From: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (The Didi-Sprite)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Song of Sixpence - Part Three
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:34:27 GMT
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Originator: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca



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Friday, October 2nd - Late Morning -

"Well, Bertie, we have put in a good morning's worth of work, wouldn't
you say?"  Didi rubs the cockatoo's breast while he preens in
appreciation.  

"I think the meadow shimmers just right, don't you?  The bonfires are
all ready to be lit.  The leaves on the maples are just the right shade
of crimson, russet, and scarlet.  Whilest the canoe birches are
shimmering with irridescent gold.  And, I just love the touches of
Australian and New Zealand Spring you have added here and there.  Isn't
that Jacaranda gorgeous!  Oooo ... and how delicious Old Sol feels right
now ... so warm ... and yet crisp ... and smell that tang!  Apples!
Oooo ... delicious!  Sigh."

"I think we can go in now.  I have a feeling our co-conspirators are
a little anxious to get started on the rest of our ... "


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Friday, October 2nd - Afternoon -

Callahans is filling up with patrons fresh from classes, labs, and other
worthwhile acitivities.  The conversation is brisk, puncuated here and
there by guffaws and chortles.  Glasses clink; tankards clank; the 
hot tub bubbles.

Caithelin and Didi have been off on their own whispering secrets in
each other's ear.  But now they begin wandering amongst the tables
stopping at each one to have a quiet word with the occupants.  Finally,
Caithelin suggests to Didi that she follow her through an X-window that
has just appeared in one wall.  

"Come on, Didi!  Help me do a little baking!  Look at this fabulous
kitchen ... and no, it isn't mine!  This one is clean!"

Always willing to lend a hand in the kitchen, Didi follows Caithelin
and soon all of Callahans is treated to the most delicious aromas ...
oooo ... lemon!  Orange?  Tomatoes!  Yeasted dough?  Ummmmm ... cinnamon?
The patrons wonder what on earth they could be making in there.
Snatches of song can be heard occasionally:  

                     "Sing a song of sixpence
		      a pocket full of rye
		      4 and 20 blackbirds
		      baked in a pie.
		      When the pie was opened
		      the birds began to sing!
		      Now wasn't that a dainty dish
		      To set before the king!"


The Doctor sticks his head throught the X-window:  "I'm not eating
any live blackbirds!"  

Didi pitches an oven mit at him and he ducks back out.

Just then Nick Chopper steps through the aperture and takes up a
position at one of the counters.  

"Hi, Nick!  Can I help with something?"  asks Didi.

"You could bring me the flour and sugar cannisters and show me where
the bowls and measuring implements are."

"No problem!  But first ... you need an apron!  Let's see ... where is
it ... oh, here's one!  Don't you just love the colour?  Pink!  And,
look at the ruffles!  Sooooo ... charming ... !"

"If you put that on me ... !"  threatens the Tinman whilst waving
a wooden spoon in the vicinity of the -Sprite's dainty derriere.

"Alright!  Alright!"  she giggles.  "Just trying to be helpful!
Here ... have this dull old white one ... just like a chef would wear.
Want the hat, too?"

"No thanks!  My tin one is just fine."  And, Nick begins measuring
and mixing.

Of course, all of Callahans are being treated to this repartee and are
wondering if they are ever going to get the opportunity of tasting
the mouth-watering treats that must go with those irristible aromas when
Caithelin comes in carrying a big tray with a cover.  Shadow is right
on her heels, sniffing appreciatively.  (Caithelin asks if that is
a word ... Didi wants to know why she cares!)  Trying to convince
Mom (Mom?) that she really should give some to a poor starving puppydog
who's wasting away, and is going to trip her soon if she doesn't.

"Shadow!  Dammit!  Move dog!"  

The other patrons sniff ... ummm ... errr ... appreciatively (well,
why not!  It is a perfectly serviceable word!) as well.  Hmmm ...
it smells almost like pizza ... but not really like basil or
oregano ... more like ... cinnamon and ... blueberries?!?

