The invitations had been written in the same waxy colors that donned the tattooed boarder of the room. Bright green, lipstick residue red, Grand Canyon yellow, Sleepy Hollow orange, fluffy purple, and rainy blue. Some colors had been born mulatto as paths crossed into hybrids such as hollow residue fluff and grand green rain. None of the party goers noticed or seemed to mind.
It was sunday and the sun looked in the windows wearing blinders. Noon was the time for the party. Polly Anna paced, picked up and replaced objects in the thoughts of simple and elegance. Everything had to be just right, but with the illusion of comfortable flaw. She stopped dead in her tracks with the first knock on her bed room door.
Mrs. Alligator was the first to arrive dressed in a gown that was bleeding pink. Her curly blonde hair framed her white teeth. She brought her niece Gloria Frog. Polly Anna welcomed them like troops that had been away to war. Polly Anna hosted like a host and pulled the chairs and poured the tea. Gloria was in the midst of a story about her date with a Dragonfly and how her father, a Lily pad farmer, had reacted when the next knock came.
It was Mom. And Mom was asked to stay, but declined saying she would come back to meet the guests after she was done with the laundry.
Mr. Bartholomew Dog was at the door before it was closed. He had in tow Miss Penelope Spider. They were poured into seats and served up conversation. Bartholomew was complemented on his red ribbon bow tie and Miss Penelope was not for her Christmas tree skirt dress. When they both sipped their tea they mimed a disassociation pinky, thou neither had one.
Polly Anna was in love like it was a town south of the Earths crust. She throw phrases like "please continue" and "I hardly knew" like the first pitch in the World Series.
Blinky the Rabbit was the last to arrive. Dressed in his violet jacket he hopped into the room and the last empty chair. Chappy the Cat also came in and within two looks, four steps and a jump was asleep in the sill of the open window.
Polly Anna beamed at the discussion about the length of zippers and the buttons of thoughts by her guests. Even when bothered she did not drop or drip. She had some games already in line and she started with the card game Old Maid. Bartholomew won both hands and was accused of cheating. Polly said she also had all the makings of a scavenger hunt.
Polly Anna had gotten ten of Mom's recipe cards and with her best penmanship she printed ten "The Scavenger Hunt List" cards. She passed them out as Blinky was telling a story about his last Dragon surgery. Polly Anna waited until he was done and then stood to speak of the guide lines. The list card was to taken with them to look for each of the objects and that they would meet back at the table in fifteen minutes.
Polly Anna beamed at the discussion about the length of zippers and the buttons of thoughts by her guests. Even when bothered she did not drop or drip. She had some games already in line and she started with the card game Old Maid. Bartholomew won both hands and was accused of cheating. Polly said she also had all the makings of a scavenger hunt.
The Scavenger Hunt List
Polly Anna watched the digital clock next to here bed and when it flipped to 12:15 she said "Go". Chairs tumbled and feet scrambled.
Mrs. Alligator went to the kitchen. In the fridge and found orange juice which had a sun on the carton. She found in the cupboard Lucky Charms that had rainbow marshmallows. The rest of the time she searched for a can of wind.
Gloria Frog headed for the T.V. She asked Polly Anna to borrow her camera and sat watching from behind the view finder the weather channel. She had clicked off two pictures, one of Florida's five day forecast that had a sun and one a horse because she thought it was pretty. She watched and waited.
Miss Penelope Spider went out side and built a web. She turned on the water hose and sprayed it up making a rainbow. She saw the wind flutter the web and the sun shine through it and hoped she had caught all four. She sat down and tried to think of a kind idea when a fly buzzed, caught in her web.
Mr. Bartholomew Dog went looking and found his tail. Which he chased or chased him for all of the fifteen minutes.
Blinky the Rabbit went over to the art area. He painted a scene of clouds, sun, rainbow, and ocean. He thought this is easy and painted a picture of a dragon and of a lady at the supermarket.
Chappy the Cat never looked at his card.
The time was up and Polly Anna blew her whistle. All the game players filed back in and up to the table. Mrs. Alligator was first to and set her now brown glass on the table. Then she asked where the cans of wind were stored. Mr. Bartholomew blurted out that he fond his tail and everyone smiled the smile of "you dear sweet soul" and looked to Gloria. Miss Frog placed four pictures on the table. The sun, the horse, a used car (I just missed the rainbow she said), and one that was all green, her thumb was in the way. Miss Penelope Spider unrolled her web and was shocked to see all was gone, even the fly, but she knew where that was. Blinky in a grandiose fashion placed his painting on the table. He stood and with a fuzzy finger pointed at each "loser, loser, loser, loser!". He was promptly placed nose first in the corner. "Well who wins then?" asked Mrs. Alligator. We have one more to check said Polly Anna. "Who" said the Dog. "Chappy the Cat" said Polly Anna. They all looked over at the still sleeping cat. The sun was reflecting off it's coat, the wind blew it's fur, it's collar was a rainbow, and it was drooling. Polly Anna walked over and ran her fingers done it's back. "Purrrrrr!" was kindly thought.
Mom came in with milk and cookies and even Blinky was allowed to join.
�2003 Daniel J Harris