06/12/1992

I suppose I should start by explaining what happened last night. Bugs went up to get the drinks and I was fully intending to just carry on writing in this after he'd got them. I was foiled in that plan by him coming back with Pepe and Penelope as well as said drinks.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Fudd." Pepe said, smiling charmingly. "I hope you do not mind if myself and my wife, we join you?"

Obviously I didn't - I hadn't seen either if them really since they started working at the Looniversity - but had to put my 'emotion-modulating' book away, for the obvious reason I would look unsociable should I keep writing in it.

"What's that?" Penelope asked.

I explained about the book and it's purpose and Penelope nodded. "You know." She said. "I've seen Sam writing in one of those. I asked him what he was but he just told me it was 'none of mah flamin' business!" Got up and stomped out." She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her slushy. "Men, huh Fuddsey?" (I'm assuming she was being friendly/joking, because otherwise I have no idea what she meant.)

I was saved from having to reply by Pepe asking if we were planning to go the Christmas Party this year, which is on the 19th.

"When we receive the invitations, yeah." Bugs said.

Pepe looked surprised. "My friends, you have not yet received the invitations? For myself and Penelope, we received them today."

Bugs looked surprised and looked at me. I shrugged. "You must have just missed them this morning." I said. "Either that or they'll come on Monday. You know post can be a bit dodgy in Toontown." (Due to the fact that no one bothers with addresses and just writes the name of the toon they want to contact on the envelope, leading the postmen to scour the four corners of the globe looking for them. It's a system that needs some work, to put it lightly.)

"Eh...oi suppose..." Bugs said, doubtfully.

Thankfully Penelope has good intuition and started talking about something else. I was pleased as well that she didn't start with the kids. I mean, I love the kids obviously and fatherhood a a joy and obviously I knew it would be hard but...not this hard? I suppose that makes me sound selfish, but it's true. I always thought I'd be like the kids whisperer or something but apparently I'm more like the kid yeller. Which is not a good thing I know.

Anyway. The rest of the evening was spent pleasantly talking with Pepe and Penelope, which was nice. Even if we did have to talk with signs for about half of it. Eventually we did have to leave though.

"Do you want to grab Babs or shall I?" I asked.

"Can't even see her." Bugs said, twisting the upper half of his body round so he resembled a corkscrew.

"She must be there somewhere!" I snapped, as a fit of panic clutched me.

"It is alright. I see her. She is with Fifi." Pepe said, soothingly. "I shall wave to them." And he did so.

"Oh, Fifi's here then?" I said, in a fit of stupidity.

Penelope looked at me while Bugs slapped his forehead. "You thought myself and Pepe enjoy hanging around soft play areas on a Saturday evening, did you Elmer?"

I gave her a sheepish smile by way of apology and finished my drink.

"That was awesome!" Babs cried as she flung herself at Bugs and hugged him. "Thanks!" Then she hugged me as well.

"Eh...well, I hope you enjoyed it. Were not making to much of a habit of it." Bugs muttered.

We said goodbye to Pepe and co and headed back. "Penelope was saying the Looniversity breaks up on the 16th for Christmas." I said, conversationally, when we'd got into the house and got Babs to bed.

Bugs nodded vaguely and I realised I was going to have to be more direct.

"When's your last working day, Bugs?"

Friday the 18th. Apparently they're then 'generously' giving him the 19th-27th off before then expecting him in in the 28th for two two hour meetings. "An' then there's a couple of meetings after that. Off the 31st and the 1st, then back in on the 4th. "So I'll be able to spend that weekend with you, if you like?" He said.

I should have been grateful. But something about his tone got to me. "Schedule me in, you in?" I said, somewhat angrily I'll admit.

He blinked. "Eh...where'd that come from, Doc?"

"Don't call me Doc!"

He held his hand up. "Sorry, sorry, force of habit. Anyway, what's up wit' ya?"

"We never spend any TIME together any more." I said. "You've always got meetings or something and I'm always busy with the kids. It'd be nice to do something together, just the two of us. Like old days."

Bugs leaned forward and linked his hands together. "Yeah, you have a point." He admitted. "I feel like Oi've hardly seen ya recently as well. I know! How about I book Bosko's and we go out for dinner?"

"And...what, eat chicken nuggets?" I said, sarcastically.

Bugs frowned. "Well, yeah, if ya want...oh!" He exclaimed as I looked at him like he was stupid. "The kids! Yeah, sorry, oi see what you mean now-"

I asked him if he was feeling alright [Bugs is very sharp-minded. He's always about ten steps ahead of everyone else usually.] and he sighed and confessed he was feeling a bit tired because he seems to be going to more meeting than usual lately and they are quite draining. "I've got to look INTRESTED, Elmer." He said, eyes glazed over. "Interested in figures! An' not the good-lookin' kind either!"

I rolled my eyes. "Daffy's there isn't he?"

"Yeah he is." Bugs agreed. "But they seem to want me more than him lately. An' he's happy for me ta do it cos it means he gets to spend more time wiv Plucky."

I folded my arms. "Meanwhile you're not here?"

"Yeah, but what am I meant ta do? It's written into me contract. I have to attend any meeting they ask me to. Within' reason."

"And is at least one meating every day reasonable? Especially seeing as some of them REALLY don't need you there?"

Bugs sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. "Why do you always hav' ta be so sensible?" [The answer being that SOMEONE has to be.]

That was last night. We got to bed shortly after that and today Elmyra's parents brought her back. I say they brought her back. They literally threw her in the door and sped off.

"How'd the-" I called after them, as the car sped into the distance. "-homework go?" I sighed and looked at Elmyra who was bouncing on her feet. "They did do your homework with you didn't they?"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, hello-wello to you to daddy-waddy. The weekend went great! We went to the zoo yesterday!" The smile faded from her face a bit. "You know, Daddy-Waddy, tiger-wigers don't really like being hugged?" And just walked into the house while I yelled after her.

"What do you mean TIGERS! Elmyra!"

So yeah. She tried to hug a tiger and succeeded until the tiger took offense and wiggled out of her 'loving' embrace before heading for the hills. And her parents didn't do her homework with her, Bugs ended up doing it. It was a page, it wouldn't have taken them long. It took her and Bugs half an hour while I finished up the final module of my course before the christmas holidays. I wanted to get it done this weekend because then I can focus on christmas-related things.

"I booked it!" Bugs said, happily, as he flounced [there's no other word for it] into the kitchen.

I must have looked blank, cos Bugs sighed. "Bosko's, Elmer. I booked Bosko's for next Saturday. Me plan is for the kids to go to Wile.E's for the night."

"Oh, that's good." I said, brightly. "We can go Christmas shopping during the day! Great idea, Bugs!"

He looked slightly startled, but I smiled at him and he grinned back.