Tea For Two Written by & copyright of Andre' Cotton Wolfie8898@hotmail.com Featuring Laretta (Cassie's rhythm guitarist), Cindy (Cassie's bassist) and Ben Moss Cassie, the Rock & Roll Vixen http://members.aol.com/rufinoform/Cassie.htm Vixina http://cloudchaser.esmartweb.com/Vixina07.htm Cloudchaser http://cloudchaser.esmartweb.com/Cloud002.htm Louve (link to Louve's personal website available) http://cloudchaser.esmartweb.com/louversd.htm Please read the prequil, "A Friend In Need", featuring Vixina (Cassie's fiddler), Cloudchaser (Vixina's boyfriend) and Louve (Wild animals lead guitarist and Cloudchaser's sister) at http://members.aol.com/CassieRockVixen4/a_friend_in_need.txt Please read the sequil, "Inquiring Minds Want To Know", featuring Cassie, Lucy (Cassie's former drummer) and Jim, a character created for this story at http://members.aol.com/CassieRockVixen7/inquiring_minds_want_to_know.txt All characters created by & copyright of Earl Bacon except Laretta & Victor Hernandez, who is created by and copyright of Andrew Cotton, Alex, who is created by and copyright of Donna Fritz, and Vixina & Cloudchaser, who is created by and copyright of Cloudchaser Shaconage Special thanks to Rick Hobson for allowing the use of his character, Ben Moss NOTE: There is a brief scene of nudity towards the end of the story, but there are no explicit sex scenes anywhere to be found and the nudity itself isn't explicit. This story is written entirely in a very tasteful manner. ANOTHER NOTE: Please refer to the previous stories written about Cassie and her friends - "Radio Waves", "Girls' Night Out", "Sound of Love", "Old Habits", and "Change of Business" - so that certain parts will make sense. Another day, another successful performance. That was certainly how Cassie and her band mates liked to view things. The band had just completed a tour of major Midwestern venues, and they had just finished a very successful concert at the Millsburg Arena. The time had come for them to relax and celebrate, and each chose to do so in her own way. Laretta, Cassie's she-wolf back-up guitarist, contented herself by reading a music magazine in the band's trailer. She was caught up in reading an article about an up-and-coming alternative band from Canada. Even though they were a human band, Laretta was always interested in reading about fellow musicians from her home country. She smiled as she read, recalling how she was once a young and struggling musician, until she met Cassie. Even though she was not in Cassie's band for a very long time, she was amazed by how quickly her life had changed. She thought happily about how well she had become friends with not only Cassie, but every other band member as well. While she had known Vixina, the Southern-bred fiddle playing vixen, at least as long as Cassie, she befriended the newer members as well. Cindy, the bass playing snow leopard whom Cassie knew very well and who was top of the line in her field. Rachel, a strangely gothic doe who was nonetheless a master keyboardist and possessed a happier, friendlier attitude than she let on. And Alex, a horribly mischievous yet friendly and likable arctic fox who played drums like the best. With her black stiletto heeled pumps lying on the floor, Laretta had her sock clad feet propped up on an amplifier case as she read and relaxed. Suddenly, the trailer's entry door swung open. Laretta was momentarily startled, but calmed down when she saw that it was Cindy. The snow leopard was carrying her favorite bass and she was dressed in her standard black leather biker ensemble. She strolled in and set her instrument down when she realized that she wasn't alone in the room. "Oh, hey there, Laretta," she smiled to the she-wolf, "I didn't know you were still hanging around. Sorry if I bothered you." Laretta put her magazine down and shifted her posture as she happily replied, "It's okay, Cindy. I didn't have anything else to do, and I was probably going to call it a night anyway." Cindy nodded, looking slightly downcast. "I wish we could hang out with Cassie and the rest of the gang. Cassie and I used to go out partying all the time when we were in Furrosity, but nothing's the same any more," she frowned. Indeed, Cassie and the other band mates were spending the night exactly the way they wanted. Cassie and Vixina went out on a double date when their boyfriends, Foxonian and Cloudchaser, came into town as a surprise. They went out to have dinner and watch a movie, and were likely to be out for the whole night. Alex also received a surprise visit from her boyfriend, Rafael, and they went out to spend the night dancing. Finally, Rachel intended to spend some time catching up with a friend from her old band who happened to be in town. They had all already made their plans, leaving Cindy and Laretta by themselves. Cindy took a seat for herself and sighed, "I really, really hate being jealous of my best friends!" Laretta nodded sympathetically and looked right across to the snow leopard, "I know what you mean. Whenever I see Cassie and Foxonian together, I can't help but feel a little jealous and wish I had someone who loved me that much. For my whole life, I've never even had a boyfriend, and I always wish I knew what it was like to have one!" Cindy was quite surprised to hear this, "No kidding, Laretta? Never in your whole life?" Laretta nodded and grinned slightly at Cindy's surprised expression, "Yup, that's right. I'm a 'never been kissed' type. I think it's because I was always quiet and inconspicuous, and no one ever paid much attention to me. It didn't bother me, though, because I was happier just sticking to what I liked to do, so I never had time for a boyfriend! Now, I wish it was easier for me to find the right kind of guy." Cindy nodded and chuckled, "With the kinds of guys you find today, it sure isn't easy!" She stood