Poe sat up for only a second, relized what was going on, and then slumped back down. "Just shut-up and go back to sleep you ass." as he rolled back over immediatly back asleep.
Looking up I sit on the bed. Turning on the over head light I pull out my book (A guide to better sharp shooting). After reading for about an hour I put the book down and look out the side window.
Looking around I fall back into the bed and fall into sleep.
It wasn't until the birds began their wonderful little chirping outside his window that he deemed it a suitable time to get up.
The first night in his trailer had been something of a horror. Tossing and turning all night, finding the millions of lumps in his mattress, each of them preparing their attack on his spine, just as slumber attempted to take its effect.
In the end, he decided it better to just lay on his bed, eyes wide as saucers, and watch as morning took its hold against the world. Since three thirty in the morning, he stared out of his glassed portal, in tuned with the amusement park nature that surrounded him. From time to time he would spot movement, either a wolf off to examine some faint smell, or a security guard patrolling another section of the park.
The sun came soon after, it rose away from where he lay, unmoving, in tune with anything and everything that caused movement. He commited the southern side of the park to memory, knowing where each and every ride stood, where all of the trailers lined up, how many trucks... and after the sun's light took hold, what colors they were.
By the time the birds started singing, he felt himself able to "wake" up and bring in the new morning. He made a whole pot of coffee, knowing he would drown it just as fast as it would drip. Turning on his labtop, he settled into checking a few emails.
Oh, his parents had wondered about his first day. He replied, telling them things were fine here, and he couldn't be happier...
Not even if he tried.
The coffee was a godsent, and took away some of the strain that he underwent in his first night of hell. He would have to go to town again, and try to get something for his back. Maybe one of those inflatable mattresses, or a portable waterbed.
Stranger things have been made...
He dressed in his new clothes, breaking in everything from new jeans, new socks, a new black t-shirt that blamed society for the voices in his head (a touch that he particularly liked in creating this carnie character) and new shoes, that wouldn't be so new as soon as he stepped out into the morning mud littering the outside of his trailer.
The mice were still in his truck. When he came back last night, no one around could tell him where the field mice were to go, so he relented to let them stay in the truck, inside their cages. He got them plenty of food and water, which didn't surprise him that they were all gone by the time he got out there to check.
With a cup of coffee in his hand, warm mist rising off of it in the still cool morning, he relented to pull open the bag of mice pellets the store owner had so gracious given to him, and feed the little ones.
It was his surprise that a hundred mice didn't take up much room at all. It barely fit the back of his pickup truck. The scratched and rusted bed held seven cages, each abundant with life, as multi colored balls of fire ran from one end of the wire mesh to the other.
One would think after a few minutes they would realize no exit was in sight, and relax to their surroundings, but no... they kept running. It was enough to make him want to gulp the coffee, instead of just sip it.
"Don't worry, we'll find out where you all go."
A whiff of scrambled eggs and frying pork came to him, and his stomach growled for something more than grinded beans sifted through water. He agreed, pulling on a coat and making his way to where the smell originated.
"....I know that we eat a lot of meat products, but I have to throw in some grains you know. It's not like we eat the guts of our kills for our veggies you know." Cookie was lectureing a black wolf who lay on a rag rug delicately eating goblets of meat from a wooden bowl while she set up a crock pot of oatmeal. "Roughage, you know, is everything at my age."
Cookie looked up and grinned at the young man entering the tent. "Now don't you look spiffy, planning on saying goodbye to your girlfriends before we tie everything up, down and around and move out in the morning?"
Rana sat again at her desk, ran her left hand through her hair and her right hand lay out of sight in her lap.
"Well, it's like this. I don't trust you much but we do need a canvas boss. And I'm kinda desperate, so you have me at a disadvantage." She gave him a level look with cool green eyes. "I could be stubborn, and say we'd just fly on a wing and a prayer, or I could be practical and give you the job."
She picked up her pencil and tap-tap-taped it against the desk top. "So, I guess the job is yours and only time will tell if your a gift horse I shouldn't look in the mouth, or a Trojan horse full of trouble. But I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt."
She slid a pile of paperwork over to Philip. "We leave tomorrow morning, at six to beat the rushhour traffic."
Opening my eyes I look up at the front of the cab. A small sliver a light move through the curtains and hits me right in he eye. Shutting it I get up and grab my boots and slide them on. Opening the window I slide out nascar style.
