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Ewetopia, A Land Far From Normal - Chapter 4
By Marie Ellen Pacha
Shepherd and Sisyphus had agreed to meet for breakfast at Jack Chef's restaurant, but not until about 9. Lamby didn't much believe in sleeping late and wasting daylight, but she had promised Shepherd the night before that she would be a good lamb and not wonder off without him, so she waited QUITE impatiently for the departure time to arrive. She knew as only a lamb can that she was near to starving to death, though Shepherd thought she had gained at least 3 lbs in the 2 days she had been with him.
Mumm and Eddie, Bob and I (the town crier) all arrived at the restaurant just before Shepherd and Lamby. We watched as she bounced down the path with him, bounding on ahead just a bit and then back to walk by his side, always watching his face, and in the brief periods when she wasn't talking, listening attentively to what he said.
She paused briefly outside Bob's shop and sniffed appreciatively, and then they crossed the street to Jack's place. Lamby climbed into the chair between Mumm and Eddie and they straightened her ribbon and fluffed her fleece where she had been unable to reach it. Jack brought her a bowl of milk and a cup of coffee for Shepherd, and Lamby lapped at it daintily.
"We discussed her table manners on the way here," Shepherd said. "Nothing wrong with an appreciation for good food, but it's a shame to make your table mates wear it." Lamby smiled at all of them. Mumm's had brought her a bib (hot pink of course) and tied it around her neck, just in case. And just in time. The special that morning was blueberry waffles, and soon Lamby and everything within two feet of her was splattered with bits and pieces of her breakfast. They all knew she was trying to be neat, but her enthusiasm ran away with her. Eddie and Mumm laughed as they washed off her face, and commented that at least the tie dye hid the blueberry stains.
As they had been eating Sisy and Shepherd discussed the plans for the palace. Shepherd asked the ladies if they would help decorate it when the time came and they had lots of ideas. Eddie loved the color red and indeed it was an attractive color against her black and white coat. Mumm was partial to hot pink, and Lamby thought the whole affair should be painted hot pink, an idea which Shepherd firmly and immediately vetoed.
"You are to have a room of your own Lamby, and the ladies can help you decorate it. It can be pink if that is what you truly want," Shepherd told her.
"A room of my very own?" the concept amazed her.
"Yes and a real bed and pillows of your own, as well, though I will always be nearby should you be frightened. And they will be made to just your size, so you don't have to reach so far for everything."
Mumm and Eddie liked that idea for they were none too tall either, and had spent much of their lives stretching to reach something placed just out of reach.
"Can I help build it?" Lamby asked. "I'd be very careful, really I would."
Having seen the mess Lamby made with a knife and fork at breakfast they all cringed at the thought of what she might do to herself or someone else while in control of a sharp object or a power tool. As a group they said, "No!! Tools are not for lambs, but you can watch. And maybe you can help paint." That seemed to satisfy her and she sat quietly, daydreaming about her room to be.
"On the way here this morning, one of the bats from the barn came out and asked me if we could add a belfry to the palace. Apparently the flamingos told them they were getting a cement pond, so please add a belfry to the palace as well Sisy, "Shepherd spoke with some resignation, as the construction plans seemed to grow at every step. "I promised Eddie that we would add a stage and an auditorium where her cows could perform their holiday pageants, so please add that to the blueprints as well. And we need to add on to the closet, but you know how tricky that is."
"Sisy looked somewhat alarmed at the mention of the closet....."Have you figured out what areas can safely be entered," he asked.
"I have a map drawn now," said Shepherd. The last time I wandered too far without marking my steps and if it hadn't been for the assistance of a group of pygmies I would be wed to a gorilla maiden. She really took a shine to me. And her former beau was just a bit jealous. No one is allowed entrance into the room marked "Black Hole" though. I still haven't figured out where my hammer went that I set in there by mistake."
Lamby's ears perked up at the mention of the closet, and Shepherd looked at her sternly, "Rule #2: Do NOT go into the closet without permission, and then only where you are sent. Do you understand young lady?"
Lamby sighed, sensing an adventure slipping beyond her grasp, and said, "Yes Sir, Shepherd Sir. But what is in the closet?" she asked curiously.
"Well, the closet is rather unique. For some reason it is able to expand to hold whatever must be stored, no matter the size of the item. When I took over ownership of the palace, it was already in place, and the previous owner warned me that it was easy to get lost in there. The black hole room is the biggest risk, as things go in and never seem to come back out, so it is always locked.
Lamby's eyes opened wide in astonishment, and Shepherd could almost see wheels turning inside her head at the thought of the closet. Those in turn made his head begin to ache, so he suggested a break from design discussion, and set the girls to reviewing paint samples. He gave them a catalog, and his credit card and told them to order what they needed, giving them a rough estimate of the amount of paint they would need for each room.
During the process of the meal, the postmaster had delivered the day's mail. A letter had come for Shepherd from somewhere the other side of Normal. I watched him as he opened it, and a frown crossed his forehead.
"Sisy, you had better get to work on the palace, for it appears I may have to go on a trip in the near future."
Everyone started to question him, but he merely answered, "Sometimes a Shepherd is called away, but I must get Lamby and the palace settled before I can go anywhere. While I am away you all must promise to help take care of Lamby, and if you don't mind, we'll add rooms for you to the palace."
Everyone agreed and Sisy and Shepherd once again began making adjustments to the blueprints, and Eddie and Mumm started making MORE paint selections.
Note from the town crier (that's me): Lamby had never seen a catalog before and this catalog contained about everything a Lamb or anyone else could dream about. If he thought her eyes had opened wide at the thought of the black hole, he was amazed to see them open still further. And for the first time since he had met her, except for when she ate or slept, she was completely silent, with the exception of an occasional oooh or ahhhh. I saw him make a note on the edge of the blueprints to keep a catalog handy to entertain his young charge. I also saw Lamby marking numerous pages which had piqued her interest.
In our little hamlet every permanent resident is issued a credit card which allows them to purchase whatever they need. Strangely enough greed is not a problem in our hamlet. People like sharing what they have, and since everyone can have anything they wish, it's nearly impossible to be competitive about possessions. And indeed one could and did see some very unique things here. More about that later.
Continue to Chapter 5
This article is © copyrighted by Marie Ellen Pacha. Any use of this article, in full or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission from Marie Ellen Pacha.
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