Furry Art Pile

Down the road came a brightly colored wagon pulled by a colorful black and white paint horse with large puffs of hair around his fetlocks. A youthful looking woman with black and white striped fur covered skin sat on the driver’s bench. She had a rather equine head with an erect mane alternating between black and white. “Hay Patty can you smell that?”

“I can’t get away from that smell.” A much larger brown and white pinto patterned young woman with a horse’s tail and rather horse like head came out to sit next to her smaller companion. “Zelda, what happened here? For anything to smell this bad, you’d think I would see some magic. Hatter how can you be so calm?”

The horse pulling the wagon gasped, “I was holding my breath, and you had to go and spoil that!”

“You couldn’t have held it forever Hatter,” Said Zelda.

Hatter laughed “Zelda have I ever told you that you have the strangest accent.”

“Yes, nearly every time we talk. You know I don’t speak Sylvan, and you know why.”

“Would you two stop bickering,” Can either of you see where that smell is coming from?”

“Patty, I can’t see any better than you,” Said Hatter.

“That bush is dripping with something,” Offered Zelda.

“Thank the gods. The wind is blowing it away from us.”

“Amen to that.” Spoke Hatter and Zelda each in their preferred language.

“It must have taken an army of skunks to do that,” Continued Zelda.

“There has to be magic involved to make it stink this much up wind. I just don’t see it yet. Yes Hatter you may trot until we get to fresh air,” said Patty on the verge of gagging.

“Yes please trot,” Added Zelda.

It took only a few minutes to get clear of the worst of the horrific smell, but by then all three of them were having trouble keeping their eyes open from the irritation caused by the skunk odor. "I would hate to meet that skunk in a bad mood," offered Patty.

"I don't want to meet him at all," insisted Hatter

After an hour most of it at a casual walk Hatter came to a halt, 50 yards from a bridge. On the bridge railing sat a young woman with an almost extreme figure. She was black with white stripes running down her back into an improbably large tail. She was sitting on the bridge railing looking down stream, and apparently not aware of their approach.

“Come on Hatter slow and steady,” Patty quietly urged.

“Patty! Do you see what direction that tail is pointed? You pull the wagon across the bridge. You’re stronger than I am,” complained Hatter.

The figure on the bridge moved, but continued to look down stream.

“Don’t make any sudden moves we don’t want to startle her,” Cautioned Zelda.

“We can’t stay here forever,” responded Patty.

“OK let’s go back the way we came,” added Hatter.

Without looking up the figure on the bridge asked, “What are you looking at?”

“The biggest skunk in the world, and the end of breathing as we know it.”

“HATTER!” hissed Patty.

With a voice far too casual for the situation Zelda asked “Patty, Hatter didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?”

“Yes he did.”

The woman on the bridge stood up recovered her skirt, and quickly put it on while facing away from the voices. When she turned around, she saw two young women, one a zebra version of herself, and the other a much larger pinto version of herself. “Those lying bustards!”

“Who?” asked Zelda?

“Larry and Jerry of course, what were you before they changed you?”

This question made Zelda very uncomfortable, and confused Patty.

“Who are Jerry and Larry?” asked Patty.

“Two lying miserable excuses for men, also known as adult film procurers,” spat out Jeanette, stamping her feet for emphasis.

“Don’t do that!” cried Zelda, Patty, and Hatter in unison each in their preferred language.

“Hugh?” responded a surprised Jeanette.

“Please don’t stamp your feet,” pleaded Patty.

Jeanette looked thoughtful for a moment, and shook her head. “Ok but why?”

Handing the reins to Patty, Zelda climbed down from the seat of the wagon saying, “She's a changeling. She doesn’t know.” Then to Jeanette, “My name is Zelda, my companion is Patty, and I apologize for Hatter, but horses can be very blunt.”

“I guess my name is Jeanette Le Pew, it used to be Bill Defoe, but ... Wait a minute Hatter is your horse? What happened to my world? Where are we? What are you? ...” Jeanette had so many questions they were getting in each other’s way in the rush for her mouth.

