A Night on the Town: Skitchy Chapter 4
Discombobulater: Happy-to-the-Tree-to-the-Friends is the respectable property of none other than the magnificent Mondo Media, and all those humans behind it. Skitchy and Juniper are my original fan characters. Note: Also, this is in no way canon. Speaking of, the canon characters appearing herein include: Petunia, Handy, and Lammy.
It had been around two weeks since the farmer's festival, and Petunia still wasn't speaking to Skitchy. The tangerine skunk had waited by the phone for the azure skunk's call for hours the night of the festival, but it never rang. Sighing, he slept that night, trying to remain optimistic by reflecting on the good time he had with his old friend Juniper…
While they were fixing up some road near Main Street, Skitchy talked to Handy about his troubles.
"You know, Skitch," the nubby beaver replied to the skunk's tale of woe. "I've had something similar happen to me when I was about your age. My advice to you would be to just… leave off a little. You young people can be (no offense), a bit unstable at times. I think now it would be in your best interest to spend some time apart from one another, and see what happens. Who knows? You might even find somebody else who's a better match for you."
"I guess you're right, Handy," he consented. "From now on, no more moping! I've got my whole life to live! There's plenty of time for me to find my true love! For now, I'll just do the best I can to make every day good!"
"That's the spirit!" Handy encouraged. "Now help me with the cement mixer!"
Petunia flipped a burger patty and thought despondently about the events of the farmer's festival. Even though Giggles had assured her that she could/would/should find someone else, someone better, even, the skunk remained put out.
This sucks, she thought as she fried. I finally find another skunk in this place, and it turns out he isn't even on the market! Just my luck… and I really liked the guy! Sure he was shy, and… distant, but he was cute and smart and… no, Petunia! Snap out of it! What's done is done, and it's time to move on!
Nodding resolvedly to herself, the skunk resumed her work and tried hard to forget the feelings she had for the orange male.
Lammy slept in, since it was her turn to work the evening shift at the café, but when she did awake, the lavender lamb was cheerful and full of pep. She brushed her wool and her teeth until both were white as snow. Then she checked the clock in the den, noticed that she still had three hours until work, and headed out the door to have a nice peaceful stroll around Treeville.
Skitchy wiped the perspiration from his forehead with the back of his hand after completing yet another building project with the armless beaver.
"Good work today, Skitch!" Handy slapped the skunk on the back with his… uh… skull. "This road should last the town for a good number of years to come! You go ahead home and get some rest!"
"Thanks, Handy," Skitchy responded in his quiet way. "I'll do that. It was nice working with you."
"Back at ya, kid," the beaver grinned. "Now get outta here!"
Skitchy nodded, smiling, and headed off across the street and down the sidewalk near the center of town.
Behaving rather out to pasture, Lammy peered through a shop window and admired the various goods behind it. One particular blue dress caught her eye, and absorbed her attention. She didn't even notice Skitchy walking by behind her until his shadow fell across her line of sight, and she noticed his reflection in the glass.
Almost gasping, Lammy turned to greet him, the skunk also preoccupied and oblivious to the lamb's proximity.
"Good afternoon, Mr…." the lavender lamb was unsure of the skunk's name, and paused as he turned at the sound of her voice.
"I'm Skitchy," the orange and yellow skunk replied, removing his hat to wipe his brow. "And you're…"
"Lammy," she smiled shyly, acting very cute. "I wanted to thank you again for all your help the other day."
"Oh yeah! Handy and I stopped the raccoon brothers from stealing your stuff a couple weeks back! Was everything there, and not broken or anything?"
"No, it's all just fine," the lamb continued to smile and began to slightly bat her eyelashes. "Um, so how have you been lately?"
"Oh, fine…" Skitchy grew a tad uncomfortable with this girl he hardly knew being so attractive towards him. "I've been helping Handy out with a bunch of projects, and stuff… um, how are you?"
"I'm great," Lammy half-closed her eyes with a far-away look. "Would you like to… um, that is, do you have any plans for… um, tonight?"
The tangerine male fidgeted and avoided eye contact while struggling for words. Giving up on them, he merely shook his head for a negative.
