From: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (The Didi-Sprite)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Song of Sixpence - Part Five
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:38:15 GMT
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Originator: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca



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Suddenly a warm breeze flutters past Liralen's cheek.

Gypsy having heard the news of Jilara's party swirls
up in her usual polychromatic whirlwind of scarves.

"Hmm, Oktoberfest and birthdays.  Well, Oktoberfest
must have beer.  So here is some Redtail Ale from a
California brew pub and some Xingu (Brasilian
black beer) -- because that is what *I* like 8-).

"October food should be warm and comforting,
nourishing to the body before the long cold.  But
also festive.  Here is a pot of my favorite cream
of pistacho soup in a warm stoneware turren.  
A matching tray holds sour cream, scallions and
more fresh California nuts available for topping."

"And birthdays need *presents*.  So here is a
silky, iridescent scarf and a matching collar
for Fezzik (whose birthday p'bly isn't today, but
no one ever doesn't need presents!)  May
you both wear them in good health and great
happiness!"

"And birthdays need hugs!  So a big zen-hug
from me!"

Rowan (Gypsy Woman)

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Meanwhile ... back at the bar ...

Ahha!

sjs has caught the sound of a fall party!!  But, brrrr, is it cold
around here... what's that outside, snow???  In September??? *no way!*
Ah well, parties are warm!  And, just in case we should end up
outside, she thinks, I'll bring my best indian blanket with all
the colours of fall in it.

Now, what else to bring.... Hmmm... but of course, pumpkin pie!
Especially now that I've finally found out how to make pastry
that can be cut with a fork (instead of a hatchet)!  (The secret
is to add 1tsp of baking powder to the flour & then it doesn't matter
if you over-work it:) )  And, since I'm making pastry, how about
chicken-pot pie?  Should go well with a thick, warming Guiness!

But then, this is a birthday party... my Rudbekias are still
lovely, in spite of the snow, how about a bunch of the beautiful,
big yellow blooms for Liralen... and a brown and yellow ribbon
to match..

OK, I'm ready... Where's the party?  

[ Yoo-hoo!  Jane ... over here!
Where all the tents and things are! ]

Happy Birthday Liralen!

                                             -  Jane Skinner -

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Meanwhile, somewhere else entirely ...

Ahem!


     'Singing in the bathtub, lalala. Getting ready, going to
 a party... Hmm. dah dee... <splash!> October is here !
 Weather to match the computer lab temperatures at last. Yippee !
 <clunk> <slide-the-door> <dry-rub-rub...> Getting ready, putting
 on the Ritz... La de dah, dida-dum, hmmm.'

    "Lets see, overalls, boots, straw hat, blue handkerchief,
  Blue work shirt. Yup, its all here. <put-on-the-clothes>
  Urk, have to watch that button fly... Lets see, where did I
  put that straw. Yup, there it is. Okay, exit out of here.
  Okay, lets see if this pickemup truck will start.
<rrr> <rrrrrrr> <rrrrrrrrrr> Advance the discharge, forward
the points ! Turn on the petrol, toss the hay into the back !
<rrrr vroom !> I knew this hayburner pickemup was short something !
Forgot to load three bales of hay in the truck bed. Okay, lets
go get the present.... Ooops, almost forgot the basket of goodies.
Let off the brakes, and then the clutch. Put my foot heavy down
on the accelerator, my hands hot on the wheel ! Driving down
the road, stopping at all the signs, being a good driver I am.
A long lonesome whistle of an old steam train over in the
railyard ! Whoosh ! Maybe Uncle Ben is back in town for the holidays.
A brakeman on the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe Railroad !
Or AT&SF for short. Hey Shorty ! Halloween is almost here ! Got
those pumpkins carved up yet !" DJ.

  "I shore do, pard ! I even managed a Kzinti grin on one of
'em, just like you requested !" Shorty.

  "Okydoak ! I'll pick 'em up after I get back from the store
with the present and other things," DJ.

  "Whoowee doggies ! Catch you later !" Shorty.

 { Honest, people do talk that away in Texas ! Really ! I should
  know ! I are a Texan ! }

       "Let's see. Here's the store ! Wait here hoss, while I get
    some stuff from inside..." DJ.

   <chufffle>, horse.