“Slow down kid it can be a lot to absorb all at once,” cautioned Zelda.

“Who are you calling a kid? I’m as old as you are,” said Jeanette.

“I doubt that,” said Patty from the wagon's bench “but we can go into that later. For now climb aboard, we’re headed west, on sort of a vacation.”

“Come on let’s go in the back,” said Zelda as she lead the way.

As they passed Hatter, he pointedly ignored them in that ‘I chew in your presence’ way some horses have when they are still just a bit nervous and don’t want to show it.

Stepping through the door of the wagon was like stepping through Alice’s looking glass. Outside it was an ordinary wagon. Inside it was, for all the world, a modern house. They came into the living room walked through the kitchen and out the ‘back door’ to the driver’s seat. At the stunned look on Jeanette’s face Zelda said, “We have no idea. We met an old woman who had one, and seemed to come and go from Zont as she pleased. We told her how impressed we were with her wagon. A year later, she showed up, took us to a world with very different magic than Zont, and gave us this one. We’ve had it for two years now and we are still finding new things inside.”

Looking around Jeanette said "Toto I don't think we’re in Kansas anymore."

"Hugh! Where is Kansas and who is Toto?" asked Zelda.

"Oh I'm sorry. Just a comment for we're lost." As Jeanette and Zelda climbed onto the driver’s bench, Jeanette noticed the reins did not go to Hatters bridle.

Patty following Jeanette's gaze said, "Hatter doesn't like the taste of the bit. So I tell him where we are going and he pretty much does the rest. The reins are for show, but you can slap him on the back when he isn't paying attention."

"Or you can swat at flies for me,” offered Hatter.

"Yes she can," replied Patty.

"He's talking again isn't he?" asked Jeanette.

"Yes he is," answered Patty.

Zelda looked over at Jeanette and said, "So tell us your story. Where do you come from, what were you, and how did you get here?"

Jeanette explained that she came from San Anselmo California and after a few minutes of other names unfamiliar to Patty and Zelda, they settled on far far away. She explained that she had been a no longer young man, and she came to Zont through a door drawn on her wall with chalk. Jeanette was deliberately vague about the details of her transformation and what Jerry and Larry had her doing, but Patty thought she had the gist of it. During Jeanette's story Zelda got progressively quieter.

Sensing that her friend wanted some time alone Patty asked Zelda, "Would you keep Hatter company while Jeanette and I go into the kitchen? We'll leave the door open."

Zelda just took the reins starring off into space muttering to Hatter as he resumed a casual pace down the road and across the bridge. He knew better than to smart off to her when she was quiet. Not that she would ever hurt him, it just was not a decent thing to do when she was remembering. She would tell him when she was ready.

Patty led Jeanette to a table, and went to what looked like a modern refrigerator. She returned with a pitcher of dark brown liquid, filled two glasses and offered one to Jeanette. At Jeanette's quizzical look, Patty replied, "iced tea." That Jeanette recognized.

"It sounds like you come from the same world Katya comes from. She is the one who gave us the 'Vardo.' Problem is we have no idea how to get there or how to contact her, and if we could, you might still be Jeanette or worse."

"What could be worse than this?" asked Jeanette gesturing at her body.

"Try a normal little skunk. I thought Patty was going to go nuts without hands. The vision was a little hard for me at first, but I let the mare take over she knew how to be a quaggi, and that made things a whole lot easier for me," answered Zelda in a detached tone from the driver's bench.

"Eeeyyoouu,” shuddered Jeanette.

