From: trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu (Barbara Trumpinski)
Subject: narnia and other chronicals--part 1
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 22:09:43 GMT

this is for didi...and for our own danger mouse.
----<--<@

The Didi-Sprite uncurls her small self from the fetal position
she had assumed next to Lord Galdrin and stretches her petite
body as far as it will allow and carefully opens her eyes ...

"Ahhhhh!"  she smiles,  "Dawn is breaking."

It seems to her, as she sits up and looks around the meadow, that
this March 15th Didi-Sprite Birthday Party has been going on a long,
long time ... not that anyone seems to mind.  

Here, there, and everywhere are scattered about the meadow, under
trees, in the open, next to shrubbery, various and sundry sleeping
bodies and arrangements!  (Well ... we can't party all the time ...
we can try ... but ... !  :->  )

Just out of curiosity, and since her companion doesn't show signs
of rousing just yet, the spriteful one trots over to the French doors
and goes inside for a chat with Mike.

"Hi!  Mike!  Top of the morning to you!  Is it St-Patty's Day yet?"

Mike looks up from putting a blinding shine on the glass he is holding
and chortles at this question:  "Been and gone some time now,
m'darlin'!"  

"What?  I have missed St-Patricks day?  What day *is* it?"

"Why it is Sunday, April 12th!  Can I get you some coffee?"  He asks.

"No thanks, Mike ... don't really like the stuff.  Hot chocolate would
be nice though ... "   the Didi-Sprite absently accepts the mug of
steamy chocolate and wonders ... "April 12th ... there is something
signifcant about that date ... but for the life of me ... I can't think
what it might be ... "  and she turns around, leaning her back against
the bar ... when ... when ...

"I'm late!  *I'm late for a very important date!*  Hello!  Goodbye!
Goodbye!  Hello!  I'm late!  I'm late!  I'm late!  I'm late! I'm late!" 

"What ... who?  Mike!  Did you see that?"

"Hmm ??? "  

"That ... that white rabbit!  He was wearing a vest and a coat and was
looking at the most immense pocket watch I have ever seen!"

And, with that, the Didi-Sprite puts her mug down on the bar, and
sprints towards the French doors intent upon following the rabbit.

kitten is almost bowled over by both rabbit and sprite as she is coming 
in...."my goodness,"  she exclaims.  "what is HIS problem?"

"i don't know," says the halted, and now distracted, didi..."would you 
like something to drink?" 

"i think i'll have an iced tea....it is a bit warm outside...in the
high 80's already ....what is that in centigrade again?"

"Err ... "  figure, count, calculate ... "how does that go again,
Albert? ... oh, about 26.6 deg. C. ... ooof!  That is warm!"

"thanks, mike" kitten sets down her huge bag and takes a long drink of
iced tea...sweetened with vanilla sugar.  "i have been sooooooo busy."

"what's in the bag?" asks the sprite ....(not being nosy, merely 
naturally curious as all sprites are)

"why, these are rainbows....i've been decorating the meadow.  and i
have more for inside..."  mike looks rather suspicious at the thought
of someone scattering rainbows around his bar....this is, after all,
an irish bar...we must have some dignity...

"ooohhhhhhhhh i love rainbows," says didi...."but why the decorating mood?"

kitten looks shocked and splutters ... "Well, because it is April 12th
..... "

"April 12th ... Oh!  The Rabbit ... "  and the Didi-Sprite turns and
dashes out the French doors with Kitten in close pursuit.

Just paces from the doors, the -Sprite slides to a stop ... Kitten
bounces right into her... 

"Ouch!"  Cries the startled -sprite. 

Slowly the Didi-Sprite realizes that although it is the same meadow,
with the same folk scattered about, some still stretched out in sleep,
others finally being 'fingered' awake by old sol as he journeys upwards
across the sky, there are subtle differences manifesting themselves.
A sort of sparkle has invaded the atmosphere and the shrubbery and
tall stalks of tulips, irises, daffodils and paper whites rustle as
though hiding living creatures ... and there are rainbows everywhere,
hanging from bushes and trees ... and off through the trees aways ... 
a lampost?

"My-my ... you have been busy, Kitten ... I don't think we are in
*my* meadow any more!"

Even Kitten is surprised at the change ...

"Oh!  There he goes ... the rabbit!"

"After him!"

And, the two pick up their feet and make off after the vanishing
tick-tocking rodent.

