Coral's first birthday party

[guppy_sandhu]

Outside in a quiet corner of the garden, well away from the lake, a birthday party has been set up.

There's a paddling pool with some toys in, a picnic spread out on a cloth, and a sign saying 'Happy Birthday Coral'.

Comments

Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

Fry is in one corner of the paddling pool, pouring water into a water wheel and watching it spin.

Coral is on the other side of the paddling pool, chasing a rubber duckie.

Guppy is watching both of them carefully, because even these few inches of water could be dangerous.

Re: Paddling pool

[ostro_goth]

Teja had seen the invitation, but never meant to come.

What would he do at such a party?

However, on the day, he went to Gotland to see his friends, and to bring Wachis some materials samples he had promised him, to find the women worried as the day before, little Hilde had gashed her leg on a rusty nail, and despite washing it with mead and doing all they could, they were worried it might fester, not heal.

So Teja took her up the barrow-hill to try whether Milliways would let him in with her in his arms, for Guppy to see to it. And indeed, the door let him through, as it had done with the babies. Not finding Guppy in the infirmary, he hurries through to the back with the child on his shoulder, to interrupt the children's feast for that emergency.

Small, for Guppy; but so worrisome for his people as to make it worth the disturbance.

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hi Teja." Guppy waves. "Who's this?"

Re: Paddling pool

[ostro_goth]

"Hilde," Teja says. "She gashed he leg upon a rusty nail, and her parents are worried."

Pause.

"One of the children of my friends Wachis and Liuta, in Gotland," he adds, realising that this may not be obvious.

"It hurts, and my mum and Gotho won't stop fussing!" Hilde adds.

Enviously, she eyes the party. She doesn't know what the colourful things mean or what the apparent food is, but it all looks so interesting!

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"Not to worry, we can fix that up." Guppy says. "Coral, Fry, you'll have to come out of the paddling pool for a minute."

"Why?" Fry asks.

"Because I have to watch that you don't fall over." Guppy says, lifting Coral out.

Re: Paddling pool

[missginnytonic.livejournal.com]

Ginny smiles as she walks over.

"Hello."

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hi Ginny!" Guppy waves. "Thanks for coming."

Coral looks up and splashes in the water.

Re: Paddling pool

[missginnytonic.livejournal.com]

Ginny smiles at them and grins.

"That looks like fun"

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"Feel free to hop in if you want." Guppy says. "I'll warn you, the kids splash."

Re: Paddling pool

[a1enzo]

"Hey, guys!" calls Enzo (who has already got a plate full of food).

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hi Enzo, thanks for coming." Guppy waves.

"Spinny wheel!" Fry says, pointing to his water wheel.

Re: Paddling pool

[a1enzo]

"Hey, check it out!" Enzo is impressed, really!

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"The water goes down and the wheel spins." Fry says, watching it.

"That's right." Guppy says. "Gravity pulls the water down."

"... it's not gravy or tea, it's water." Fry says.

Re: Paddling pool

[command_dot_com]

She recieved the invitation as well, when she came in to get her third cup of Java for the day. Needless to say, Dot did debate not coming to the party at all.

After all, Megabyte hadn't been caught and deleted yet. Then again, he hadn't been seen for several months, and Guppy was likely to at least make sure the party was well protected.

This doesn't entirely account for what's happening now.

Namely the turquoise toddler trampling towards the paddling pool stark naked her mother hurrying to try and tap clothes back onto her icon.

"'lex Fry!"

"Mairi Matrix! Hold still young lady and get your clothes back on!"

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

"How come Mairi gets to be naked?" Fry complains.

"She doesn't." Guppy says. "Hey Dot, Mairi, thanks for coming."

His emergency plan in case of danger is to scoop up the kids and shoot the offender with his stun gun until the more powerful party guests take over.

Re: Paddling pool

[a1enzo]

"Whoa, girl!" Enzo calls, moving to head Mairi off and, if necessary, tuck her under his arm like a football until Dot catches up.

Re: Paddling pool

[guppy_sandhu]

Fry stays back, not wanting to be grabbed.

"Indecent explosion!" he shouts, flapping his hands.

Coral watches, with interest.

Picnic

[guppy_sandhu]

There are plenty of sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps, fruit, and other party foods.

There's also soft drinks, and a small amount of soft alcohol on a table out of reach of small people (not enough to get drunk, sorry).

Re: Picnic

[ikissdhimbck]

There is also, care of one fancied-up cowgirl, a jar of blue ribbon winning spiced peaches, peach cobbler, and a freshly baked peach pie.

With vanilla ice cream, care of Miss Bar.

Kate watches the children with a soft smile, leaning against one of the tables. She's traded in her guns and boots and hat for a fine blue skirt and checkered top, her hair pulled back in a fancy braid.

Re: Picnic

[guppy_sandhu]

Fry climbs out of the paddling pool and toddles over to Kate. He looks first at her shirt, because the pattern is intriguing, and starts running his wet fingers down the lines.

"Hi Kate!" Guppy smiles. "Fry, aren't you going to say hello?"

"Yes, lookin' at the squares." Fry says.

Coral stays in the paddling pool and looks over at Kate with a smile.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Hello, you two."

Kate is wholly unbothered by the wet fingertips. If anything, any time Fry feels comfortable enough to touch her and let her touch him back warms her heart with appreciation.

"How are things farin' so far?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Well we nearly lost all the food on the floor, but other than that it's going well. And Coral said Fry's name out loud for the first time today!" Guppy says. "Oh, these look exciting, did you make them?" He adds, looking at the peach foods.

"Adults four pounds twenty, children one pound ten." Fry says, following the line down to Kate's belly.

Re: Picnic

[a1enzo]

Enzo inspects the jar with interest. Doesn't look like typical party food.

[ikissdhimbck]

Enzo has never been to a Fourth of July jamboree in Green Lake.

"Help yourself, if y'like."

[a1enzo]

"Can't," he says regretfully.