Patty went on patiently to explain that Zelda is also a changeling. Her father had been experimenting, and he accidentally blended his child with a striped mare to create Zelda. “We met on a privateer ship where Zelda was the gunnery officer. She is a great deal older than she says, and there is more to her story than Zelda has told even me. When we met I was filled with anger and sadness. My clan had been murdered, and eaten by a group of orcs. When I came aboard, I was looking for the power to slaughter all the orcs everywhere, or the release of death and I did not care which I found first. Seeing that I was moodier than Zelda, prone to hide in a bottle of rum for days at a time, and strong enough to pick up the guns or the anchor, the captain gave me two jobs onboard. I was to pull up the anchor when we got under way, and whatever Zelda wanted done. She still gets moody at times, and likes to blow things up when she is feeling down. On board ship, once a month Zelda would send me to collect two of the crew for gunnery practice. Since it was always when we most wonted shore leave, I usually had to cary them one under each arm. We sailed together for about two years and durring that time Zelda never left the boat. In fact, no one could remember Zelda ever leaving the boat. It thearfor was quite a surprise when one day she met me on the deck with both our sea bags packed. She handed them to me said come on. That was about six years ago.”

Patty also explained how Zont was a magical world that could be dangerous for the unwary, but not as dangerous as it might seem at first mostly just different. Katya always seemed to be surprised at how magic stood in for something she called tech-nol-o-gy. After the magnificent magic of this wagon, they just assumed that is what she called magic.

There are many races here, and many animals can speak, but most have very little to say. Good and evil are very real, and confusing the difference can cost you more than just your life. Wizards think they keep things working, but they can be callous, and ambitious to the point of cruelty, and evil.

There are things that here will kill you, or do worse, just because. In order to succeed and survive here one must be good at many things or very good at a few things, and Zelda's bombs help too. Everything you need is here from plants that can kill a Roc, to others can help to heal a sword wound, and most are edible. You are welcome to travel with us until you find or make a place for yourself in this world.”

They continued to talk through the pitcher of iced tea. While Patty made a new one to put back in the 'cold box', Jeanette climbed back out onto the bench.

"So kid, did she straighten you out?" asked Zelda as Jeanette climbed out.

"I suppose. I've had too much of indoors this last month. Mind if I sit out here for a wile?"

Zelda nodded and they traveled on in silence for hours, each lost in their own thoughts. While from the kitchen Patty thought, this is going to be hard on Zelda. Well at least it wasn't Jeanette’s father that changed her.

Late that afternoon Hatter pulled the wagon to the edge of a town and stopped just outside a tavern. Zelda seemed to brighten with something to do while she and Patty unhitched Hatter brushed him down and gave him something to eat and drink from a stable just down the street. With Hatter settled, they collected Jeanette and went into the tavern. This was hardly a nightclub more of a TV saloon without the fancy mirror. As they entered the room quickly fell silent. Into that silence, someone whispered, "Don't startle the skunk."

Jeanette felt every eye in the room on her, or more precisely her tail. "I won't bite," she said to the crowd of mostly human patrons. Then to Zelda, "you'd think they had never seen a skunk before."

"Jeanette in the 50 plus years I have wandered this part of the world I have never even heard stories of a 150# skunk."

"I'm 140#, Zelda," corrected Jeanette.

"Yes you are." agreed Paty with a wink to Zelda

Slowly normal chatter returned to the room, but the continuing scrutiny made Jeanette uncomfortable. After an unnecessarily long time the tavern keeper came over to announce that, he had only boiled mutton to serve and no wine. Zelda placed her left hand on his shoulder and whispered something into his ear to which he politly responded, "I'll see what I can do."

"Zelda was your hand just on fire?" asked Jeanette.

"Yes. It comes from when I asked for a blessing from a dragon who turned out to be a god. Not the smartest thing I ever did, but it is useful from time to time."

"Zelda, you could lay waste to an island with that hand, and you nearly have," added Patty.

"And these people are afraid of me?" questioned Jeanette.

"They can see my size and your tail. Zelda is just a small striped woman. They do not see the threat she can be. Me they understand they can overwhelm me if they must. You are the unknown. You could blind and gag every one of them before the first could make it to the door, and killing you would not save them, and they would still have to burn down the building."

