Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Friends ... forever ...
From: olson@husc8.harvard.edu (Chip Olson@somewhere.out.there)
Date: 26 Sep 92 23:34:25
Organization: Spam-On-A-Rope Inc.
In-reply-to: braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca's message of Sat, 26 Sep 1992 16:19:57 GMT

In article <1992Sep26.161957.6297@cs.mcgill.ca> braley@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca  (The Didi-Sprite) writes:

>The Didi-Sprite has been huddled in Lord Galdrin's arms ever since
>hearing Smoke's news about one of her special friends, The Artful
>Dodger.  Her cheeks are tear stained and her eyes very red.  Gradually
>she uncurls herself and assures His Lordship that she will be alright.
>Finally, she tests her strength as she stands, then walks slowly over
>to Nick Chopper and lowers herself to where kitten is scrunched,
>purring, against the tinman's leg.  Didi strokes Kitten tenderly,
>then recites:
>
>
>" 'Though he that, ever kind and true,
>   Kept stoutly step by step with you,
>   Your whole long, gusty lifetime through,
>	Be gone a while before --
>   Be now a moment gone before --
>   Yet doubt not; soon the season shall restore
>	Your friend to you.

[etc.]

>Didi lifts her glass and cries:
>
>	       "Best Wishes, Artful Dodger!
>		Peace and Happiness be yours forever!"

[CRASH!!]

>Didi and Kitten look at one another, nod, and cry in unison ...
>
>"Let's celebrate!"
>
>"And,"  suggests Didi,  "I think we can all begin by sharing one of
>these!"

A group hug begins to form around Didi and Kitten, and for a few minutes
everyone in the Place stands in everybody else's arms, swaying gently back
and forth.  As it eventually breaks up, Castellan places a call to Radio
Free Colorado.


This is for you, our favorite son
The wars you have waged, the battles you have won
This is for you and all that you gave us
Your words that were true, the faith that couldn't save you

I can see your eyes still shining here inside this fantasy
I wish I wish away the night that you were still right next to me
I never seem to realize things are not what they appear to be...

This is for you, still shining and able
The things you can't do, a life that has been ended

I can see your eyes still shining here inside this fantasy
I wish I wish away the night that you were still right next to me
I never seem to realize things are not what they appear to be...

I hear they laid you deep, my friend
I hear your sister came
They'll never take the best from us, never take the best from us,
Never take the best from us, never take the best from us, the best from us...

I can see your eyes still shining here inside this fantasy
I wish I wish away the night that you were still right next to me
I never seem to realize things are not what they appear to be
I never seem to realize the same thing, it's always the same thing...

[Ellen James Society, "Favorite Son"]

During the song, Castellan has been piling up several boxes with Chinese
lettering and various "DANGER-EXPLOSIVE" labels on them.  Enlisting the
help of a couple other patrons, he carries them out to the meadow and
up to the top of a small knoll.  To the curious patrons watching from the 
French doors, they seem to be taking various oblong objects out of the 
boxes and wiring them together.  Finally they return to the Place, with
Castellan trailing a bunch of wires that he attaches to a small switch-
board.  "I guess this is a somewhat non-traditional occasion for fireworks,
but I can't think of a more appropriate one..." BANG! POP! PFREEEEEEOWWWW!!
The night sky comes alive with flashes and starbursts, and explosions
reverberate across the countryside.  

[Farewell, Artful Dodger.  May you be at peace, and may the love and joy
you brought to the Place and to those around you be forever treasured.]


--
-Chip Olson. | ceo@silver.lcs.mit.edu | ceo@gnu.ai.mit.edu 
"I get drunk, drinking Guinness with Creme de Menthe in it. It's really
bad for you."  -Shane MacGowan.