NOTE: a shout out to author Puppies and Nightlock. Thank you friend for your story and for accepting my ideas.
I Knew You Were a Weirdo
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IV - Laughs and Tears
It was a long day of packing. By the time they finished, it was nighttime. Buster, Rosita and the others were exhausted and almost didn't make the trip but Rosita's 25 children, Casper especially, just couldn't wait to go.
Besides, it was better if they traveled to the safehouse by night anyway.
And that was that.
Traveling in a separate van, Buster and company, including the piglets and their security personnel, made the considerable journey to their safehouse.
00000
It had been a long day for the Moon Troupe at their impromptu safe haven.
There was much to celebrate, seeing that Nooshy could finally stand up without falling over. She may not walk more than a few steps but the nurse was certain she'd improve and may walk fully as early as the next morning.
It was quite late and the Troupe should've been in bed by now. Nurse Sue had insisted that they all get some much needed rest.
However, given that the remainder of the Moon Group would be arriving soon, they had all decided to wait up until then. Thanks in no small way to Nooshy.
Nurse Sue decided to turn in herself and requested that she be woken up if she is needed.
Nooshy sat with the others on the massive luxury sofa of the condo safehouse watching some late night tv.
They were all enjoying a bowl of gourmet ice cream, courtesy of Alfonso, a personal project that took him a better part of the afternoon to prepare.
Having discarded the medical gown she wore in the hospital, Nooshy was still barefoot but was now wearing a light blue Calloway t-shirt, purple pajama slacks. The bandages around her bosom area were replaced but not the one for her head. Nurse Sue fit to simply leave her free and just wash and sterilize the stitching.
After which it was hardly noticeable and only a nickel of fur was gone from the shave job that was necessary in order to get at the cut.
Johnny was sitting to her left and Ash to her right. Meena sat on the far end next to Johnny, while Gunter sat next to Ash, with Porsha on the far end of the other side.
All were wide awake and alert.
Alfonso would've joined if he wasn't so exhausted from waiting up in the early morning to spirit away friends from the hospital.
So he turned in for the night.
Calloway sat in an armchair, half asleep and half awake.
How do these kids do it?
"This is my favorite part!" Porsha said pointing.
"Shh!" the others chorused.
They all watched as a goofy looking English terrier in an even goofier suit and tie pulled a plug from the wall of an English shopping center, unwittingly turning off the Christmas lights for the entire building.
The Moon Troupe erupted in laughter.
Knees to her chest, Nooshy was laughing so hard she had to grip her stomach to prevent stitches lest her own pop right out.
Johnny was slapping his knee.
Porsha threw her head back in childlike hysterics.
Ash was wiping a tear from her eye, thoroughly enjoying the show.
Meena was covering her mouth, trying so very hard to hide her girlish giggles and failing miserably.
Gunter, being Gunter, was rolling on the floor, laughing as though he had gone mad.
Smiling endearingly, Calloway rolled his eyes. I never lost that much control watching Mr Bean.
Turning back to the tube, seeing Mr Bean making sound effects for the Christmas Menagerie earned a hearty chuckle from the old lion. "What a card that Atkinson."
"I know right?" Johnny said, wiping his eyes. "I used to watch this all the time with my grandparents. My granddad looked like he was going to bust a gut."
"Hmm," Calloway said. "What were their names?"
Johnny looked mournful. "Billy and Becky. You'd liked em' Clay. Grandad was a pilot during the war and Grandmum was his nurse."
"Ha!" Calloway laughed. "A fallen soldier falling in love with his nurse. Classic."
"Say, isn't that how you met Ruby?" Ash asked.
Calloway nodded but choked back a laugh. "Yes but not the way you think."
The younger generation of the Moon crew took their focus off the showing of the bumbling Mr Bean to listen to Calloway's latest war story.
"It's like this," he said. "I was a buck private at the time and I was working on my aim. I wasn't very good at first and while I was adjusting the slide, it went off, right into the backside of my commanding officer."
The gang gasped in astonishment.
"You shot your commanding officer in the butt?!" Porsha cried.
"It was an accident. And while Lieutenant Williby was in surgery, he called for me to decide what to do with me."
Ash blinked. "He called for you while he was in surgery?"
"Yup, didn't want to put it off," Clay said grimly. "Luckily, because of the shortage of men for oncoming operations, they didn't discharge me. Williby decided I should be on the front lines." Clay's voice took a somber tone. "When I was dismissed, I turned and bumped into someone. It was a nurse and she was carrying a tray of food, which spilled all over me. And the medical tent erupted with laughter. And my Ruby, as polite as she was, couldn't help but laugh."
Clay smiled dreamily. "She apologized for laughing and not looking where she was going. I assured her it was alright and she offered to help me get cleaned up. I told her no but she wouldn't take no for an answer."
"I'll bet," Ash said, smiling.
A chime rang in the room and all those in the room looked at a small monitor in the upper corner of the room showing the private garage. A van had just pulled in, doors were opened and out spilled the piglets.
"Uh oh," Johnny said feigning terror, motioning to Nooshy.
Nooshy feigned terror as well, putting her hands to her mouth for dramatic effect.
"Oh no," she said. "Whatever shall I do?"
Ash gave the lynx a playful punch to the arm. "Whatever happens Noosh, don't resist. That'll just encourage them."
"And where's the fun in that?"
Nooshy immediately leapt over the soft and with great agility and swiftness, made her way to the elevator.
On her hands.
Less stress on her legs, the better.
"Nooshy, go easy," Johnny said uneasily.
"Relax big guy," Nooshy said without breaking stride. "It doesn't even hurt anymore."
"Nooshy, just be careful please."
But the lynx was already out of the room. "I can't hear you."
Johnny shook his head in defeat and he laughed to himself.
Smiling with excited delight, the younger generation of the Moon troupe followed after the hand-standing Nooshy.
Clay watched them go with a smile.
Then he shrugged his shoulders and stood up from his seat. This I've gotta see.
The Moon troupe stood by the elevator, soon joined by Calloway.
They watched the lighted dial showing the floors which elevator was reaching, making its way to theirs.
Nooshy let out several anticipated breaths, curling her toes, counting on the pink tidal wave to come.
And then the elevator doors opened.
And they were unleashed.
"NOOSHY!" cried the joyful chorus that was Rosita and Norman's children.
The piglets descended upon the young lynx with overwhelming gladness of seeing her and seeing that she was ok.
Nooshy laughed uncontrollably as they jumped on her and she fell to the floor along with them.
"Nooshy!" one piglet shouted in delight.
"We missed you so much!" another said.
"Aw!" Nooshy said as she scooped as many piglets in her arms as possible and she planted kisses on them as they squirmed to get away. "I missed you all too!"
The Moon troupe watched with wide smiles at the touching scene.
Buster Moon, Rosita and Norman Witherspoon, and Miss Crawley emerged from the elevator, all smiling happily at seeing the rest of the gang.
"Nooshy!" Rosita said, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Rosy!" Nooshy said as she got up from the floor, one rowdy piglet on top of her head, playing with her ears.
She knelt down before Rosita, took the piglet off her head and handed him to Norman. Nooshy leaned down and she and Rosita lovingly embraced.
"I'm so glad you're alright," Rosita said, kidding Nooshy on the cheek.
Nooshy sniffled as tears came to her eyes. She wiped her eyes.
"Oh sweetie," Rosita said, placing a comforting hand on Nooshy's shoulder. "Why are you crying?"
"Nothing Rosita nothing. I'm just happy is all." She sniffled as she furiously wiped her eyes.
Rosita took her handkerchief and wiped Nooshy's eyes and her nose.
Nooshy smiled at Rosita, who smiled back. "I'm not a kid you know?" the dancer said, laughing.
"She knows," Ash said. "But she's allowed to be a mother when you need one." She winked.
And the whole room roared with laughter.
Once the laughter subsided, Nooshy then looked past Rosita and noticed something that was hanging back in the elevator.
"Caspar love?" Nooshy said, confused and concerned.
Rosita turned. "Caspar honey, why are you still in the elevator? Won't you come out and see Nooshy?"
Caspar didn't budge. His head was bowed and he was whimpering.
Nooshy's heart sank. Caspar's never been like this. He has always been such a happy, loving boy.
Have the events of the last 24 hours been that bad for him?
Nooshy stood up and entered the elevator with the despondent piglet. She sat down next to Caspar and crossed her legs like she always did when getting comfortable.
The elevator began to close but was kept open by Norman.
"Oh Caspar love," Nooshy cooed. "Whatever is the matter?"
Caspar looked up at her, tears in his eyes and a drop of snot coming out his nose.
With a cry, he ran to her and Nooshy, without needing to think, opened her arms for him.
It didn't cause her ribs to ache so much when he crashed into her. He held onto her so tightly as though he almost lost the chance to do it again forever.
The elevator doors closed again and this time, with a look from Nooshy, no one tried to keep it open this time.
Now it was just her and a trembling Caspar.
Nooshy said nothing as she held the weeping piglet, who held onto her for dear life, rocking him gently back and forth.
The elevator thumped and they were in motion downward.
Nooshy paid no mind.
"You wanna talk little mate?"
"I was scared."
Nooshy felt tears start in her own eyes. "Aww, it's ok Cas. I'm ok, see?"
"Does it hurt?" Caspar whispered, his face hidden in Nooshy's neck.
"Does what hurt?"
Caspar lifted his head and pointed to the back of Nooshy's own head.
"Oh," Nooshy said, feeling the back of her head for the small patch of missing fur where her stitched cut is supposed to be. "It's not as bad as it looks."
"But does it hurt?"
Nooshy shrugged. "It comes and goes. But it's nothing Caspar, really. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"I was so scared," Caspar cried.
"Aw, there there," Nooshy said, rubbing the piglet's back.
"And when I saw your boo-boo…"
"Boo-boo," Nooshy laughed. "That's all it really is, Caspar. It may have hurt but I'm healing nicely."
"What about your ribs?" Caspar asked, sniffling. "You hurt your ribs?"
"I did," Nooshy said, nodding. "But that's ok, those are healing just fine too."
"Do they hurt?"
Nooshy rotated her shoulders and hips. And then pressed down on her rib cage.
"Only a bit, but other than that, totally fine."
Caspar wiped his eyes and nose.
"Are you ok now?" Nooshy asked.
Caspar nodded and then his face became awash with child-like mischievousness.
Nooshy felt her heart skip a beat. She knew that look. Oh no.
Caspar jumped onto her and started giggling madly as he started tickling her around her sides and stomach.
This had become a routine for them both whenever it was Nooshy's turn to watch Rosita's children.
And she almost dreads it. Almost.
Nooshy covered her mouth as stifled giggles bubbled forth. "C-Caspar, n-no! St-stop it!"
"Nope."
"I-I'm serious! P-please! Stop! I c-can't stand it!"
Caspar did not listen. He was having too much fun and after the day-long agony of wondering if Nooshy was ok and finally seeing her alive and quite well, his playful, joyful energy was practically restored tenfold.
And Nooshy will not admit it, as she did not wish to encourage it too much, but she was thoroughly enjoying herself as well.
"C-Caspar!" she gasped between uncontrollable laughs. "You'll b-be sorry!"
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Ryan, Sam, Murphy and Julie, the impromptu security detail, had just finished unloading the van and were now pulling and carrying the luggage of the Moon Group.
They stood in wait as the elevator descended.
"I wonder what was taking so long," Julie said, somewhat impatiently. She was pulling a roller.
"Well…" Murphy said, hauling a massive case over his massive shoulder. "Miss Rosita does have a lot of children."
"Here it is," Ryan said as the elevator completed its descent and the doors opened.
One look in the elevator and they saw something they did not expect.
Nooshy, lying on her back, squirming and giggling uncontrollably as she tried in vain to ward off a small piglet on top of her, who was giggling just as loudly and was mercilessly tickling her.
The dance troupe turned security detail all bore looks of confusion and surprise at the playful scene before them.
Julie's look of confusion turned to one of endearment and amusement as she put a hand to her lips as she chuckled softly at the adorable display.
"She seems to be doing better," she said.
Nooshy immediately took notice of them and was not the least bit humbled or embarrassed by how helpless she looked. "E-Evening boys," she said through her giggles.
Caspar stopped his tickling tirade to look up at the security detail.
Nooshy, grinning evilly, took advantage and pounced on Caspar and delivered her onslaught of torture.
Caspar screamed with laughter, squirming on the elevator floor as though he was being electrified by the multitude of cat-like fingers scribbling all over his belly.
Ryan covered his mouth, trying to keep from laughing. "It's good to see you're doing better, Miss Wright."
Nooshy stopped tickling Caspar to look up at the young tiger. She pursed her lips in an unimpressed fashion. She averted her eyes at Ryan, feigning menace.
"Just Nooshy, Miss Wright makes me feel old."
Ryan chuckled nervously and he gave a thumbs up.
Caspar managed to catch his breath in no time. "That was fun!"
Nooshy scoffed. "More for you than it was for me, ya little rascal." She scooped Caspar up in her arms. "Well, time for you to go to bed I think."
"No," Caspar said, pouting.
"Yes!" Nooshy said as she nuzzled the piglet, causing more childlike laughter to explode.
"I'll go first I suppose," Julie the gazelle said as she entered the elevator, pulling the considerably large roller behind her.
Nooshy stepped to the side to let her in.
A button was pressed and they were going up again.
Julie cast a sidelong glance at Nooshy who just had a look on her face as though she had forgotten something.
"You know what I just remembered?"
"Uh...what's that?" Julie asked.
Nooshy turned her attention back on Caspar. "Guess what time it is?" She puckered her lips.
"No! No kissy face time!" Caspar squealed.
"Yes kissy face time!" Nooshy began to shower loud kisses at Caspar, who was trying desperately to block them, laughing all the while.
Julie laughed. "Oh goodness, you certainly have a way with kids."
"Nah nah," Nooshy said. "Can't stand them really."
The smile on her face suggested otherwise. Truth is, Nooshy has always had a fondness for children. What really drove her passion for dancing was seeing those bright, smiling faces whenever she busted out her moves, especially on the little ones, and seeing how happy her work made them.
Julie continued to laugh as she could not get that image out of her head of the spunky, spritely Nooshy being overpowered by a tiny piglet child.
"I didn't think something so small could be so...formidable against you."
"Well what can I say? This one fights dirty."
"Hey Nooshy?" Caspar squeaked curiously.
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to marry Johnny?"
Nooshy flinched terribly as though someone had just stuck a pin in her back.
This got Julie's attention.
"You w-what?" Nooshy replied.
"I said are you going to ma-?"
"Yeah, I got that," Nooshy said, rather abashed by the question.
Where did that come from?!
"Why would you ask something like that?" Nooshy asked, startled by the piglet's forwardness.
Julie watched the scene with growing interest.
"'Cause…" Caspar said.
"'Cause what?"
"I just thought…" Caspar said rather meekly as though he were discussing a subject he knew quite well but had to really think on the right words to put. "...the way you smile when we ask about him and when you talk about him, you always have this smile and you get distracted after."
Nooshy grunted in surprise. I do?
"And the way Johnny looks at you when you're not looking at him."
Nooshy raised an eyebrow. "And how's that?"
"Like that look you make when you're having your favorite ice cream."
Nooshy could've sworn that her stomach clenched and her ears felt very hot. I don't know what to say to that. I really don't.
Julie smiled to herself. Best. Elevator ride. Ever.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened.
It seemed that the others had not moved since she left.
"There she is," Ash said happily.
"Aw, you guys didn't have to wait for us," Nooshy said, feeling a tad awkward.
"How was Caspar?" Rosita asked. "Is he ok now? Did he...behave himself?"
Nooshy and Julie looked at each other, both smiling widely.
"A-ok," Nooshy said, beaming at the giggling piglet in her arms. "And he was an angel."
She handed the squirming piglet back to his mother, who eyed him and Nooshy as though there was something she was missing.
Julie laughed to herself. "He really was."
"Julie?" Johnny said, surprised and confused to see a member of Kickenklober's dance class here of all places. "You're part of our security detail?"
"Hello Johnny," Julie said, smiling at him. "Not just me, but Ryan, Murphy and Sam as well." She pulled out her phone and speed dialed.
"No way," Johnny said, dumbfounded. "But what-? Wait, what are you-?!"
"It's ok Johnny," Buster said, patting his arm. "She's calling a secure line. She told us their paymaster wanted to talk to you personally."
Johnny cocked an eyebrow. "Paymaster?" Who says paymaster?
Julie put the phone to her ear. "Hello? Yes sir, we just arrived. Yes, he's right here." She held the phone to Johnny.
Hesitantly, Johnny took it and put the phone to his own ear. "Before you say anything sir, let me first thank you so much for employing these people to escort and look after my friends. I don't know how to thank you."
The answer came in the form of hearty laughter.
"Who do you think you're kissing up to Johnny?"
Johnny gasped. That accent. That speech pattern.
"Klaus?! Klaus Kickenklober?!" Johnny exclaimed.
Those present were utterly taken aback by this turn of events. Kickenklober hired his own dancers as security detail for the Moon Group?
Meena covered her mouth in shock.
Rosita did much the same.
Porsha and Ash grinned excitingly at this unexpected bit of news.
Gunter fell on his bottom.
Calloway was laughing boisterously.
And Nooshy's eyes grew huge and her mouth dropped wide open.
"Mr Kickenklober, you...you?!"
"What's wrong Johnny? Cat got your tongue?" Kickenklober laughed out loud, so loud it irritated Johnny's ears.
Johnny cleared his throat nervously, choosing to ignore that comment. "Sir, it's good to hear from you again, but this is a bit of a surprise."
"No doubt it is. And it's good to hear from you as well my dear boy. And Miss Wright is doing quite well I'm sure?"
Johnny smiled, pleased to hear how considerate Kickenklober was being. "Very well, thanks for asking. She's right here if you'd like to talk."
"Well…" The proboscis monkey did not sound too sure.
Before he could get an answer, Nooshy swiped the phone from Johnny. "Ello?"
"Miss Wright?"
"Just Nooshy please, so you're behind our security are you?"
"Well...yes. I am...glad...I am glad you're doing well. When we heard the news, well...it was dreadful. I couldn't believe it."
Nooshy frowned. "Nice to know you care."
"Noosh," Johnny said.
Kickenklober sighed. "I know we got off on a bad start...a very bad start. I was-"
"Hold on, I think Johnny has the right to hear this too."
"Ah...very well."
Nooshy pulled Johnny close so he could hear what was about to be said.
"Go on," Nooshy said.
"Johnny...I was...unspeakably, profoundly cruel to you. It was abusive, deplorable and completely unacceptable. I was a fool to think I could whip you into shape...by actually whipping you."
"Klaus," Johnny said. "You don't have to apologize."
"What?"
"What?" Nooshy said, incredulous.
"Just bear with me Noosh." Johnny returned to the call. "Klaus, you were harsh, cruel even but if it hadn't been for you, I would never have known of all those insecurities I had deep down, just under the skin. You helped me discover that. Now Nooshy, she helped me overcome those insecurities. She helped me find my confidence. So it was because of both of you that I'm a stronger person now." Johnny looked at Nooshy, who's look of incredulity became one of wonder and respect . "And I can't thank you both enough."
Johnny smiled at Nooshy, who smiled back at him.
It was not her usual mischievous grin that she was so well known for but a genuine smile.
And the way her brown eyes shined when she looked at him.
Johnny heard what sounded like an emotional cough.
"Johnny...I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything Klaus. Just thank you. And maybe I'll see you soon."
"You'd better," was the master choreographer's coy response.
Johnny was about to hand the phone back to Julie but Nooshy held him back.
"Wait," she said as she leaned in on the phone. "Kickenklober."
"Um...yes?"
"I want to apologize."
There was a pause. "For what?"
Nooshy sighed deeply. "On the day we met, when I first came by your studio, I was less than respectful to you."
"Oh no no no no, there's no need-"
"Oh but there is," Nooshy protested, putting the phone to her ear as Johnny handed it to her. "Been thinking it over and I realize that regardless of how you behaved, two wrongs don't make a right and I had no right to...well...call you a stupid, fat, old monkey."
There were chokes of laughter, mostly from the piglets and Porsha.
Both were shushed by either Rosita, Ash and Nooshy.
"...so when did you call me that because I have no recollection of that."
Nooshy shrugged bashfully. "Well, I didn't call you that exactly, more like you were so upset that I would be giving Johnny lessons that you called yourself that...and I loudly agreed."
"Oh? Oh! I had completely forgotten. But really, it's quite alright Miss-eh! I mean Nooshy. But I do appreciate the apology. Thank you."
Nooshy chuckled. "And another thing, if it hadn't been for you, Johnny and I would've never met."
"Is that so?"
Nooshy nodded. "Yes."
"You're too kind, Nooshy. I hope we can meet again soon."
"Likewise. So long Klaus."
"Take care."
With that, Nooshy handed the phone back to Julie, who was beaming at Nooshy for making peace with her teacher.
"Wow," Johnny said in awe. "That was very grown up of you Noosh."
"Yeah well," Nooshy said, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. "As I taught you to overcome your lack of confidence, you taught me a thing or two about humility."
"I did?"
"Yes!" Nooshy said, throwing her hands up like it was the most obvious thing. "You're the humblest person I have ever met."
"Really? You mean it?"
"Uh yeah!"
Buster chuckled nervously. " I think it's time we turned in. All of us."
"I agree," Rosita said, steadying herself as she held a squirming Caspar.
"Awww!" groaned the disappointed chorus of Rosita and Norman's children.
"But we're not…" Caspar yawned deeply. "...a bit sleepy."
"Liar," Nooshy said, teasing him.
"Alright kids, off to bed. Julie will show you to your room," Norman said.
"We'd better turn in too," Ash said, yawning. "It's been a long day."
"No kidding," Porsha said, nodding.
"Right then," Nooshy said and then she felt an itch on her nose.
When she went and rubbed it, she stopped stock-still when she felt there was nothing there.
"Wait!" she exclaimed. "Where's my nose ring?!"
Everyone stopped and turned back to look at Nooshy.
Ash stared at her, bewildered. "You just now noticed that it's gone?"
"I had other things to think about at the time!" Nooshy cried.
"Hey, don't worry about it Nooshy," Johnny said, smiling as he reached into his jean's pocket. "I have it right here."
"Really?!" Nooshy cried, utterly relieved.
Johnny pulled out the small gold ringlet, but fumbled and he dropped it to the floor.
Getting down on knee, he picked it up and held it out to Nooshy. "Here," he said.
Nooshy covered her mouth, beginning to tear up a bit. "Oh thank you Johnny," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Click.
Both Johnny and Nooshy turned their heads without moving.
Porsha had taken a picture of them. She had the most ridiculous smile on her face as though she had happened on a great treasure.
"Why'd you do that?" Johnny asked, quite confused.
Porsha didn't answer. She just gave the two of them a sly look as though she was in on an inside joke that neither of them were aware of.
Johnny and Nooshy then took notice that all eyes were on them.
Everyone in the room was staring at them.
"What's everyone looking at?" Nooshy asked.
Norman stopped in his tracks, fixated. All of the piglets stopped as well, eyes wide and full of wonder.
Miss Crawley covered her mouth to stifle gasping laughs.
"What? What's the matter?" Julie asked aloud, wondering why the piglets have stopped following her. Once she saw what everyone was staring at, she froze and covered her mouth in shock.
"I knew it!" Caspar cried triumphantly from his mother's arms. "I knew it!"
Julie choked back silent laughter, using a wall to steady herself.
Rosita didn't bother to shush him as she too was staring dumbfounded at the pair.
Nooshy's face twisted into sharp annoyance. "Ok, I'm starting to get uncomfortable here, somebody say something!"
The elevator doors opened and there stood the male security detail of the Kickenklober troupe.
"Finally," Ryan started, looking at his fellow guards and started forward. "Now let's get this…" He stopped dead when he saw what appeared to be Johnny on one knee, with a small gold ring in his hand and appearing to be offering it to Nooshy.
"Johnny?" Ryan said, now truly floored by the events of today. "What?"
"What?" Johnny said. Then he paused to look at the position he was in, the fact that he was on one knee and giving Nooshy back her nose ring.
However, lacking context, it would look an awful lot like he was…
Meanwhile, while Johnny was processing this, Nooshy demanding an explanation as to why everyone was looking at her and Johnny the way they were, said explanation was given in the form of the photo that Porsha just took.
Nooshy took a gander. Seeing Johnny on one knee, handing her her nose ring. Seeing herself looking so happy that she was tearing up and covering her mouth.
And then suddenly, roughly around the same time, it clicked.
Johnny's eyes widened and his face became as red as a steaming beet.
Nooshy's eyes grew huge and she pursed her lips awkwardly. She felt her ears burn red and they became erect.
Porsha smiled smugly at the lynx. "Throw the bouquet in my direction, 'kay?"
Nooshy turned on her heels, snatched her nose ringlet from Johnny's trembling fingers and stormed off.
Johnny took his leather jacket and pulled it over his reddening face. He stood up and walked in a rather quick pace in the opposite direction, not realizing his room was in the other direction.
He also didn't seem to realize that he was power-walking straight into a solid brick wall.
"Johnny, look out!" Rosita cried out, reaching for him in vain.
And the wall hit him straight in the face with a thud.
Johnny fell back and landed on his rear with a painful grunt.
He clasped his face with both hands, eyes clenched and moaning in pain.
"Oh my goodness," Rosita said, rushing to Johnny's side. "Johnny, are you ok?"
Clay, Ash, Meena, Porsha, Buster and Miss Crawley joined Rosita in checking on their friend, concern writ large on their faces.
Norman and the security detail took the piglets out of the room. Better that they weren't there to see this.
Upon examining closer, the mother of 25 gasped when she saw blood seeping in between Johnny's fingers. She gently moved Johnny's hands so she could see the damage and she gasped again.
Johnny's nose appeared to be bent at an angle that it shouldn't be and blood was cascading out of his nostrils.
Clay Calloway was aghast. "His nose is broken."
Rosita's heart ached when he saw that Johnny was crying. She pulled out her handkerchief and did her best to clean his face as gently as possibly without hurting him.
"Hey, what's going on?" Nooshy said as she stepped back in the room. She gasped when she saw Johnny on the floor, weeping and blood all over his face.
"Johnny! What happened to him?!"
"He ran into a wall," Meena said thoughtlessly.
Nooshy blinked. "What?"
Johnny bowed his head shamefully.
"I'll go get Nurse Sue!" Ash said as she took off running.
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"Alright, this is going to hurt Johnny. One. Two."
From his place on the kitchen stool, Johnny held his breath.
"Three," Clay said and with thumb and forefinger, he set Johnny's nose back into place.
There was a sickening crunch and a low-pitched moan of agony.
"There, the worst is over." Clay took a hand towel to wipe the blood and tears off his hands.
"Alright, thank you Clay," Nurse Sue said as she went to work on completing the treatment. "How did you run into a wall?" she asked, sounding very unimpressed.
"It was an accident."
Thought as much that you did not run into a brick wall intentionally.
"It's a long story," Ash said, sitting on a counter space, idly kicking her legs out.
Nooshy stood off to the side, arms crossed, looking away from Johnny. She shifted on her feet awkwardly.
Johnny wouldn't look in her direction either.
This seemed to vex them both.
Meena took notice of this, concern etched on her face.
She approached the young lynx.
"Um...Noosh?" Meena whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Don't you want to talk to Johnny? Make sure he's ok?"
Nooshy looked up at her, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty.
"Look," Meena said. "I know what happened just now was awkward, very awkward. But-"
"But what?" Nooshy said. "Just pretend that it didn't happen? I should say, hey Johnny. Thanks for giving me back my nose ring while getting down on one knee as though you were asking for my hand."
Just mentioning it seemed to have flustered the street dancer terribly. Her ears were already burning red.
Meena felt a chuckle bubble from her throat. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I get it. I mean," she scoffed, "what are the odds?"
"About as good as accidentally shooting your commanding officer in the butt," Clay Calloway said.
Nooshy choked on a laugh. This seemed to loosen her up. Calloway's idea exactly.
Meena covered her mouth, stifling her giggles. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh."