Looking around I notice large paw prints around the truck. Looking under the truck I see a large dog sleeping under the warm motor. He lifts his head and looks at me then goes back to rest.
Feeling a low rumble in my stomach. I head of toward the mess tent were I was hoping Cookie was there with food. As I approach the tent I tuck my holster inside by jacket and close it up. As I enter I see Lenny and Cookie. I also see a large wolf eating out of a bowl.
"Damn that dog looks just like the one that was sleeping under my truck. Guess I am seeing things." Walking up to the food bar I grab a handful of scrambled eggs, a big serving of homefries and a couple strips a bacon. Putting my stuff on the table I walk over and grab a cup of joe and sit down. Saying a quit prayer to myself and start to eat.
"Hah Ya look at me Ya, I'm such a jock, Ya, I can blow a fuckin' air horn at I don't even know what time in the morning in a grounds full of people sleeping Hah, what fuckin' dweeb." thought Poe as he drifted back off to sleep, and oddly enough he thought the same thing when he woke up the next morning. Luckly the jackass had left allready Poe, very groggy, slumped his rumpled self over to the lunch tent. As he entered he saw his "lovely" last time roommate starting to dig into a breakfast, feeling a little agetated, confrontational, and well within my right i grabbed a small plate off the counter and scooped a large portion of Kens meal onto his own plate, tasted the homefries at which point he walked over to the counter where the cook was makeing breakfast and asked " Are there any more of these absolutly Delish, fab, and extra tasty homefries back there."
As I am eating a hand scoops down and takes almost all my home frys. Looking up I watch as the puke ass kid that I had let sleep in the truck shove some in his mouth and walk over to the counter were Cookie was busy preparing more food.
"Hope you enjoy them Poe they were a bit to greasy for my liking." Reaching in to my pocket I pull out a set of keys pull off one that opens the doors and the side compartments. Getting up and walking up to Poe I set the key on the counter.
"Here is your key for the truck. Sorry about last night. This key open the side compartments and the doors.", I say but thinking to myself in my head, "Damn I would just like to hurt him but I have to act nicey-nicey because I need this job"
Turning around I walking back the truck, checking underneath to make sure the dog is gone I climb in through the window and pull the Pete out so I can open the door.Looking around I find some of Poe's stuff still inside. Pulling them out I put them in one of the side storage compartments and close them up. I drive it over to the ride that I am pulling and hook up.
Hearing the kingpin hit the lock I set the brakes and climb out. Climbing on the back I hook up both air lines running. Running my hands over the blue air line I feel air rushing out through holes in it. Shaking my head in dissapoinment I look around. Searching through the other compartments in the truck I find no extra air lines.
Jumping down into the mud with a thud sound. Walking a few minutes I come to Rana's trialer. Knocking a few times on the door I hear a come in. Opening the door I see a man sitting across from Rana holding a stack of paper.
'What can I do for you today'
"Well boss we have got a small problem. While hooking up my airlines on the truck I found an air leak in one. Can't be driving a truck like that."
'Ok, Go back to the truck and I'll have some there to fix it. Closing the door I walk back to the truck waiting inside.
As the sun rises, I awaken in the nearby tree line. I check my boots then slowly slide them on. My feet cringe a bit with the sudden chill, but then I concentrate a bit and that problem is resolved. I pick up my sleeping bag and shcak it off. Nothing worse then finding unexpected guests when you unroll later. As I roll up my bag, I remember the good times I had in the military and almost wish that I didn't have to leave it all behind. But at least his Sergeant allowed him to keep his bag and a few other things too.
After all packing up, I look down onto the cmap below and can smell fresh food on the wind. "Man I am hungry. I hope that I get this job, I can use the work and steady meals too."
I grab my gear, sling it over my shoulders and slowly walk towards the camp. The whole time I have my hands away from my body and facing forward. I want to make the right impression after all.
Lenny cursed to himself, finishing the last of his coffee, and using the cup to grab some orange juice. The breakfast didn't smell very appealing, it seemed as if a layer of grease was on most everything, but it was warm, and he wasn't one to complain, so he grabbed a bit of everything.
Sitting down, he made note of the faces. They all looked like they knew the ropes. The definite carnies of the world, acting the part and looking the look. Hell, the creases were still in his jeans.
