Message #44428

[Mustang MKIII]

Stray Sheep: Marilyn Adair
Chapter 2


     A true Shepherd guides his or her flock and should respect and protect them, not lord a higher social status over them. Being able to cut in lines at the movies or grocery stores is one thing, but why should Shepherds have priority on loans or getting their kids in good schools when the kids of Sheep have the same chance to become Shepherds as the kids of Shepherds. Sheepdogs are just as bad; the brutes think they can rough up anyone who doesn’t agree with them, or even just looks at them the wrong way and trump up a bullshit explanation. I suppose that’s why I come to House’s House of Glass every payday.
The shop has a quaint cozy feeling to it filled with assorted glass and ceramic works that he made himself or acquired through various means. Harry’s shop is small but brightly colored pieces of art sit on shelves and tables all over the place.

  “Good day to you Miss Adair.” Ah, Harry House, always has the same easy grin on his face.

  “I keep telling you to call me Marilyn.” He’s so uptight sometimes.

  “I’m sorry Miss Adair, but I know I’ve told you that I was raised to treat Shepherds with the respect they deserve.”

  “I’m only a teacher Harry.”

  “Ah, but being a teacher is very admirable, shaping the minds of the youth and all. So the usual order then?”

  “Yes.”

  “Two glass sheep and a glass wolf. So are ya ever going to tell me why you collect these?”

  “Well, you’re craftsmanship is impeccable and the attention to detail on these animals is what really pulled me into them. I also suppose one could call my collection a bit of an inside joke.”  My collection really is my own private joke. I have a glass shepherd, a few dogs, and a herd of sheep in the middle of them with wolves scattered throughout the crowd. I know that I as a single person can’t do anything to change the Sheep-Shepherd system but, if I can teach enough kids to be kind, open minded, and to think for themselves maybe I can create enough wolves in a crowd of Sheep and change this country and its people for the better.

   "Are you sure you don't want a Chupacabra?"
 
   "What is a Chupacabra?" I know I've heard of that phrase somewhere, but I just can put my finger on it.

   "I'm not particularly sure, but I keep getting requests for them lately. I probably could make a good bit of money if I could find out more about them.

   "Why'd you ask me about them, if you didn't know what a Chupacabra was yourself?"

   "I asked you in an attempt to find out more."

   "Ah, well, I should be going now."

  “Thank you for the business Miss and have a nic- wait a sec, you’re a teacher; did you hear about that middle school that caught fire?”

  “Yeah, that was Shadow’s Valley, a shame it happened during the Shepherd’s play. The end of the year is supposed to be a time a celebration especially for the graduating eighth graders. This summer is essentially the end of their childhoods; they pretty much start training to be adults in the fall. “

  “Indeed that is a shame. Did you hear about what started the fire?”

  “I think there was a malfunction with the lights or something. There were also reports of a big black sheep fleeing the scene.”

  “Black Sheep huh, like the fairy tales? When I was a boy my mom and dad would scare my siblings and me with tales of the Black Sheep. You know, things like he drags bad children away into the night never to be seen again, can cause electrical disturbances, be in multiple places at once, cause fog and other weather effects, and pass through walls. If the Black Sheep really does exist, he, no it could have very easily started that fire. I apologize, I’ve taken enough of your time with this idle chatter, Miss Adair please have a lovely day.”

  “Thank you Harry, you have a good day as well.” It was a nice day out, the sun was shining, and birds were singing, it was a stereotypically picturesque day out but, I couldn’t get the fire out of my head. There was more to it than I told Harry. The fire fighters found evidence of foul play, that one of the lights was smashed, which may mean that the fire was arson.

*         *        *

 Wow, the evening news is still talking about that fire a week later, things like this usually only last for a day or so, especially if there’s no new information. In the last week alone this city has faced the end of times for the twelfth time this decade, the dreaded SR1-N7 flu that causes rainbow colored vomit, and violent zombie themed flash mobs, yet this fire has been on the news for seven days when (thankfully) no one was hurt. The reporters have nothing new to say and just keep repeating the information about the lights and hyping up the black sheep rumor. I suppose they show whatever keeps ratings up.
Knock! Knock!

  What would anyone want with me at 8 o’clock at night? What in the hell– a big black sheep standing upright! Is this some sort of jo–