A few minutes later the tavern keeper returned with a simple but filling meal of lamb stew and warm sweet beer. The beer was going to take some getting used to. After the meal and an hour of swapping stories, the girls returned to the wagon and locked the door. "The ale didn't sit well with you?" asked Patty.

"No, warm beer is going to take some getting used to," responded Jeanette.

Patty produced two bottles of bear, "most people place these in a creek for an hour or so but the cold box that came with the wagon is so much easer," said Patty as she handed one to Jeanette.

"You should have seen the mess when Patty put some of them in the top cabinet," laughed Zelda as she entered the main room of the wagon.

"How was I supposed to know?" complained Patty.

-------

The three women traveled on for most of a month stopping in each town they came to. Some towns were mostly human; more had a verity of sepses, but the towns shared something. People of all descriptions reacted to Jeanette's tail as if it was all they could see of her. Ok it could stand over her head and was nearly as wide as her shoulders when fully fluffed but it was what lay at the base of that tail, that drew all the attention.

In one town, a middle-aged man casually walked up to Jeanette to ask if she could fumigate his warehouse to drive out the rats. Gerrr thought Jeanette so much for someone wanting to talk to me.' "Yeah sure I'll do it," with a glance first to Patty and then Zelda, Jeanette got five and six fingers, "for 56 gold."

The man nearly fainted; Patty's already large eyes went wide as saucers. Zelda just grinned. "Fifty-six gold you must be mad!"

"That's my price accept it or make a counter offer."

"Thirty gold" countered the merchant.

"For 40 gold I leave the odor until it leaves by its self. Fifty gold if you want to be able to enter the warehouse any time this week."

The merchant looked very uncomfortable. "If it works, it is worth it," he muttered to himself. Then with more volume "I accept follow me." He led the way to a large wood and stone building. Pulled opened the doors and looked expectantly at Jeanette. She walked inside and he closed the doors. As Jeanette walked around inside the warehouse, she felt watched just like in the taverns, but the only sounds were a faint skittering. She removed her skirt, and heard more skittering now with a nervous tone to it. This did not help her nerves. She had never attempted to spray on command before. Until now it had always been an act of anger. Jeanette thought to herself Oh well I guess I will rise my tail stamp my feet and bear down. That produced only a small stream of urine, which had two reactions. First, it embarrassed Jeanette. Second, the skittering got louder, much louder, and started to sound like laughter.

"Stop laughing at me," scolded Jeanette. There was a now familiar tightness growing under her tail and an odor of burning rubber.

"OOOO the big bad skunk is going to pee at us. Tell that idiot that if this is the best he can do he might as well just give us the keys. Now get out!"

Jeanette looked for the source of the voice without success. Now she was angry. Striking a defant pose she shouted "Come out here and say that to my face"

"No, you go out there and say it to Don Marcos' face," replied the voice.

That was all it took Jeanette stamped her feet and felt her tail twitch rapidly side to side. Suddenly the room filled with the sound of dozens of small voices screaming and choking. Rats of more descriptions than Jeanette had ever imagined were running for the doors mostly on 4 feet but some on 2 feet. One took on a vaguely human shape mid stride as it gained speed. So that's how it's done. Get mad then twitch the tail side to side, thought Jeanette as she calmly walked to the door stopping only to put her skirt back on. The scene outside looked like some kind of a rodent mass casualty drill. The only kind of rats not there were 'adult film producers.'

Patty, Zelda, and Don Marcos were looking menacingly at a small group of large rats, all standing upright Jeanette recognized the voice of the rat that was speaking. "Ah good you can give him your message yourself."

"What message is that, your malodorousness?" stammered a rat in a red velvet waistcoat.

"Something about giving you the keys now" reminded Jeanette.

"Yes ma’am, I mean no sir . . . Do I have to die now gov'ner?" wailed the rat. Zelda was the first one to start laughing, followed by Patty, Don Marcos, and Jeanette.

"I have never seen so humble a group of were rats in my life," Laughed Zelda. "Jeanette, you could make a fortune in the wharf district of any port town."

"Bottle it and we could become richer than the king himself!" said Don Marcos.