up and shook her head, sending her long silver braided hair flailing about. "I don't know about you, but I'm in no mood to sit around moping all night. I want to go out and hit the town!" Laretta became slightly worried, hoping that Cindy didn't have the wrong idea. "What do you think you'd want to do, Cindy?" The snow leopard composed herself, understanding Laretta's concern. "I know what you're thinking, Laretta, and don't worry, I'm not about to go out and get wasted!" She folded her arms with a dismal thought, "You know, back when Cassie and I were in Furrosity, whenever I was bored and alone, I'd reach for a bottle of Jack Daniel's," she frowned, "but..." Laretta cut in and put her hand on Cindy's shoulder, "But I know you won't let that happen ever again! You've come too far and worked too hard to give up on yourself, Cindy. I believe in you," she smiled. Cindy shrugged and smiled back, "It sure helps to have friends who care." She put on her leather jacket as she continued, "At any rate, I was thinking of a place recommended by someone I met in Alcoholic Anthros Anonymous." "Triple-A?" Laretta replied, giggling. Cindy rolled her eyes, "Very funny. Anyway, you'd be surprised by the number of non-alcoholic bars that cater especially to people who want to stay sober. Want to come with me and see what it's like?" Laretta nodded as she slipped on her pumps, "Sure, it sounds perfect for me! For some reason that has to do with the biochemical make-up of my body, I can't take any alcohol at all. Just a drop of the stuff makes me sick to my stomach!" Cindy looked a little perplexed by Laretta's chatter, so she smiled and continued, "Besides, I don't have anything else to do, so let's go!" Laretta slung a black denim jacket over her body, clad in her red bustier, as she exited the trailer with Cindy. As they crossed the parking lot, the sound of her stiletto heels clicking on the pavement contrasted with the scuffing noise of Cindy's flat heeled boots. They approached the place where Laretta's brand new car was parked, as Cindy marveled, "Wow, Laretta, you got a Firebird!" Laretta smiled and rubbed a hand on her silver Pontiac's sleek exterior, "Yeah, that's right! When I heard that production was going to end, I just had to get one for the nostalgia effect. Plus, it has a real special connection to me." "Really? How so?" asked Cindy. "Did you know that this one was manufactured in Ste. Therese, Quebec?" Laretta asked with a grin. "I see," Cindy nodded, "Showing off your national pride, aren't you!" The two of them laughed. "Anyway, it's a nice car, Laretta, but I really prefer the feel of cool wind in my fur," Cindy replied, "Would you like to get a ride on my hog?" Laretta knew that Cindy loved her motorcycle more than anything else on earth, but was somewhat perplexed. "Gee, Cindy, is there enough room for both of us on your motorcycle?" she asked. Cindy grinned and shook her head, "There sure is. I've got a surprise for you!" Laretta was about to ask a question when they reached the spot where Cindy parked her treasured Harley Davidson Sportster. There it stood in all its gleaming chrome glory, and Laretta could see exactly what Cindy meant as the snow leopard polished it to a fine sheen. "A sidecar?!" Laretta marveled as she gazed over the black painted mini-cab with a streaking orange flame attached to the Harley's right side, "Where on earth did you get that, Cindy?" The snow leopard shrugged and grinned, "It was an impulse buy, really. I thought it looked nifty, like in those old war movies, but don't you think it would be great if I actually had a good reason to use it?" Laretta could tell in which direction Cindy was angling her. She was slightly nervous about the thought of riding in a tiny cab, but Cindy was eager, and she didn't want to act like a spoilsport. "Sure, Cindy, it might be fun to ride in one of those," she started. Cindy just grinned and tossed a cherry red crash helmet towards her unsuspecting companion. "Here," she said as Laretta quickly caught it, "Better to be safe than sorry!" Laretta fidgeted with the straps on the helmet so that she adjusted it to her size, as Cindy did likewise with her black helmet, though Laretta had to flatten her ears down for hers to fit right. She still had a bit of uncertainty as Cindy motioned her into the cab. "Maybe it's not too late for me to back out," she hastily thought as she fussed with her seat belt, but as far as Cindy was concerned, they were ready to go. She mounted the cycle and gunned the engine, which startled Laretta as the machine rumbled to life. "Uh, Cindy?" she asked as she nervously fidgeted with her collar, "Are you sure this is safe?" The leather-clad feline flashed a wicked grin to her partner, "Laretta, there's only one sure way to find that out!" With a lively rumble, Cindy kick-started the Harley into motion and peeled out into the street. Laretta gritted her teeth and held on for dear life (at least she thought so.) After what seemed like an eternity of zooming through turns and weaving in and out of traffic, they finally pulled into the parking lot for an establishment with the name "The Blue Kangaroo" in gaudy green neon lights. "I will never get tired of this!" Cindy said with a grin as she removed her helmet. She dismounted the Harley and kept it in place, when she realized that Laretta hadn't gotten out of the sidecar. She was still seated, frozen in fear and keeping a white knuckle grip on the cab's edge. "Are you okay, Laretta?" Cindy asked as she helped her companion unsteadily to her feet. "Sorry about that, I should have warned you that the first ride can be a little rocky!" Laretta tottered slightly as she was still dazed, but eventually she regained her senses. "I'm all right," she said reclaiming her poise, as if nothing had happened. "I'll bet," Cindy chuckled as she put