What a Merry Bunch (HH)
#74 of Hockey Hunk Season 6
What a Merry Bunch (HH)
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Hello, everyone, and welcome to The Hockey Hunk!
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What a terminally sad story from this friend of Stephens and Hawk-on! I could tell that both of them were shaken up by hearing it, and perhaps this young tiger gentleman was himself unhappy about having to relate it to us. His brave face could hide many things, I wondered. Such a comely muzzle, too. I was not surprised that he would seek the company of fine young men such as the two now sitting on the table with me. So kind of them to welcome me as well.
"That is very kind of you," he addressed me with a thank you for the offer of a free ticket for our Cabaret.
I smiled.
"The least I can do for a friend of two of my stars!" I told him while looking over at the two brave boys sitting with me.
The tiger smiled back. That was promising. Smiles are always nice. It is a very intimate contact between two individuals. It means you are sharing something important.
"You are really awfully kind," he said.
That sounded quizzical. I extended my paw right away. No time like right now to make a good impression!
"Nicholas Faye," I purred, because he deserved it, "I am these boys' teacher, but don't blame me for it!"
I chuckled. I knew it was a terrible joke, but it was quite well serving for its purpose. He did squeeze my paw.
"Paul Lyndon," the tiger said.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lyndon," I told him with great sincerity. "Are you new to the Taylor University?"
"Indeed," he said, "First year."
His manner of speaking teased a possible origin in the Western Pennsylvania area. A little hint of Yiddish influence as well, although that required no detective work after what he said before. Pittsburgh, likely, then. I could almost dare to make the guess. I could slip it out at a suitable moment, perhaps, should we continue to natter on this topic for much longer.
"Splendid!" I clapped my paws together. "Every choice is yours to make! New city, new people, new things to learn..."
"So many things, sir, indeed," he said.
I smiled.
"And it appears that you have already made some fantastic friends!" I declared. "What a pleasant start to a whole new academic year..."
I flicked my ears happily. Youth truly was something to be cherished. And these eager faces, bright with the hunger for ideas and the ability to absorb them so readily and without the fear of the unknown - and even more so, the fear of destabilizing their world as they knew it. The world was scary enough a place in any case, with so many dark things lurking around, at home and elsewhere as well.
I shouldn't have been thinking about that, I reminded myself, and kept on smiling. That made it feel a bit better, safer.
"He's gonna become a doctor," Stephens said.
"Is that really so?" I asked.
How curious! All the looks and the brain in one feline package!
Looking at Hawk-on as well, why should I be surprised at all?
"I'm trying at least," young mister Lyndon said, "Don't know yet how it will turn out."
"You'll be great!" Stephens smiled broadly.
"You appear to have the full support of your friends here," I nodded.
"They are very kind," the tiger said.
"Hope we're not making you run late from your next class," Hawk-on said to mister Lyndon.
He had some lovely smelling tea that he drank from now, the tiger did. It made me want some too.
"Not yet," he said. "And I need the break after work and class and this upcoming one too."
"It does good for the brain!" I commented. "Allowing all the thoughts of today to simmer in the background while you concentrate on some lighter activity. Like having a very nice chat!"
Mister Stephens nodded repeatedly.
"Definitely!" he said. "I guess we all have another class to go to today."
"I guess so," Hawk-on said.
"Kinda glad we don't have rehearsals today," Stephens said .
I chuckled.
"Is this a mutiny?" I proposed with a measure of amused outrage. "Is my main star deserting?"
His ears flicked down with guilt that almost made me laugh aloud.
"Well it's a really busy day, and we have the rehearsals tomorrow, don't we?" he went on the defensive. "I'm not bored of this or anything."
"I'd definitely hate you to feel like that in any measure!" I said. "You've put in so much work over these past few months, and you have also done so much progress..."
"I could've never done it like you did, dude," Hawk-on told him.
Aww. How adorable. It made Stephens feel bashful, I thought.
"I dunno," he spoke, "you're a better dancer than I am."
"And you're a better singer," Hawk-on told the wolf.
The tiger chuckled.
"I didn't know you guys are this artistic," said young Mister Lyndon.
I laughed and winked.
"You don't know the end of it, Lyndon!" I purred.
*
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