Paperwork

Story by assilsasta on SoFurry

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(June 9, 18:00) They had spent the past six hours at the Busch Gardens theme

park, exploring every inch of the living attraction, yet never stepping foot to

the rides. Lilliana realized then that the meek little mouse was not a thrill

seeker, but a nature lover. She sat and watched the tiny mouse sleep peacefully

on one of the two kings sized beds, while she printed off the content of her

virtual fax inbox. Hearing the alert

from her laptop Lilly looked back at the travel printer, It was out of paper

again. [i]How did Susan get all this so quickly? This is a lot more than she

made it out to be. That chinchilla is a miracle worker.[/i] Dropping more paper

into the feeder she removed the small

stack and started the thumb through it. She pulled the six page form out and

set it aside for later. Looking at the top of the first page: September 6, 1997: Baby Doe, anonymous turn over to state.

Approximately two weeks old. Healthy kangaroo mouse. six pounds eight ounces.... Flipping through the small file. [i]Susan could get in so

much trouble for this. I hate to see what she wants in return.[/i] She counted

through the individual case sets. [i]What this fuck? This can't be right.[/i]

Slipping her earpiece in she pressed the

button on the side and aside "Call Susan on cell." waiting for the chinchilla to pick up, she continued to jump

around reading in the file. "Hey there Susan, its me again... Yah, that's what I

am calling about... First, how did you get this stuff on a Sunday... Ok, ok, I won't

ask. The less I know the better... sure I can shred it later. There is a lot to

read here... Are you sure this is all her's?... Nine homes if fourteen years?...

Yeah, I see that... How the fuck do these guys slip through the cracks?... I

don't give a shit if its unsubstantiated... The fucker went to jail five times

during the investigation... And this here, FAMILY RELOCATED... who the fuck cares,

take the girl with you... That looked like the best place she was... From there it

looks like a spiking record... Returned special needs... returned problem child... May need counseling... No Shit

she needs help... No, she's passed out... the little guy was

overwhelmed with Busch gardens... I have never seen a kid take so many

pictures... I think this was the first time she really smiled in years... Wait a

sec, what's this stuff here at the end?... yeah the pictures... Someone took the

time to file these?... So what's this going to cost me?... Don't pull that

shit... I don't care, I'm not doing that... yeah laugh it up, still not happening...

What do you mean getting late? Its only 9:00 out there... Ok, I need to make

another call anyway... I am going to fill it out in a few... first thing in the

morning, have to get a notary... You take care of yourself... I think three weeks

from now... TTFN" She set the file aside pulling a pen from her bag, she slid

the forms in front of her, then pressed the button on the earpiece again, "Call

General on cell." Starting to fill out the forms. "Wow, someone taught you to

use caller ID?... It's about that letter of recommendation you offered... not

quite, I am looking for a character reference for an adoption... Fuck you old

man... If you saw what I was looking at, you would reconsider your jokes... She's a

runaway... ward of the state... Yeah that about covers it... I have my ways of getting things... Kiss my

ass, when did she call you?... I still got everyone's number... once a month like

we promised... Back to what i wanted... Asshat, if you already drafted it up why

did you make me ask for it?... Ha Ha, you got the bitch to beg... Yeah, I will...

Hold on a sec" Lilly picked up the phone and snapped a picture of Cecily

sleeping, and then fumbled through sending it as a text message. "You need to

get with the times old man, texting photos is old hat... Skype, live video... Yeah

she is a cutey... growing on me like a

fungus... I asked myself the same thing... Shit, I don't know. We'll figure that

out when we get to it... Thanks, I owe you one... the answer is still 'fuck no'...

Call you on the first... yeah we do need to do a get together... Get Susan to set

it up, she was always good at that shit... Ok, go eat, I will be here... Bourbon

Alley?... Yea it's on my list... sometime next week... no I don't have a date set,

I'll get there when I get there... How many?... OK, the usual drop box?... I got

you covered, are we square then? I might need another letter for a job... I don't

care what the others say, you're great in my book... have a good one, and thanks

again." Leaning back in her chair with a sigh, "The paperwork is

always the hardest part for me. And you're talking to yourself again Lilly. As

long as I don't answer I'm not crazy. Well you just answered nut job." Laughing

to herself, she went back to filling out the forms. --- (June 10, 06:00) Lilliana woke to the sound of running water. Slightly

disoriented she reached for the wall at the side of the bed. When her hand

closed around nothing, she jumped up with a start. Landing on her feet eyes

wide, she scanned the room. She put a

shaky hand to her head, "You're not in the dust bowl, that was six years ago.