her helmet in the rear trunk, while Laretta unfastened her helmet and did the same. When they approached the front door to the establishment, Cindy reached in her wallet and showed a card to the kangaroo doorman, who gave it a nod of approval. "Do they actually card you here, Cindy?" Laretta asked with bewilderment. Cindy grinned, "Not in the way you think. I get a AAA membership discount!" Both of the ladies laughed at the little joke Cindy came up with. The interior of "The Blue Kangaroo" was a very lively scene. The large central part of the room was the main dance floor, with platforms and walkways where confident revelers could show off their dance moves. A lot of young partygoers, human and furry alike, were dancing the night away, waving about glow-stick batons as they danced about. Several others were playing video games on one side of the room, while older patrons were relaxing and watching sporting events on a few large screen TVs in a separate lounge. Cindy directed Laretta to a quieter area of the bar. "Because it's a non-alcoholic spot, the place tends to draw a lot of young folk!" Cindy shouted to Laretta above the din. Both were relieved to move over to the side where there was much less action and noise. "It can get hectic, but at least it's good to know that none of these kids will be driving home drunk," Cindy said. Laretta just smiled and nodded in agreement as they seated themselves at a table. After only a moment, a young human waiter came to take their orders. "How may I help you ladies this evening?" he asked politely. "Well, I'll just have my usual favorite -- Fire Water," Cindy replied, looking up from her menu. "What's that, Cindy?" asked Laretta. "Cherry punch mixed with ginger ale, spiced with a little cinnamon and nutmeg," said Cindy with a grin, "They also have a version made with lemon-lime soda and mint instead of cinnamon. It's actually pretty good. It has a real spicy kick that's even better than booze!" Laretta looked at her menu for a moment when she decided to get an Ocean Breeze -- iced tea sweetened with blueberry juice. "Excellent choice, ma'am," the waiter replied, "Would either of you like something to eat with that?" Cindy didn't hesitate with her answer, "That depends on what my friend wants. What about it, Laretta?" Laretta didn't seem particularly enthused by the menu choices -- mainly nachos, potato skins, onion rings, and other greasy, heavy junk food. "No thanks," Laretta replied, "I think I'll just stick with the pretzels and veggie sticks." "I guess we'll just stick with that, then," Cindy replied. The waiter shortly returned with their drinks, to which they thanked him. Laretta diplomatically raised her glass, "To the single life!" she said with a broad smile. "Cheers to that!" Cindy laughed as they clinked their glasses together and both took a sip. The moment seemed nothing less than ideal to both of them. They were in good spirits and good company, and neither would have asked for anything more than that. The evening was relaxing enough, even the partying teens didn't disrupt the mood. As she took a sip of her drink, Laretta drummed her fingers on the table, searching for something to talk about. Cindy was eager to prompt her. "A penny for your thoughts?" she asked. Laretta broke from her trance and gave her companion a thoughtful look. "I was just thinking back to our business meeting at Cassie's place, when Foxonian told us about our label dropping us," Laretta started. Cindy nodded, "Yes, what about it?" "Well, you know how we all agreed that the German label was the best way to go? I've been thinking about what it would be like if we gave starting our own label a shot. Don't you think it would have worked, Cindy? We have an extremely loyal fan base, and the news could have generated a lot of good press and a ton of sales. Plus, we could have gotten support from other old-school bands, and maybe they would have even signed on with us." Cindy took a long sip from her spicy drink before responding. "I see your point, Laretta," she replied, "and I agree that it would be great if our own label worked. However, right now it's just too risky an idea. Like I said then, I've seen a lot of bands try their own labels with nothing good come of it. The whole business management aspect generates a lot of stress and headaches. It takes a ton of money to get started, and there's always the risk of losing what you put in." She paused for moment before finishing her point. "There is something much more important we'd lose than money if our label failed, though," she said calmly, touching her fingertips together so that her hands made a triangle. Laretta nodded slightly as she idly tapped the edge of her glass with one of her claws, "I think I know what you mean. We're all very good and very close friends, and if business gets in the way, it could ruin that." "Exactly!" Cindy responded, "Cassie and I have been around the scene for quite a while, Laretta. We've seen some really ugly band break-ups that even made Furrosity look like a picnic in the park! My friendship with Cassie, Rachel, Vixina, Alex, and you...that just matters too much to me to sacrifice over some unimportant business conflict." "You're right," Laretta sighed, "I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part." The snow leopard just chuckled in a good natured manner and patted Laretta on the shoulder, "I didn't say there was anything wrong with that! Wishful thinking can get some very good things done if you can carry it through. I actually like the idea of us having our own label, but it's also important for us to keep our feet on the ground." She smiled and curled her tail around one of the table legs, "For now, we're just going to have to wait and see." Laretta smiled and nodded, understanding the wisdom of her companion's words. She had certainly