From: dapetersen@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Toothpick (-:))
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: An MIA returns! (-:
Date: 27 Dec 92 04:08:24 GMT
Organization: Petersen's Homestead

The door swirls open, catching the attention of those few left in the place
for the holidays.  A smallish figure - perhaps woman sized - steps in with
the cold wind and swirling, crystaline snow.  She's carrying a little bundle
in her arms.

She so covered in snow that no one can tell her identity, but she must know
the place, since she carefully looks towards the chalkline before heading
for the fire.  She stands for a while with her back to the flames, soaking
up the warmth as the heat evaporates the snow from her and her bundle.

Finally, with a last shake of her head, the hood of the thick winter coat falls
off, revealing a familiar cheery face with blond hair.  Toothpick beelines for
the bar.

"Hiya Mike!  Sure has been a while! I can't even REMEMBER last time I was in
here.  ONe large mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows please!"  Of course,
Mike obliges with a smile that mirror's the woman's own.  "Oh, and...can I
get a large carrot with that?"

Mike looks a bit baffled now, but produces a carrot from his stash behind the 
bar.  Meanwhile, Toothpick has headed for the MIA board to erase for at least
a little while her name.  She turns around then to see who she knows.

"Let's see..who's left.  DM, that you over there?  And Liralen, and...Taldin?!
Wow!  Nick I suppose and Didi, kitten, Brumby, Amanda, P'relan (or must I call
you James now? (-:), Aahz, Mandelbear..."  She rambles on for minutes, smile
getting wider all the time.  "Boy I've missed you guys..as usual, glad to see
things here don't change all that much."

As she's talking, the bundle in her arms begins to squirm.  She sticks a carrot
under the blanket, which stops the squirming and replaces it with a loud
munching sound.  Toothpick grins and heads for a table.  Boy does SHE have a
lot to share!

She unwraps the bundle and sets what seems to be a large warm fuzzy - black 
and white in color - on the table in front of her.  But a fuzzy who eats
carrots?

"This isthe most important thing that's happened to me since I last saw you 
all.  Let me introduce Tux (pronounced TUCK).  Her name is short for Tuxedo,
and I'm sure you'll agree she's aptly named.  She's my very own adopted warm
fuzzy - and proof positive (contrary to my previous arguments here) that
fuzzies DO have teeth!"

At that, Tux seems to get bigger a tad and two antennae unfold from her body - 
revealing a 5 pound cuddly bunny rabbit! Toothpick smiles and strokes her
ears affectionately.  "I adopted hr fromthe humane society about two months
ago - she keeps the lonely times away when James can't be around. (-:"

Toothpick smiles and hugs Tux (or Tuxie, as she's sometime's known), 
whispering in her ear, "I TOLD you you'd like it here!"

Tux swirls her head around, taking a pause from carrot consumption.  She 
wimprer and crouches a little upon seeing other large, furry catlike forms,
but Toothpick reassures her.  "Don't worry, little one.  No vicious kitty
cats here."

"She had a trauma a few weeks ago - saw a cat outside the sliding door and was
convinced she was going to be eaten!  She ran upstairs and hid under the
washer for a full hour!"  Toothpick giggles, still petting the little fuzz ball.

"Anyway, I've been MIA, but A.C hasn't been MIA from my thoughts.  James/
P'relan keeps me updated and I occasionally get mail from some of my A.C
friends.  I've been very busy, but thought maybe I'd have time over the
next month to make here some. (-:"

"News?  Well, I've gotten paid to sing this month in some madrigal dinners.
Never imagined that someone would pay me to sing!  It waslots of fun - 
especially the costumes. (-:  My new place is nice and Cozy with Tux here and
the job is going really well.  i]Eight months now and I still love it. (-:
(Has anyone out west eaten any Garcia's salsa or chips? (-:)."

Toothpick sips the lastof her hot chocolate and tickles the back of Tuxie's
neck.  "Stay here, sweetie.  I'll be right back."  Tux peers over the edge of
the table cautiously, decides it's too high of a jump for a little bunny, and
goes back ot gnawing on the carrot."

Toothpick makes her way to the chalk line and pauses for a moment.

	"To the Christmas season!  May all our hearts be filled with
	 peace and joy - no matter what our beliefs or backgrounds - 
	 as we celebrate this special time of year.  May you all
	 find and share the wonderous love which is the TRUE gift
	 of Christmas."

She smiles, raises the mug to all of Callahans, and tosses it into the
fire.  "The toast I made every performance of the madrigal feast didn't
seem right since they wouldn't let me throw the glass...(-:"

She heads back to the talbe and stop s short. "Oh no.  Tuxie!  Where ARE
you?!"  

[Tux - being the smart little rodent she is - has hopped on a chair and to the
floor to lookfor tastey shoelaces to chew, or perhaps something wooden.]

Toothpick looks around and laughs.  "Justlike at home...come BACK here you
goofy rabbit! Tu-ux!"

*******************************************************************************
Toothpick
In RL - Debbie Petersen
dapetersen@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu
216-467-3055
*******************************************************************************

It's great to be back!!! (-:

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