affame_le_geant_bad_news fyn gula a blur of fur rushed by saumboo and when it stopped for a brief moment, only long enough to give him the finger, he saw, as he figured, that it was meeterskeeter. seconds later, the jack pack, toenails tapping rapidly along the wooden floors like a 192o's typewriter being used by a mystery novelist, were on his tail in hot pursuit. crispy gave saumboo what amounted to as the equivalent of a thumb's up. eyes that said, "weez goin' to geet our man!!" saumboo was relieved. the anger that he felt a little while ago had basically melted, except for the new tweak from meeterskeeter's profane gesture. in its place he welcomed compassion for potentilla's family and wore it on his face, one of several masks we all wear from time to time when we don't know how to just be ourselves. saumboo retrieved potentilla's phone number and pressed the auto dial. he thought calling first was appropiate and an act of proper etiquette. as king mal's personal assistant, protocol was a way of life. and when bearing bad news he found mentioning it via phone lines and not in person provided a buffer much the way one will chase a shot of courvoisier with a hearty swallow of bass ale. potentilla's mother picked up on the third ring. "hello," she said. there was frantic urgency in her voice. "good morning, mrs. ballofgrass," saumboo said. "this is saumboo, are you okay?" "oh, saumboo, thank God!" she said, and she breathed a great sigh of relief. although saumboo could barely hear it because mice breath just doesn't make much noise. "i was so worried something happened to potentilla. i told her not to go, i told her that freaking cat can't be trusted. is she alright, honey? can i talk to her? oh, she had nothing to wear! she was so excited to sing for the king, but had no time even to take a bath, she didn't even..." "um, mrs. ballofgrass," saumboo interrupted. he had to. she was bordering on the edge of lunacy. "the reason i'm calling is...um...i have bad news about potentilla." "oh my great God!" she shouted. "oh lord of cheese and neglected crumbs. she's alright! i know my little baby girl is okay! i know she's..." "i'm coming over," saumboo said, and when he flipped the hinged door of his cell phone, mrs. ballofgrass was still shouting. 011130 what's it to you? who go blather from