Alexander the Caracal's Christmas

Mr. Cortes and Mr. Cook Play Cards

Sitting with Captain Smith in his office, Alexander and Roxana both listened as their master taught Alan and Gemma. As the two redheaded adolescents wrote down on paper what their mentor was saying, the two caracals both jumped up onto the laps of their master's pupils, Alexander on Alan's and Roxana on Gemma's.

Alan was nothing short of surprised, Gemma could not help but chuckle, but Captain Smith? He could only shake his head, stand up and proceed to lift the two caracals off of his nephew and his head gardener's daughter. He then proceeded to carry them both out of his office and say: "Please don't force the door open with your head, either of you." Closing the door, he then could be heard mumbling: "Who am I kidding? They'll do it anyway."

Alexander's first instinct was to meow at the closed door, while Roxana's was just to start forcing the door open with her head. As Mr. Cortes, the butler came passing by, he smiled and said: "Come now, you two. Let Alan and Gemma be as they have their lesson." Kneeling down, the old man stroked the two caracals and said: "Come, let us go see Mr. Cook. I'll beat him at cards yet, I swear it!"

John Cortes Senior had been the head of the Romani community that had served under Herr von Fell at his circus. A cruel man who preferred the presence of the individuals who gave Romani a bad name, Herr von Fell had ultimately lost the support of the Romani and so they had come to live at Quebec Castle, adding to the initially miniscule staff. As head of the community, Mr. Cortes had become the butler and he was proud to serve Captain Smith in such a position. He was sixty-six years old, stood at a height of five feet and eleven inches and had a mustache upon his countenance. He was a grand old man, well loved by all on the estate.

Following Mr. Cortes, Alexander and Roxana found Mr. Cook seated in the parlour with the cards ready. There was a bored expression upon the countenance of the Head Gardener. It was only natural, with nothing to garden he would not be working until Spring came.

Noticing Mr. Cortes and the two caracals, Mr. Cook said: "Greetings! How goes the day?"

"Well, Robert..." began Mr. Cortes, taking a seat opposite of Mr. Cook. "I am still rather surprised that all of the students wish to stay here for Christmas rather than go home to their families, Ian excluded, of course, since Captain Smith's brother and his family now live here."

Shrugging, Mr. Cook began shuffling the cards and said: "It is to be expected, John. They are good kids they worry for Captain Smith and his family. Three family members lost in a single year I can't imagine it."

"I lost my grandparents, my uncle, my aunt and my best friend all over the period of two years when I was young." Stated Mr. Cortes with a sigh. "I was so distraught that I tried to enlist to fight the Mahdists, hoping that if I were to die, it would be as a soldier. Alas, they wouldn't have me... Simply because I am what I am."

"I tried to enlist as well." Commented Mr. Cook, handing Mr. Cortes his cards. "Not for the Mahdist War, but still I enlisted. I was rejected for looking sickly."

"What?" asked Mr. Cortes, completely surprised. "What do you say? You, Robert? Sickly? Why I don't believe it!"

"It is true, John." Replied Mr. Cook. "I did look sickly, but I actually wasn't."

"Looks can be deceiving." Uttered Mr. Cortes, looking at his cards. "Any thirty-fives?"

As the two caracals groomed one another, they both paused and stared at Mr. Cortes. They may have not known much about cards, but they certainly knew the card numbers did not go as high as thirty-five.

With a blank expression, Mr. Cook asked: "What?"

Mr. Cortes repeated: "Any thirty-fives?"

Bringing a hand to his face, the Head Gardener asked the Butler: "Do you realize what you just asked?"

"Any thirty... Oh..." Grimacing, Mr. Cortes looked at his hand and chuckled: "Oh, dear. That's a thirty-five, that is a three and a five. Uh, any threes?"

"Go fish." Answered Mr. Cook.

Sighing, Mr. Cortes took a card from the pile and asked: "So, Gemma caught one of the bouquets back at the wedding. Does she have any suitors yet?"

"There is only one I have any real interest in her being with." Mr. Cook replied.

"Oh, who is that?"

"Alan."

"Alan?" Mr. Cortes asked with a smile. "The Captain's eldest nephew? He's a good lad, I have heard him declare his love to Gemma."

"That he is, John!" stated Mr. Cook, reaching down to pet Alexander as the Northern Caracal walked over to him. "I approve of Alan and more importantly both he and Gemma feel the same way about each other! I told him to profess his love at the wedding, just not during the ceremony."

"And did he?"

"Alas, no. Any kings?"