"Great!" Lammy jumped and clapped, then settled down to show she was collected. "Um, I mean… okay… um, would you like to… go… eat somewhere… with me?" She bit her lip, anxious at what his response might be.
Still looking away, Skitchy nodded an affirmative silently.
Lammy's worried expression quickly changed to one of sheer delight.
"Okay then!" the lamb chirped. "So… how about the diner? At… eight?"
"Okay," Skitchy finally managed to utter two syllables, but still sweat beaded heavily on his forehead. "Um… er… we'll… meet there?"
"Sure, yeah!" Lammy was hopping with excitement. "See you then!"
The lilac lamb dashed off, leaving Skitchy with a lump in his throat.
Oh man, he thought. This is going to be a disaster, I just know it!
Petunia stored her work apron in her locker and said her goodbyes to the other employees of the diner when her shift ended. The ocean blue skunk stepped out into the cool night air and let a soft breeze play across her face. She smiled contentedly and headed for home. On the way, she passed Skitchy walking in the opposite direction.
"Oh! H-h-hi… Petunia," Skitchy managed to mutter as they passed with his eyes on the sidewalk.
"Hello," she replied coldly, her good mood ruined. "Skitchy, right?"
The two acquaintances stood still, neither breaking the tense silence for a moment.
"Yes…" She remembered my name! the orange male thought. But… why is she radiating so much negative energy?
"Hm," Petunia grunted in recognition. She made it a point to look away from Skitchy when speaking to him. "And how's your beaver bi- er, friend?"
"Handy? He's fine…" now Skitchy was really confused. He could sense the waves of rage emanating from Petunia.
"Don't play dumb with me!" she shrieked, finally facing the hapless bespectacled skunk. "You know who I mean! That- that beaver from the farmer's festival! What's-her-name!"
"Y-y-you mean… Juniper?" Skitchy sweated and shook as Petunia continued to fume.
"Yes! Whatever! Where is that little- how-!"
Calm down, now, Petunia told herself. Count to ten… okay. Now think about this, why are you so jealous? It's not like you were going steady with the guy, or anything… deep breaths… okay.
"Sorry about that… I got a little upset," Petunia took large, controlled breaths.
"It's… okay…" Skitchy had just managed to stop from running as fast as he could away from the unstable skunk. "Um… I understand…"
"So… she's your girlfriend, huh?" the navy-blue skunk looked disappointed.
"Juniper?" the male skunk responded, slightly surprised. "No! I mean, we've been friends forever, but… no!"
"What?" Petunia was puzzled. "But I thought… the way you seemed to care for each other…"
"Well yeah, I just said we were best friends! …Why?"
"Oh, no reason…" Petunia looked at the beautiful night sky, smiling. "Sorry, again. Um… are you doing anything Friday?"
"Not that I know of…"
"Oh, okay…" Petunia felt joy blossom in her breast. "Would you like to go see a movie with me?"
"Sure!" Skitchy almost shouted then regained composure. "I mean, yes… I'd l-l-… I'd really like to."
"All right, then! I'll pick you up at nine!"
With that, the female skunk strolled out into the night, leaving a befuddled Skitchy in her joyous wake.
Lammy cheerfully entered the diner, eyes blinking as they adjusted to the bright lights within. She found a seat at one of the vacant booths and gave her order (just water for now, thanks) to a Generic Tree Friend who was waiting tables. There she happily waited… and waited… and waited, sipping at the perspiring glass.
After more than an hour had passed, the little lamb began to grow anxious. She had gone through three glasses of water and visited the restroom twice, but still there was no sign of Skitchy. Finally giving up, she stood and apologized to her server that she wouldn't be ordering anything. Lammy just barely held back tears as she made her way out into the cool darkness.
Much to her astonishment, she found Skitchy walking toward her, not more than 20 feet away!
"Sorry I'm late," the skunk smiled apologetically. "I lost track of time and… ran into someone."
Lammy forgave Skitchy and they walked back into the diner together. The two ate and talked and both had a very nice time. After the meal was over and they had paid for their own meal, the skunk and lamb exited the establishment and paused to say their farewells.
