[ Maintenance Operation #8 ]

[squeakyslate]

Can't leave 'em down there, can't have that, no. Up the ladder I goes, all the way up.

[ It's true, he goes, up the ladder, all the way up! Until Bill's all the way up in the sky, swaying on the ladder, a bright star in his mouth. ]

Fhhnnhh gyyghh--

[ Don't quite work that way, does it? Bill sticks the star up in the sky, and smacks his lips. ]

There it goes! There it goes, all fixed up now, see, ol' Bill's gonna go and put 'em all back in place, won't never have to worry 'bout them falling neither, rolling stars don't gather no moss, see?

[ He flicks at the star with his fingers: It wobbles, and falls, but just a bit, and then it bounces right on back, and flutters to a different place in the sky. ]

There, y'see? Make 'em move, they'll always find a proper place now, that they will. Now don't you worry 'bout nothing, ol' Bill's just gonna finish up with the rest...

[ Bill pulls out a big bag of bright stars, and starts decorating, whistling a merry tune as he goes along. ]

Comments

[squeakyslate]

Had to work me brain real hard to get it just right, lad. Wouldn't do for ol' Bill to get himself wrong, would it now?

[vampdetective]

Right. Of course not. Can't have that.

[He sighs.]

Well-- thanks for being thorough.

[He guesses that's about all he's going to get out of the lizard for today.]

[squeakyslate]

Anytime, any time at all, that's what ol' Bill's for. Ol' Bill, the lizard. Anytime...