experienced her own share of professional difficulties, and she was well aware that patience and rational decisions were an essential part of the band's success. She was about to ask Cindy about more of her past memories with Cassie, when suddenly their waiter appeared at their table with two large, exotic drinks. "Um, we didn't order any more drinks," Cindy told the waiter. "Actually, these drinks are complementary from the gentlemen at the table over there," he said as he pointed to a table in a dimly lit corner of the bar, "I can assure you that they are entirely alcohol free." "Okay, then," Cindy shrugged as she tipped the waiter. "This looks a little fruity for my tastes," Cindy said after the waiter left, peering at her odd concoction. Laretta nodded, "I'm not terribly fond of strawberries, myself. So what should we do?" Cindy shrugged, "Well, we should at least find out who ordered these drinks for us, and give them a proper thanks." She squinted to get a better view of who their mystery admirers were. "Hey, Laretta," she finally responded, "Is it just me, or do those guys over there look familiar to you?" Laretta craned her neck to look where Cindy was directing her attention. It was difficult to make out the faces in the dim light, but Laretta was able to see whom Cindy was speaking of. "I think you're right, Cindy," she said, "They look like the radio deejays who helped us promote 'Solstice' a while ago." "Hmm, fancy that," Cindy said, "Let's go catch up with them, see what they've been up to." Laretta nodded in agreement and rose from her seat as she walked with her feline companion over to where the jovial human and coyote 'morph deejays were seated. The two males certainly had no trouble recognizing their visitors, as they quickly and cordially greeted them. "Hey, long time, no see!" said Bill the human as he enthusiastically shook their hands, "Boy, you gals look as great as ever, and I can honestly say that your music is still the best there is!" Cindy smiled, "Why, thank you! The drinks were a nice gesture, too." Bob the coyote grinned and chimed in, "Well, you know us, we always aim to please!" He smiled at Laretta, "Especially when it means making two such beautiful young ladies so happy." Laretta giggled, "I'm sure your generosity is its own reward." Everyone enjoyed a good laugh, though Bill was quick to follow up. "Listen, I really am glad to have the chance to meet you here. Laretta, I owe you a huge apology!" he told the she-wolf, looking slightly flushed. "I realized that after the end of our show, when we read off all your names, I'd totally forgotten to read yours, Laretta! I swear, I don't think I've ever felt like a bigger complete idiot in my life!" Bob gave a sly grin, "Well, I can give testimony to times when you've lived up to that claim!" the coyote snickered. "Very funny, you," Bill said, glaring at his companion. Both Cindy and Laretta laughed out loud at their antics, though Laretta managed to calm down enough to give Bill a friendly pat on the back. "It's okay, Bill," she smiled, "We all make mistakes. Don't beat down on yourself so much!" Bill smiled, "Thanks, Laretta! You're a real sweetheart." Bob the coyote chuckled, unable to resist taking another jab at his friend. "We knew it was an off day for Bill," he replied, "Why, remember at the very beginning? He introduced himself as 'Bob'! We got calls from several confused listeners who wondered what 'The Bob and Bob Show' was doing on the air!" He laughed heartily, though Bill wasn't nearly as enthusiastic, "You don't have to rub it in, you know!" he shot back. "Aw, I'm just funnin' you, you know that!" Bob grinned. Everyone laughed and got caught up in the festive mood. Cindy, however, calmed down enough to see that the human and coyote deejays already had a companion with them. He was a lean-looking white tiger with striking green eyes. It wasn't really clear how old he was at first glance, since his face had a look of rugged experience that could have spoken for years, yet still had a touch of soft youthful innocence. One would best describe his overall appearance as a modern day beatnik. His hair was as white as his fur, even though he wore it long in the back, such that it was tied into a short ponytail. His clothing was equally simple and casual, consisting of a black turtleneck sweater, brown corduroy trousers, and Birkenstock-like sandals on his white furry feet. What was most conspicuous about him was the classic styled mandolin slung over one of his shoulders. Unlike his companions, he seemed only slightly amused by their chatter. He clearly seemed like the type who preferred observing the actions of others rather than joining right in. Bill and Bob, on the other hand, were rather eager to make his presence known. "How rude of us not to introduce you all!" Bill quickly remarked. "Ladies, meet our friend, Victor Hernandez. He's a performer of folk and classical string music. Even though that's not our style of music, we heard he was promoting a special recording of his music from a neighboring station, so that all of the sales would go directly as donations towards the Red Cross. We thought it was a great effort, and thought of getting to know him better, so we took him out for the night to make him feel welcome." The white tiger rose from his seat and smiled warmly. "Good evening, it's a pleasure to meet you ladies," he said as he extended his hand. "Thank you, the pleasure is all ours!" replied Cindy, shaking his hand, and Laretta followed suit. "That sounds like a wonderful thing you're doing, Victor," Laretta said, "I'm impressed that you'd go to such great lengths to help so many people." Victor chuckled slightly, "Well, I never expected to get rich in my profession anyway, so why not help out the people who need it most?" Laretta was slightly bemused to see how taken Cindy