|
|
<< Back to Poems & Writings Main
Ewetopia, A Land Far From Normal - Chapter 9
By Marie Ellen Pacha
Lamby was busy supervising the unloading of her purchases. The whole hamlet seemed to have gathered and was watching in awe, as item after item was carted into the "closet" the doorway widening on its own for crates and items seemingly too large to fit. The workmen and the crowd all gasped as the largest item was uncovered and unloaded. They had been wondering what that huge, strangely shaped vehicle might be.
It was a TANK! A hot pink tank! The Shepherd stood for a moment, his jaw dropped nearly to his knees (well not really), before bellowing out, "LAMBY! EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"
She immediately ran to him and answered...batting her eyes innocently, "YES SIR, SHEPHERD SIR! It's my vehicle for the snake race...they did a lovely job on the paint don't you think?"
"Rather large for a snake to drive don't you think?" he responded.
"Well it was, but they made some adaptations to the interior, and I think my snake will fit quite comfortably!" Lamby was emphatic. She neglected to mention her second reason for this purpose. She was very alarmed at the prospect of General Wolff making his way to the hamlet of Ewetopia, especially in Shepherd's absence and she was determined to protect it in his absence. Granted she had ordered ammunition in the form of paint balls but a tank was still an intimidating sight.
Shepherd sighed, and nodded his assent, but before Lamby returned to her post supervising she notice the box that he and Sisyphus were peering into. She remembered suddenly that it was nearing lunch time and her ears perked up. "Food?" she inquired with enthusiasm.
"Afraid not. But it is something for you." Shepherd smiled. He too had been planning for his absence.
‘Ooooooo, a presie!" Lamby exclaimed with delight as she struggled to peer over the top of the box. "What is it?" she asked...only being able to reach a bit of fluff sticking out. It was quite soft and rather a golden color. Just then, in reaction to her touch, a small head poked out from under a blanket. A tiny black nose, two coal black eyes turned in her direction.
"What is it?" she asked suspiciously. "Will it eat much?"
That brought a chuckle to our faces. And we listened as Shepherd explained. "It's a Shetland Sheep Dog. Well, a puppy actually. They are quite bright, and guard their flocks."
The pup shook off his blanket, and toddled in Lamby's direction, where he paused and licked her nose.
"Hmmm," she paused for a moment, considering. "He does seem rather friendly...I guess we can keep him! But wherever shall he sleep?"
"How about we let him decide that? But you will have to decide what to call him!" Shepherd asked. He knew instinctively that the pup would find a place where Lamby was always in his view.
He lifted the pup from the box, and watched as it followed Lamby back to her previous position. Actually as he was well aware, it was quite likely to follow her EVERYWHERE and not let her out of his sight, not to mention guard her. The pup would grow quickly and was already nipping at Lamby's heels, trying to direct her in some predictable direction.
Shepherd knew, as only shepherds can that Mumm and Eddie would do their best to guard Lamby in his absence, but he also knew his young charge. If they turned their backs for one minute it was hard to imagine what mischief Lamby might find. He had a nightmare the night before about a cement statue of a Lamby in the Ewetopia park, and considering her fascination for the cement mixer he did not find that outside the realm of possibilities.
Seeing Lamby occupied gave Shepherd the chance to complete additional preparations for his entry into the snake race, and the rest of the Olympics, not to mention the completion of his plywood palace.
First things first though. Shepherd called on me (the Town Crier) for the lowdown on who was entering what in the snake race...the only event in which he was participating. The entries were fascinating as he discovered when reviewing the list, especially since the entrants didn't have to be snakes, as long as they were named Snake...and the vehicles? Well a couple of them weren't exactly vehicles in the traditional sense.
But enough rambling, here is the list.
Mumm had a boa, boa constrictor that is; driving a Viper. It was however wearing one of her more flamboyant feather boas.
Sisy was sponsoring a slug named Snake, driving a Renault.
Jack decided to sponsor a sea snake which would drive a dune buggy. The dune buggy would have a few interesting variations which would play a part in the outcome of the race, not to mention the décor of Mumm's house. From the distance his vehicle sounds rather like a lumber mill on wheels.
Lamby of course, had Sylvester, a garter snake driving a hot pink tank.
Eddie Moo recruited a Cuban dancing snake, which would do the ChaCha and the Mambo while driving a pink Barbie convertible.
Bob chose a Queensland carpet snake to pilot a vacuum?
Prev who spent most of his spare time on the golf course modified his golf cart, and brought in a mongoose named Snake. He'll either frighten the other contestants off the course, or they'll make the finish line in record time.
And Shepherd finally listed his entry; a hybrid snake; a cross between a Baja California Rat
Snake, a Trans Pecos Rat Snake and a Striped Racer, which gave him a Trans Baja Racer driving a Trans Am. All the other residents of Ewetopia were either afraid of snakes or planned to be too amused watching the race to participate. I myself would be operating the Sky Cam in case a photo finish would occur.
Shepherd was chuckling over the list of participants, and before he was finished Lamby was peering at the paper as well, scoping out the competition. It wasn't long before Mumm showed up (she had promised to help Lamby prepare to paint her room, although no one was enthusiastic or foolish enough to offer to help her actually paint it.) Upon looking at the list Mumm immediately decided to organize an exercise class for her snake, as well as any other interested participants. Lamby rather preemptively ordered Herman to fetch Sylvester and enroll him in the classes as well; although having rather a receding jaw line he categorically refused to do chin ups.
While those participants gathered at the edge of the pool, Mumm helped Lamby open the paint (HOT PINK), spread drop cloths to catch splatters, and open a ladder. Shepherd followed shortly after and for some reason spread a second layer of drop cloths. He also made adaptors for the handles of the rollers and brushes she would be using to facilitate her progress. Hooves do not make it easy to grasp things, not even for a prodigy lamb. Lamby's pup watched her every move, suspiciously it seemed. And everyone else seemed to have a sudden need to vanish.
Thinking that Lamby would be safely occupied for some time, and under the guardianship of the pup, Mumm went off to the exercise class, and Shepherd went to discuss completion of the plywood palace with Sisy.
The palace was nearly completed, except for paint and new furnishings. The belfry was finished and the bats were settling in nicely. The expanded closet (amazing how that worked) had been an interesting experience for the workmen who claimed to have heard the dulcet voices of both Buddy Holly and Elvis from its depths. And one of the poor men ran in terror, when a gorilla maiden tried to carry him away. He was rescued at the last minute by a pygmy in an oversize tutu.
Continue to Chapter 10
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.
|
|
| |
 |
|
