When The Bear Meets His Fate

“But...” Pixie Three says, “We were having such a lovely conversation.”

“I was just getting started.” Pixie One says.

Tinkletoes swiftly raises his hand, scooping the pixies into an empty jelly jar. “Now  it's over.”  He says, covering the jar and locking them in.  “Carp.” Tinkletoes says. “If you don't mind.”

“Mind?   You just made my night.” Carp says taking the jar and leaving the room.

Tinkletoes points to Writer Lady.  “You.  Stay here.”

“You'd better hurry with that.  Tinkletoes will be back any second and he's pissed.”  Carp says to Monitor Man as he walks past the front door.

Monitor Man continues smiling and politely saying “good night” to large groups of pixies as they leave the house.   “Thank you for coming.”   Monitor Man smiles and waves.   “Things will go much more smoothly next time.”  He says.

“I should hope so.”  A pixie exclaims as she leaves the house.

The pixies slowly rise up into the night, blending in with the stars and eventually disappearing into the darkened sky.

Carp comes back into the living room.   “Where's TP?”  He asks.

“I don't know.  He disappeared when Tinkletoes declared the party over.”

“I need to do something with these.”  Carp says holding up the jelly jar.   Three pixies are in the jar.   One is flying near the lid.  The second is sitting quietly at the bottom.   The third is fluttering in the middle making a rude gesture with her hand.

“That isn't very feminine.”  Carp says to the third pixie.

The pixie taps against the glass so that Carp can get a better look at her disdain.

“It's okay.”  Monitor Man says, reaching out to take the jar from Carp's hand.   “I know these ladies.  I think that I can smooth things over.”  He takes the jelly jar of pixies outside, closing the door behind him.

“That was easy.”  Carp says.

“Where's Monitor Man?”  Tinkletoes calls from the bedroom.  “Get him in here. Now.”

“Clearly it was a bit too easy.”

“Go to bed.”   Tinkletoes orders as he closes the door behind him.   “We have a long day tomorrow.”

“This is awkward.”  Writer Lady says looking at Monitor Man.

Both are in pajamas, their are teeth brushed and each are standing on opposite sides of Writer Lady's bed.

“Yes.  It is.”   Monitor Man agrees.  “But in the morning it won't be.”

Writer Lady ponders his words. “No. It won't be.”  She agrees.  “On three?”  She asks.

“On three.” Monitor Man agrees.

“One...two...”

“three.”  Monitor Man says finishing the countdown.

Writer Lady pulls back the covers and climbs in.  She lays down on her side of the bed, doing it without looking at Monitor Man.  She suspects that he has done the same because she can feel his weight on the opposite side of the bed.  Writer Lady closes her eyes.  Sleep does not come.  She turns over on to her back. Sleep still doesn't come.  Monitor Man is not moving much.  His eyes are closed. Writer Lady turns with her back to Monitor Man again and tries to sleep...nothing.

“Can't sleep?”   Monitor Man asks.

“I woke you.   I'm sorry.”

“You didn't.  I'm having trouble sleeping too.”

“This is awkward, right?”  She asks.

“Yes.  A little.”

“Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”  Writer Lady asks.

“No.  How about you?”   Monitor Man asks.

Writer Lady's gaze wanders to Monitor Man's shoulder.   In a moment of boldness she asks, “Can I borrow your shoulder for a little while?”

“You can.”

Within seconds she has scooted over and tucked herself in next to Monitor Man.

“Thank you.”   She whispers.  “It's been a while since I've had this.”  She says drifting off to sleep.

A faint whisper might have come from Monitor Man's lips but sleep came too quickly for her to be sure.  Writer Lady did not hear anything not the sounds of the children, animals or even the cooing coming from the wall behind her.

“Awe...”

Writer Lady hears House's release of sound but the fact that it is more than a breeze whistling through its eaves does not register.   Then the whispering starts.

“They look so cute together.  I wonder if we look that cute together.”   Mural Man says.

“She finally got one.”  House says.  “A hot one too.”

“I think that guy kind of looks like me.  Don't you think that he looks like me?” Mural Man asks as he slides along the wall edging closer to the bed.

“He does.  Two of you in one place.”   House says.  “I thought life couldn't get any better.”  She starts singing... “It's Raining Men,” by The Weather Girls.

“What's going on?”  TP asks as he pops into the bedroom.

“Writer Lady and some really hot guy are canoodling.”  House says.

“They aren't canoodling.   They're cuddling.”  Mural Man says.

“They will be canoodling.  Any second now.  Trust me.”  House says.

“I think that guy kind of looks like me TP.  What do you think?”  Mural Man asks.

“That's Monitor Man.   You are a picture of him.  Of course you look like each other Silly.” TP giggles looking at Mural Man.   “I wonder if he's ticklish.” TP says spying one of Monitor Man's toes peeking out from under the covers.

“Stay here.”  House says.   “Don't spoil our fun.”

TP waves a hand and a very long feather appears.  “TP's not going anywhere. TP can still play.”   TP manuevers the feather to the base of Monitor Man's toe and strokes.  “Tick-le, tick-le, tick-le...”   He says.

A strange sound comes out of Monitor Man.

“Did he just...giggle?”  Mural Man asks.

TP nods, the faerie's face is red with unreleased laughter.

“Quick.  Do it again.  Do it again.”  House whispers.

TP moves in with the feather to get a better angle.