One Long Night

   Tinkletoes picks up his artillery bag and backs away from Mom. Mom is still muttering her list. The language has changed but Dobby does not recognize it. TP says she is in South America now. Everyone agrees that is a good thing. As long as she stays away from Europe, life is good. Tinkletoes is getting regular texts from the delivery truck driver en route.

“It's 1300. We only have two hours left to wait and your Mom is still in a trance. We might just come out of this alive fellas.”

Dobby sits down taking in all of the activity around him. TP and Tinkletoes are working on back-up plans.  Tinkletoes is offering back up plans and TP is rejecting all of them because each plan involves some type of explosion. TP has to keep reminding him Dobby loves his house and does not wish to be an orphan.   

  On the far side of the house Dylan and Furnatche are searching for an odd scrap of chocolate that will placate Mom if she comes out of the trance before the truck arrives. Then Dobby hears it from the big writing chair at the end of the room by the door that leads to “outside”.

“EatMore, Glosette, Aero, Big Turk, Coffee Crisp, Pep, Crispy Crunch, Mirage, Caramilk...” The language Mom is speaking has changed.

“She has gone back to English. Is she in Europe now?” Dobby calls out to the mercenary and the faerie.

“Must be.” Tinkletoes answers.

TP reaches over and pulls on Tinkletoes' sleeve. Fluttering up, TP whispers in Tinkletoes' ear.

“Canada. TP says those are Canadian chocolates.” Tinkletoes answers Dobby's question.

Facing TP the mercenary says, “What the hell did she go there for? Canada sucks. Ain't nothing in Canada.”

TP whispers back, making grand gestures with his arms. The faerie's face is quickly growing red. “Sorry Man. I had no idea faeries loved Canada so damn much.”

Dobby looks at the pair dumbfounded. “TP says Canada is the “go to” vacation destination for faeries. It's like a home away from home for them. Over the centuries the fae found Canadians to be very gentle. They made good pets too.” Tinkletoes says chuckling.

Taking offense TP starts buzzing around the soldier and jabbing at him with a shrimp fork.

Tinkletoes puts his hands up protectively, " Ow!  TP says It was the mean stupid faeries that used Canadians as pets. TP and his buddies are enlightened and they don't do none of that mean stuff.” Tinkletoes finishes explaining.

“If you're so enlightened and all of that, then what's with the shrimp fork tinker bell.” Tinkletoes asks.

“Quit being a pussy? Me, a pussy? Look you little titmouse, I am the only one here with combat experience. You don't know what you're dealing with. I do. I was raised in a house full of women. Have you ever spent a week in a house full of pre-menstrual women? There are Navy Seals out there that couldn't take that crap!”

“Mr. Soldier. Sir?” A soft voice call from the laundry's entryway. Dobby, TP and Tinkletoes turn to see Dylan and Furnatche standing in the doorway. The young boy was pale. Both child and dragon's eyes were abnormally large. The dragon's nose looked odd. Numerous strings were hanging off either side like a limp noodle mustache.

“Were those the worms you were talking about?” Tinkletoes asks Dylan. “They don't look like they could help much.”

Silence.

“Speak up son!”

“Excuse me sir. My little brother gets nervous when grown-ups start getting loud.” A taller older version of Dylan had come forward to stand right behind his younger brother, hugging him protectively from behind.

Tinkletoes turns his attention away from the children and asks Dobby, “Was I yelling?”

Dobby looks at Tinkletoes, “Yep.”

Tinkletoes looks back at the kids. “Sorry about that. You didn't do anything wrong. It was just a lover's quarrel.” The mercenary glares pointedly at TP. TP's face grows red with anger.  The shrimp fork makes another pass. “I was kidding.”

 Looking at the kids again, he says “You understand I'm kidding right?”

The two boys nod in agreement.

“You were saying?” Tinkletoes prompts.

“I'm Peter, Dylan's brother. When Furnatche's nose is in um...Super Smell Mode, all the funny hairy things that are laying across his nose. Well they stand up and swirl around back and forth until they smell what they are looking for. This time Furnatche found this.”

Looking down at Dylan, Peter says, “Take it to him. It's okay. He won't hurt you.”