[Gpdd] [Virtual] Bday Royale, The Pirates leave

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

Sammy rose about an hour after a nap filled with sweet Jodie dreams and 
racing coasters. He refreshed himself with bits of the left over hay cakes 
and herb tea. He felt curiously renewed so he decided to pack up his, 
Jodie's, Bean's and Trix's things. For once he meticulously folded and 
packed each souvenir and piece of clothing in exactly the right suitcase, 
duffle, and backpack. Job done he called for the valet to bring a cart but 
not wanting to let go yet he called room service and asked for an afternoon 
tea to be laid in the drawing room. He gathered all the leftover balloons to 
decorate and then wandered out onto the grounds where he gathered an armful 
of edible flowers, calendulas, violas, pansy, sweet peas and such, carefully 
avoiding the Disney attendants. He arranged them to look like flower 
arrangements on the buffet table but really they were also part of the menu, 
he wasn't sure if hobbits ate flowers normally.

Two's and threes of piggies wandered back in and gathered for the tea. Soon 
there was quite a bunch although some had already left for their PigAir 
connections. Everyone was exchanging memories, they were all so happy and of 
course a bit wistful, knowing it was goodbye until the next time someone 
holds a virtual event. Old and new couples alike held hands and the 
unattached still flirted or gave a bit of a rumblestrut.  One by one the 
piggies stated leaving a tiny souvenirs on a table Sammy had placed pigtures 
of the piggies and people remembered at the candlelighting ceremony the 
previous month. Added were pigtures of Capt. Jack, Barnacle Bill, and 
Peaches, previous captains of the Black Pearl, Lily who was to have been an 
honoree at this party, and the very recent Bridge piggies, Zoey, Ambree, 
Wheeky, Gingerbread Piggyfriend, Faith, Audrey, Dexter, Isabella, Pookie, 
Phoebe, Dexter, Darryl, Isabella, and Wilbur and others I'm sure. Next to 
Peaches pigture were her famous thigh high black boots and pair of gloves 
Manny the Boar had given her. Each group of piggies or the piggies special 
friend seemed to have known to bring a special piece of memorabilia. The 
table seemed to inspire even more smiles and chatter.

Beans gift to each and every pig had been a hat pin with the signature black 
pearl at the head seemed to have sparked two things. First allot of happy 
adopted piggies who didn't have a specific birthday felt like they had been 
remembered too. Second a great flurry of hat buying had occurred on this 
last shopping foray, and sows gathered round to discuss the best way to add 
embellishments with the hat pins as all the hats very held on with ribbons 
like bonnets or an elastic band as pinning the hats on seemed a painful 
prospect. Some of the senior sows also drew out patterns for hats they sent 
home with the younger girls.Also were heard admonishments of renewable 
sources for those embellishments, feathers were off limits unless given 
willingly by the bird itself.  All around traditions were discussed and in 
doing so were handed down as were the memories of so many piggies and 
adventures past. A plate of cheese and crackers was part of the buffet 
behind one of Sammy's flower arrangements, and by it sat a very happy rat 
enjoying his very own private brunch while he watched the quiet burble of 
piggies filling the room.

Sammy and Jodie, arm in arm circulated among the crowd, passing out goodbye 
hugs, kisses, high fives, and giggles. Beans was still surrounded by a bevy 
of cavy beauty but his hand was firmly entrenched in that of Velvet. Trix 
bounced around to each group herself happily hugging her new friends and 
satisfied she had planned a successful event. Then pages came in and called 
out each group or family one by one, announcing their transportation was 
ready, so amid last minute hugs and tears of joy while shopping bags and 
carryon's were hastily re packed, off they went until only the original 
birthday girls Velvet and Onyx, and the four last Pirate Piggies were left. 
Velvet and Onyx positively glowed, saying they were so happy that the delays 
in their party had the upside of allowing so many more birthday piggies to 
join on. Velvet said her special goodbyes to Beans, she still shy in the 
bloom of first love, and then they dashed off to catch up with Julie's boys 
who were already in their van and ready to go home. The Pirates waved from 
the porch and went in to gather their own last minute purchases and 
presents. Trix packed up the pigtures and memorabilia in Bean's secret 
pirate chest, now empty of it's large cargo of gift knives, swords, and 
hatpins. Jodie and Sammy, ever practical, visited the buffet with a thermos 
and paper bag, edible itself, and packed in a fine assortment of goodies and 
flowers for a pignic on the long trip home.  And so with Trix settling the 
final bill and leaving a discrete envelope with the concierge, extra fat to 
make up for the flowers,  it was all done, finished, and none could find a 
single chore left to do to drag it out any longer. So they piled into their 
own Caravan and slowly pulled away. As they passed the gates Minnie and 
Mickey Mouse, and Sleeping Beauty herself were there to wave them off, so 
they waved gaily back and blew kisses, as did the tiny little rat now firmly 
ensconced in a safe crevice between the boxes and cases lashed to the roof.