the animorphs

[instar]

Renée is gone in the morning, a pot of maple oatmeal for the girls and Trouble cooling on the stove and a note on the fridge, she's going to be gone all day on a day trip to Tucson with her friends.

Andi wakes up first. Bella's not far behind.

Comments

[hold_infinity]

Robin leads them to the promised pigeon loft, and introduces them to the promised sweet little old lady, who offers everyone oatmeal cookies and insists that they call her Babs. She is fascinating, if you like pigeons.

[instar]

Bella partakes of cookies and is, in fact, fond of pigeons right at this moment.

She would like to pet some pigeons.

[hold_infinity]

Babs graciously allows the assembled teenagers to pet the pigeons, if they promise to be quiet and gentle and not disturb the birds excessively. Robin shows everyone her favourite, a little darling who looks just like any old pigeon you could find on the street, except - in Robin's opinion - infinitely prettier.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble agrees that that is a magnificently pretty pigeon. He pets her for a little while, which she endures very calmly.

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan does the same.

[instar]

Bella awwws at the pigeon, and pets her, and passes her to Andi.

[pandion]

Andi thinks she's the loveliest pigeon ever. Pet pet pet.

[hold_infinity]

Babs is charmed. So is the pigeon.

Robin sneaks one last cuddle with her before Babs returns her to her pigeony home.

[pandion]

It wouldn't do to flee instantly after having gotten to touch the pigeon. Andi asks more Pigeon Questions.

[hold_infinity]

Babs answers them, with occasional informed interjections by Robin. Together they represent a veritable fountain of pigeon knowledge.

[pandion]

Andi learns so many things about pigeons! She didn't know that there were this many things to know about pigeons.

[instar]

Bella writes down some pigeon information.

[palmofyourhand]

Babs offers them all some more cookies. And tea.

Ethan engages her in conversation about the tea.

[instar]

And eventually:

"These cookies are great, but I think I need something more substantial - like lunch. Who else wants lunch?"

[aeskhyne]

"Sounds good to me," says Trouble. "I know this great place, I bet we can get there from here."

[palmofyourhand]

"You are a neverending fountain of restaurant recommendations," says Ethan. "All right, I'm for it."

[hold_infinity]

"Thanks for everything, Babs!"

Robin gives the old lady a hug, which she returns.

[instar]

Aww.

"So where's lunch?"

[aeskhyne]

"Lunch," says Trouble, "is this way."

He leads them to a tiny decrepit-looking place that serves absolutely delicious food.

[instar]

"How do you find these places?" Bella asks, after inhaling the first half of her sandwich.

[aeskhyne]

"I just kind of wander around looking for them," he laughs. "There's not much to it. You just have to be willing to give 'em a chance."

[instar]

"I approve the results of your search algorithm."

Om nom nom.

[palmofyourhand]

"Me too," says Ethan.

[hold_infinity]

"Me three," says Robin.

[instar]

Lunch, being so delicious, goes pretty quick. And then home.

Bella locks the door, makes sure all the curtains are still in place over all the windows, and says, "All right, who wants to practice being pigeons?"