If At First You Don't Succeed... ((79))

[sybbil]

Bomba congratulated herself on a good sneak through the kitchen, now if only she had her camera. Then again, it would only make her uninvited intrusion in this little soiree of the rich and well-known more obvious.

She sidled out the kitchen door and took a couple swipes at the invisible dust on one of her nicest dresses, a devilish little number in black and green. Bomba breathed out a sigh of glee as she took a glass of of what looked like champagne from a passing waiter's tray and mingled. She was in.

She spent several moments noting the elements of the crowd and who was there. Taking a sip of her drink, she found to her chagrin that it was sparkling cider. Making a small face, she continued to wander, keeping a lazy smile on her face but not really talking to anyone. What she wouldn't give to have her camera. These fat big-wigs and their fancy parties, she hated them as much as she wanted to be one of them.

[Meadowlark]

Coricopat watched over the gala from where Mac had left him. He frowned as he saw the red queen coming from the kitchens. He wove his way through the crowd finally, coming up beside her, "Good evening, Miss."

[sybbil]

"Well, hello, there. Nice party, don't you think?" She gave the tom a quick look-over and then hid her nose in her drink, peering coyly over the rim of the glass. He looked rather familiar... uh-oh. Not good. Well, this looked like her evening of adventure may be cut short. May as well try to bluff.

[Meadowlark]

He looked singularly unimpressed with that attempt, "Yes, I do rather. I don't believe I've seen you around much. Do you mind terribly if I take it upon myself to introduce you to some cats?"

[sybbil]

Her smile was somewhat fixed. "Sure, why not. I love meeting new felines."

[Meadowlark]

He offered her his arm to guide her through the crowd to a particularly sturdy looking tom near one of the door, "Mr. Johnson, if I might present this young queen to you. Miss...?" Cori glanced at her to see if she would grant him her name.

[sybbil]

She only hesitated for a second, rapidly thinking up a name as she shook the other cat's paw. "Barrett, Caroline Barrett. The pleasure is mine, Mr. Johnson."

[Meadowlark]

Coricopat smiled thinly, "Mr. Johnson is head of security for tonight. Show our uninvited guest the door, would you, Johnson? There's a good man."

Johnson nodded, taking Bomba's arm, "Of course, Mr. Zimmerman."

[sybbil]

Bomba struggled for a split second then thought better of it. She still called out over her shoulder as she was goose-stepped out of the building. "You can't keep the press out forever, you know!"

[Meadowlark]

"Only the uninvited ones," Coricopat replied, waving to her before turning and weaving his way through the crowd back to his original perch.

[End Thread]