The Fox leans across the table sluggishly. “Welcome pal, glad you could make it.” He pats the Coyote on the back. “Take a seat, pull up a chair, make yourself comfortable, make yourself at home. We’re all glad you showed up this evening.” He pulls a chair out from under the table. “Honey, we have a guest. Let’s be dashing.” He shouts though the dwelling. The fox doesn’t really live here, but his squirrel does.
The Coyote takes the seat. “Thanks buddy, you knew I’d show up.” The Wolf is eating away in the corner hovering over his food. He talks through his chews, “Sorry,” he growls, “ I’ll be with you in a minute.” He eats fast devouring each bite, tearing at the flesh with sharp fangs.
The squirrel enters the room. “Anybody want some carrots?”
“Ah! We don’t want no stinking carrots!” shouted the fox. “What do you think, we are turning vegetarian? Woman, now get me a drink!” The fox waves his paw for her to scurry back into the kitchen.
“Hey buddy, you sure you’re not hungry?” the Wolf asks the Coyote. “We got
Plenty of meat, still bloody and fresh.”
“No thanks. I just ate, but I’ll have a smoke though. Anybody have a light?” replies the Coyote.
“How about some matches?” Asks the Fox sharply.
“That’d do.” The Coyote says rolling a cigarette from his little black pouch, placing it in his mouth. The spark burns blue at first quickly with a sudden burst of sulfur, inhale, and exhale. The room has a gray haze. “How about a game of marbles and wit?” He asks blowing smoke rings.
“Sure thing buddy.” Says the Wolf licking the blood off his lips.
“I… I don’t know,” smugs the Fox. “Honey, you not going to bed yet!” He shouts. “I got to stay up with the boys for a bit.”
“Alright dear.” She comes hopping back into the living room. “Here is your drink. Don’t be too long” The fox accepts the drink, sips, leans back and relaxes.
“Thanks sugar, you’re so great.” He rubs noses with her; they lick each other’s paws.
“Now don’t stay up to late.” She shakes a finger. “I’m really tired,” she winks.
“Ah, but babe, the Coyote came all this way to visit us tonight.” He whimpers. “Just wait for me baby.”
“Yeah,” the Coyote snarls letting smoke stream out his nostrils. “And I’m going to stop coming by this way till it warms. You know how far I have to travel? It’s still frickin’ winter out and I’ve already got my spring fir on!” he jerks and shouts letting the ash of his cigarette fall to the dirt ground. “A guy has to start asking himself, is it worth traveling all this way to visit ya’ll?”
The Wolf lets out a hardy laugh and snarls, “I suppose not.”
The Coyote stands up, “Now what does a guy have to do to get a drink around here?” He walks to the kitchen, comes back with a bottle of booze in his hand. Hands the bottle to the Wolf, “Want a pull?” The wolf tips the bottle back, takes a hard long swallow, washing down the last few bites of his meal. “Oooh hooo, that’s some good strong stuff.” The Coyote takes the bottle back, and starts drinking it fast pouring the caramel liquor down his throat. It coats and warms its way into his belly. “Alright fellas, let’s get on with business.”
“This moldy cheese has no flavor!” complains the Coyote.
“Quit your bitching or stop eating our food.” Smirks the Fox. “And! Oh! You did not just double dip, did you?” He adds.
“No.” replies the Coyote.
“Yes you did, I saw you.” Says the Fox sharply.
“Ah, no…no I didn’t.” The Coyote swallows licking the bone clean. “And this isn’t your food pal. The Wolf got the kill this time.”
“Wolf? Did you see our friend here double dipping?” Snarls the Fox.
“Ah, I wasn’t paying attention.” The wolf digs his nose back into the carcass.
“I swear man, if I ever catch you double dippin’ in our dinner again…”
“You’ll what? You’ll what?” the Coyote puffs up his chest walking towards the Fox. The Fox cowards. “You just wait, you’ll see.” Threatens the Fox with empty words. The Coyote knows the Fox can do nothing to him and continues chewing the flesh off their newly fallen victim. The Fox keeps his eyes on the Coyote as he devours and sticks his nose into the ribcage. The Wolf licks the blood off his paws and howls into the winter night. Steam rises from his voice into the clear crisp wind. His lover is out there and he is alone.
“Ah, quit your whining.” Remarks the Fox. The Wolf growls, squints his eyes. The Fox cowards again placing his tale between his legs.
