From: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca  (The Didi-Sprite)
Subject: Just for Fun!  Or, The Best Way to Start the Day!
Originator: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 16:26:48 GMT

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Under the linden tree, the Didi-Sprite and Lord Galdrin, her knight-
errant, are snuggled close together, protected from the coolness of
the night by a cozy mohair throw of varying shades of mauve, blue and
cream.  Over head, the full moon sinks towards the horizon and the
stars wink out one by one as night wanes and dawn draws nigh.  A hooty
owl hoots his last hoot before tucking his head beneath his wing in
preparation for a long day's sleep, whilst other creatures of the 
night hurry and scurry to their lairs before old Sol can finger them
on their nightly sojourns.  The gentle snores of other meadow sleepers
are accomapnied by the soft lapping of water against the shore and
rustling leaves being stirred by early morning breezes.  

Slowly the eastern sky brightens, then turns a soft aqua blue, before
bursting forth with flickering tongues of pink, mauve, gold, and scarlet.  
Meadow Larks, Wrens, Fresh Water Gulls, Finches of all descriptions, 
and Robins burst into song!  Day has begun.

Soon the burgeoning warmth of the new day forces the Didi-Sprite to
half-consciously push back the coverlet and sit up whilst rubbing the 
sleep from her eyes.  She sighs contentedly and wonders what adventures 
she and her companions will enjoy in the next hours.

"First," she thinks to herself, "a bath!"

And, stealthily, she rises from beside her companion and quietly tiptoes
toward the shore and a nice thick clump of reeds.  Into the reeds she
steps, removes her clothing, hanging them over the velvety head of a
convenient bullrush, then swims out the other side.  For a while
she simply glides along enjoying the cool, silky feel of the water
againgst her warm skin.  Soon, however, she returns to the reeds where
she scoops up handsfull of sand from the bottom and busily scours her
body until it turns a delicate pink.  After rinsing off, she moves into
the reeds where she searches out her clothing.

    {Uh-huh!  I know ... you are all expecting the poor -Sprite}
    {to discover that her brief sprite-costume has been purloined}
    {by someone ... or something!  Well!  I am not going to dis-}
    {appoint you!                                                }

"Oh, no!"  sighs Didi,  "Not this again!  Bertie!  Bertie, you naughty
parrot, I want my clothes back!"

"Squawk!  I am no parrot, if you please!"  coughs the cockatoo.  "And, I
haven't got that stuff you pass off as clothing, either!  If you wore
feathers, or fur, you wouldn't have these problems.  Harrumph!"

"Bertie ... puhleeze ... I am beginning to freeze in here!  Would you be
a good ... ummm ... friend, and fetch my wand from under my pillow?"

Didi listens carefully and smiles her satisfaction when she hears
Bertie's wings beat the air as he flies off towards her bed.  

"Tee-hee-giggle!"

What was that?

"Giggle-snort!"

Aha!  The perpetrator is close at hand!  Err ... at paw, that is.

"Ramda!  You naughty teddy!  Give me my clothes!"  demands the irate
-Sprite.

"Tee-hee-I'm-just-a-rolypoly-teddy-bear!"

"Ramda, Darling!" coaxes Didi, "Give Didi her clothes.  The water is
cold, and I might catch a code-in-my-node!"

"Giggle-chortle-tee-hee!"

"Ramda!  If you don't give me my clothes at once I am coming out
after you!  Modesty be-da*@#&!"

"Here-here!  What's all the fuss?"  asks a familiar voice.  "Hello,
little bear.  What is that you have in your paws?  Looks like a 
costume a -Sprite might wear ... in fact ... it looks like the one
Didi was wearing at dinner last night.  Where is she, anyway?"

"Nathan?  Nathan!  Is that you?"  asks the distressed -Sprite, 
parting the reeds a little so that she can get a peek.

"Oh!  Err ... Didi!  There you ... umm ... err ... are!"

"Nathan!  I am soooooo glad to see you!"

"Nice to ... err ... seeeee ... you ... ummm ... too!  A little more
of you than I am used to seeing, by the way."

"What?  Oh!  Ooops!"  and Didi ducks down again in the now very chilly
water.

It doesn't take Nathan long to realize the problem and being a 
Southern Gentleman from Texas (ahem!) his gallantry and resourcefulness
soon have the situation in hand ... as well as a teddy bear.

"Thank you so much, Nathan!  I will see that you have an extra specially
delicious breakfast ... with hominy grits and everything.  No calories
either ... this being VR!"

Just then Berite arrives with Lord Galdrin carrying the requested
wand.

"Thanks, Guys!  Be out in a moment!"

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The Didi-Sprite
Montreal * Canada

braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca