When we left off yesterday, the two lovely big brown Otters at the
Worcester Ecotarium were telling Ping and Puma that *yes*, actually,
there was something their two little Ferret relatives could do for
them, as long as they had transportation...which of course, they did.
 
"Well, Dudes, we can give ya a ride," said Ping, "buy how are you going
to get out of your pool?"
 
"Oh, that!," snickered the first.  "We can jump out any time," said the
second, we just don't let the hoomin staff see." With that he squatted
back on his haunches, and gave a MIGHTY LEAP straight up, and over the
tiled wall of the pool.  Water splashed everywhere!  Ping and Puma both
jumped down to the ground on the far side of the wall, the rough stone
side that they had climbed up, then they RAN, which was a really good
idea because just then the first came bounding up out of the pool, and
up and over the wall in a sheet of flying pool water!  Gallons of it!
Ping and Puma were drenched, and they had nothing to dry themselves on
except the bare concrete sidewalk, which they rolled on energetically
until they were marginally dryer, while the Otters half laughed
themselves sick watching!
 
"Oh!  Oh!  Please stop Little Ones!  My sides hurt!," laughed the first.
"Too delightful!" rumbled the second.
 
Puma, damp and embarrased, said to the giants "Come with us.  You can
ride in the bucket." And so they did.  In short order, the Otters climbed
into the bucket, and Ping and Puma climbed back up into the 1020's seat.
France was duly introduced, and affected not to be impressed by the sight
of "Two wet gian' ferretsssss." The ignition key was turned, and the
tractor roarded back into life.  "DELIGHTFUL!," yelled the first!  "YES,
DELIGHTFUL!," yelled the second.
 
Ping yelled "LET'S GO UP, THEN WE CAN HEAR BETTER!" With a meaningful
look at Puma, who lifted her lip in a snarl and showed a little fang in
response, Ping *gently* lifted the heavy iron bucket bearing the Otters,
and slotted the gearshift into 'U' for "UP".  And up they went, very
slowly.  Once they were about twenty feet up, it was clear to see that
the concrete was actually cracked where Puma had accidently dropped the
bucket upon their landing.  She sighed deeply, and reached inside for
Master Ho's Mantra.  Ping would never let her forget this.  Ditto that
Hedgehog.
 
Finally, Ping shifted into a forward gear, and they were flying.  "You
wanna steer?," he said to Puma.  She just shook her head, she was still
sulking over having destroyed the sidewalk.  "Whatever, Dude," said Ping.
 
Puma had had enough.  She reached over and quick like a striking snake,
bit Ping in the softest part of his thigh.  He howled!  Everyone, France,
the Otters, turned to look.  Puma settled back demurely into the seat and
said with a fanged smile, "Don't call me Dude." Everyone was quiet for a
little while after that.
 
Finally Ping, who had one hand on the steering wheel, and was massaging
his thigh with the other while NEVER taking his eyes off of Puma, said
"Where do you guys need to go?"
 
"Oh, not far, not far," said the first.  "A little more to the left, and
land in that parking lot if you please."
 
So they did.  They landed very, very gently in the Drive-Thru Lane, and
slowly rolled up to the colorfully lit menu panel, and the little metal
grate where you yell your order.  That's where Ping turned the tractor's
ignition key to "off", so that they could be heard.  A crackling noise
came from the little metal grate, and a young man's voice said "Welcome
to Dunkin' Donuts can I have your order?"
 
(End Part Five)
Alexandra in MA
[Posted in FML issue 4948]