Caithelin grins.  She sets the tray down on a table as the -Sprite
finally captures the illusive Liralen (Aha!  Light finally dawns!)
and brings her to the table.  Caithelin removes the lid.  It *IS*
a pizza.  But it still doesn't smell quite right.  It smells like
blueberries.  The crust is yeasted pizza dough with a sprinkling of
cinnamon running through it.  The sauce is crushed tomatoes with
lemon rind, fennel, cinnamon, and a little ginger.  Covering
the sauce is a thick layer of blueberries and chunks of apples.
It's topped with bubbly browned mozzarella.  Candles are stuck in
the bubbling cheese.  

[ Candles?  Are you sure about this Caithelin?   ... ed. ]

Just then Nick comes through the X-window with ...



             \ ^ /                                          \ ^ /
             -(,)-                                          -(,)-
             /|\ \                                          /|\ \
              | |            ********************            | |
              | |  **********   For Liralen Li   **********  | |
              | |**                                        **| |
             *| |---------------------|----------------------| |*
            * | |___       X   X     X|   K        K      ___| | *
           *  | |X  |X  X             | K      K       K |   | |  *
           *  | |   |                X|o K   K           | K | |  *
           .*  |----|X    X   X    X  | K            K   |----|  *.
           H **|______________________|_______K_______________|** Y
           H   ****        "Looks like soccer to me!"      ****  Y.
           H      H**********                    **********Y     Y.
           HH     H       AA ********************PPPPP      Y   Y .
           H HH   H      A  A       PPPPP        P    P      Y Y  .
           H   HHHH     A    A      P    P       P    P       YY  .
           .      H    AAA    A     P    P       PPPPP         Y  .
           .      H    A  AAAAAA    PPPPP        P             Y  .
           B           A       A    P            P                .
           BB                  A    P            P                .
           B BB                     P                             Y
           B   B                                                 Y.
           B BBB  II                                       Y     Y.
           B  B     III  RRR     TTTTT H    H DDDDD     A   Y   Y .
           B   B    I    R  RRR    T   H    H D    D   A A   Y Y  .
            B  B    I    R     R   T   H    H D    D  A   A   YY .
             BB     I    RRR   R   T   HHHHHH D    D A  AAAA   Y.
               ...  I    R  RRR    T   H    H D   D  AAA   A ..Y
                  III    R   R     T   H    H D  D   A  ...A.
                    III..R    R    T   H    H DDD ...A..
                         ......R..................



[  Tee-hee!  Gotcha all, didn't we?!   ... ed.]

And, the Didi-Sprite, still doing her best to restrain Shadow 
starts the song:

	      Happy Birthday to You!

		       Happy Birthday to You!

			       Happy Birthday, Dear Liralen!

					Happy Birthday to You!


As the singing dies away everyone hears Liralen laughing delightedly
as Caithelin hands her the first steaming piece of of 'pizza' with a big
hug.

"Hear you are lady.  Happy Birthday!!!  I must admit I haven't actually
made this RL yet, but I've figured out how it should be made and next
time you come visit, we will make this!  I promise!"  Caithelin looks
around for P'relan.  "Come on, haave some."  The three of them laugh
and grin foolishly as they all try bites.  Everyone else just looks
at them as though they are nuts ... but then probably ... they are!

[ Folks keeping the A.C. Old Coot record, does this count?  Does
  anyone else remember this particular exchange?  .... ed. ]

Before things can get any more out of hand, Nick Chopper offers
Liralen a birthday hug and kiss and cuts her the first slice of cake
after she has blown out the candles.

Shadow meanwhile has conned Didi into releasing him and surreptitiously
joins Fezzik.  The two dogs try to sneak a piece of the pizza off
the table.  

"Wait until it cools, guys.  We'll save you a piece!  I promise!"
says a happy Caithelin.


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The Didi-Sprite
Montreal * Canada

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