{"id":22353,"date":"2021-07-07T18:57:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T23:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/?p=22353"},"modified":"2023-01-19T12:01:26","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T18:01:26","slug":"chapter-10-tiffany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/2021\/07\/07\/chapter-10-tiffany\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 10: Athena"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWell, well. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here, Tabitha,\u201d said the striking white pegasus who strolled into the exam room. A pair of Fuzziwugs followed her, lugging a pink pet carrier between them. \u201cYou never seem to be far when there is a doctor on the scene.\u201d She looked at Tabby knowingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d Tabby sighed, pulling a file folder from the rack on the wall. She had never gotten along with Athena Ainsworth, a classmate from high school days. Their interests ran in opposite directions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone knows how you\u2019ve kept Dr. Collins dangling on your string all these years,\u201d Athena said, lowering her voice conspiratorially as she set her purse down on the bench. \u201cAre you using the same machinations on your boss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby frowned. \u201cIs there really a problem with Theodora, or did you just come here to make snide remarks about my personal life?\u201d she asked pointedly, opening the file folder and pretending to be unduly interested in the chart within.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I have a reason for bringing my darling Theo,\u201d Athena crooned, moving on to business. \u201cBubbly, let her out.\u201d The blue Fuzziwug leapt into action, swinging open the carrier door; a glossy black cat slunk out, regarding her surroundings cautiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby silently collected vital readings from Theodora and scribbled down some notes on the chart. \u201cI will go get the doctor,\u201d she declared stiffly at the end of the process, and exited the room, finding Thomas in short order and returning with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Ms. Ainsworth,\u201d Thomas said, extending his hoof. \u201cI\u2019m Dr. Fairfax.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena\u2019s face noticeably lit-up at the sight of the doctor. \u201cWhy, hello,\u201d she purred, shaking his hoof. \u201cPlease, call me Athena. It’s so nice to make your acquaintance.\u201d She cast a sideways glance at Tabby.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby rolled her eyes. Here was a new member for his fan club.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLikewise,\u201d Thomas said with a smile. Ugh, couldn\u2019t he see through her? Tabby fumed. Athena was so artificial.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy office is right down the block–Ainsworth & Associates,\u201d Athena continued. \u201cWe specialize in fundraising for non-profits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, a fellow entrepreneur,\u201d Thomas observed, getting a hold on Theodora.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed,\u201d Athena said, batting her eyelashes. \u201cI’m sorry it’s taken so long to introduce myself. It’s just been one board meeting after another. All very tedious, as you can imagine.\u201d She gave a long-suffering sigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it is,\u201d Thomas agreed, looking in the feline\u2019s ears. He didn\u2019t exactly encourage the flirtatious mares that crossed his path, Tabby noted; but he didn\u2019t discourage them, either. \u201cNow, tell me more about these behavioral issues you\u2019re experiencing with Theodora.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Athena said, caressing the feline and pushing Tabby out of the way. \u201cShe’s usually such a mild-mannered dear, but she’s been wandering about and howling in a most distracting fashion. I don\u2019t know what has her out of sorts.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cAnd it\u2019s all I can do to keep her contained in the house. She looks for every opportunity to sneak out!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the good news is that Theodora is fine,\u201d Thomas said evenly at the conclusion of the exam. \u201cShe\u2019s just looking for a mate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know anyone like that,\u201d Tabby said with a sly smile aimed at Athena. It slipped out before she could stop herself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas silenced her with a stern look. \u201cAnd this behavior will continue unless she is spayed,\u201d he warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena recoiled, aghast. \u201cNo, that\u2019s not an option,\u201d she said emphatically, facing Thomas. \u201cWhat if she wants kittens someday? I won\u2019t take that away from her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, shelters are already overrun–\u201d Thomas began the standard speech on pet overpopulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes, I know,\u201d Athena said, holding up a hoof to silence him. \u201cBut Theodora is something special–excellent genetics, a shame to waste. I\u2019m sure you agree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s your decision, of course,\u201d Thomas conceded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere would you even find a partner good enough for your darling?\u201d Tabby pointed out, working with Jolly and Bubbly to return Theodora to her carrier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually have some potential candidates in mind,\u201d Athena revealed. \u201cA Vulcanian breeder has a fine line, nearly matching the quality of Theo\u2019s own pedigree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, cat match-making,\u201d said Tabby tersely. \u201cNext thing you know, you\u2019ll be running your own kitten mill.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be crass, Tabitha,\u201d Athena said imperiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Sensing a certain amount of animosity between the two mares, and looking to diffuse the situation, Thomas addressed his assistant: \u201cTabby, why don’t you go in back for a sample of that new cat food.