was with Victor. She didn't let it show, but Laretta could see how enchanted Cindy was with the tone of his voice. "To tell you the truth, I'm really not much of a fan of rock music," he continued, "but I know all about your band with Cassie the Rock Vixen, and I find your style of music very beautiful. It's very classy and emotional, and I find I enjoy listening to you very much!" "Thank you, Victor," Cindy replied, "I admit I don't know a lot about classical or folk music, but I sure wouldn't mind learning more!" Victor smiled, "Well, I can tell you more, if you have the time to spare." Cindy made no objection, and the two quickly settled down into a friendly conversation. Their companions just looked on with smiles on their faces. "I could be wrong," Laretta whispered to Bob, "but I think Cindy's really taking a liking to this guy!" Bob chuckled and said to Bill, "Maybe we should just let them alone for a while. They seem to really enjoy each other's company." Laretta grinned and nodded, taking one last look at the two companions engrossed in conversation. Finding herself with little else to do, she strolled around the bar, occasionally grabbing a glimpse of young people dancing about on the dance floor, and gave herself a slightly disappointed sigh. "At least Cindy found someone she really seems to like," she thought to herself, "If only I were so lucky." She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, trying to find something to distract her thoughts, when suddenly Bob came running back to her. "Hey, Laretta," he said excitedly, "I almost totally forgot. There's someone else with us tonight who really wanted to meet you! We owed him a favor, so I was just wondering..." Laretta smiled and replied, "Why of course, I'd love to meet this friend of yours!" She grew hopeful again, thinking that her luck was about to change. "That's great, Laretta!" Bob replied, "This guy, I have to say must be your biggest fan! I know he'll be very excited to see you. I should warn you, though, that he's really not like a lot of other people you'd know!" He carefully lifted a specially designed duffel bag onto a table, "For one thing, it's not easy for him to just meet people!" "I see," Laretta nodded, "Is he just really shy?" The coyote grinned, "Er, not exactly." He unzipped the front of the mesh bag, and peeked inside. "Come on out, Ben! She's right out here, I kid you not!" Laretta was at first incredulous about what she saw. At first, she thought he was playing some sort of prank on her. Then, however, she saw the form of a small light-furred mouse, about two inches tall, stroll out of the bag and onto the table. The bipedal rodent was even wearing clothes, a loose light-colored shirt and tan shorts with cargo pockets. He had a large smile on his cheerful face, and his whiskers twitched with excitement. "Laretta, meet Ben Moss," Bob smiled. "He may be a mouse, but he's a really smart, helpful, and friendly type of guy. A real swell fellow, if I do say so myself!" Laretta still had to get over the shock of her initial surprise. Throughout the history of anthropomorphic genetic evolution, the natural process favored anthromorphs taking on the general size and shape of human beings, to ease their adaptation into society. There were certain cases of smaller animal types such as squirrels, birds, and mice remaining their natural miniature size, and many of these "mini-morphs" lived together in protected "colonies" in sparsely populated areas of North America, Australia, and Asia. Nonetheless, small anthromorphs were rare compared to their larger counterparts and typically did not venture into heavily populated places, so Laretta was doubly surprised to find one here. "Thanks for the intro, Bob!" the mouse spoke up in a faint voice. "No problem, Ben!" the coyote grinned. "Well, Laretta, I hope you two have a nice time together!" Laretta nodded, though with slight uncertainty, "Okay, and thanks again for introducing us!" With that, she turned her attention to the mouse. He certainly seemed nice and pleasant enough, but Laretta was still at a loss of how to approach him without seeming threatening. She lowered her head close to the table (this made hearing him easier, as well) and started to speak gently, "So, Ben, how did a mouse like you end up in a place like this?" Ben chuckled warmly and replied, "I can tell that you wouldn't expect a guy my size to be around here, but I really can explain! I work as a freelance electronics engineer. I'm a 'troubleshooter', if you will, for anyone who needs the aid of my expertise. You see, I can get into a lot of little nooks and crannies that a lot of larger people can't reach. That puts me in very high demand! I was fixing a circuit blowout for the radio station those guys work at, and when they mentioned Cassie's band was going to be in town, I just had to know how I could meet you!" He grinned nervously, "I guess it was just luck that we both happened to be here tonight!" Laretta smiled and rested her chin on her hand. "That's very interesting, Ben," she replied, "and you're a big fan of Cassie and the band?" The mouse smiled, walking closer to Laretta's nose, "Absolutely! I must honestly say, though, that you are without a doubt my favorite in the whole group! You're just the most beautiful wolfette I've ever seen, and I love how you sing!" Laretta smiled and gently rubbed Ben between his ears. He giggled and nuzzled her finger, while she grinned, revealing her sharp fangs. She couldn't imagine what that must have looked like to Ben, but he didn't show any fear. The mouse had a very kind and sincere demeanor, and Laretta appreciated that. They continued to chat for a while about various subjects, though Laretta held Ben in her hand so they could talk to each other more easily. Laretta talked happily about all her experiences in Cassie's