Round Robin: Let's Make a Deal

Let's Make a Deal

A "Winds of Change" Story

I liked the car, that much I knew. I'd always loved the sport-utes, but there had been no way I could of afforded them. At least until now. Mr. Rabbit (or rather, Rabboue.) led us into his little cubicle for haggling. I could smell his nervousness, hell, when Brian had dropped out of the sky like a rock he made me nervous for a moment. Nervous that he'd break a bone in that dive. But it was all I could do to keep from bursting out loud in laughter. I do know my ears had been waving like a flag. It's a good thing the rabbit-man had not noticed.

Thinking of the Toyota RAV-4, I thought of how much room the modified roof would give me in the future. The slide-back top would give enough room if these things got too tall (though if it was raining...) and the extended door top meant I did not have to duck too much to get inside. Otherwise when the roof was closed it still gave me a good four inches above my tallest tine. I'm lucky I'm not a moose or a caribou. The seat was comfortable, the tail hole big enough. My friend Ed, who had gotten one just before the Change, was having problems. The wait for mods was quite long.

Mr. Rabbit sat down nervously in a chair. Well, he would of sat down if he was not so close to a real rabbit in shape. He just sat on his haunches, nose twitching in response to Brian's panting. Heh. I could resist the scent, but he could not. I think he was close to bolting. "S-so. Here's my price, with your scooter trade-in." He scooted the PADD across the table, keeping as far away from Brian as he could. "I don't know... I've got a line from a friend of mine. Take $2,000 off that, then we'll talk." I had some control over my ears, so rotated them back a bit in thought. In my right eye I could see Brian's wings spread just a bit.

"Two thousand?" Rabbit's nervousness receded slightly, I think I started too low. "No. I wouldn't think of it. Five hundred, maybe. But not that much." Damn. He was settling into a routine, and I could tell trying to tune Brian out. Unfortunately I was so tired I did not notice it immediately, and respond. My pausing I think assured him I'd cave in. "You did say you'd take off $1,000 for the overpriced stereo, and the undercoat." said Brian. Mr. Rabbit almost jumped out of his skin. He seemed very unlucky for having four rabbit's feet...

"Uh, yes. I did, didn't I? Well, um. I'll have to OK it with my sales manager. Hold on." He quickly got up, scooted along the cubicle wall to keep his distance from Brian, and literally hopped towards the small office I could see. "This is fun isn't it?" I said to Brian. He just opened his beak in a grin. I yawned once, and licked the end of my nose to see if I could get any more info from that sense.

Unfortunately the air conditioning tended to filter out any real subtle scents, and the cold, dry air made my nose dry up almost immediately. Hearing and sight would have to do. I heard him speaking with his sales manager, who had a barking voice. The conversation was muffled, there was too much soundproofing even for my hearing. They came out a few minutes later, after looking at what appeared to be a TV.

The sales manager was a coyote. But his scent was not threatening. He was, in fact, wearing a Loony Toons "Wile E. Coyote" T-shirt. "I think we can cut you a deal, Mr. Sleeper. An even better one than you'd hoped. I just saw you both on TV. The press was finally able to show some of the footage they shot two nights ago. You're both heroes. If not for you I may of lost my business to those hooligans." Car Country is only about a half mile from Encina. "I'll give it to you for a bare $12,000, right at invoice cost. And a year's free detailing." He extended a paw-like hand. "I'm very pleased to know you, Mr. Sleeper. You have good credit here. And I feel safer that a cop like yourself is on the street."

I was shocked, to say the least. I did not even know the press had been allowed to report on the incident in such detail so soon. Normally what happened was the media was allowed to report on the incident live, but only with necessary information. They usually did a good job of being non-judgmental (now, at least. They had been out of control Before.) Then a few days later the details are made available. This was to be sure that those accused got a fair trial. Two months ago it'd been decided the rights of the accused outweigh the press' immediate right to free speech. Rights do have limits. And the rights of the individual (in some cases) have precedent over the public's right to know.

He looked at Brian, "And Mr. Coe, if you ever need a car, just call and we'll take care of it. You're a hero, too. A model one, in fact. And I'm sure you can guess why. My kid wants your autograph." He smiled. Brian's beak dropped open. Brian signed a few postcards that had eagles on them, and gave them to Mr. Lighttoller, the Coyote. They did not want my autograph. So I admit I was a bit jealous. Brain smelt like he wanted to fly off. And once we wrapped up the deal he did, and circled until I drove the new white RAV-4 off the lot. That was an experience. I'd *never* been present when a new vehicle had been bought. This one was *mine*. The feeling doused my jealousy. At the corner Brian landed and hopped in the back.

"God that was embarrassing. I don't really look like a hero, do I?" He tilted is head to the right in query. Another one of his "expressions".

"I'm afraid so," I said with a chuckle. "I think it's that 'all-American' look of yours. Anyway, I'm tired as hell but I want to stop at the supermarket on the way back and pick up some of the stuff on this list. Then I want to stop at my Mom's condo and tell her what happened. I'm sure she's been worried." He nodded.

The supermarket was an experience. Personally, I had not been there in a month and a half. I got all my food from my plants at home, and from the Pasture. I had an account with a local organic foods merchant (who also sold Brian's steelhead), and so my milk and fresh fruit was delivered. Unfortunately the linoleum floor was slippery. I must of fallen down twice. Brian had to slide along the floor, pushing himself with one foot. Very embarrassing. I complained to the manager, who said their one the GripKote waiting list. They'd get it in six months.

It was kind of embarrassing. I was standing in the meat section, surrounded by all these carnivores. Their scents made me understandably nervous, and I watched them carefully. I decided on some hamburger. I'd not had one in months.

I helped Brian choose what are really the best vegetables in the store. He'd been out of practice in picking out stuff like that. Besides, my sense of smell ensured that when the sign said "organically grown" that it was "organically grown". Chemicals have a distinct odor. He was almost as embarrassed as I'd been in the meat section.

We stopped briefly at my apartment to put the stuff in the refrigerator, I fed Cleo (who meowed and meowed at my return), and we went onward to my Mom's condo.

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