      <swing-open-the-door> "Howdee do ma'am ! I'm here to pickup
a special present I ordered. Jim's the name !" DJ.

 "Why I remember you, I know yore mother ! Where all have been
the past many summers of heat and lack of rain ! " Old Mrs. Loren.

  "Oh hither and yon ma'am ! I done spent 6 years in the Navy,
but I got to get that Birthday present I ordered ! " DJ.

  "Here it is, you paid ahead, so just go ahead and take it. " OML.

  "Thankee kindly Ma'am !" DJ.
  <back out to the hayburner pickemup...>

	       [ ******  brief  pause  ****** ]

  "Well, back this thing up and get back on the road. <kawhump!>
Oh no ! I can't be late ! Not for this very important date !" DJ.

  "Hey mister, you forget to take yore anchor back up !" Stranger.

  "Uhm, yeah, thank you ! Good Grief, I thought that beer bottle
 would fix 'it!' <put-anchor-back-in-truck> mumble mumble.

  Hmm. maybe a little traveling music from the radio. Lets see
whats on here. <sqwuak! screech...> blasted AM radio... Need to get
me a new volume control. 'Wont you please come back to the five and
dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean !' Nope can't be, thats a movie wont be
made for years ! <screech!, squawk...>  'I'm a travelin' man !'
Yeah, thats a good one ! by Ricky Nelson I do believe.
All over this world... hmmmm mmmmm Been alot of places, yeah I'm
a travelin' man ! Shorty, those pumpkins ready !" DJ.

  "Yup ! All done ! " Shorty.

 "<stop> Okay, if you'all will give me hand, " DJ.

  "<clap> <clap>" Shorty.

  "Some people and their sense of humor !" DJ.

  "<lift> <tote> <that> <barge> <and> <lift> <that> <bail>"
Both of us.

  "Well, all loaded ! Here's yore money Shorty ! " DJ.

  "I thank you ! See you around Jim !" Shorty.

  "<put-anchor-back-in-truck> I can hear Didi call, wanting to
know just how long I have left to go before I get there... " DJ.

 <after a long drive> <have to get back to 1992!>

                   [******       ******]

[ O.K. folks ... back up in time a bit ... to just before lunch! ...ed]

                   [******       ******]

   "What in the world is that !" SEA.

  "Its DJ driving a pick up truck !" Didi.

  "Oh, he does look a little seedy with all of that hay, must be
a hayseed !" SEA.

  "I guess I have reached the party ! I need a place to park my truck
and unload these pumpkins ! " DJ.

  "Right over there DJ !" Didi.

  "What do you have in pumpkins," SEA.

  " I have an elf, a balrog, a kzinti, a sprite, a dragon, a knight,
a fractal { rather hard for ol' Shorty to carve }, a firelizard,
and a robot. I hope you like them," DJ.

  "These are great ! Where did you get them !" Didi and SEA.

"A friend back in 1955 carved them for me. I figured they would
go over great !" DJ.

  "What else is that back there, " SEA.

 "Well, a huge uhm box, " DJ. :-)

                    [******       ******}

[  Now DJ has managed to drive his pickemup truck to the new site of the
   party and join the rest of us! ]

                    [******       ******]

 "If someone will help me carry this package over there to the
birthdaylady ??" DJ.

  "I'll help !" someone

 "<umph> This thing is heavy !" DJ.

 "There, Liralen ! Happy Birthday !" DJ.

 <A huge box, about 1 meter x 1 meter x 1 meter wrapped in silvery
paper with green, gold, blue, and orange ribbons.>

  { For those who don't know, a meter is 39.37 inches... }

  "Whoosh ! This is going to take a while to open !" Liralen.

  "Well, it has a hinged lid. It opens right here." DJ.

  "Oh ! I can hardly wait !" Didi.

  <Liralen opens the box>

  Inside all can see a large mound of fresh blueberries, with a small
 blue package on top of them.

  <paper being torn open>

  "Its a harmonica !" Liralen

  "It plays harmony, in more ways than one ! When you play it, it will
play the harmony of a song, and produce harmony in those who are
within hearing range !" DJ.

                                          -- Dreamy Jim Pierce --

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The Didi-Sprite
Montreal * Canada

braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca