The CAP: Ummmm.. uh... umm... hmmm... ummm... untitled.
by Keleos
“You want what?” Bluetopaz and Jackie asked simultaneously.
“Penguins,” Keleos replied. “Y’know, little birds that can’t fly,
swim in the ocean, had a dance scene with Mary Poppins? Penguins.”
Bluetopaz sighed. “Why do you want penguins?”
“Why not?” Kel shrugged her shoulders. Not able to hold her mother’s stern
gaze, the girl dropped her eyes to the desk Jackie sat behind. “Mania wants to be a
CAA? Are you sure? That doesn’t seem to be her style.”
Jackie hastily closed the folder she and Blue had been perusing when Kel entered. “I
didn’t know you could read upside down, and stop trying to change the subject.”
“I’m not trying to change the subject,” the Terror argued. “I just
find the idea of Mania as an assistant intruiging. She’s crazier than I am, and I
can’t say that about many people.” Kel grinned. “I like her. She could be
my assistant. If she wanted.”
“Wonderful,” stated Bt. “Now answer my question.”
“What question was that, Mom?” Kel asked with wide-eye innocence that her mother
knew from years of experience was false.
“Why do you want a penguin?” repeated Bt.
“Oh, I don’t want a penguin.”
“But, but, but,” Jackie sputtered. Kel eyed her patiently. “But you just
came in here and said you wanted one!”
“No, I didn’t,” replied the girl.
“Yes you did!” screamed Jackie.
The girl shook her head, “No, I did not. I did not say I wanted A penguin, I said I
want penguinS. Plural. A breeding pair if possible. That would be nice.”
Blue rubbed her hand across tired eyes. “Why do you want penguins, Keleos?”
“Everybody else is getting something new and fun,” Kel pointed out.
“I’m an acting chancellor too, I should get something. I want penguins.”
“Any particular type of penguins?” asked Jackie sarcastically.
“Oh yes. Blue penguins. They should be fairly easy to obtain, they’re native to
New Zealand. Littlest penguins there are, they’re only about the size of a cat. Very
cute,” Kel informed them, neglecting to mention they were also nocturnal, made noise
like a dying banshee, and stunk like last week’s fish catch. “And I’ll only
need one of the hot tubs to keep them in.”
“You want a hot tub too?” Jackie arched a brow.
“Of course, for the penguins,” Kel explained with a look.
Bt sighed, seeing that stubborn look on her daughter’s face. Either they helped her
get her penguins, or she’d wreak havok until they did. “Well, since they’re
New Zealand natives, I suppose we could send a couple of the new CAA’s out to fetch
some.”
“We could send that new girl Lambda,” suggested Jackie. “She seems
helpful.”
“I dunno,” countered Kel. “Everytime I see her, she’s either working
in the kitchen and making a grand mess, or following some Amazon or another around like a
little lost sheep. And she sorta drools when she does that. She doesn’t seem to have
much upstairs if you know what I mean.”
“Well, we could send somebody with her to help her,” said Bt.
Keleos grinned wickedly. “How ‘bout Mania?”
Posted on Aug 28 1999, 05:11 PM
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