"Speaking of wealth," Jeanette said with her hand out to Don Marcos.

"Yes, yes here is the forty gold and worth it for the look on Rupert Rat's face," offered Don Marcos.

"Thank you.” Replied Jeanette cheerfully, as she walked off.

"Aren't you forgetting something, the warehouse perhaps senorita?"

"No, I have my skirt. Or did you simply forget that forty gold included only the basic fumigation."

"Oh yes. Forgive me. Here is the rest." Don Marcos said as he handed her ten more gold.

Patty leaned down and whispered, "Can you make that smell go away?”

Jeanette hoped that wishing it gone would make it go away.

"Ha! And she has taught me how to bring it back just as fast," Said Don Marcos with a snap of his fingers in a voice sure to be heard by any small ears still in the neighborhood!

"Nicely done," complimented Zelda.

"Thank you. Now that I have some money of my own, I need to do some shopping. A white blouse, with a faded denim skirt, and a jacket as the only clothing I have, is getting old. Barbie needs new clothing."

"Yes you do," agreed Patty.

"Hey! What is wrong with my stuff? It fits you, and it looks good on you," complained Zelda.

"Most of it smells of gun powder, and some of it is singed. You need new clothes as bad as I do," responded Jeanette.

"Jeanette has been a woman less than two months and she understands it's not how the clothes look on you but how you look in the clothes. We'll do some shopping in Portland," Suggested Patty.

"Or maybe the elves will have something of interest. We will probably hit their market day," added Zelda, looking at the several small holes burned into the front of her blouse.

"Do I have enough?"

"Don't worry about that; Jeanette's Fumigation Service will have all the business it wants between here and Portland."

"Amen to that," Added Zelda. "Do I relay smell of black powder?"

“It’s part of what I like about you,” added Hatter.

All three of them were laughing as they took care of Hatter. Tonight Jeanette could pay for the drinks. That almost made up for the stunned silence and the stares, almost.

-----

"Jeanette come out here, you'll want to see this" cried Patty as Hatter pulled the wagon into view of the Wood Elf's market.

Jeanette came out to sights and smells of what seemed to her to be the most magnificent craft show she had ever seen. She could barely wait to go and explore.

Patty climbed down and trotted over to an elf that seemed to be in charge, and after a few minutes, she walked over to a group of wagons. There she spoke with someone else and motioned for Hatter to join her. This of course brought the wagon right where it needed to be. Everyone helped to take care of Hatter and the wagon. Hatter and Zelda seamed to be teasing each other again, but Jeanette could only hear some of Zelda's end of the conversation and none of Hatter’s comments.

Jeanette saw a bewildering array of stalls and pavilions tucked into the trees in no apparent pattern, with an even greater variety of patrons. Almost every animal she could think of was there in an upright form with hands and feet Larry and Jerry could not have done this. Humans or close to humans outnumbered the anthropomorphic animals about two to one, but such a variety, short, small, tall, heavily built, slender, and massive. Skin colors ran from coal black through the tan she was used to back in California to blue, and nearly crimson.

"Jeanette" called Patty "The elves do not like to haggle price, but they will not cheat you either. If you do them the courtesy of trusting them, they will give you their best price without asking. There will be stalls run by other races most of them do like to haggle price. Other than that this is about as safe as Zont ever gets, not even the pick pockets work the elfin market days."

"So Patty, where did Zelda go?"

"She had some shopping she wanted to do by herself," said Patty. "Let's start with some daily wear clothing then we can get dinner and finish up with one or two nice outfits."

With that they were off, the elfin stalls had such fine things all of witch were far too nice for daily wear on the road, even in a wagon with a 3500 square foot house hidden inside it. Jeanette did find a stall run by a middle-aged apparently human couple with some plain but very well made clothing that still had some style. She was surprised that none of the trousers felt right they clung and rumpled the fur on her legs almost as badly as the socks had, 'oh well I guess they can put pockets in a skirt,' she thought. Two skirts, and three blouses later Jeanette and Patty were on their way to find a place to eat, and Jeanette was completely lost. "Patty, how are we going to find our way back to the wagon?"