"Hey!  Watch where you are going!"  says a small annoyed voice.

"Ooops ... excuse me, Mr. ... J.R.!"  cries Didi.  "That is you,
isn't it?"  

This seems an odd question to ask a small turquoise and white bunny
with very long ears, standing erect and doing his best to look indig-
nant.

"Why are you ... how did you ... get here?"  asks the sprite.

"No mystery." states the now identified J.R. Rabbit matter-of-factly,
"It is April 12th after all."

Just then a small, cuddly, grey and white female bunny hops up to
the trio, "Nice to see you again, Miss Didi!"  she says ... "And,
this must be Kitten, of whom I have heard so much."  

"Felicity?  Felicity Greytoes?  Well, well ... it has been an age
since you made that journey across the seas to the land of Oz!
How goes it?"

"Oh, it goes very well, thank you.  I am doing what I always do ...
banishing the clouds of unhappiness for one special mousekins."

Just then a rather rotund and furry bear rolls into Kitten ... 

"Ooooomph!"  
	
"I beg your pardon, M'am!"  says he.

"And, who, what, are you?"  asks Kitten straightening her clothes.

"Ramda Teddy-Bear, at your service, M'am!"  says he.

"Hmmmm ... this is all rather coincidental ... " ponders the confused
looking sprite ... but then ... with a very wide grin and a twinkle
in her eye ...

"Oho!  And, you all thought I forgot!  Didn't you!  Ha!  Me forget
an important date like ... April 12th ... *NEVER!!!!* ....
Now where is he?  That elusive Mouse!"

kitten, realizing suddenly that she has forgotten something goes
bouncing off into the distance, trailing streamers of rainbows....soon
she is back, and following her is a bevy of buxom beauties, all of
whom are blonde and bouncy and being ever so bright.

[Ooooo ... just look at all those bouncing B's!  ... ed.]

they are all dressed alike, stileto heels, black stockings, shocking
pink  form fitting strapless satin swimsuit-like garments, perfect makeup,
bunny ears and tails!!!!!!!!!!!!

"WHAT is THIS!?????????"  didi is shocked.

"well, you SAID that DM likes bunnies....:).  besides, they needed the work."

the large and lovely (playboy) bunnies whisper among themselves...

finally, ... "Where ith thith mouthiekins y'all keep talking about?"  
one of them lithpth ... errr ... lisps.

they all lick their lipth (ooops ... lips)  in unison at the thought of 
the sweet, shy mouse.

Just then, Shonias wanders over from somewhere ...

"I am glad you are here, Shonias."  comments the -sprite ... "We are
wondering where best to begin looking for The Danger Mouse.  Any ideas?"

"Well, I would look for a landmark that is typical of Oz."

"Hmmm ... now why didn't I think of that!"  exclaims Didi ... quick to
give credit where credit is due.

Felicity Greytoes has been hopping up and down trying to get *someone's*
... *anyone's* ... attention!  

"I know!  I know!"  she cries.  "Over there!"  she points, "Under that
blossoming Wattle tree!"

Well, now ... that certainly looks promising ...

kitten, shonias, and didi corral the bunnies...not literally, you under
stand, but they must be kept under control to await the mousiekins...
afterall, we don't want them to spoil the surprise..."Come on, girls...we
have to find ourselves a danger-type mouse.

The intrepid trio begin their search for a certain australian
mouse...did you know that mice in australia are rather large?...kitten
has donned her safari hat and didi is carrying quite a large butterfly net.

"hmmmmmmmmmmm.  i think he has come this way," says didi...

"how do you know? questions kitten.

"see, there is an empty bag of violet crumble.  and over there is a
sheet with scores from a cricket match."

"oh, yes...and he seems to have left a trail of equations...."  didi
and kitten follow the trail...it leads to the particular wattle tree
pointed to by Felicity.

and there is danger mouse...fast asleep.  he appears to have been
quite worn out by the effort of turning 24.

"shhhhhhhh," says kitten, doing her elmer fudd imitation.  "to catch a
danger mouse we must be vewy, vewy  quiet."

"Yes ... !"  Giggles the Sprite, as she reaches up and gathers a hand 
full of Wattle flowers.  She smiles mischeivously as she begins pitching 
them at the mouse.  Soon Felicity Greytoes, usually a fairly serious 
minded bunny, joins in by throwing daisies and buttercups onto the 
sleeping rodent.  But it is Shonias and Kitten who finally turn the 
trick by tickling the DM with long-stemmed buttercups!

