The Bucket Brigade

“Here's what we need to do.”   Tinkletoes says.  He is standing by the stove with several stainless steel buckets lined up on the counter next to him.  TP, Ray, Carp, Dobby, Peter, Dylan, and Writer Lady are all across the room standing in the front of the kitchen sink.

“Bugsy told Dobby that the spells infused in the broth and the noodles are working.  He also says it will work better the faster we get the noodles into Diomedes.  There are six buckets here, we're going to fill up these buckets with broth and noodles.  Everyone is going to make a single file line and we're going to pass the buckets to the next person in line.   The person in front will give it to Diomedes.  When Diomedes empties that bucket he immediately gets the next bucket that way he gets the medicine quickly and efficiently.  The spells in his system get neutralized and no more diarrhea.”

“Cool.   Just like a western.”  Ray says.

Dylan looks at Peter questioningly.

“Do you remember the show with all the horses?  The house caught fire and everyone stood in a line passing the buckets of water?”  Peter asks, looking down at his little brother.

Dylan nods.

“It's like that.”  Peter says.

“Except that the fire we're fighting is in the belly of a dragon!  Only the intense bravery and sharp wits of our romantic hero can save us.”  Carp announces.

The entire room groans and rolls their eyes.

“What?  Too much?”  Carp asks.

“Line up men.”   Tinkletoes says.  He fills the first bucket of noodles thrusting it at Carp.  “To the front of the line.”   He says.  Carp accepts the bucket and heads for the bathroom.

“Dude you're in front?”  Ray asks as Carp walks by.  “Cool!”

Dylan looks at Ray.

“He's up front.   In the poop zone.”  Ray announces.

Tinkletoes puts a full bucket into Ray's waiting hands.  “Dude...”  Ray says.  “Do you know what this means?”  He asks.

“Uh huh.”  Tinkletoes nods.   “Back spray.”  The self-proclaimed mercenary grins.  “Bye bye.”  He says and waves.  “The rest of us are going to get in line.” Tinkletoes says to Dylan.  “TP will fill the buckets, Writer Lady will pick them up one at a time and bring them to me.  We'll pass it on to Peter and then it will continue on to Diomedes.”

“What about Dobby?”  Dylan asks.

“He makes sure we know how it's going up there.  He went back to the bathroom.”

“Any more questions?”  Tinkletoes asks Dylan.

The boy shakes his head.

“Okay,” Tinkletoes says, turning to take a bucket from a waiting Writer Lady,“on with the mission.” He says handing the bucket to Peter.

Within minutes the buckets had made their way down the line without so much as a fart coming from the dragon.  The last bucket makes its way out of Peter's hands and into Ray's disappearing into bathroom.  Everyone at the back of the line lets out a sigh of relief.

Dobby comes out of the bathroom and stops in front of Tinkletoes.  “We need more.”

“There is no more.”  Tinkletoes says.

“Bugsy says that there is an air bubble full of magic in one far corner of Diomedes' stomach.”

“I just sent the last bucket up.”

“Diomedes emptied it.”

“What if he rolls around on the floor?”

Dobby shakes his head.

“Jumps up and down?”

Dobby shakes his head again.

“What if Carp rubs his belly?”

“Bugsy says another cup of noodles is the only thing that will work.”

Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady who has been listening.  She disappears into the kitchen reappearing with one last cup.  A coffee cup.

“Don't spill.”  She says.

The cup is full of broth.  There is a handful of noodles in the cup.  “The noodles have the most magic in them.  If you a lose a noodle...”

“I get it, we're screwed.”  Tinkletoes says finishing her sentence.

“Can I help?”  Dylan's hopeful voice asks.

Tinkletoes and Writer Lady look at each other, neither saying a word.   After a few moments Writer Lady answers, “Of course, honey why don't you keep me company while I do the dishes and then we'll cook something for the rest of us.”

“I want to help take care of Diomedes.”  Dylan says looking up at Tinkletoes.

Writer Lady quietly shakes her head, encouraging Tinkletoes to say “no.”

  Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady.  “This is my mission.   It will not fail.”   He looks at Dylan.  “Just a sec.”  “Hold this for me.”  Tinkletoes says, handing the cup to Writer Lady, he looks down and briefs his young soldier on their mission.  “Bugsy, the bug living inside Diomedes says that Diomedes has not eaten enough yet. They need one more cup of noodles.  What is Writer Lady holding?”