How in the world was he ever going to pull this off? He shook his head, taking a bite of bacon.
"That's what I like to hear!" Cookie grinned. "Someone who likes good food! Everythings on the front line though, so just help yourself to what you like. Dinner will be early everyone, because I'm packing up for the move. Cold breakfast tomorrow!"
Philip fingered through the paper work as the door oppened to the office.
"What can I do for you today" said Rena
"Well boss we have got a small problem. While hooking up my airlines on the truck I found an air leak in one. Can't be driving a truck like that."
'Ok, Go back to the truck and I'll have some there to fix it. "
As the man left closing the door behind him, Philip looked up at Rena.
" I can fix those airlines for ya, save ya a phone call."
The expression on Rena's face showed she was quite suprised. Philip gave her a grin and a wink.
" Please don't look so suprised Miss Rena, I know more then you might think. I know I may have given you a bad impression, least I can do is try and mend the fence."
Philip stood up, shuffling the paper work in his hands.
" let me get those airlines fixed, then I'll work on thiese forms. I'll be looking forward to seeing you at 6am Miss Rena, Thank you."
Slowly I walked into the camp and sniffed the air. There was a definite scent of a leader, but it was masked well by others. Seeing that no one approached me, I carefully followed the scent to a large RV that looked to be the owners office as well as sleeping quaters.
I could hear voices inside, so I patiently waited for them to come to a conclusion so that I could present myself. While standing in the cool morning, a familiar scent wafted by.
Rana sighed and looked at her paperwork after the gruff forgeiner had left.
Five Garou, one cub who knew he was a cub, a handfull who didn't, a kinfolk who knew he was, some loaner truck drivers from EarthTec and a 30 or so odd and end grifters and vagabonds and old time carny folk.
Could she pull it off? Doubt was wearing down on her, and they hadn't even left the parking lot yet. It was time for a dose of Cookies coffee and common sense.
Stepping down to the muddy pavement she saw someone waiting for her.
Not really paying attention Vaj jumps when the striking woman exits the RV.
"Hello, can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh yes, excuse me. I was told that you were looking for help. I have some experience with rides and construction. I also spent some time in the military. I am young and need a pack to help me with my Path. If your willing to take a risk, I am willing and able to work my hardest for you."
He takes a breathe, makes sure he said everything he wanted and remembered he forgot one important thing.
"Oh yeah my name is Vaj, and it is my pleasure to meet you." He bows deeply, looks up at her and then rises slowly.
Smiling ruefully Rana tries not to chuckle at the young one's quick speech and sincere bow.
"Nice to meet you, Vas. Not Vas? Vaj!" She makes a small face to committ the name to memory. "You just caught us, we are pulling out in the morning." She streached and looked up at the sullen rain laden sky. "It's gonna be a long day and I haven't had my frist cup of coffee yet. Why don't you walk me over to the Cook tent and tell me about your asupice and tribe and why you think you might like to join the Luna Lupa pack?"
She jerked her head to the east and began to walk that way, her long Strider legs effeciently eating up the ground.
"Well I was born in Romania to small clan of Rom, (Gypsies). We traveled al voer Europe until one day we were hunted down by some local villagers in the mountains. They claimed that my clan stole from them and they were there to dispense justice. All the children were taken and sent off to orphanages.
"Three years later I was adopted by an American family and brought to the state of Colorado. I was pretty happy, was always wandering away from home, not running away, just wandering. Finally, my adoptive father couldn't handle it anymore and he ran away. My adoptive mother blamed me for it and as soon as I could leave I did.
"So at 18 I joined the Army. Everything was good, until my first change occured. The Drill Sergent happened to be from the Silver Fangs, he took it upon himself to help me. In the midst of it all, I lost control and another member of my squad was seriously injured.
"But I did discover that I was of the tribe of Silent Striders and that my auspice is Philodox. I have meet a few packs along the way and they taught me a few things to survive. And then I heard about you and Luna Lupa pack and knew that I needed to at least try and join you."
And before he knew it, he had laid out his entire life and they were at the mess hall. He could smell the food and coffee and waited for his hostess to enter.
"Well Hell, girl, you keep finding all these hunky boys to play with and only bring them in here when your done with them, don't cha?" Cookie cried out a greeting from behind the counter of her cooking trailer.
