Episode 30: Whispers on the Couch

WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ IS:

IRRELIGIOUS, IRREVERENT, AND IRRELEVANT.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS CONTAINED IN ST MUCKYMUCK ARE COMPLETELY FICTIONAL.  ANY AND ALL RESEMBLANCES TO REAL PEOPLE, REAL PLACES, AND/OR REAL EVENTS PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.  

IN FACT, ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ANYTHING AT ALL WILL BE REMARKABLY COINCIDENTAL.

Friday, 10:30 pm

"Chi Chi," whispered Nettie very softly.

"Wha'?" he replied in the same low voice.

"Is he asleep?"

Both cat and dog turned to look at Fr. Gabriel who was sound asleep in the green reclining chair, with his feet propped up.  The large flat-screen television that was hung on the wall next to the fireplace was blaring away the VDNews.  His glasses were askew on his face, his mouth was half open, and the remote was threatening to drop to the floor at any moment as it gradually slipped through his relaxed wrist hanging over the side of the chair.

"Did you see the announcement?" asked Nettie, turning back to Chi Chi as they sat on the green leather sofa that angled toward the slumbering priest as well as the television.

"Yes, I did," said Chi Chi.

"We have to alert the others," said Nettie.  "But how!  I don't see Fr. Gabriel's iPhone.  At that precise moment, a distinct "tap tap tap" was heard at the French doors that faced the vast courtyard between the cathedral house, the bishop's palace, and the cathedral itself.  There was a small, green parrot waiting there, peering in eagerly.

Nettie and Chi Chi looked at Fr. Gabriel who shifted in his chair, finally dropping the remote to the floor with a thud.  They both jumped down and ran to the door.  It was securely fastened as Nettie discovered.  She indicated for the parrot to come around to the side of the house.

They turned and dashed down the hall, turned right and then left, down another hall to the laundry room, where a window stood cracked slightly to allow for the drying clothes hanging from a ceiling rack to dry.  The parrot squeezed in.

"Celery, we must get a message to the others?  Did you see?" said Nettie.

 "Yes, I saw.  But not all of it.  That's why I came over.  When is it?"

"It's tomorrow night at 8:00 pm in St. Bunnicula Square.  Everyone must come without exception.  As many as can.  This will be a very special, special event," said Nettie, sitting.

"What do I tell them?  What's it called?" asked Celery, blinking anxiously.

Nettie thought for a moment, then said, "Just tell them it's a gathering."

©2011 Steven Gorman.  All rights reserved.