"Mmmmphhhht  ...  achooooooo!"  and DM sits up, startled.
"What's going on!"  he asks rather crankily.

"Hey, Danger Mouse ... smile ... it's your BIRTHDAY!"

And, Ramda, unable to contain himself a second longer, begins bouncing
up and down and falls into Danger Mouse bowling him over into the grass.
J.R. then sits on DM's tummy, raises his paws and conducts a chorus
of:

		     Happy Birthday to You,
		     Happy Birthday to You,
		     Happy Birthday Dear Danger Mouse!
		     Happy Birthday to You!


the female human bunnies converge on the poor mouse....they are after
all his own personal birthday hare-em...they pet him and fuss over him
in best (bouncy) bunny fashion...ears perked and tails high...Danger 
Mouse has never been surrounded by so many bunny bosoms....he splutters 
a bit as they attempt to fit him with tail and ears and make him an 
honorary bunny... his face is nearly as pink as the costumes that are 
nearly covering the girls.

After that, it is absolute bedlam and confusion as the rest of the
sleepers awake and begin trotting over to add their wishes ... but 
first ... Kitten raises her hand and offers the Danger Mouse this
special gift:


                          o$""oooo                                  o  "  ooo  "
             ooo$$""""""""$    "o$ooo                                "" o"   "o
           o$"                      $$o                            """  $     $
          o$$o       o              " "$                            o""  "ooo"
         o$          """$o""     o     $oo$"$"$"$"$"$"$oooo           o" o o o "
         $     $ooooo$          "      oo"o$o$o$o$o$o$o"o"o"$"ooo       o" $ "o
         "o o                  o"      $$"             """"$o$o"o"$oo
          "$"             ooo "       o"$o$"""$"""$""oooo     ""o$o"o"oo
           $         "$ooooo          "o$ oo$ooo$ooo$ o ""$"oo    ""o"o"$o
           "o                      oo " $"      o    """"ooo" $"oo   ""$o"$o
            ""$"              """     o$    $"o$ $o"$       ""o " $oo   "$o"$o
               $o       o        "$$"""    oo""o$o""oo         ""oo ""o   "$o"$o
                 """"""$ooooooo$oo"       "oo"$   $"oo"           ""$ o"o   "$o"
          o$         o         o           o"$"ooo"$"o               "o ""o   $"
                "  o$     "    "           ""o"o$o"o""                 $" o"o  $
         $     $  o"     o    $              "" $ ""                    "oo "$
        o        $$ooo   "                      $ oo                      $ " $
        "    $     o"  "     $             o""o $"oo"                      "$ o$
       o    o    o$"  o$    o               "oo"$                            "o
       "    "    $    "    "                    $                             "o

(Courtesy: FTWW)


"Absolutely the right way to start your Birthday, Danger Mouse ...
just for you!"  Kitten smiles ...

Then, the Didi-Sprite, never to allow an opportunity for giving and
obtaining a hug ... and smoooooooooches ... as well ... throws herself
down onto the surprised mouse, wrapping him in her arms and giving him
spriteful kisses all over his face.  When she is done, she sits back
on her heels, rocking in laughter at his obvious embarrassment.

"Never mind, DM!  It is going to be just *one* of *those* days!"

Then she rises to give others an opportunity to approach the Birthday
Mouse.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~*~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~*~~**~~**~~**~~*~~**

Bear and Spacey walk in on the party that has begun and they 
run over to the birthday mouse and give him lots of hugs and from
Spacey, tip toeing, kisses.. :)  Bear and Spacey look each other 
in the eye and then they sing...

Happy Birthday                                  
                    To you!!
                    
Happy Birthday      
                    To you!!

                                   Happy Birthday
                                                      Danger Mouse...

Happy Birthday  
                    To you!!

                                   AND MANY MOOORE!!


Lotsa love and many more DM!!

Bear & Spacey
:)

~~**~~~***~~**~~**~~**~~**~~***~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

"Heee-heee-heee-giggle!"  chortles the Didi-Sprite,  "I told you it was
going to be one of those days!"

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~



--
***************************************************************************
conan the librarian a.k.a. kitten           /\ /\  barbara ann 
"my life's a soap opera, isn't yours?"      {=.=}
                                              ~   trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu 

"kittens today are not properly trained--the way that they were when
victoria reigned." asparagus (gus: the theatre cat)