December 15<\/p>\n
Schrodinger curled up in his bed next to the fireplace on the upper level of Crosswinds Books and contemplated the universe. Specifically, the slice of the universe he could see without moving his head from his paws, which included Drew and Tom as they sat in a pair of easy chairs and talked in low tones.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t matter that they were across the room from him, and that the fire was crackling merrily behind him \u2013 if he wanted to, he could listen to their conversation. CrossCats had a number of talents, and the ability to hear across the Roads was one that was vital for survival. But Molly had taught him etiquette and he knew that listening in wasn\u2019t appropriate.<\/p>\n
And so he dozed, content to listen to the soft Celtic harp Christmas music Marge had playing, ignoring the words swirling around him, until the word \u201cMolly\u201d pierced his semi-sleepiness. Especially as it was said in a very urgent way.<\/p>\n
Without moving his head to give away that he\u2019d heard anything, Schrodinger swiveled his ears slowly, seeking out the voice he\u2019d heard. His eyes, only open a slit, saw Drew and Tom, still talking, and Marge and Father Christopher, also deeply involved in a conversation. Who had it been?<\/p>\n
Hard to tell, since he heard both Marge and Drew say her name again within moments of one another. Since he didn\u2019t worry about Marge, Schrodinger decided to concentrate his attention on the two Gate techs.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s going to have to make a choice,\u201d Drew was saying, and Schrodinger\u2019s mental eyebrows rose. \u201cI just want to make sure at the end that we don\u2019t all lose friendships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom nodded. \u201cI agree, and so does Luke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke I\u2019m not worried about,\u201d Drew said. \u201cBut we all know how much you love Molly. Hell, the whole town knows.\u201d Tom grimaced, but didn\u2019t say anything, and so Drew continued, \u201cWill you be okay seeing her with someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom hesitated, but before he could answer, Schrodinger heard Marge say, \u201cBesides, she\u2019s finally getting into the secret admirer game,\u201d and he zeroed into that conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is a blessing,\u201d Father Christopher said. \u201cI was worried for a bit. Especially with the blow-up she and Tom had when he came back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s behind them, luckily. She said they had a wonderful time at the party last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019s still planning on going to the Snow Queen\u2019s Dance on Saturday, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marge nodded. \u201cWe\u2019re closing the store early, of course. And she bought a dress yesterday. She\u2019s going to look like a princess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd her secret admirer will be there,\u201d Father Christopher said. \u201cDo you think she\u2019s guessed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe says she hasn\u2019t, although she\u2019s got suspicions,\u201d Marge said. \u201cBut then again, if she hasn\u2019t got at least suspicions, then she\u2019s blind. And that\u2019s one thing Molly isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about SA \u2013 does he know what he needs to do that night?\u201d Father Christopher asked, and Marge laughed. It was a bright sound, very much like Molly\u2019s \u2013 one of Schrodinger\u2019s favorite sounds, truth be told.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat boy has known what he was going to do since the day he came up with this scheme,\u201d she said. \u201cI have no doubt that anything he sets his mind to, he\u2019ll get.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe could still refuse him,\u201d Father Christopher said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe could, but she\u2019d be a moron to.\u201d Then Marge sighed. \u201cNo, actually, then she\u2019d be the Molly we all know and love. Always too willing to put others ahead of herself to see how it\u2019s affecting her own life.\u201d<\/p>\n
That, at least, Schrodinger could agree with. He loved Molly, but she didn\u2019t seem to want to take care of herself very much. That\u2019s why he\u2019d asked Santa for someone for her. It seemed like Marge and Father Christopher had done the same.<\/p>\n
He was still staring at Drew and Tom, and although his eyes saw what happened next, his brain didn\u2019t quite catch it. Or didn\u2019t believe it. Drew and Tom shook hands, and a flash of red passed from one to the other. It could have been a small envelope, but Schrodinger couldn\u2019t be sure. What he was sure of was that both Drew and Tom stood up, adjusted their coats and walked out. Not together \u2013 Tom headed into the stacks, while Drew went towards the stairs.<\/p>\n
So it IS one of them,<\/i> Schrodinger thought. Unless someone gave them the envelope.<\/i> He shifted in his bed, pondering that. No, I think it\u2019s one of them.<\/i> Then his mind gave him a picture of Luke, pulling up in the snowmobile, and he sighed. I wish I could figure it out. I could help\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
Then his head came up. I could help!<\/i><\/p>\n
Schrodinger jumped up and trotted over to where Father Christopher was sitting alone now, Marge having gone to attend to something or other. The chair she\u2019d been sitting in was still warm, and Schrodinger leaped gracefully up into the seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Schrodinger,\u201d the priest said, closing the book he\u2019d been reading. It was large, with an elaborate picture on the front; some sort of tapestry, Schrodinger thought, but the book didn\u2019t interest him as much as it might have otherwise. \u201cHow is your day going?\u201d<\/p>\n
Good, Father,<\/i> Schrodinger said politely, sitting straight up and wrapping his tail around his paws. I need to talk to you.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cOh? About what?\u201d Father Christopher looked a little surprised at the seriousness in the CrossCat\u2019s mental voice.<\/p>\n
Schrodinger leaned forward. I want to help,<\/i> he said.<\/p>\n
Father Christopher blinked. \u201cHelp with what?\u201d<\/p>\n
I want to help SA win Molly,<\/i> Schrodinger said. I know you know who he is, and that you think he\u2019d be good for her. I trust you, so he must be. And so I want to help.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYou do.\u201d Father Christopher regarded him for a few moments, chewing on his bottom lip. \u201cBut tell me, Schrodinger, can you keep a secret from her? Because that\u2019s what it\u2019s going to take.\u201d<\/p>\n
I can.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if she asks you who it is?\u201d Father Christopher pressed. \u201cCould you lie and tell her you didn\u2019t know?\u201d<\/p>\n
No,<\/i> Schrodinger admitted. But I won\u2019t have to. I don\u2019t want to know who he is. I just want to help deliver things, and those, I can get through you.<\/i> He cocked his head. Unless you\u2019re SA, of course. But don\u2019t you think Molly\u2019s a little young for you?<\/i><\/p>\n
Father Christopher laughed at that. \u201cI can promise you that SA is not me,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll let him know you want to help. That\u2019s all I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schrodinger nodded. Good. Thank you.<\/i><\/p>\n
Okay, so today\u2019s song doesn\u2019t show up at all in the episode, but that\u2019s okay. I\u2019m sharing it anyways, because it has to be shared. And I needed to get Schrodinger some more face time. So this is the one SA sent today.<\/a><\/p>\n