+++ +++ +++
Slinky had fit into Cathal's family's hodge-podge of
celebrations with supernatural ease. Admittedly, his parents called Slinky
'Caelan', a name which meant 'slender person' (the best Cathal could do at
short notice), and they didn't know he was a shapeshifter out of ancient lore,
but Cathal knew when to count his blessings and when to cut his losses. Still,
Cathal had no misgivings about bringing
Slinky home for Easter.
That might have been a mistake.
It started fine: Saturday, on the beach -- Slinky up earlier
than Cathal, sunning himself under the bright but freezing early-morning
late-March sky. Cold did not bother Slinky (it didn't bother Cathal, much,
either, but there was a difference between doesn't bother me, much
and I revel in it, peasants. Slinky skated over
such distinctions without ever noticing, but his lover's alien-ness bothered
Cathal even less than the cold.
Cathal found Slinky at the end of the shore without trouble;
there were a few fishermen checking their nets, and Slinky lay on the beach
entirely unselfconscious of curious human eyes.
The hardest part was always the drive. Slinky found human
transport stifling, even when Cathal's family was at the other end. Still, he
manfully swallowed most of irritation during the long trip to Cathal's parents'
place. It didn't always help. Sometimes Slinky got, well, epically car sick. By
the time they got to Chez O'Leary, Slinky was looking more like a leprechaun
than a selkie.
Cathal's mother immediately packed Slinky off to bed, before
dispatching Cathal with a cup of tea and a reproachful look. It didn't last too
long; by the time he was back downstairs, Cathal too had been provided with
tea. Cathal didn't last much longer than supper; the early start and Slinky's
travel sickness had taken something out of both of them. Cathal put himself to
bed beside his lover, ready for it to be Easter Morning already.
The next morning, Cathal found Slinky out under his parent's
oak tree. Slinky had fortunately recovered much of his color, and Cathal was
only too happy to canoodle with him until his parents got back from Mass and
the celebrations could properly begin. Slinky, however, having diligently
absorbed Catholic Christmas traditions, had apparently turning up with gifts
for everybody. An amber necklace for Cathal's mother. A driftwood sculpture for
Cathal's father. A fountain pen for Cathal, accompanied by a parchment-heavy
envelop marked only "sealed with a kiss" that Cathal dared not open
in company. But Cathal's parents only
smiled indulgently, and passed around the chocolate Easter eggs, and a hammer,
and it was Slinky's turn to be confused.
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