Coffin of Hope

Chapter Forty

The kids had a great time tearing through the wrapping on their gifts and presents. Mally, Mickey and Sola were shocked that they'd gotten so many.

Then Timmy walked over. "Hey, guys."

"Timmy!" The group yelled.

"Happy Christmas!"

"Happy Christmas!"

"I've got presents for you girls."

"Girls?" Marc frowned.

"What about us?!" Mal snapped.

"What about you?" Timmy stared at him.

"Favoritism!" Mike yelled.

"Yup."

The girls giggled. "What's the present?"

Timmy waved a hand. "Laura."

Laura took the small square cage. "What is this?"

"Uncover it."

Laura took off the white cloth and screamed. "She's so cute!"

"How'd you know it was a girl?" He teased.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Timmy!" Laura took her snow white bunny with dark blue eyes and pink nose out to cuddle.

"You're welcome. Mercy."

Mercedes gasped and clapped when she was handed a birdcage. "Is it a bird?!"

"Uncover it."

She ripped off the sheet and screeched at the nightingale. "Is it a girl?! She's so beautiful! Is it a girl?!"

"It's a girl. Lucy."

Quinn grew really excited. Timmy was obviously handing out animals. She took a square cage like Laura's. Was it another rabbit? "Is it a bunny?"

"Lucy! Uncover it!"

She yanked the cover off and squealed. It was a white Persian shorthair kitten. "Tell me it's a girl!"

"It's a girl."

Quinn was loud.

"Marcy."

Marcy frowned. "I don't trust you, Chang."

"You will." Hopefully this goes right. Timmy whistled and two workers strained to bring something in.

It broke away from the staff and bounded over.

"That's your mistress, devil!" He pointed at Marcy.

The beast ran full steam to Marcy and jumped on her. Marcy screamed. Everyone freaked out.

Mal tried to pull the black Tibetan Mastiff off his fiancée but the dog snarled at him.

Marcy sat up and hugged the dog. "Hi, boy!"

The dog woofed and licked her already wet face.

"Wow." Timmy was blown away. "He tried to bite me. Multiple times."

"And you thought to give him to a little girl?" Michael raised a brow.

"Look at how good he is now."

It was true. Marcy was rubbing the dog everywhere she could reach and his tail wagged quickly.

"I'm next!" Maddie bounced on her knees. "I'm next, right?"

"Yes, you are." Timmy waved a few workers over. They carried a large blue Amazonian tortoise.

Maddie yelled happily. Turtles were her favorite animals. "Look at him!"

"How do you all get the genders correct?"