"It is easier than it seems. These markets always go up the hill from a road, and follow a creek. All we have to do is go down hill to the road turn right and walk to the wagon," explained Patty. "Here we go; this place looks like it has good food."

They found a table and sat down. Jeanette was surprised at how good it felt to get off her feet. An elf about as delicate as anyone she had ever seen approached with two glasses and a bottle of wine covered in condensate. As Patty ordered lunch, Jeanette found the wine to be a refreshing chilled sweet wine. The meal was good but not spectacular. "Patty, what is going on with Zelda; some times she is pleasant and engaged but most of the time she is quiet and a little awkward around me. It's like I remind her of something she would rather forget."

"That is exactly it; you know she is a changeling also. I thought she was settled with it, but it seems she still has some issues to work out. Zelda's change was just a year after her mother died. When the mare cycles Zelda still occasionally gets wrapped up in the mare's emotions, and that upsets her. She'll tell you about it when she's ready. Enough of that lets get you an evening dress." With that, the two having finished their meal returned to the earnest work of shopping.

The elfin shops were magnificent and the elves never seemed to care what she was other than a young customer. Mid afternoon, she spotted a hunter green gown she liked. It was sized for an elf about her height but not nearly as full figured. Disappointed she started to leave when the elf craftsman assured her she could alter the gown to fit. Jeanette was skeptical but wanted that gown. She agreed, and paid the asked price.

Jeanette and Patty continued shopping for another hour before returning to the wagon. Zelda was already there, chatting with Hatter and looking a bit brighter than Jeanette had ever seen her. "Oh hi, girls get everything you were after? We have been asked to move the wagon to the other end of the market to make room for people coming in after dark." Hatter was ready to go all that remained was to get him between the shafts and connect the traces. In 15 minutes, they were in the new place and ready to call it a night.

Just before full dark, an elf showed up with Jeanette's gown. Jeanette was stunned not only how quickly it was ready, but also by how well it fit. It felt like it just slid over her fur, and rumpled not even a single strand of hare. It felt wonderful. Included was a blouse that felt like it was silk. "My dear" said the elf “I have included a simple spell to prevent it from clinging and another so that should you ever need to use that tail of yours defensively, the gown will not be harmed."

Jeanette thanked the elf and offered her dinner, but the elf said she had other work to do before dawn. Market days were very busy.

Jeanette tried on the blouse. It was every bit as comforatable as the gown. "Hey kid, I have something for you." With that, Zelda produced an eleven-made short black jacket. "I want to apologize. I haven't been good company, too wrapped up in my own memories. I need to remember to enjoy what I do have. I hope you like it." Jeanette put it on over the blouse and enjoyed the look in the mirror for just long enough to realize that she liked dressing this way.

In the morning, they were on their way with the wind at their back as they left the elfin market behind.

-----

"The elves just about had me convinced that they were different, until they asked us to camp down wind of them." Jeanette was walking ahead of the Vardo, and Hatter. Often turning around to gripe at Zelda for no better reason than that, Jeanette needed to gripe at someone, and Patty had found an excuse not to be outside. "Three months on Zont and everyone I meet, 'oh don't startle the skunk', 'would the skunk fumigate me barn?' Aaaahhhhhh, a skunk!! Whatever happened to, 'Oh hello, what brings you out on a fine day like this?"

"Jeanette things happen. We do not always get to choose our destiny. You can spend the next three-hundred years fighting what happened, and end up so bitter everyone should be afraid of what that tail can do, or you can try to come to grips with what and where you are now. Make the best of what you have now."

"Good advice you should listen to it. I did, and it worked out pretty well,” offered Patty from inside the Vardo.

"Ok Zelda, so I should just go walking down the street with my arms open wide to whatever fate has in store for me?" Jeanette said this while throwing her arms wide.