band and all the fun she had with her new friends, while Ben talked a little about his own background. Laretta was amazed to hear that he served in a special division of the armed forces, sneaking into enemy bases and gathering intelligence. "When I was discharged, I was so attached to getting along and working with 'the big people' that I wanted to find a line of work that let me work with them a lot. My friends and family thought I was pretty strange to do this, but it's what I really wanted to do, so here I am!" Laretta grinned, "You know, it sounds like we have a lot in common, Ben!" They took a small break from their conversation, watching everyone have fun on the dance floor. From a quick glance, Laretta could tell that Cindy was still engrossed in her conversation with Victor, so she knew she was in no hurry to leave. "It sure would be nice to be able to dance with you," said Ben, "but I guess I can't ask for everything." Laretta looked out to the dance floor, it didn't seem quite as crowded as before. She smiled down to Ben, "I don't see why we can't!" Ben looked surprised as Laretta lifted him up in her hand, "What are you talking about?" She lifted him up to her shoulder, "Hang on to my collar. Let's at least pretend that we're dancing together!" The mouse nervously held on to Laretta's collar, unsure if this was the safest thing to do. Still, he was happy to be close to the lovely she-wolf. "All right, I trust you," he smiled, "Let's go!" She walked down to the dance floor and found a spot safely away from the other dancers. "Holler and tug on my fur if start moving too much!" she said to Ben, who smiled and nodded. Nobody would have thought it possible, but they were going to dance the night away! Laretta moved about rhythmically, swaying back and forth, side to side, and wagging her tail in time with the music. Ben held on tightly to her black leather collar and laughed as they moved together to the music. They were both enjoying their time together immensely. Meanwhile, Cindy was enjoying her conversation with Victor equally immensely. "That's amazing, Victor!" she remarked, "I didn't know you went into rehab, too!" The white tiger smiled, "I've been sober for almost a year now." He frowned slightly, remembering his life as a struggling musician when frustration drove him to drinking and drug abuse. Cindy sympathetically held his hand, "When did you realize you needed to quit?" He frowned slightly, "One night, when I nearly overdosed on booze and poppers. I was so wasted, I couldn't find my way home, got caught in the rain, and nearly died of pneumonia! My brother found me and got me to the hospital, though. When I woke up and found myself with about a dozen tubes plugged into my body, I knew I couldn't go on like that." He smiled and looked into Cindy's green eyes, "I checked myself into rehab, and it totally changed my life. I found new inspiration, and I started playing better music than I ever thought I could!" He played a short, beautiful melody on his mandolin for Cindy. "That's really nice," she smiled, "What do you call it?" He chuckled, "My mandolin." They both laughed as Cindy gave him a hug. For just a moment, their tails curled together in an embrace. "Say, isn't that your friend on the dance floor?" Victor asked, his attention drawn away for a moment. Cindy glanced in Laretta's direction, noticing how Laretta was happily dancing, by herself it seemed. "I believe you're right," she said. "It's nice to see she's having a good time, even if she's by herself," she sighed, leaning next to her companion. "What about you, then?" Victor asked, running his hand through her hair. Cindy grinned, rubbing her leg against his, "I think you know the answer to that." Laretta continued to dance enthusiastically, feeling the energy flowing through her body. She never really liked to dance, but there was something about Ben's cheerful and kindly personality that persuaded her to act differently. "This is a lot of fun! What do you think, Ben?" Laretta asked, taking a moment to catch her breath. She didn't hear any response. "Ben?" she asked, very worried. She started to panic when she realized he wasn't on her shoulder. OH NO, WHERE IS HE!?! she thought in a frenzied panic as she came solidly to a halt, fearful that he might be on the floor. She carefully lowered herself down to her hands and knees, and started looking for him. "Ben?! Ben, where are you!?!" she called out in terror. The other dancers moved out of her way, as bewildered as they were. Laretta got some very strange glances, but she was now completely oblivious to everything besides finding her small companion safely. She was almost ready to give up hope when she heard a faint voice from behind her head, "Laretta! I'm back here!" She immediately froze in her tracks. "Ben?" she asked calmly. She felt a tickling sensation from the back of her neck as a small form crawled over to her left shoulder. "I'm over here, Laretta! Don't worry, I'm okay!" Ben called out from her shoulder, waving to her. Laretta breathed a sigh of relief as she carefully retrieved Ben from her shoulder. "Ben, I'm so sorry!" she said to the mouse, holding him carefully in her hands, "I should have been more careful!" The mouse grinned, "It's all right, Laretta! I must have lost my footing and nearly fell off your shoulder, but I grabbed on to your collar just in time! I tried yelling, but you must not have heard me. It's not your fault, though. That was a lot of fun!" Laretta rose to her feet, carefully holding Ben in her hands. "I think that's enough dancing for tonight, anyway," she smiled. "I must say, Ben, you really are a nice, charming fellow! You really gave me a night to remember!" Ben blushed slightly, "Laretta, you really feel that way? I mean, you're such a big, beautiful she-wolf, and you don't care that I'm a little