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

[ostro_goth]

"You have a pool with bouncy walls!" little Hilde says, amazed.

She almost wiggles to get off Teja to hop in and start wading around there and then, but remembers her good manners just in time. This is The King, and he has taken her to the place where he resides after death to have her healed from what her mother and Gotho think may turn out dire.

She should feel more awestruck, probably.

But she doesn't! The King's afterlife is full of kids and sunshine and colourful fun things!

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy leaves his two in the safe care of Shufti for a few minutes, and heads inside with Teja and Hilde.

"You can come and join the party when we're done, if you like."

[ostro_goth]

"Really?" Hilde says. "If the King lets me and doesn't have to take me back at once?"

She looks very hopeful, turning her head to smile at Teja.

"Yes, you may," he says, suppressing a chuckle.

[guppy_sandhu]

"I don't think this will take long." Guppy says, leading them into the infirmary. "Pop her on the bed and I'll have a look."

[ostro_goth]

Teja puts he on the bed, and stand back. "Guppy will not hurt you," he promises. "He knows how to treat small children; he is a very experienced healer."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy has a look at the scratch.

"I can clean that up and fix it." he says. "And you'll need a tetanus shot, but I can give that through a special skin spray so it won't hurt."

[ostro_goth]

"Shot?" Hilde says, alarmed. "With a bow and arrows?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"No, just like a puff of air." Guppy blows.

[ostro_goth]

"What is that tit thing?" Hilde asks.

[guppy_sandhu]

"... tit thing?"

[ostro_goth]

"Tit an' urs shot!" Hilde says. "What's an urs?"

Teja sniggers involuntarily.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy goes slightly red.

"Tetanus." he says. "It's a disease."

He cleans up the little wound, wiggles the skin fuser over it, and then gives her the puff of air into her arm.

"All done."

[ostro_goth]

Teja laughs at the cheerful whoop Hilde gives as she jumps off the bed.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy puts the things away and heads with them back out to the party.

"Poooool!" Fry yells, leaping straight back in with a big splash, showering his sister and Shufti.

[ostro_goth]

"Hilde, be..." Teja says, but Hilde has already hiked up her dress and jumps into the pool with both feet at once.

[guppy_sandhu]

Coral, who has just been splashed in the face by an EVEN BIGGER WAVE, starts to cry. Guppy picks her up and gives her a soggy cuddle.

"Hey!" Fry says, glaring at Hilde and pointing at his sister. "You made it make the bad noise!"

"Fry, don't call your sister 'it' please." Guppy says. "Say 'her'."

[ostro_goth]

"That's a baby," Hilde says, holding her dress up so the hem is at knee-height. "We have two at home, too. They're cute now they don't scream so much."

[guppy_sandhu]

Fry doesn't get cute. Nobody has yet managed to explain the concept to him.

"You made her cry, say sorry." he says.

This is Important. (Because crying hurts his ears).

[ostro_goth]

"I'm sorry, little baby," Hilde says to Coral, very earnestly. "You're a very sweet baby! Now stop crying."

[guppy_sandhu]

Coral quietens down. Guppy pops her back in the paddling pool and she sploshes around contentedly.

"Who are you?" Fry asks, watching her.

[gotland_npc]

"I'm Hilde!" Hilde says. "The King brought me in! I hurt my leg -- look, here! My mum and Gotho were all worried, but your dad made it all right again. And he shot me with some titta-thing. But it didn't hurt!"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Guns are dangerous." Fry says.

"Not that kind of shot." Guppy says. "Like an injection, a jab."

"No jabs, no jabs!" Fry says, looking alarmed.

"You don't have to have one." Guppy says. "Not today anyway."

[gotland_npc]

"But it didn't hurt, silly!" Hilde says.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Mine did." Fry says. "I got a sticker."

[a1enzo]

"Careful!" exclaims a tall, green youth, averting his face from the splashing.