"Well yes, but you should probably watch where you are going."

"Huh?"

"Look out!

Jeanette turned around just in time to see a flash of motion, before crashing into a young man of an athletic build who had been walking down a side street and paying no more attention to where he was going that she had been.

The two fell to the street. Jeanette being the smaller of the two, wound up on the bottom, with a muffled squawk. The bulk of her tail cushioned her head, so she was not so much hurt as shaken. The young man on top of her was struggling to get up, apologize, and not put any weight on her, all at the same time, with very little success. After just a moment, he rolled to the side, scrambled to his feet, and helped Jeanette to her feet. He then helped dust her off and apologized.

---------

The two well-dressed, young men had been talking since they had left the estate of one of the most influential families in Portland. "Walter, what am I supposed to do? My parents insist that I marry, and do it soon to end all the speculation of who will the master Fritz Rockwell Esq. chooses. I want to meet a girl with at least a little interest in me, instead of merely my parents’ money. I want some romance. Is that wrong?"

"Fritz you can have any girl in Portland."

"I can bed any girl in Portland. No mystery no romance my parent's money can buy me any girl in town except my sister, but when I look in their eyes all I see are coins. They don't see me. Walter, I'm not even heir to the business, I don't think my father even sees me most of the time."

"Is that why you took on this task of chasing after the stolen chalice," asked Walter?

"Maybe my dad will actually see me when I bring it back, that and a break from all these gold diggers."

"Fritz you've written off every woman in Portland. Just let yourself be open to the possibility that a good woman will walk into your life."

Looking to his friend Fritz says, "Walter, you're a hopeless romantic, and still single I should add."

"Fritz look out!"

Fritz didn't see whom he ran into until they were both on the ground. In vain, he tried to get up and lift her up at the same time. After a moment, Walter rolled him off her. He scrambled to his feet, helped her up, and tried to straighten her skirt and blouse. How will this play in the papers and parlors? I don't recognize her, who is she? How much is this going to cost to smooth over? "Forgive me please. I should have been looking where I was going. I will of course replace your outfit. May I have your name? ... Oh gods I hope I didn't hurt her . . . Miss your name please?"

Jeanette was so embarrassed. She almost failed to realize that he was asking for her name. "Jeanette and you," she recovered.

She has no idea who I am, thought Fritz, "just Jeanette?"

"For now yes," answered Jeanette.

"Well then, Fritz at your service. Please allow me the pleasure of your company for dinner. Where may I call at 7:00 this evening?"

Suddenly Jeanette remembered Patty and Zelda, where were they going to park the wagon. . . . Beside the . . . "Yes, call at the Crystal House, I will be ready at 7:00."

Fritz kissed the back of her hand and hurried off back the way he came.

Patty stepped up to Jeanette. "Not 10:00 in the morning, of our first day in Portland, and you have a date. Not bad."

At this, Jeanette grabbed Patty. "What am I going to do? I have never been on a date! What do I wear? What will I say? . . ."

"Settle down. You are going out for dinner. You dress better than either of us. Talk about the things you wish your dates had talked about when you were Bill."

"Patty, I have never been on a date! Not even as Bill." With that, Jeanette was beginning to pant and there was a growing odor of over ripe bananas.

"Relax, breathe in . . . breathe out . . . Jeanette calm down," insisted Patty.

"It's just he is the first person, since I have been on Zont, to talk to me first and not to my tail. I do not want to blow this. Patty, Zelda, tell me what to do." That was true as far as it went, but Jeanette was also trying to follow Zelda's advice, and she was afraid of where that would take her.

The rest of the morning and most of the after noon was spent getting Jeanette calmed down and ready for the evening.

----------

"Walter who is she?"

"Fritz what is she?"

This question caught Fritz off guard. "What are you implying? She had dark skin and the deepest blue eyes."

Walter was not sure where to start "Fritz she had black fur and a tail. I have never seen her or anyone like her in town, or on any of my travels, neither have I heard about any thing like her. Much as you would like to deny it you must marry a girl with some social standing."