mouse?" She leaned her muzzle forward and gave him a gentle lick. "I don't care how big or small you are!" she giggled, "You're a real sweetie, and that's all that matters to me!" Ben laughed and gave her a hug on her nose. "Thank you so much, Laretta!" he happily replied, "I know now that the biggest thing about you is your heart!" They decided that they had enough excitement for one evening, so they went back to where Bob was waiting, so he could get Ben back home safely. "Sorry to have kept you waiting so long, Bob," said Laretta. "No problem!" Bob replied, "So did you two have a nice time together?" Laretta smiled and shook her head, "Oh, absolutely! We had a lot of fun together!" Ben chuckled, "Except for the part where I nearly fell to my death!" Bob was bewildered for a moment, but he shrugged it off. "Ben's always been a bit of a thrill seeker, I know that!" he chuckled, as Ben and Laretta also laughed. "So where are you staying, Ben?" Laretta asked. "Well, right now I'm roomin' with Bob," Ben grinned. "If you can call it that," Bob replied, "his home's a literal hole in the wall!" Ben just smiled and replied, "It suits me fine, for now, but what I'd really like is to live somewhere on the beach! A big, cool cave would be really nice." Laretta smiled and patted Ben, "Well, as long as you have someplace to go. I really did have a wonderful time tonight! Thank you." The mouse churred and hugged her finger. Without saying a word, she knew he felt the exact same way. With a regretful sigh, she bid farewell to her two companions and went to find Cindy. It seemed she had also reluctantly parted from her conversation with Victor. "You ready to go?" the snow leopardess asked. Laretta nodded, "Yeah, it's been a long day. I'm ready for my beauty sleep!" Cindy just chuckled and led Laretta outside. When they got back to Cindy's motorcycle, Laretta eagerly hopped into the side cab. After her wonderful evening with Ben, she had forgotten all about how scared she was the first time. Strapping on her helmet, Cindy asked, "You ready?" Laretta grinned, "You bet!" Shrugging, Cindy kick started the engine and revved the Harley into street. This time, Laretta enjoyed the feel of the cool wind on her face. She could tell how much Cindy loved riding her machine. After a short while, they reached the front of the luxury hotel where Laretta had gotten a penthouse suite. Laretta climbed out of the cab, still a little shaky from the ride, but this time much more at ease. "That was some night, wasn't it Laretta?" Cindy remarked, brushing her long silver hair back. "It sure was!" Laretta happily replied, "Thanks so much for taking me to that place, Cindy!" Cindy smiled, "Don't mention it, Laretta. We ought to do it more often!" Laretta felt like talking with Cindy for a bit before turning in for the night. "So how was that guy you met tonight, Cindy?" she asked with a grin. "Victor? Oh, he's a real nice guy," Cindy replied, "He's a great listener and he respects my intelligence. He's also got a real neat sense of humor." Laretta pressed on, "Do you think you'll hear from him again?" Cindy shrugged, "I dunno. I left him my phone number, so it's up to him if he wants to talk to me again." "So what about you?" Cindy asked her friend, "Did you meet anyone special?" Laretta replied with a big smile, "Oh yeah! His name was Ben, a real sweet, charming guy! We had the greatest time together!" "Really?" Cindy asked, somewhat skeptically, "I saw you having fun on the dance floor, but not with any guy! Where was he?" Laretta thought for a moment before replying, "Well, he's kind of shy and doesn't really stand out in a crowd, plus he's not really a dancer, but he really is a nice guy!" Cindy nodded, "Oh well, I guess that's all that matters." Laretta smiled and nodded. "Do you want to come up to my place for some coffee?" Laretta asked. Cindy shook her head, "No thanks, I'm ready to call it a night! You take it easy now, Laretta!" Laretta waved as Cindy started up her motorcycle, "Thanks, Cindy. You take care too!" She watched as Cindy sped off into the night, her tail flailing behind her like a streamer. Laretta made her way up to the top floor, where her suite was located. Normally she wouldn't have minded sharing a suite with Cassie or the rest of the band, but this time they all agreed that they could do with their own personal space. After unlocking the door and entering, she kicked off her pumps and pulled off her frilly ankle socks, and rubbed her aching feet in the soft plush carpet. She was still happy, but totally exhausted and ready to finally rest. Before turning in, she turned on her cell phone and checked her voice mail for any important messages. *BEEP* -- "Hi Laretta, it's Cassie! You were excellent on stage, as always! I've got some important news. We're going to have to bump up our rehearsal schedule a little bit. The Zetag executives need to come into town a few days early to discuss the details about our next album with Foxonian and me, plus they want to hear us all play together. Then, we need to get together for mapping out our next tour. Don't worry, though, we'll have time off in between! Drop me a line when you can, 'kay? Bye!" *BEEP* -- "Hello, Laretta, this is Ken Steele from Azure Horizons Real Estate. I'm calling with good news about that property by Lake Tahoe that you were interested in. The seller likes your bidding offer, and would like to close on it soon. Can you get in touch with me as soon as possible to schedule a time for us to negotiate the contract? I'll be away from the office until Tuesday, but any time after that should work great for me. Thank you!" Laretta was thrilled to hear this last piece of news. After visiting Lake Tahoe a few months before, she immediately fell in love with the place and had her heart set on purchasing a vacation home there where she