Crystal

[sprent]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Gela Baynrac
RECIPIENT: Absolutely everybody.
NOTES: Now for something completely different

(Just to switch things over and away from all these (albeit, important) thoughts of death—)

What is something lovely that has happened to you lately?

Or at least something very interesting?

Comments

[sprent]

Well, I've got a new pet. A duck. She's so cute!

[aberratic]

Oh my goodness, a duck! What's her name? Is she full grown? Does she fly? Can I meet her?

[sprent]

(This is the exact level of enthusiasm Gela has been looking for.) Her name is Thimble. Yes, she is full grown. And she doesn't fly at the moment, because she is recovering from injury, but yes, you may meet her.

[aberratic]

[ with great joy: ] This is the second loveliest thing to happen to me all month.

[sprent]

(Oh, Gela's beaming on the other end of this conversation.)

Please, feel free to come by my office any time. She is quite friendly!

[aberratic]

You'll never be rid of me, I promise. Does she have any favorite treats? I'm not above bribery.

[sprent]

I'm not sure about favourites, because I haven't had her long, but I've had great success with banana and peas.

[aberratic]

Well, we'll have to experiment, then! Perhaps we ought ask the veterinarian first, though, what would be a treat and what we ought not give her. I'd hate to think I'm spoiling her and instead find I've been doing harm!

[ abruptly realizing how that might sound, if gela didn't ask about the bananas and peas first — ] But I can't imagine that bananas and peas would be an issue, surely!

[sprent]

No, not for birds, I think. (No harm done!) I had birds growing up, so I'm lucky to already know what they can and can't have. Bread is not often right for them, did you know?

[aberratic]

Oh, really? Whyever not, you see people throwing bread crusts and such to their ducks and geese all the time!

[sprent]

I was told that it does very little for them, but takes up a lot of room in their stomach.

[aberratic]

I had no idea! Well, I'm glad you told me, so I didn't make the mistake of bringing poor Thimble any bread, I would have felt so bad!