ALTERNATE EPILOGUE - FATHERS

Meanwhile…

The waiting room was practically full, so most of the Carrotte's extended family was in the hallway that led to Miranda's room, with every one of them concerned for the little mink that had come into their lives, and the child that said mink was currently carrying. Nigel hoped the information that the odd girl he met this morning would be of some use in helping his sister-in-law's condition. The money and helicopter were already being put to good use, and the pilot was only too happy to help. The rat had caused quite a scene arriving at the hospital by helicopter, carrying what appeared to be the key to saving Miranda's baby. He was barraged by questions from everyone, but he himself didn't have the answers. It took a while to settle everyone down, sort out the data, and contact Granny to help them distribute the donations correctly. The doctors were working furiously, trying to catch up with the wealth of information, and treating Miranda accordingly, so Nigel and the family waited, but this time with a renewed sense of hope. Sometime later, Nigel's son, Nolan, arrived. Before anyone could tell him what his father had gone through, everyone suddenly heard the clatter of things being set up, and it was coming from the lounge area. The albino rat got up, motioning everybody to stay, just in case, and he padded to the lounge. Once there, it took all his will to keep his jaw from dropping. There was a sumptuous feast being laid out by several furry and human toons, with the help of the nurses, and a few other visitors as well.

"Here, now, wot's all this?" Nigel asked, suddenly reeling with the scent of the most delicious cheese he could remember.

"This is for the Carrotte-Mink-Purrestein-Norka family," said a canine, padding up to him and pulling out a note. "Is your name Carrotte?"

"Aye, but none of us ordered any of this! Oi doubt we could even afford it, much less eat it all!"

"Oh, don't worry, it's all been paid for." Some of the family also padded up, curious about the whole thing.

"Wot wot?"

"Yes, all you see here was donated," the clerk added with a smile. "The benefactor called this morning, and set it all up. Spared no expense." The dog gave the rat the bill, which had "PAID IN FULL" stamped on it. "Merry Christmas."

Nolan came in at the end of the conversation, and looked around, puzzled. "Whoa, who set this up, dad?" he asked curiously.

"The benefactor wished to remain anonymous," replied the clerk.

"Wow," Nolan uttered, suddenly thinking he knew the answer.

"Indeed. Most people who spare no expense on a donation usually wish to be named and thanked," Nigel observed. "This must be one special benefactor."

The hybrid looked up at his father. "A very special one, that's for sure," he smiled, knowing the answer.

The clerk just shrugged and continued setting up. "Well, son," Nigel uttered, still somewhat amazed, "let's go and fetch the others. And make sure your Auntie Miranda gets a plate too. Though from the looks of it, we'll be able to share it with everyone in the hospital and STILL have plenty left over!" The rat-cat and his father walked back to the rest to tell them of this interesting turn of events.

Dakota kept the promise she made, and did all she said she would, and much more. She even volunteered to baby sit Leo and Miranda's newborn daughter, who did not die after all (nor did hundreds of hybrid children, thanks to the CPNM² (Carrote-Purrenstein-Norka-Mink-Maximilian) Hybridisation Research Foundation). In fact, she spent so much time with her she became like a little sister to her. She learned a lot about taking care of kids, enough to prepare her for those she knew she would have in the future with a certain close friend of hers. So profound was the change in her that many considered her a completely new toon. Many laughed at her new behaviour, but she didn't mind. If she could make others happy like that, then she would continue to look foolish in front of others. After all, not everyone knew what she went through. Her father, Montana, watched her from afar, sometimes with wonder, sometimes with disgust, sometimes with utter shock as she had practically changed into his polar opposite. She did her best to love him, and make him see that she loved him. As to whether he accepted his "new daughter", that is another story, for another day. Dakota did her part, and that was the important matter. She wouldn't continue his greedy legacy, naturally, and he knew that, though she would always remain his loving daughter. What's more, Dakota gained even more than what she had in the past, not just in the material, but with friends and family as well. The more she gave, the more she received, and the more she laughed, too. Montana Max may have been her biological father, but now she had other fathers as well: Ebenezer Scrooge, Nicholas of Bari, Shaul of Tarshish, Zaccheus of Jericho, James Cash Penny, Milton Hershey, Adam Smith, but most importantly, she was now an adopted daughter of Abraham of Ur.

She never saw the spirits again, though she did meet the real Nasty Canasta once, nearly scaring the colour out of her. Though she had no more contact with the ghosts, her family, friends, and employees said that she knew how to celebrate Christmas—and Passover—and yes, even Hanukkah—better than anyone.

"May that be truly said of us, and all of us!"

And so, as Talleen said, in her role of Tiny Tim: "God bless us, every one!"

THE END / DAS ENDE / DIE EINDE / EINDE / EL FIN / O FIN / LE FIN / IL FINE / SFIRSIT / KONIEC / KONEC / BEIGAS / LOPPU / TELOS / SOF / TAMAT / LIAU LIAU / DANEH O' / WAN-LE / OWARIMASU / SLUTT / SLUT / UXUL