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena smirked. \u201cYes, do make yourself useful.\u201d She waved her hoof, as if dismissing a servant. Tabby scowled and exited the room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Athena had her own idiosyncrasies that came in conflict with Tabby\u2019s, Thomas mused. Perhaps the two brought out each other\u2019s worst natures. He would give Athena the benefit of the doubt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Fairfax, I did want to talk to you about this year\u2019s animal shelter benefit ball,\u201d Athena smoothly transitioned, leaning across the counter toward him. \u201cWe have some very attractive sponsorship packages available.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, that sounds like a good opportunity,\u201d Thomas agreed. \u201cIf you want to send me more info–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think dinner meetings are so productive,\u201d Athena interrupted. \u201cHave you been to Estate Manor? It’s a bit old-fashioned, but about the best you can get in these parts,\u201d she said deprecatingly. \u201cLet\u2019s say Saturday?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d have to check my schedule,\u201d Thomas hedged, but felt certain he was about to get roped into another date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby returned, having performed her errand in record time, and Athena turned a dazzling smile on Thomas as she took the sample bag from Tabby. \u201cI\u2019ll meet you at the restaurant bar at seven on Saturday,\u201d the pegasus said silkily. \u201cRemember, Estate Manor, at the end of Elm Street. Until then!\u201d She waved farewell and slipped out of the room before Thomas could get a word in edgewise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going out with her?\u201d Tabby turned a horrified eye on her boss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t realize I had to run my social calendar by you,\u201d Thomas said, a bit more sharply than he intended, still smarting at her affiliation with Toby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut she\u2019s annoying,\u201d Tabby protested, trailing after him as they returned to the back room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know anybody like that,\u201d Thomas retorted with a pointed look. \u201cDo you need to have a vendetta against <\/span>everyone<\/span><\/i>?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou weren\u2019t in high school with her. If you\u2019d had my experiences with her, you\u2019d understand,\u201d Tabby huffed. \u201cI\u2019m just warning you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened in high school?\u201d Thomas asked, looking at her curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t one thing, so much as\u2026\u201d Tabby sighed. \u201cWell, it doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d she muttered, turning away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas considered the next question carefully before saying: \u201cWhy do you push everyone away?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do not!\u201d Tabby looked aghast. \u201cWhy would you say that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there\u2019s Foxglove, who you don\u2019t have the time of day for. You don\u2019t have any patience with Beauregard on account of something that happened in grade school. You got in a fight with Clematis over what year My Little People came out,\u201d Thomas listed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t know what she was talking about,\u201d Tabby insisted. \u201cShe didn\u2019t even have the right company!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Damask copied your idea of teacup towers, so you certainly can\u2019t be civil to her,\u201d Thomas continued.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe doesn\u2019t understand the aesthetics!\u201d Tabby protested. \u201cShe mixes <\/span>pottery<\/span><\/i> with <\/span>glass<\/span><\/i>!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd heaven forbid you ever speak to Pearl again since she referred to Othello as a wild hog.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCompletely different taxonomies,\u201d Tabby insisted. She paused and sighed deeply. \u201cOkay, fine. Everyone annoys me. I can\u2019t help it.\u201d She was sullenly silent.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFeuds benefit no one,\u201d Thomas said softly, thinking of his own family situation. \u201cI have grandparents that I\u2019ve never met. They\u2019re alive, they know about me; but they have no desire to see me or my sister.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby looked at him inquiringly. \u201cWhy?\u201d There was some confusion on her face as she processed the seeming change of topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents were from two feuding families, and they married against their parents\u2019 wishes,\u201d Thomas explained. \u201cThey were never welcome in their families again.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Tabby said, looking abashed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy point is, you don\u2019t know how far the repercussions of your rivalries will reach,\u201d Thomas sagely told her. He pushed aside the thought that he could, perhaps, use some of his own advice in regard to Toby. He brushed a hoof against her shoulder as he walked away, leaving her in pensive silence.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWell, well. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here, Tabitha,\u201d said the striking white pegasus who strolled into the exam…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1071],"tags":[1072,1076,1126],"class_list":["post-22353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing","tag-tabby","tag-thomas","tag-tiffany"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22353"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31389,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22353\/revisions\/31389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}