Book Club Weekend (Open)

With her hands on her hips, Happy surveyed the layout she had put in the sitting room. There were trays of finger foods; deli meats and cheeses, chips, fruits, cookies, and cream puffs. Two large pitchers, one of homemade lemonade and the other Southern style sweet tea, besides the little paper plates, cups, and napkins. The couch pillows had been fluffed and the room spot checked after the guests had had their breakfasts. Happy had always been in a book club but she never had hosted one before and was, surprisingly nervous.

The plan was to have something fun and available for the townspeople and the teens that visited the village on weekends. She had posted notices in the town hall, the square, and even the bulletin board up at the Academy. Now all she could do was wait. Even if only one person showed up, Happy would consider it a success.

She adjusted her glasses needlessly on her snub nose and helped herself to lemonade. A honeymooning couple skipped by on their way to the door. Happy smiled and waved back. They were the only guests this week, besides the foreboding mainlander with the hangdog expression. He had been at the B&B for months now and rarely ate the breakfasts Happy worked so hard on. Sometimes he'd check out for a day or two but always came back and requested the same room.

Happy had grown slightly suspicious of him but didn't look too closely. Curious though she was, something about the man told her to not be involved. Deny ability could be useful.

Happy pulled her over large cardigan closer around her bosom and stepped outside. The day was pleasantly clear and inviting. Hopefully the book club would turn out just as nice.

To say that Cathal wasn’t big on reading was an understatement. He had little use for such things and besides he hardly had the budget to going around wasting his money on such luxury items. The notion of a book club itself wasn’t what caught his attention, what did was the offer of free food. So rare were there free events around the Port that could make such an offer, whether or not he had to become a committed member in the group didn’t matter. He could sell whatever book they hand him later as an added bonus.

The homeless looking man entered the bed and breakfast, his shaggy flannel jacket being the warmest clothing he had in his attire. He wore a neutral sort of face since he was unsure which guise he’d prefer during the day and decided he’d make the decision as soon as some poor smock attempted to pity him. Not saying he didn’t welcome it, he’d love nothing more than to run some guy’s wallet dry with one of his dramatic sob stories. He wandered for a moment or two before he spotted the ultimate goal of the day, though made subtle movements toward the food tray so as to not put too much attention to himself.

Cathal quickly pocketed a couple of cookies and crackers for later as his other hand grabbed a handful of grapes. He pinched them off one by one and ate slowly despite his stomach’s craving, again he didn’t want to attract too much attention to himself just yet. Cathal was waiting for the right opportunity.

People stared. Some of them tried not to; but people were staring. Skutzelfritz tried very hard to ignore the stares. She internally reminded herself that these were new people not yet used to seeing her or those like her. She would give them time to adjust before the gawking would become a punishable offense. The small figure of the pink haired gnome maiden in a black victorian style bustle skirt riding sidesaddle on a particularly large Saint Bernard, as if it were some form of pony, was not a sight anyone was really used to.

Skutzelfritz had her hair done up in the twin spirals that resembled curving horns and her goggles had been lowered down over her eyes during the ride. Gigi may have made her stand out more, but it was nice to have at least one familiar companion, and it was the only way for someone with small legs like her to get as far as humans in a day.

Skutzelfritz had seen the flyer up on the bulletin board at the school. A book club had sounded like the perfect place for her to begin to meet people in this town. Also a book club sounded like the kind of sophisticated ladylike thing she allow herself to be seen doing. Who knows she might even enjoy it, especially if it let her show how smart she was. She could enjoy meeting other ladies, and who knows she might even make some important acquaintances.

She steered Gigi's reigns following the directions on the piece of paper in her hand and soon the bed and breakfast came into view. As the large dog drew near the building, its rider noticed the woman standing outside. "Heel Gigi." Skutzelfritz said softly and the dog came to a gentle stop. "Down girl." She commanded further and the big canine lowered itself to the ground allowing Skutzelfritz to daintily slide off as she did so. "Come girl." and the dog followed behind her being lead by its studded leather leash happy to follow its diminutive master.

Skutzelfritz made sure to brush off her dress before walking towards he bespectacled woman she noticed standing outside. She lifted her goggles off her eyes to rest on her forehead, and under one arm had a large bag tucked securely.

"Pardon me, miss, is this where the book club is? I do hope I am not late. I hope you don't mind Gigi, she is my service dog; but she can wait outside if you would prefer. That is, if I am in the right place." she laughed a little nervously and smiled up at the woman. She had practiced her nervous laugh for many years and was quite proud of it as far as an acting accomplishment. She smiled her sweetest smile and waited for a response.

Happy had not heard Cathal come in. She had been too busy fluffing the pillows on the couch and her hearing was not what it had been. So, with her back turned to the table, she continued straightening the furniture unawares. She hummed tunelessly. Finally satisfied with the cushions, Happy slowly righted her back. A small twinge aggravated the area near her hip and she placed a hand on it. A cookie would make her feel better. “Oh my goodness me!” She shouted. Happy stumbled backward and thumped onto the couch. “Wel-welcome....Oh my heart's going about that fast!” Two of her stubby fingers plucked at her blouse as if fanning herself would prevent a heart attack. “Are you here for the book club?” Slowly, Happy stood. If the man was homeless, and he certainly looked it, she would not turn him away. Still, if that were the case, she would be more than disappointed that he wasn't here to help form the group.

Just as she was thinking that maybe she could somehow convince the homeless man to join the group, a dwarf came riding in on a Saint Bernard. Well, perhaps dwarf was the wrong word. She was smaller than most little people. She was a very pretty-tiny-thing and Happy wondered how often this girl had changed her hair colour. She had a young cousin that changed his hair once a month and always the most extravagant colours. “Oh of course not!” and without asking, Happy leaned forward and cupped the dog's drooling jaw. She made kissing noises and rubbed her nose against its. “What a splendid animal, the Saint Bernard! Can I give her a bickie?” Happy asked the small girl and she tottered over to the table to get a vanilla wafer. Perhaps this wasn't going to be as bad as she had started to dread.

Cathal had to double take for a moment when the pint-sized girl entered with a dog almost equally her size. He thought for a moment that he was having a fever dream, the girl seemed so out of place with her environment that he didn’t believe she was real for a good while. He supposed he was going to have to adjust to life on this island if things like her were normally strolling around the streets.

His obsessive thoughts over the matter were quickly subdued from the sudden reaction of the elderly lady. Apparently his appearance spooked her, but given that his exterior was not the most friendly he wasn’t surprised by it. It’s not like he didn’t get those types of reactions often. He finished off his grapes and left the vines in the fruit tray since he didn’t see any immediate garbage cans. He grew a grin, though hid his teeth behind his lips since they weren’t too pleasant. “Much obliged ma’am” Cathal spoke smoothly and politely. “Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t” he answered shortly after. Regardless of how he actually felt about book clubs, it was a good place to get introduced into a community and learn of who has the bigger pockets.

He continued a fancy smirk as he wandered over to the nearest couch as he subtly observed the dwarf from a distance. He made note of her attire and how she looked to be relatively well off. Added to how old she appeared to be (which was quite difficult for Cathal to determine considering how small she was yet how she hardly looked the age of an average person her size) she might be an easy one to spill their pockets. Though her attitude had yet to be determined so he wasn’t going to try anything just yet.