buck but didn’t have time to stop and answer. He stands back out of the way and watches Theo do his thing and Owen assist on the fly. Not much is happening yet. He wondered if dogs took as long as humans. Poor Cheryl was in labour for almost 3 days with their last baby.

Lydia snorts at Pixie “Dogs….just do what they do with whoever when the moment moves them. Humping out in the street like nobody’s business….” she looks up at Buck like she’s been sharing a recipe for cookies and not talking about dog humping “Paper bags or reusable Mr. Fireman.” She’s cheerful to him as she appreciates all the frontline workers like everyone else right now so much.

Pixie just burst out laughing  madly with Buck joining her at Lydia comment

Pixie just starrt to sing "hes a tramp but i love him brakes a new heart everyday" she carries on with the whole song in a flamboyant Broadway style song and dance  at her register

Buck is still laughing  madly between the whole doghumping comment and the sudden show.." paper Bags please kind grocery goddess " he says perk up by the mood of the shop ."you know even if we had another grocery store.. i still come here. You all are just the medicine i need after a day at firehouse " he chuckles softly

Theo barely notices his sister leaving in his preparations for the upcoming births.  Everything is in place.  He looks over at Owen.  “They don’t usually need us, but if we can stick around just in case, so much the better, right?  Humans like help and seem to need it a lot more.”

Seven minutes later the first puppy comes.  Daisy does everything right and only then does Theo weigh it and lay it near the warmth of Daisy.  The second puppy comes ten minutes later; and the third and forth within five more minutes.  Daisy is doing beautifully, even if she is panting quite a bit.  Number five somes … followed by number six … and finally number seven.  Two hours and eleven minutes after Owen tried to open a door, the room was filled with seven adorable puppies.

Theo looks at them, examining each one the moment Daisy takes care of the umbilical cords. He speaks many words of encouragement as she gives birth, keeping his voice filled with calm pride.  Once he is sure the last puppy has been born, he nods and makes sure mama and puppies are doing well before sitting back a bit.  “Who's the father?”  he wonders.  “I know my breeds, but …”  he laughs and shakes his head.  And finally looks at Owen.  “Well… thanks Owen.  I appreciate the help.”  not that he’d given the young man much choice in the matter.

Narrator - Thrifty Foods had a shift in energy for the hours the puppies were being born. Cory was at the door instead of Paul which threw a few people and made them ask “Is Paul sick? His kids? Oh no not poor Cheryl…” Cory stammered and stuttered and Lydia called out to them that all was well. By the second hour though, something was blooming in Cory, some kind of customer service skill in the early bud stages. He began to...smile at them, make eye contact and become firm in enforcing the social distancing rules. The dog was giving birth yes….but somehow so was the grocery universe. He stopped an older woman with a hat as he let her in “Would you like some hand sanitizer Mrs. Jensen?”

She was pleased as punch “Why thank you Cory…” She rubbed her hands and took a grocery basket.

Lydia put a hand over her heart and looked at Pixie “Look at our bag boy growing up right before our very eyes…think those puppies are all out yet?”

Owen had looked  a little shocked by the first puppy “It’s so ...wet…” but by the seventh he was just enjoying their sweetness. Birth was beautiful and so natural. That Daisy was a good mom already. It gave him faith.

Paul scrutinized the new arrivals “Those ears…...they almost look like a hound. They sure are cute. I’d love to ask for one for my girls….they’ve been fighting so much lately. Maybe a puppy would help keep the peace.”

Theo can hear a bit of the conversation in the store proper and when Paul speaks, he looks up at him, then down at the puppies settling in with their mother.  “Holy hell!”  he begins to laugh.  “Yup there’s beagle in em.  And there’s only one male beagle on the island and that’s the fire department’s Henry.  Apparently he CAN get off his lazy ass …”  he shakes his head.  “Well nobody is getting any of these kids until they’re eight weeks old, but if you talk to Chief Green, Paul I bet he’d be glad to make a list.”