From: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (The Didi-Sprite)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Song of Sixpence - Part Four
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:36:24 GMT
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Originator: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca



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Now that the cats (and dogs) are out of the bag ... oooo, groan! ...
all of Callahans is in a convivial uproar.  Everyone seems to be trying
to give Liralen birthday hugs and kisses all at the same time!

"My goodness!  What a crush!"  chuckles Mike to Didi and Bertie who have
very wisely squeezed out from the midst of the mob and taken up positions 
at the bar.

"It is good to see everyone so happy again, isn't it?"

Mike nods in agreement then steps around the counter and wanders over
to the French Doors.

"It looks wonderful out there on the meadow.  The sun is shining; the
grass is the greenest I have seen it for a while.  And, so well
manicured, too!  Methinks our -Sprite has been giving her wand a bit
of a work out!"

Unable to resist the scene, Mike sticks his head out the door
and quickly pulls it back in, his hair tousled by a breeze that
also comes in.  "Hmm.  Going to have to start up the furnace soon.
Fall's in the air," he says to no one in particular.

  As Mike returns to his post behind the bar, folks notice that the
puff of breeze has also left one of the French doors ajar.  Some of
the more curious patrons, (and we do have enough felines here, all
survivors :) ) open the doors the rest of the way revealing a crisp
beautiful afternoon.

  Overhead is a deep blue sky punctuated by sparse fluffy white
clouds, its heights painted with cirrus whisps.  Though there is no
frost to be found, there's a tang in the air telling all that its not
summer any more.

  Just a little ways outside the door there's a country lane, running
gently uphill.  A little ways up the lane some soul has planted a
sign.

[  Hey!  Wait a minute!  I didn't put that there!  ... ed.  :->  ]

   *************
    *           *
     *  This      *
    *           *
   *************
         |
         |
         |
         |



Coincidentally, or, not so coincidentally (Kitten being a feline and
all) Kitten is the first to bounce over, thinking she had better close
the doors.  But then she spies the neat little sign and cries out:

"Hey!  Look everyone!  Directional arrows!  How intriguing!"

Albert, Bear, Nathan, Caithelin, the dogs, and ...

"'Scuse me!  I'm just a roly-poly teddy bear ..."

Ramda, hurry over to have a look.  Naturally you know they cannot
resist stepping outside onto the grass when a little further along the 
lane there's another one:


                       *************
                        *           *
                         *   way      *
                        *           *
                       *************
                             |
                             |
                             |
                             |


Next thing we know ... yup!  All the patrons are looking and wondering
and suggesting that they follow along and see just what all this is
about.  First, of course, sweaters and warm wooly shawls are handed
around.  It is a bit crisp out there, you know.

But the sun makes things comfortable as the group begin their hike
discovering that the lane crosses a small bridge over a stream.  
The water tumbles down over stones to the right of the bridge and 
then runs under the brief span.  Its banks of the stream are filled 
with wildflowers.  The first people to arrive at the bridge hear the 
"bloop" sounds of frogs taking to the water from the banks and 
swimming for the shadows.  Bees hasten from flower to flower as if 
they too feel the change in the season.


                                             *************
                                              *   just    *
                                               *  a bit     *
                                              *  further  *
                                             *************
                                                   |
                                                   |
                                                   |
                                                   |

The path continues its gentle rise, flanked now by an apple orchard on
the left and fields and meadows on the right.  The well trimmed trees
are planted along the rolling grassy hillside.  In a few months this
will be a great place to ride a sled over the snows.  Now though,
while some trees seem to have been picked, other are yet laden with
ripe and still ripening fruit.

To the right some flags can be seen fluttering in the morning breeze.
As people ascend just a bit further they see that in the distance the
lane seems to end.  There, to the right is a pond and some grand
yellow and white tents topped with pennants!

"Oh!  Look!"  cries Caithelin, who is walking with Liralen near
the front of the crowd.  "What is all this?!"

"Didi?  What have you been up to?"  Nick wants to know.

"Don't look at me!  I had absolutely nothing to do with this!  But,
isn't it a grand day?  Just smell Autumn!  Such a tang!  Such
freshness!"

Bear can't resist kicking up a cloud of fallen maple leaves.  Nathan
gets a chestfull of the colourful debris and pretends to be incensed
as he picks tiny bits of stems and other strange things from his 
sweater.  "I just hand-washed and blocked this, you know!"  he protests.

Fezzik and Shadow lope along, sniffing here, nosing there.  Bertie
flutters overhead enjoying their antics as he dive bombs them every
now and then.


But finally, 


                 *~                             +
                 ^        +                     |~~~
              /_____\     |\/\>                 ^
              |-----|     |                   /   \
              |     |     ^                 /       \
                        /   \             /___________\
                      /       \           |__|__|__|__|
                    /           \         | ___   ___ |
                  /_______________\       |  X     X  |
                 |   |        |    |
                 |=================|
                 |                 |
                 |  ____    ____   |
                 | x >< x  x >< x  |



the ensemble ... arrives!  And, typically, wander off in every which
direction in order to see what they can see!

  The tents are set on grass and filled with long tables and benches.
The flaps, rolled up on two sides, block the breeze and provide shade
for those wishing it.  There are some tables near the back that look
like they would make an awfully large buffet.

And, guess what!  Mike is standing there grinning and set in front
of him are Caithelin's unique pizza and Nick's Soccer Field Birthday
Cake!

Just then, out of the orchard the noise of an engine it heard.  People 
cannot see quite what is coming because of all the trees but, down by the
ground, first some small wheels appear, then a grill, then some large
wheels ....

  It's a tractor ... and two wagons ... and a frood.

  Frood pulls up between the tents and shuts off the engine.  "Gee.
That's fun.  I've always wanted to get to drive one of those!  Funky
shift pattern though." he remarks and grins.

  He climbs up on the larger wagon and pulls off the tarp.  Under it
are wooden boxes full of bushels upon bushels upon bushels of apples
of all varieties.  Among the vast splendor are red and golden
delicious, green granny smiths, and the tart red and green skinned
winesaps.
  
  "Could some folks lend a hand bringing a few boxes of each type to
the buffets?  Thanks!"

  Frood jumps down and heads for the second wagon.  There are some
delicious smells coming from this one.  He carefully detaches it and
brings it around to the back of the biggest tent, behind the buffet
area.  Chocking the wheels, he opens the back and sides revealing all
sorts of hot food.

  First come the fresh baked rolls which are laid out in baskets
covered with cloth to keep them warm.  There's butter too.

  Then folks notice the great pots, a little steam escaping from
beneath their lids.  Some have spigots while others don't.  Albert and
others grab towels to help lift them over to the stoves set up to keep
them warm.

  "Hot cider in these,"  frood points to one side.

  And lifting the lid from one of the pots on the other side,
"Bratwurst.  Your choice broiled or boiled, with or without
sauerkraut, on a plate or on a bun."

Suddenly Frood is surrounded by bodies with helpful hands and arms
attached and it isn't long before the tables are groaning under
the transferred load.

  "OK, one and all, let's have fun!  Eat, drink, wander all
hereabouts, and have fun!"

  With this frood sets to keeping the buffet table stocked from what
had better be an inexhaustible supply.  People look hungry!

========================================================================

Didi giggles at Liralen:  "See what a frood can do when he is in the
mood!"  she pauses ... "Yes.  I know!  That was awful!"


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The Didi-Sprite
Montreal * Canada

braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca
Newsgroups: alt.callahans