"Says who?" Nooshy said, beaming with delighted amusement. "Shooting your commanding officer in the butt. I wish I could've seen it."
Clay chuckled. "I may have been court-martialed for it, but I gotta to see the look on Wiliby's face and meet Ruby soon after."
They laughed but kept their voices down. Laughing out loud while Nurse Sue was tending to Johnny's broken nose would not be appropriate.
"Nooshy, walk with me," Clay said sternly.
The lynx raised an eyebrow, shrugged and followed the old lion.
She said nothing.
"You wanna talk?" Clay asked.
"Nothing to say."
"You're trying very hard to say nothing and you're usually one of the most talkative out of all of us."
Nooshy looked at him. "You're saying I talk too much."
"No, you most often talk just enough and sometimes you have enough for some of those who don't say enough, like Johnny for one."
Nooshy cleared her throat, but it was a cover to hide the flinch from hearing his name. "Look, I know where this is going. It was just bad timing, the worst timing."
"I know."
"I just need to process this, I don't need a pep talk."
Clay gave Nooshy a stern look. "Are you going to avoid him?"
"Avoid who?" Nooshy really did flinch that time. She was usually more subtle than that.
"Nooshy…"
"Ok ok." That has to be the lamest response ever. "No, I'm not going to avoid him. I just...need to sort myself out. Otherwise things are going to be weird." She scowled as her fur stood on end. "Porsha is never going to let me live this down."
Clay frowned. "I wouldn't be so sure."
"Why? Holding something like this over your head is her game."
"I had a little chat with her after Johnny...well…"
Nooshy looked sad. "Had his breakdown? What'd you talk to her about?"
"About her bad habits when it comes to deeply personal matters."
"Oh yeah," Nooshy said, nodding with a sneer. "Like that pic she took of me and Johnny when he…" She cleared her throat again to hide her bashfulness. "...got down on one knee."
"Don't worry about that," Clay said. "She should have deleted all that by now."
00000
"Almost done?" Ash asked, hands on her hips and tapping her foot.
Meena was behind her, doing much the same thing.
A humbled Porsha was tapping on her phone, wiping away whatever image or video that she had no business taking or keeping. "Ok, now just the one video and we're done."
But for the sake of it, Porsha decided to play the video on low volume. It truly was her favorite catch thus far in her snooping escapades.
"What are you doing?" Ash demanded.
"Just having a last look," Porsha said with a dreamy smile.
"Porsha…" Meena said, slightly annoyed.
"Ok ok, I'm deleting it. It's just so cute, you know?"
"Be that as it may Porsh," Ash said, a tad exasperated. "It's not your right to film those things without permission. It's an invasion of privacy and a violation of trust."
Porsha looked up from her phone with a pleasing look. "You don't tell Johnny or Nooshy, will you?"
"No," Ash said with finality.
"Of course not Porsha," Meena said, shaking her head.
Porsha smiled weakly. "Thank you guys."
The young wolf was about to press the delete button but then she lost her grip over the phone. Panicked, she fumbled it in her hands and it fell.
It hit the floor and slid underneath the bed.
Porsha scrambled for the phone. She reached under the bed for it and in her haste to find it, she accidentally clicked one button and then another.
And she inadvertently shared the video of Johnny serenading a comatose Nooshy while in hospital.
"There," Porsha said, grabbing hold of the phone and with almost lightning precision, she deleted the video. "And done-zo."
Thwip.
Porsha, Ash and Meena froze when they heard that familiar electronic sweeping sound, the one associated with a message being sent.
Or a video and/or image being shared.
"Porsha, what did you do?" Ash asked, alarmed and dumbfounded.
"I-I didn't do anything," Porsha sputtered, half panicked and half confused.
"You must've pressed a button when you were feeling for your phone under your bed," Meena exclaimed shakily.
"Check your messages!" Ash said urgently.
Porsha sat on her bed and very anxiously tapped into her phone's message page to see her most recent recipient. Ash and Meena looked over her shoulder to watch.
And this was the name of the unfortunate recipient of the video containing Johnny's serenade:
Nooshy
The mouths of the three girls dropped right open.
"Oh snap," Porsha said.
…..