The Storm That Sounded Like Dead Fish

Part 2- The Sun Wakes Up

Jim reclined in his comfy couch. This was one of those days when he could just lean back and smell his friendly acorn home. Cinnamon was in the air, and it was a peaceful day to relax.

Billions of miles away, the Sun opened his eyes and stretched his arms. At once he smelled the nuclear waste in the air.

"Yum!" said the sun. "What a nice smell is in the air! And how peaceful everything looks! Jim, you've done a great job."

Jim heard the sun's praise and smiled. He deserved this, after all. Keeping planet Eeurf in order while the sun was sleeping was no simple task.

"Thank you, O mighty and blinding sun. It wasn't easy. There was a storm when you were away, and it took all my strength to hold it until you got back."

"Surely you expect some sort of reward?" The sun questioned Jim.

"Oh, no, great and bright sun. I only request one small thing." Jim looked up at the sun with big brown eyes.

Good god, what could the mouse possibly want, the sun thought.

"Well..." Jim spoke hesitantly. "I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner tonight. Just tonight. I'm making a lamb roast and I can't eat it all."

The sun, surprised at such a simple request, blinked in alarm. "Are you sure that's all you want? I could give you immortality. Extreme power. Even your own planet!"

Jim smiled. "No thank you, O wonderfully gorgeo-"

"Enough with the flattery, Jim."

"My apologies, great and powerful sun. I would be honored beyond comprehension to have you in my friendly acorn home."

The sun thought about this. Lamb roast certainly sounded mouthwatering. And this poor man deserved some recognition.

"I will attend your dinner," the sun stated sophisticatedly. "Prepare your finest dishes, and silver spoons, and silk napkins."

Jim nearly wet himself with excitement.
•••
Jim finished setting the table for dinner. On the vast oak table lay a tablecloth soft and white as an alpaca. The dishes were porcelain, a luxury from china, and the spoons were a fine alloy of silver and platinum.

The sun knocked on the door. Running to the front, Jim peered out the peephole. The sun stood there, looking bright and dapper.

"Sun, is that you?" Jim asked.

The sun rolled his eyes. Who else would it be?
"Yes," he said. "Who else?"

"It could be Martha Coakley," Jim whispered with horror. "You could be an enemy spy, waiting to kill me in my sleep."

The sun stared at the door. "Um, no. I'm the sun. I'm definitely the sun."

Jim pouted. "Fine. Tell me the secret password."

The sun stared at the door some more. What secret password? The mouse had spoken nothing of any password. Unless...
"Okay, um... Icky Icky Icky Icky Beetroot Rrrrrrhapido Echhh Nee."

Jim beamed. Swinging open the door, he welcomed Sun. "Welcome to my friendly acorn home!" He positively yelled. "Please, be seated. Can I get you anything? Water? Coke? Cyanide- oops. I mean, ah, Pepsi?"

The sun gave Jim another strange look. "Cyanide?" He shot Jim a questioning look.

Jim smiled, staring at a small space behind Sun's ear.

Sun sighed. "I would like some water, if you don't mind."

Jim danced over to the sink, where he poured a glass of water for Sun. He filled it with various flavorings, slipping in some "Pepsi."

Sun felt more and more relaxed. Leaning back, he and Jim dug in to the roast. Sun couldn't help but notice the subtle taste of bitter almonds in the lamb. In fact, the rice, vegetables, salad, and water all tasted like almonds.

"Jim," Sun said, "Are you trying to poison me with actual cyanide?"

Jim silently walked over to his stove.
"Maybe."

The Sun jumped up. "How dare you betray my trust?! You invite me to dinner, and attempt to poison me! Are you mad?! I'm immune to cyanide!"

Jim looked up. "No, I'm perfectly sane. In fact, if you're a big ball of flaming gas, how can you speak, have ears, or fit inside a friendly acorn home?

With this simple burst of logic, the sun exploded into a fountain of mercury and other dangerous chemicals. Jim's lab team appeared, bottled the chemicals for weapon development, and cleaned up the remainders.

Jim finished his lamb and relaxed in his comfy couch.