Attack of the Fabulous Prizes! (for Zell)
A week after the carnival, I went down to the Compound early to help the Children's Office set up for the day. I stayed a couple of hours to cover for Savannah, and then headed home around mid-morning. There, I was surprised to find Zell still in our bed. He usually left early for some ITF training but, now that I thought about it, he did mention that he'd booked time off so he could sleep in a little before working on some wedding planning. He was asleep, now, with music blaring on his iPod's earphones. I smiled down at him, then leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
Straightening up, I decided against waking him. He looked sweet, sleeping, and I could take the time to have a shower. Humming to myself, I slipped out of my dress and was undoing the clasp of my bra when I felt the hairs prickle on the back of my neck. Turning, I was startled to see one of the prizes Zell had won -- and insisted on bringing home -- looking at me. At least, that was the impression it gave.
Zell had won three helium-filled mylar octopus balloons, and a big teddybear. All three of which I'd banned from my bed. They were cute, but kind of creepy up close. Now those eyes were focused on me, as I was undressing, and they seemed creepier than ever.
But they were just mylar balloons, well on their way to losing their helium. The teddybear was slumped on its side.
Still, I marched over and turned the mylar octopi so they faced the wall. I stepped back and watched. They didn't turn back.
"Hmph," I said, satisfied. And I finished undressing, and stepped into the shower.
I suspect they turned around after I stepped into the bathroom. I suspect they then crawled down off the dresser and across the floor, silent as you'd expect balloons to be, with only a faint crackle of mylar. That was the only explanation I can think of, because I didn't take a long shower. And as I stepped out of the bathroom, minutes later, wrapping a towel around myself, I immediately saw that the three mylar octopi and the teddybear had crossed the floor and were piling onto my fiancé's head, putting out their arms and feelers to suffocate my beloved.
I screamed.
Straightening up, I decided against waking him. He looked sweet, sleeping, and I could take the time to have a shower. Humming to myself, I slipped out of my dress and was undoing the clasp of my bra when I felt the hairs prickle on the back of my neck. Turning, I was startled to see one of the prizes Zell had won -- and insisted on bringing home -- looking at me. At least, that was the impression it gave.
Zell had won three helium-filled mylar octopus balloons, and a big teddybear. All three of which I'd banned from my bed. They were cute, but kind of creepy up close. Now those eyes were focused on me, as I was undressing, and they seemed creepier than ever.
But they were just mylar balloons, well on their way to losing their helium. The teddybear was slumped on its side.
Still, I marched over and turned the mylar octopi so they faced the wall. I stepped back and watched. They didn't turn back.
"Hmph," I said, satisfied. And I finished undressing, and stepped into the shower.
I suspect they turned around after I stepped into the bathroom. I suspect they then crawled down off the dresser and across the floor, silent as you'd expect balloons to be, with only a faint crackle of mylar. That was the only explanation I can think of, because I didn't take a long shower. And as I stepped out of the bathroom, minutes later, wrapping a towel around myself, I immediately saw that the three mylar octopi and the teddybear had crossed the floor and were piling onto my fiancé's head, putting out their arms and feelers to suffocate my beloved.
I screamed.