could stay during the band's off time. She immediately scribbled down a note to herself to call the real estate office right away. She picked up her shoes and socks and let out a contented sigh. After thinking for just a moment, she felt that she was in just the right mood to take a nice, relaxing bath before going to bed. She made her way to the suite's bathroom, where she found a soft bathrobe and a matching set of plush towels, plentiful enough to dry out her fur. What she liked most of all about her suite was the bathroom's giant hot tub. She adjusted the faucets so that water poured into the tub at just the right temperature. As the water filled the tub, she started to undress. First, she unfastened her wrist cuffs and removed her fingerless gloves. Setting those aside, she arched her back inward and reached towards her back to unzip her bustier. With a bit of effort, she removed her bustier and gave a sigh of relief. She hung the bustier on a rack in the corner, then unfastened the hook holding up her leather miniskirt just above the base of her tail, slid the skirt off, and placed it next to the bustier. Finally, she unfastened her collar and hung it on the rack last. Out of habit, it was always the last article of clothing she removed, perhaps a habit she picked up from Cassie, she thought with a grin. Seeing that the tub was nearly full, she padded over to the tub and turned off the faucets. The last thing that remained for her to do was to select a bottle of natural fur conditioner, specially blended with herbs and oils for energizing, relaxing, or balancing effects. "I definitely won't be needing any help going to sleep tonight," she thought, setting aside the red tranquilizing conditioner. She also set aside the green energizing and the yellow rejuvenation liquids, since those would more likely keep her awake. She pondered between the blue energy balancing and purple body soothing conditioners, settling on the purple to help her muscles relax. She poured a cupful into the tub, waiting just a moment for the liquids to mix and froth together. When she was ready, she stepped up to the tub and carefully dipped her toes into the water. She twitched for a moment, adjusting to the temperature, but then gradually lowered her foot into the comfortable water. She planted her other foot into the tub, then slowly lowered her body in, gradually immersing her legs, tail, torso, breasts, and arms, until she was finally in the water up to her neck. She smiled and let out a deep, contented sigh as the warm water and frothy bath oil swirled around her and soaked into her fur. She tilted her head back into a nook of the tub, a separate compartment for washing head hair. She turned on a spigot and deposited some shampoo into her orange, green, and pink colored hair, and proceeded to lather and wash the dye out. Gradually, the colors rinsed out of her hair, which returned to its natural black color very quickly. She smiled and nearly drifted off to sleep when a ringing noise caught her attention. Perking her ears up, she recognized it as her cell phone going off. Fortunately, she left it near the tub in case she got a call, but she was still slightly miffed to have her relaxing moment interrupted. Shaking soap and water off her paws, she reached for the phone and activated the speaker shortly after the fourth ring. "Hello?" she responded as politely as possible. "Hi, Laretta," a familiar voice started, in a slightly nervous tone, "It's me, Ben." Laretta replied happily, "Hi, Ben! How are you doing? What a nice surprise, getting a call from you tonight!" Ben chuckled, still slightly nervous, "Thanks, Laretta. I had such a wonderful time tonight that I just had to call you! I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" Laretta smiled, as she lifted one of her legs out of the water, wiggling her toes so that the soap and water dripped back into the tub. "Not at all," she replied, "and I'm really glad you called! I really had a great time tonight, too. Thank you so much!" Ben chuckled again, happy to hear the delight in Laretta's voice. "You're welcome!" he exclaimed, "but there is something else." "What is it?" Laretta asked. "Well, Laretta, I really like you," he said nervously, "and I'd really like to be able to see you again when I can! How long are you going to be in town!" "Not very long, unfortunately," Laretta said with disappointment, "Tomorrow morning, the band's getting back together for a short business meeting, then we hit the road back to our main recording studio in New York. There won't be any time for us to meet, unfortunately!" "Aw, that's too bad," Ben replied, "but we can still always stay in touch, can't we?" Laretta smiled, "You bet we can! I'll stay in touch with you when we're on the road, and keep you up to date with what we're doing!" "That's great, Laretta!" Ben replied happily, "You know, if you like using the Internet, you can even catch me in chat rooms! Let me give you my nickname - 'Ben_Mouse'." Laretta was quite happy to talk to Ben again, since she really had grown a deep fondness for him. "Okay, Ben, I'll give it a try some time and keep track of you! Thanks again for calling!" "Oh no," Ben chuckled, "Thank you for being the loveliest wolfette on the planet!" Laretta giggled a Ben's wonderful sense of humor. She turned her cell phone off and drew herself back into her bath. She sighed and smiled, remembering when she and Cassie chatted about Cassie's love for Foxonian. She remembered exactly what the vixen told her, that everyone finds love at some time in their lives, and "once you've found it, enjoy every minute of it!" Even as she would drift off to sleep later and be on her way early the next day, her thoughts would always be with the special little mouse who just made her life so wonderful. END OF STORY Latest version: October 15, 2001