This brought Fritz back to what passes for reality in a wealthy young man. "All my life I have been chased by girls with coins in their eyes. This woman does not know who I am. For the chance to be just Fritz, and not a Rockwell, I am going to take Jeanette out to dinner and just be myself no games, no expectations."

"All right Fritz" Walter wanted to say more, but had not seen Fritz look forward to something in a long time, so he let it drop.

Back at the estate, Fritz always called it that. He had never lived anywhere else, but it didn't feel like his home. "What shall I pick her up in? I can't take any of the carriages. They all have the family crest on them."

"Take that one." Walter indicated an open carriage meant to be pulled by a single horse, with a driver's seat in front. "It will be a pleasant night and the upholstery is sound, and take one of the driving mares."

"All-right but I'll take Jammer he is calmer by himself than those nutty mares and he has a look at me attitude I like," said Fritz patting a dark bay gelding who pushed eagerly at his hand, looking for a treat.

With that, settled Fritz had to get back to the routine of his day, which right now consisted of tracking down leads on the theft. All of which seamed to lead to the wood elves. This was strange, they were known for their honesty as much as their courtesy and craftsmanship.

----------

Finally washed, groomed, and in the hunter green evening gown she purchased from the elves Jeanette had nothing to do but wait, and try not to hyperventilate until Fritz arrived. "Just let him do most of the talking," advised Patty "and if he asks where you are from, make something up."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Ask him about the city, what he thinks you should be certain to see here, what does he like to do with his time? Oh that must be his carriage," said Patty.

Jeanette looked out the window, "What carriage Patty? I don't see a thing."

"Patty has very good hearing, Jeanette," offered Zelda. "You and I should hear it soon."

Right at seven, Fritz entered the lobby of the Crystal House. Jeanette swallowed, stood, and Fritz took her hand. At the curb waited a phaeton and a bay horse that shined like polished copper in the warm light of early evening. He directed her to the seat behind the driver, draped her shoulders with a tan linen cape, "to protect that lovely gown," and sat beside her. Without a word to the driver, they were on their way.

"Way too much quality in that horse to go with that understated a carriage, and a driver! This guy is trying to appear less than he is," observed Zelda.

"Yet he still wants to impress Jeanette," added Patty. "We've got to find out who he is."

"You don't know the Master Fritz Rockwell?" asked a surprised young woman acting as the evening's hostess.

"No," said Patty and Zelda in unison as they looked at each other and back to their hostess.

"He is probably the most eligible bachelor in the city. Third son of his lordship, but without the reputation of his older brothers," continued the young woman.

"What reputation is that," asked Patty?

"Well I would not speak poorly of my betters, but . . .” After an hour Patty and Zelda had a picture of two young men with more wealth than responsibility.

Just after 10:00, Patty heard Jeanette's voice laughing, and the returning carriage. "Come on Zelda we don't want her to think we stayed up waiting for her." They slipped out the side door and into their wagon.

Back on the porch of the Crystal House Jeanette wanted to kiss this young man but felt uncomfortable at the thought, and unsure of the mechanics. She settled for a long hug resting her head on his shoulder enjoying his closeness and the smell of him. Finely they let go of each other, she licked him on the cheek, said goodnight, and went inside.

Fritz stood there just a moment before climbing onto the driver's seat beside his friend and aid. "Walter lets go back to the estate. I will have to travel to the elfin woods in two days. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

"Oh cut the crap. You had a good time," scolded Walter.

"I had a great time Walter. She was interested in me not my parent's money. She has the most infectious laugh, and her fur is so soft I love the feel of it in my hands and on my skin."

"So Fritz where is she from?"

Fritz was thoughtful for a moment "I don't know. Not from anywhere close. She said San Anselmo but I've never heard of it. Oh what the hell in two days I leave town, when I get back she will be gone . . .”

"Fritz, it was a good evening, cherish it for that."

"Walter, it was a great evening and I want more of just like it."