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Here, in a place where she is quite an unexpected sight, is:
an eight year old girl with brown-flecked white wings, looking dismayed and lost.
pen_is_wow
pen_is_wow
And Pen gets them up over the houses and flies her a few blocks and then sets her down outside of a particular house. "There," she says, pointing at the front door.
Gloria knocks on the door. It opens, after several minutes, and a bleary-eyed woman demands, "What do you want at this hour of the night?"
"Pardon me, ma'am, but have you had any guests this evening? Or otherwise had someone enter or leave the house within the last few hours?"
"What the hell do you want to know that for?"
"Well, it seems that someone who's used the door tonight got some kind of inter-universal bar instead. And a kid from a different universe wandered into this one by mistake."
"...
You're lucky I'm the one who gets Milliways doors or I'd have called the cops or possibly a mental hospital. I'm sorry about the kid, but I get 'em when I get 'em and I can't predict it."
"Will you take my cell phone number and call me the next time you get a door?"
"Alright, since there's a kid involved, but I don't promise my phone'll be in reach next time it happens."
"That's the best I can ask for." She rattles off her number and the door woman writes it down. "Thank you for your cooperation, and I apologize again for having to disturb you at this hour."
"Yeah, yeah. Can't really help it when there's a kid involved. I'll try to keep in touch. G'night."
"Good night!"
And the door closes.
"Pardon me, ma'am, but have you had any guests this evening? Or otherwise had someone enter or leave the house within the last few hours?"
"What the hell do you want to know that for?"
"Well, it seems that someone who's used the door tonight got some kind of inter-universal bar instead. And a kid from a different universe wandered into this one by mistake."
"...
You're lucky I'm the one who gets Milliways doors or I'd have called the cops or possibly a mental hospital. I'm sorry about the kid, but I get 'em when I get 'em and I can't predict it."
"Will you take my cell phone number and call me the next time you get a door?"
"Alright, since there's a kid involved, but I don't promise my phone'll be in reach next time it happens."
"That's the best I can ask for." She rattles off her number and the door woman writes it down. "Thank you for your cooperation, and I apologize again for having to disturb you at this hour."
"Yeah, yeah. Can't really help it when there's a kid involved. I'll try to keep in touch. G'night."
"Good night!"
And the door closes.
"She doesn't know when she'll find a door again, but she'll hold it when she does," Gloria assures her.
"Oh! You can stay with my wife and I, I think the pullout bed in the sofa should be wide enough for your wings."
"If I park you in my office until the club closes, can you entertain yourself? I have some books that aren't age-inappropriate, but they're aimed at people older than you."
"Probably no one would hear you over the music in the club," Gloria points out. It was rather loud. "Some mystery novels, a vampire romance I was reading for the lulz, a bunch of science fiction."
"Oh, you meant the club music was too loud, not that your singing was too loud, my bad. But yeah, I have some books, or there's a Wal-Mart a little ways away where I could pick something up."
"Better stop off at the Wal-Mart then. If you pick me up and get into the air can you take directions?"
Wal-Mart!
Gloria leaves Pen outside with a promise to stay there and wait for her, and spins a story about having to unexpectedly look after an eight-year old for someone without actually technically lying. She gets directed to childrens' books, and then, on a whim, buys her a suction cup bow and arrow set too, because that shit's just awesome.
Gloria leaves Pen outside with a promise to stay there and wait for her, and spins a story about having to unexpectedly look after an eight-year old for someone without actually technically lying. She gets directed to childrens' books, and then, on a whim, buys her a suction cup bow and arrow set too, because that shit's just awesome.
pen_is_wow
Pen waits outside, for a value of "waits" that means "flies around, landing on cars in the parking lot, in an aerial game of The Floor Is Lava".
"I got the things! We can go back to the club now," she says, brandishing the bag with her purchases.
Gloria deposits Pen in her office with the books and the toy and permission to shoot suction cup arrows at the one wall but not the others, please.
"You're welcome!"
Unless something unanticipated occurs, Gloria will pick Pen up after the club has been closed up and she is ready to go home. It's almost dawn.
Unless something unanticipated occurs, Gloria will pick Pen up after the club has been closed up and she is ready to go home. It's almost dawn.