"Gotta warm them up for you, Cookie!" Rana called back. "Make sure they are limber enough for you!"
Nearby a wolf cuffed. It almost sounded like a laugh, but...it could have been choking on the bran muffin it was picking on.
In the tent about 14 assorted people sat, some in small groups of three or four, some hunching over their coffee and hashbrowns, and some as out of place as a cactus in a rose garden.
Taking the advice Cookie had given him Poe made his way over to the breakfast table, he knew it was there he just wanted to compliment the chef personally. he grab several platefuls of food, egg, suasage, bacon, corn beef hash, toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, homefries, piled them all high on his plates and shuffled them all to a nearby table where he herded the food toward his mouth. It was an odd sence as he was the skinniest person in the tent but had the largest meal in front of him, and by all indecations indended to finish it.
As Philip left the trailer, he let out a sigh. He hated to be so polite, especially to what he sensed was a cold nosed bitch. Was he judging her right, or mad that she stood him up and he had to come back begging?
Philip shrugged off the thoughts and put his mind back to work. First thing was to get those airlines fixed, then get back to his hotel to collect his stuff.
Philip looked about for sometime till he came to what he presumed was the dining tent. Philip stepped in, hoping to see the gentlemen that had come into Rena's office. As Philip looked about, a voice called out to him.
" Can I help you?"
Philip turned to the direction of the voice. " Yes , I'm trying to find a gentleman, I believe he's one of the truck drives, I think. See. .well. . "
Philip paused a moment, " See, I was just hired for the Canvas Boss job, names Philip Bhuvan, and your name is?"
"Names Cookie, I handle the feeding of the employees."
Philip gave her a warm smile, " Well it's a pleasure to meet you, and by the smell of things I'd say your damn good at what you do."
Cookie laughed and smiled at Philip, " Flattery will get you everywhere."
Philip laughed at her comment, " Well I should hope so, especially when it comes to someone cooking my meals."
" Well then Mr Bhuvan, why don't you fix yourself a plate and falter me some more, love to hear what other smooth lines you might know."
" Well Cookie, I really would love to, but I need to get those airlines fixed, then attend to some other business before we depart tomorrow."
" Suite yourself, just head out in that direction, you should find what your looking for", said Cookie pointing in a direction from the dinning tent.
Philip gave her a nod and preceded to head in the direction she pointed. Before leaving, he stopped and turned to Cookie. " As for the other lines I know, what language would you like me to say them in." Then giving her a wink, he left the tent.
After the intro to Cookie Rana walks away to talk to one of the other employees. I step up to the food line and see that there is enough food to feed an army. Vaj takes a plate and takes a small amount. Cookie yells at him to take more and the wolf seems to growl an approving tone too. SoI feel my plate and grab a handful of biscuts for later.
I sit down and look at the menagrie of people in the room and try to determine who is Garou and who are norms. I look around the room and see a skinny guy eating enough for three and decide that he is of the tribes. But not sureof anyone else besides him, Rana, Cookie and the wolf.
Sitting in the truck waiting for the mechanic. Looking around I grab the case for behind the bottom and open it up. Opening it up I pull out the compact sniper rifle piece by piece. Looking over each part I set them back in. Setting it back behind the bunk I stretch out my legs and arms.
Peeking out the window and not seeing anyone coming I sit down and open my book keeping at pistol at arms reach.
I finally decide that the cook tent has gotten too populated for sleep and roll off the couch. Dragging myself into some clean clothes, trying to ignore the chewing and conversation all around me.
Finally I grab a plate, fill it with hot food and weigh up my seating options. In the end I avoid the boisterous gatherings of old hands and seat myself with a couple of people who looked as new as I did.
Taking a gulp of my coffee I smiled round, not wanting be too intrusive, but wanting to appear approachable.
Rana stood in the middle of the room and called out to everyone:
"Ok people, we are moving out tomorrow at six A.M.! Any laggers will be left behind and jobless! I made a simple route map, but since we are caravaning no one should get lost!"
Then a grin replaced her stern look. "I know we are all gonna have a kick ass time, make a lot of people happy, and rake in the dough!"
A few of the old carny's gave a "Amen" and "Hell yah!" to that and Rana grinned and sat down at a table by the big wolf, rubbing behind it's ears as she sat.