Get a grip Lilly." She looked around the room trying to pull herself back into

the present. Hotel letterhead and loose printer paper was spread across the

floor. She picked them up to find on each a rough sketch of flowers or animals,

all scratched out with the complementary ballpoint pen. She sat with her back

to the bed and slowly went through the pages, amazed at the talent

displayed. Lilly was so enthralled that

she did not hear the shower cut off. As she walked into the room with a towel wrapped around her,

Cecily let out a soft 'eep' when she saw Lilly on the floor with the papers.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you up with the TV." After jumping with a bit of surprise for the added presence,

Lilly looked at her, "Sorry for what, having talent? I couldn't draw a stick

figure if my life depended on it." she patted the floor beside her, "Com'ere. I

am clueless here, tell me what they are." "Just stuff we saw at Busch Gardens" she said as she

fidgeted with her tail. "You read all the plaques; I was just there for the nature

walk." She thought for a moment while Cecily slowly came over and sat a foot or

so away for her, "You like this stuff? Drawing I mean. You're pretty good at

it." "It's ok I guess." "'OK' my ass. When did you wake up?" "About an hour ago." Cecily

responded quietly. "You did this stuff in an hour? You'd be a fuckin' Rembrandt

if you took your time." Lilly said slapping the papers with the back of her

hand. "You should have told me you like doing this shit. You'll need something

to fill the time on the road. I was going to stop by a bookstore this morning;

we have a full day's drive to Orlando.

We got about three days' worth of stuff to do down there before we head

off to the Bourbon Alley in Tennessee." Lilly reached her arm around Cecily and

pulled her close, "Look here Squeaky, we have some long days of driving ahead

of us. After breakfast and FedEx, let's hit up the book store and stock up on

reading mats and a sketchbook or three." Looking up at her Cecily, asked, "FedEx?" "I got to send off these custody forms and get the ball

rolling on the adoption. Susan will kick my ass if I don't overnight them

today. For now, I need a shower and you get dressed." Lilly stood up and made

her way to the bathroom, "So what's going to be for breakfast today, Sisy?" Speaking up uncharacteristically, loud enough to be heard in

the bathroom, Cecily asked, "Why do you keep calling me Sisy?" "Well, slut, heffer, and asshat didn't seem to fit, so take

it or leave it, Squeakers." Lilly said

from the other side of the door. Sitting in silence on the floor listening to the liger

humming as she showered, Cecily held the bundle of loose sketches in her hand.

[i]Is she really going through with this?[/i] She felt a tear forming on her

cheek. [i]Don't do it, Cecily. Don't get sucked in. She will give you back like

everyone else. it's only a matter of time.[/i] She tossed the papers across the

floor and buried her face in her hands. [i]It's only a matter of time. She kept telling herself.[/i] The sudden

silence from the shower being cut off sent Cecily into a frenzy of gathering

the paper. [i]No.No.No. don't let her see. Don't show weakness. That is what

always ruins things. Be strong, just deal with it.[/i] Having shoved the papers

into the trash she ran to her duffle to get dressed in a fresh set of cloths. Lilly came out of the bathroom, towel over her shoulder, "So

you come up with breakfast ideas yet, or am I going to have to do it again?" As

she passed the trash can she stopped and pulled the drawings back out, "What

the fuck, Sisy? I wanted to keep these. I now have art to display on the

fridge." looking over at the small mouse Lilly saw a look of panic in her eyes,

the same look when she bolted the day before. "Fuck, I screwed up again." she

said as she slapped her hand to her forehead. "I am sorry, Cecily. Don't listen

to me, half the time I speak before I think." dropping into the chair nude,

"Hell, I never think before I speak. You know what? I was told by an old friend

that I was missing the filter between my brain and my mouth that tells me 'you

shouldn't say that'. That has gotten me into so much trouble it's not funny.

Here let me try this again." pausing a moment she put on the fakest grin she

could manage, "Hey there Cecily. Why don't we keep these as a reminder of our trip

to Busch Gardens? They are so much cooler than photos." dropping the smile,

"How was that?" Cecily just stood there recovering from a state of panicked

silence, looking wide eyed at the liger for a long moment. Then she looked down

at the floor once she was able to collect herself. "You're nude?" she managed

to squeak out. Looking down at herself then back at the mouse, "So are you

under that towel. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Or is that just me being

insensitive again? Personally, I think you should flaunt it if you got it. On the topic of our hot bodies, what you want

for eats? We got about two hours before FedEx opens, and I think the B&N

here is 24 hours." pulling her duffle into her lap, Lilly said, "Put some rags

on that hot bod so we can strut our stuff at the bookshop." --- (09:00) Standing in line at the FedEx store, Lilliana gave the forms

one last check. Checking addon items, lease still good for two months, even if

she was not planning on staying there and the apartment was empty. Expedited

background check request, that one might need another phone call. [i]Damn, I am

burning through favors on this one. We are going to need to get to Oregon

faster than originally planned. Bureaucratic bullshit. In person interview. At

least we will still have the cruise.[/i] She moved up to the counter, "I need

this signature notarized and this

overnighted." "Just one moment, ma'am, let me get the public notary" the

young fox behind the counter told her as she went to the back of the store.