Dylan turns to look at Writer Lady and turns back to Tinkletoes.  “A cup.”

“That's one cup of noodles.   The last cup.   If Diomedes doesn't get all of this, if a single drop of broth drips out...”

“We're screwed.”  The tow headed boy answers.

Writer Lady covers her mouth.  Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady and grins.

“Yeah we are.  In order to complete this mission successfully I'm gonna pick you up, we're both gonna hold on to that cup for all it's worth, and you're going to give it to the dragon.  Ready soldier?”   Tinkletoes asks.

Dylan nods.

Tinkletoes picks up the boy and takes the cup. Both hold on to it.

“I have to sneeze.”  Dylan announces.

“Let's double time it.”  Tinkletoes says and the two disappear into the combat zone just as the four year old sneezes.

“Thank you again.”  Writer Lady says, she and Tinkletoes are standing in the bonus room.  Diomedes has been cured and is resting, dinner for everyone else has been prepared and eaten, and the final clean up of the kitchen is nearly finished.  “You really saved the day.”

“Keeping noodles from being spilled wasn't very hero-y.”  Tinkletoes points out.

“Sometimes a hero is the person that keeps it all moving.”   Writer Lady clarifies.

“Someone who keeps the rotation going.”  Tinkletoes agrees.

“So that tomorrow can be another day.”  She says.

The self-proclaimed mercenary nods in quiet agreement.  “I don't think I'll come over tomorrow that way you can rest.”  Tinkletoes says.

“Dobby and the others will be bored by tomorrow afternoon.   Why don't you come over later in the day?”

“After lunch?”  Tinkletoes asks.

“After lunch.”  She confirms.

A silence grows between them.

“About that con thing...”  Tinkletoes begins.

“I hope that you and Anlace have a successful or is it better to say lucrative weekend?”

“I'd be happy with break a leg.”  Tinkletoes says.

“Break a leg.”  She says, smiling gently.

Tinkletoes gives Writer Lady a puzzled look and continues backing out through the door, slipping and nearly falling on a step, righting himself just in time.

“Don't break anything today.”  Writer Lady says.

“It's okay.   I've got it.”  He says, resituating himself.  He turns to leave, turning back to Writer Lady he says, “Have a nice day.”

Following him outside, she looks to the West and the setting sun, “Have a nice night.”

“Until tomorrow.”  He says.

“Until tomorrow.”  She confirms.

Writer Lady returns inside.  Dobby stops her in the bonus room.

“That's it?  You're just letting it go?”

“Yes, I'm dropping trying to figure out where the con he's going to is if that's what you're asking.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

Dobby waits for further information but gets none.

“That's your entire answer, because?”

“Because Tinkletoes says he knows what he wants but for whatever reason his actions don't match his words.   I gave him a chance to take that big step when I offered to meet him at the con and he didn't.  I don't read minds.   I can't begin to fathom how he thinks so I'm going to trust that he has a good reason for things being where they are right now.”

“So you're leaving things here?  Dobby asks.

“It's not my move kitty.”

“But Mom...”

“Dobby kitty it's been a freakishly long day.   I'm sure things will look different in the morning let's get some rest.”

“Mo-om.”

Writer Lady lets out a tired sigh and tries explaining it again. “Dobby, if anyone told me two weeks ago that these last twenty-four hours was going to take place the way they did I would have insisted that they were crazy.  I've lived a lot longer than you have kitty and this I can tell you. Life is unpredictable, it can change directions in a matter of minutes and in the course of just two weeks your life can be turned around completely.  Getting through it takes heart, love, strength, thought, hard work, and planning.   It also takes faith.  Today I choose to have faith.  Having faith in Tinkletoes is a little bit scary but here we are.  Understand?”

“I think so.”  The ginger tabby answers.

“Good.  Can I go to bed now?   I'm so tired.  I feel like crap.”

“You kind of look like it too Mom.”  Dobby says.

“Thanks so much.”  Writer Lady says with full sarcasm.  “It's time to say goodnight Dobby.”

“Goodnight Dobby.”