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 Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:08 pm
Kari didn't know what force of will Evie possessed to contain herself as such. She'd never seen the girl this quiet by choice. She glanced over her shoulder at Whitman, beaming a genuine smile of thanks in the man's direction.
Nodding in understanding, Evie tilted her head from one side to the other, trying to figure out a safe place to pet the owl without mussing the poor bird's feathers. "Ummm... wh're c'n I pet her? Please?" she asked, trying to sound as polite as she could whilst she stared wide-eyed at the beautiful bird. Ohhh, how she wanted one of these!
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:18 pm
"On her wings, dear." Minnie grinned, suprised at how well Snowflake was behaving. But then again, it was only one quiet child. Her gaze flicked between the owl and Evie.
Whitman smiled back at Kari, a little irked by the fact he'd have to go get ready for the show soon. "Minnie, can you walk them back to the tent entrance just before the show...I have to go get ready?"
"Sure thing, Whitman." She chuckled and made a shooing motion toward him with her hand. They would be just fine with her, but she knew Whitman must be fond of them both because there was a genuine quality to his smiles that she hadn't seen in a long time.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:27 pm
Kari heard the unhappiness at Whitman's voice, and she flashed him another smile, fangs included "Thank you. If you're not busy...." Oh, gods. No. Don't sound too eager, Kari! "... maybe we can talk to you afterward." Oops. That didn't come out right. She cringed a bit at her own ineptitude. She was terrible at this sort of thing.
Evie, so entranced by the pretty owl, didn't seem to notice much else. "Okay..." She simply lifted her free hand--very slowly, despite her eagerness--and gently stroked the back of her chubby fingers against the owl's wing. Her awestruck expression turned to a massive grin. "Puuuuuurdy birdy..."
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:43 pm
"Yes, I'll see you after." Whitman made a quite polite showman's bow before walking off, shaking his head over Minnie. She was so riddiculous sometimes. He wrang his hands lightly as he made his way back to the trailer to change.
"That she is and she knows it too." Minnie giggled, letting Evie pet Snowflake for a bit longer before checking the time. "Oh, it's almost time for the show to start...best to put Snowflake back in the cage for now and get you two to the tent."
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:50 pm
Kari watched Whitman go, catching herself in the act and quickly turning her attention right back to Evie, Minnie, and Snowflake. They'd see him after the show, which she was sure Evie would like. She didn't realize how late it was getting until Minnie mentioned the time. She cursed her own forgetfulness then. How could she have forgotten her watch?!
Evie nodded a bit reluctantly but pulled her hand away. "Ooookay. Byyyye, Ssnowflake!" the toddler said, still grinning broadly. "Thaaaaankyooou!" she added to Minnie, her bright expression only slightly faded, especially now that the concept of 'show' passed across her mind.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:59 pm
Minnie went to return Snowflake to the bird enclosure and once that done she closed it's door and redid the lock before stripping off her leather glove and set it on top of the cage. "Well, best be off then." She nodded. "Your welcome, Evie."
She started walking then turned and looked back toward them. "Come this way, it's a little faster than walking all the way back through the carnival."
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:14 pm
"Thank you very much. I know this made her week." And this is all she'll talk about for days. Kari added the last thought for her own ears only as she took the little toddler's hand and followed after Minnie. She still wasn't getting the little girl an owl as a pet, but at least Evie had had a taste of what one was like. "A faster walk is good by me. Less crowds."
Evie, still in gleeful awe, was unusually quiet, simply giggling as she toddled along beside her mother. She occasionally flared out her wings for balance and then settled them in arcs against her back again, the energy she had contained beginning to bubble over as she commenced with skipping.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:20 pm
Minnie fell into pace with them was they caught up and her attention drifted to Kari. "Whitman must really like you..." She smiled. "...I haven't seen him this happy in a long time." Her hands went behind her back as they walked, weaving this way and that between the cages.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:32 pm
Kari was mildly surprised by the admission from Minnie. She flushed a bit, cursing herself for being easily flustered by these things. "Err... well, I'm glad he's happy." She tactfully left out a few of their less friendly encounters. "I think he's really taken with Evie, though. I know she worships the ground he walks on." That was, perhaps, putting it mildly.
Evie, meanwhile, was now full-out skipping beside Evie, taking several strides for Kari's every one. At the mention of Whitman's name, her overloaded brain finally registered his absence, and she gave a confused meep. "Whi'm'n?!"
"We'll see him after the show, Evie," Kari said quickly, glad for the brief distraction.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:50 pm
"And during the show too." Minnie nodded, smiling down at Evie. "And Kari, he'll probably ask you out after the show, so don't be suprised." She glanced over at Kari. "He's really a sweet boy, just don't judge him too harshly."
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:56 pm
Evie seemed momentarily appeased by this, albeit saddened that her 'friend' was no longer within immediate playing or snuggling vicinity. She sighed and then continued on her skipping, clinging tightly to Kari's hand.
Now thoroughly uncomfortable with the situation, Kari managed a strained smile. "I know. I know he's a good person. And he's already asked me out. Several times." She sighed, flicking her tail back and forth in agitation. "I just... this 'relationship' concept is a foreign one to me."
Sensing this was an adult conversation, Evie wisely kept her mouth shut.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:26 pm
"Mm..well that's certainly different behavior for him." Minnie chuckled. "Did he bring you flowers yet?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:35 pm
Kari turned her yellow eyes skyward as if seeking patience. "Yes." She didn't mention what a disaster that was. "He's been learning since then. It's just... a challenge. I'm not used to someone not being bothered by the way we are."
Evie, oblivious, simply ogled at everything as they walked by.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:43 pm
"Circus folk are used to things that are different, is all. We have a different point of view than most." Minnie nodded. "Just don't think on it too much, at least maybe give him a chance before you brush him off?"
She stopped at the edge of the cages. "Here we are...the secondary entrance." It was only used when they were really busy. "Just follow the path and it'll lead out to the bleachers."
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:55 pm
Brushing him off had not occurred to her in quite awhile, not at all recently. Kari was surprised that Minnie mentioned it but nodded, regardless. "I'll do my best. So long as he doesn't try the flowers again." She smiled a bit self-consciously. What a learning experience this was. "Thank you, Minnie."
Evie seemed to realize that they were on approach to the show itself and immediately started to dance in place, still clinging tightly to her mother's arm. "Showshowshow?" she asked eagerly, looking ready to charge down the path on all her own.
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