Scenes of Refrigerator Day – Part Three

(60,000,001BC – 5PM)

"I'm tellin' ya, Fran," Earl snarled as the Sinclair family walked through the forest, "first Robbie's trying to destroy the intimate family nature of singing songs around our refrigerator – now," he continued, sniffling, "there's nothing to eat in the refrigerator!" He sobbed. "How many years of holiday-related emotional roller coasters do I have to live through?"

"Earl, get a hold of yourself," snapped Ethyl, the elderly gray dinosaur as she pushed the joystick forward on her wheelchair. "We were fasting anyway."

Earl shook his head. "No, Ethyl – that was for the last two days. Today is Refrigerator Day and we have – big surprise – nothing to eat!"

Robbie, who had been silent in protest, finally spoke to no one in particular. "It's like we're having to hunt our food just like our ancestors," he stated.

"Nobody's talking to you, ingrate," Earl reprimanded.

Fran shot Earl a dirty look. "Earl – maybe this is a sign."

"Of starvation," Earl mumbled angrily.

"Yeah, Mom," Charlene griped as she held Baby Sinclair in her arms, "it's one thing to dress up in funny costumes and pretend to experience saving all of dinosaur society – it's another to be forced to do it yourself."

A small brown long-nosed mammal with wire glasses sauntered happily in front of the Sinclair family. He stopped and looked them all up and down. "Hey," he said, "aren't you guys the Sinclairs?"

Earl stomped forward and growled. "Yeah, we sure are. We've come to take your furry butts back to our house."

The mammal shrugged. "I'm Arthur Rizzic, remember, Mr. Sinclair? I haven't been a meal for you in, gosh, has it been two years now?"

Earl stopped and stared at him in confusion. "Rizzic? My former supervisor? That Rizzic?"

Arthur nodded and smiled. "I'm headed for the party over by the swamp. The Howlin' J band is holdin' a bash to distract us all from Prey Day." He pondered at their dumbfounded faces. "Refrigerator Day?" He sighed as he finally saw a flash of recognition. "For us mammals, this is typically the scariest day of the year."

Charlene was the first to speak. "Gosh, that's awful," she noted sadly. "What should we do?" she asked her mother.

Arthur shrugged. "Well, we're all bringing presents of some sort. You guys are welcome to come too – if you want."

"You'd invite us?" Baby asked.

The little mammal nodded. "We're trying out a new holiday concept this year – temporary peace among all species."

Fran was visibly touched. She smiled. "What a wonderful concept."


(To the tune of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town")

Well, this is the hour,

Hide the fridge's cord,

Don't feel so sour,

'Cause you can't afford –

Presents for your lovely, tonight!

Mammals and Lizards,

Both having a blast,

We ain't got blizzards,

'Cause snow just won't last –

Have fun and remember, no fights!

Forget the 'frigerator,

Turn on the TV set,

We'll catch some football and some beer –

And sell this song on cassette!

Well, this is the hour,

Get up and go dance,

We got the power,

To score some romance –

'Cause I'll be honest, she's quite a sight!

The mammals and the Scavengers laughed as they danced and watched a movie projector playing stop-motion holiday legends just outside the Tavern. The Howlin' J band continued to sing carols, hyped up by the good vibes of everyone getting along. The smell of alcohol wafted far and wide, and not a few mammals were already passed out on the ground.

Spike smiled as he stood back against the front door of the Tavern, watching the festive impromptu scene play out. He wondered if the Sinclair family was having this much … fun. Andre had never let them just play like this.

He hoped this wouldn't tarnish the Scavengers' reputations.


Monica shushed Roy. "Do you hear that?" she asked him.

Roy listened intently. "I hear music."

Monica nodded slightly. "That's what I hear." She looked down at him. "You want to go see what's going on?"

Roy smiled his silly grin. "Sure," he told her, blushing.

They continued to walk until they could smell alcohol and swamp gas. Mammals of all shapes and colors were dancing while dinosaurs jammed to some music being played by a raucous mammalian band.

Monica stared, her jaw slack. "What … is … that?"

Roy saw the black leather jackets on the dinosaurs. "Those dinosaurs are the Scavengers," he told Monica. He pointed at one of them, a large spiky one as he came toward them. Roy backed away and trembled. "That one comin' over here is the leader. I think he's Robbie's friend."

Monica bowed her head to get a better look at the spiky dinosaur. "What is all this?" she asked matter-of-factly.

"Just a little holiday get-together," he replied, grinning. "Name's Spike, by the way, toots."

Monica frowned. "Just a friendly observation – if you keep up that offensive and sexist language, I'll flatten you with my tail."

Spike backed up and put up his hands in placation. "Hey, don't get your neck in a twist, lady. We're all just havin' some fun down here."

Monica glanced at the mammals. "By luring mammals with free beer and then eating them? I realized Refrigerator Day was an exercise in crass commercialism, but I had no idea it had such a vicious and disgusting display of predatory deceit."

"Hey!" Spike snapped. "We're the Scavengers, not the Predators, get it?" he hissed. He scoffed. "Ain't you both friends o' the Sinclairs?"

Roy nodded.

Spike pointed angrily at Monica despite her fearsome size. "I heard about you durin' that trial thing at Wesayso. You go around demandin' respect outta everyone, but you ain't got none for none of us or anyone else who don't bow down an' worship ya."

Monica remained steadfast. "I take it you've met Mr. Sinclair," she noted dryly.

Spike turned to Roy. "Hey, Rex --."

"Roy," he corrected.

"Roy," Spike continued, "Don't you get tired of listenin' to her whinin' about her eternal victimhood?"

Monica growled. "I take offense at that."

"No kiddin'," Spike retorted. "You think you're high and mighty just 'cause you're bigger 'an us?"

Monica shook her head. But before she could respond in kind, Spike was already talking again. "Then relax," he told her. "Get a couple o' drinks. Take in some tunes. We're all da same here, toots. We all don't fit the picture perfect … uh … picture … of Refrigerator Day family sweetness. We're moldin' this stupid day to fit us." He turned his back on her and smirked. "Of course, if you prefer goin' around and whinin' instead of enjoyin' all that equality you're demandin', then go right ahead." He left to rejoin the others.

Monica glanced at Roy. "Do you believe he said that to me?"

Roy shrugged and inched away from her, avoiding her gaze. "To be honest, Monica, you have had a habit of ignorin' my eternal love for you just because you t'ink you're better'n me." He glanced toward Spike. "I'm a well-known coward," he continued as she gawked at him in shock, "and I feel humiliated that this pack member told you exactly what I've been afraid to say. I was afraid you'd flatten me." He finally looked up at her. "I know I'm no engineer or nothin', but I would trade even the little respect I get for having the reputation of 'king of the dinosaurs' just to be able to hang out with you without you actin' like I got the plague or somethin'."

Monica, for once, was speechless.