"Thanks for having dinner with me, Skitchy," Lammy smiled in a kind of bashful way. "I had a really nice time."
"Sure," the skunk replied evenly. "Me too."
"Um, I hope we can… do it again sometime…" she hesitated. "Maybe?"
"Yeah, okay," Skitchy seemed pleased, but slightly indifferent.
"Great!" Lammy squealed with delight. "I'll see you Saturday!"
As the light purple lamb faded into the distance, the Clementine skunk scratched under his cap. What exactly was going on here?
Juniper stretched languidly as the alarm beside her bed chimed with its little brass bells. She smiled at the glorious sight of the rising sun just as it crested the hill that marked the end of her farm; then went downstairs to fix some coffee. With that coffee, the mint beaver also had some toast, orange juice, and eggs. She sighed serenely as she ate the delicious food and appreciated the wonder of Nature's beauty as the open sky turned red-orange.
After breakfast was finished, Juniper got herself ready for another hard day's labor. She showered, dressed, and went out into her fields to check on the progress of her many crops.
After a couple hours of tending the flower beds surrounding her chicken coop, her thoughts turned to the recent farmer's festival and the wonderful time she spent there with Skitchy.
Oh, I wish there could be someone here like that, she sighed to herself. Somebody thoughtful and smart… and handsome, she grinned. But that's a daydream, there's nobody like that around this place…
Exhaling in light of this harsh reality, Juniper returned to her work.
Friday night…
Skitchy distractedly strummed on an old acoustic guitar in his living room while watching the numbers change on his digital wall clock. Having never been on a "date" before, the skunk was understandably nervous. Before sitting, the skunk had showered, groomed, and dressed in his best clothes (a set of khaki pants and a plaid button-up shirt). By happenstance, Skitchy played a series of different chords that resembled the song "Clampdown" by The Clash. He smiled at this, and continued to play it more intentionally until he heard tires approach. Skitchy looked up to see a red convertible park in his driveway with Petunia behind the wheel. She was wearing a chic scarf and sunglasses (at night!) and waving to Skitchy who had risen from his porch.
"Hi Petunia," Skitchy began, a little shaken by Petunia's appearance.
"Hi," she said in response. "You can get in now."
"Um, okay," so the orange skunk sat beside the blue female and Petunia sped off through the night.
Lammy snored in her bed.
"So which one do you want to see?"
"Huh?"
"I said, which one do you want to see?"
Skitchy shook his head, coming out of the love-induced fog that had clouded over his mind while an irritated Petunia narrowed her eyes at him.
"Um, oh! The… that one!" he pointed randomly at the posters behind the ticket counter, causing Petunia to burst out laughing.
"You want to go to…" she gasped in between guffaws. "…The Magic Princess Castle Adventure?"
Skitchy's face turned crimson as Petunia practically rolled on the gum-laden carpet in her mirth.
"No, Miss Smartypants!" the orange male retorted confidently. "The one next to it!"
"Ohhh…" Petunia became serious and followed Skitchy's finger.
It pointed to a picture of a man in shadows carrying deadly weapons at his sides. The title beneath his boots read, "I Will Kill You: Episode Three".
"Really?" Petunia held some disbelief. "You don't seem like the scary movie type to me."
"No way! I'm totally into scary movies!" Skitchy tried to defend his manliness. "I've seen 'Naughty Deceased' four times!"
"Do you mean 'Evil Dead'?" the blue skunk raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah! The one with the chainsaw! That's a classic."
"Uh-huh… whatever, let's get tickets!"
Skitchy gulped as Petunia led him away to the counter, immediately regretting his random finger-point.
To Be Continued…
*Will Skitchy get the girl? Will he get the crap scared out of him? What about… Lammy? Did you get the Electric Company (the original one) reference in that last sentence? Are you tired of reading this yet? Is 'Naughty Deceased' really the name of something? Will Flippy ever turn up in my story? Tune in next time to find answers to all these questions, and more! Will Juniper get a boyfriend? Argh, I can't stop!