Lilly Looked out the window to the Camaro where Cecily waited.[i] I really hope

this temporary custody shit goes through, she needs this.[/i] Cecily sat in the passenger seat of the red '73 Camaro,

B&N bag clutched tightly to her chest. [i]This is never going to work.

Stuff like this never really works.[/i] Sitting there she looked over at the

driver seat. Standing she looked into the store windows, Lilliana was at the

counter. Climbing over to the driver seat she sat and looked between the space

in the steering wheel and the dash, her feet got nowhere near the pedals. Whit

her height she would never be able to drive. Sitting on the edge of the seat

she put one hand on the wheel and the other on the shifter, like she had seen

Lilly do so many time now. "So how does it feel?"

Cecily screamed from the unexpected Lilliana standing outside the car. "I'm sorry, I..." Liliana interrupted her "Sorry for what? You keep saying

that for no good reason. Your a fifteen year old girl sitting in the sexiest

hunk of steel in this parking lot. I would be right where you are if it were

me." Leaning in the window. "Looks Like we will need to do something about the

height. These things are not made for some people. We can fix this, I am sure.

No girl should ever be stuck depending on a guy for a ride. Slide over

Squeaky." She said, opening the door to sit down. "We have a decision to make

here. Susan is awesome, and I trust she has already formed some sort of plan to

expedite the temporary custody process." Looking over at Cecily now back in the

passenger seat. "and from the sounds of what she was saying last night, we just

want to keep quiet about it and go with the flow. I don't ever question the girl." cranking the

car, "The choice we have to make right now is head out to Portland now, with a

quick stop at the JD distillery for a package. Or just hope for the best and

keep going with the zigzag to places I

want to see." Looking over at Cecily again, "I don't know about you, but I

don't want to leave anything to chance here." Looking back over at Lilly, "But what about your vacation? All

the things you have planned?" "Shit, you haven't figured it out yet? I don't really have a

plan here. The plan was really to waste a month goofing off before taking the

cruise. Now I found something..." Looking down at the mouse, "More like someone

that needs my time and attention. And that is more important to me than goofing

off; we can do that any time." "Why are you doing this?" Cecily asked "You're giving up a

vacation for a runaway you don't even really know." "When I look at you I don't see a runaway. I see a young

girl who has been through more than anyone your age should have been. I have

more than I need, and no one to share it with.

I want you to come along for this ride of life. And I think my friends

are going to bend a few rules to get us there. People are prepared to give up a

lot here to make this all happen, just because I ask. Together we got a

snowball started rolling down hill, and it has just gotten too big for us to

stop now." Lilliana said pulling out the receipt for the FedEx Overnight

package. "You're crazy. You make it sound like people are going to

break the law here. And for me." "Not break the law, I hope. Just push things a bit faster

than normal. If I need to I still know a few more people that can grease the

gears. We just need to get past this custody thing, then it should all be

downhill from there." "What about the Home study and stuff? I hear that can take

years." "That is after the temporary custody or Protective custody

if you will. All you need to worry about is being you, and having fun. I will

worry about the rest of the stuff. OK, Sisy. If it all falls apart, I have

another idea. But we will worry about that when we have to." "This sounds bad. You're putting yourself out." Cecily said

getting quieter with each word. "Now you sound like General Helfgrad, 'When will you take

things seriously SGT. Fargo?' Lighten

up girl, we have a long adventure ahead of us here. If we worry about the small

stuff like being put out for a short time, or failing at what we try to do, we

might as well do nothing. And that sounds like no life at all." "You're crazy Lilly." Cecily said as she bucked her seat

belt. "And you're intrigued. Lets see where this little slice of

life takes us. To Tennessee and the Bourbon distilleries." Lilliana cheered,

shifting the Camaro into gear and letting it roll. --- (09:00 Portland, Or - County Courthouse) Susan Shelby, A plump chinchilla, sat in her office, phone

in hand. "You owe me this after last year's Christmas party... Don't make me to

it Jeff... You know I will... Come on now; give me more credit than that. You think

I got this far playing by the rules... You got it... how long will it take?...

Good... See you tonight." dropping the receiver back into its cradle Susan thinks

to herself, [i]I hope that little mouse of yours is worth all this.[/i]