The Twelve Labors of Barkis
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, but this story plot.
Chapter Thirteen: Reading a Book
Barkis sat on a wobbly three-legged stool on the stage in the Bone-and-Socket Pub. He was holding a thin children's storybook in his lap.
"And the cat phoned the mouse to borrow a cup of milk," he read to the crowd.
"Was the cat, a girl or a boy?" Mayhew asked, sitting at the bar.
Barkis looked up and rolled his eyes. "Does it really matter?" he asked, dryly.
"Well, I am very particular about the stories I read," Mayhew said.
(5 minutes later)
"The tom cat strolled along the top of the fence, careful not to drop the cake platter. The dog didn't take kindly to crumbled cake," his voice trailed off, as Mayhew stared at him in astonishment.
"What now?" Barkis asked him.
"Why was he walking along the top of the fence in the first place? He'd drop the cake platter anyway if he did that?" Mayhew observed.
Barkis sighed. "It's just a story, Mayhew. Even you have to accept the author's license."
Mayhew nodded. "True, but just one more question?"
Barkis groaned. "What gender is the dog?"
Barkis threw the book at him.
(several hours later)
"And after you've finished scrubbing the cake and beer off the walls, I want you to meet the Maggot backstage," Mrs. Plum told him.
Barkis nodded. You don't mess around with a woman like her. Experience taught him that.
Author's Note: I know, not as funny as the others, but there's still an epilogue to go. Shall we revisit the Fashion runway again?