Screw Rules

Jangle The Jingles

(Christmas special for the season! Merry Christmas everybody!)

"This is Christmas Goose, come in Giblets," said Skipper over a walkie talkie while spying out a nearby fish market in the middle of Manhattan, frosty binoculars pressed to his face.

"Please tell me that's not me..." Kowalski responded weakly, sounding as if he was rolling his eyes.

Skipper glanced at Rico beside him with a smile, "returning to home base with the packages soon, things looking good there?"

This time Private picked up chirping, "everything's alright here, Skippah!"

"Then Rico and I will be coming home for Christmas!" Tucking the walkie away Skipper breathed the crisp air, feeling it chill his insides. "You ready amigo?" Asked Skipper, a gingerly placed flipper on his soldier's shoulder.

Rico nodded excitingly before spewing out a plunger, fine rope and two wire coat hangers. Attaching the sting to the plunger he threw it strongly across the street, hearing soon the satisfying sound of it suctioning to a lower window from where they were sat upon a high rooftop.

Skipper gripped his hanger, ready to ride down but a swell of pride kept him back for a moment to say "good work Rico, let's move."

Sliding smoothly down the line Skipper felt the cold wind nip at him, yet the rushing winds were nothing less than exciting he thought as they hit the ground, ducking swiftly for cover behind a dimly lit street pole decorated in garland. "Alright compadre, you go for the albacore and snapper on the left. I'll take the catfish and salmon. Meet back in that alleyway," Skipper ordered sternly, pointing at a nearby alleyway a little ways down the road and past all the bustling people out on the night before Christmas.

Giving a single nod of acknowledgement Rico darted away, already on task while Skipper stood there, staring after him as if he wasn't expecting Rico to leave him so quickly. When he was out of sight something stung deep within Skipper, something that was telling him he shouldn't have let him go but rather should have went with him. It almost felt as if he was longing to stick by his lieutenant for just a moment longer or if he had forgotten something important. But it didn't matter right now, he had a mission at hand to deal with first.

He sighed and took a breath before turning around to see where his target's locations were, and soon enough he spotted the fattest load of catfish and salmon he'd ever seen! Tis the season he supposed. The issue was finding a safe way to acquire them when they were so crowded by last minute shopping New Yorkers, they were always a troublesome bunch. Yet when Skipper's eye caught the sight of a fishing pole laying around the back of the market he instantly knew what his next move was.

It was time to go fishing.

After he had that snagging just two fish was a piece of pie, but while he sat there those unforeseen emotions kept sneaking back to spite him. Where was Rico? Was he having trouble? Is he waiting for me? That one stuck, Skipper sure hoped so. Just the thought suddenly made his heart pound soundly underneath his thick feathered chest, the glint of cheery expectation written in the swirls of his blue shimmering irises.

What was this feeling that was driving him so mad? It came from absolutely nowhere and yet it was already so strong, as if it had been planted in him for a long time now. Maybe it had been. Or maybe it was just because Rico wasn't here right now. Either way, he needed to figure this out before it consumed him completely. it was Christmas after all, he didn't have time for last minute dilly dally!

When he finally did make his way back to the alleyway the sun had nearly fully set, the sky filled with streaks of brilliant scarlet, orange and pink mixed together into beautiful swirls. There was still a light lingering above the rooftops and skylines, like a firefly dancing among the clouds. And despite how cold Skipper was he couldn't help but feel warmed by its gentle glow.