Once Sir Gilbert had been checked off the list, handing out invitations was a piece of cake. At Grahams home, Liza and Peck found the monkey Alpha hard at work. Yelling throw the crashes and bangs that his project was making, they told Graham the basic details of the party. He nodded when they asked him if he could come.
Once in Cosmos study, with it's selves stuffed with exotic plants and books as thick as Cosmo was tall, Liza and Peck had a lengthy conversation with koala Alpha. Peck got along with Cosmo. Liza got along with just about everybody. Cosmo acknowledged that yes, he could come to the party, and not only that but he would bring a side dish of potatoes.
The turnout was going to be pristine. Nobody suspected a thing. As far as the other three alphas were concerned, it was going be the same old, same old. Maybe they would sing some carols, have turkey diner, and hang their stockings. Then in the morning they would open each others gifts and whatever Santa had left them. It was going smooth as a snow clould. Now it was the morning of the 24rd and all that was left to do was the preparation.
"I'm not so sure about all this..."
Liza stuttered as she shook out a table cloth, adorned with Pecks creations.
"Huh?'bout what?"
Peck questioned though a mouthful of candy.
"You know..."
There was no mistaking the concern in Liza's voice.
"Lying to everyone, making them think it is just a normal party, when really, they could get hurt. Greely, he isn't the nicest of the Alpha's and-"
"Whoa whoa whoa..."
Peck interrupted as walked over to Liza.
"You getting ahead of yourself. It will all be FINE. Sir Gilbert and Greely are, like best friends, so he wont care at all!"
Peck's expression was so care free. She turned a summersault over to the popcorn bowl and throw some kernels into her mouth.
"Yes, he-"
Liza stopped herself mid-sentence as she recalled how bravely Peck had confronted Sir Gilbert. Liza's doubted vanished and she continued on laying the table.
6:30. The party was to start in half an hour. Liza was wrapping her presents. Peck was bouncing off the walls. Literally.
6:40. Twenty minutes to go. Liza was taking the turkey out of the oven, to the tune of Peck singing We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
6:45. The first guest had stepped though the art studio door, Cosmo. Potatoes in hand, he franticly apologized for being early and eyed the turkey as if it were one million dollars.
6:50. The trio were sitting by the fire. Cosmo made small talk with Liza and Peck flew to the piano to play I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas.
7:00 on the dot and Sir Gilbert knocked on the door. The tiger Alpha was aways on time.
7:10 and still no sign of Graham. The turkey was getting cold. Liza slid it back into the oven and joined the awkward conversation in the living room, in which Sir Gilbert glared at Peck and Cosmo tried in vain to bring the two together.
7:15 and Graham was standing on the front porch. It was clear he had been late because of a machine malfunction. Bits of wire stuck in the monkey's matted fur and his clothes made him look like he had just gotten hit by a bus. But with the exception of Sir Gilbert, nobody minded one bit. The party was about to begin.
"OK everyone!"
Peck called out throw the chatter of the Alphas.
"Settle down, Settle down."
The animals found it quite ironic to here these words coming out of Pecks month, as she never seemed to stay still.
"We will pack up the Christmas dinner, the tree and all other Christmas decorations. We will pack them into sleds and wagons, then go carolling!"
Whispers broke out among the crowd. Peck got some odd looks from Sir Gilbert, Cosmo and Graham. Who could blame them? This was the strangest idea any of them had ever heard.
"Carolling with a turkey and a tree?"
Graham murmured to Liza, who just shrugged in response. She knew Peck's idea was a little out there, but THIS? Yes, Liza could trust Peck, but nobody would ever believe that! All the same Liza decided to support her friend.
"I think thats a great idea!"
The panda Alpha declared.
"That way we will... umm...."
Liza desperately chased around the good bits of the irresponsible idea.
"Umm... the people will be happy to see decorations and stuff. It will be more... umm... Christmasy!"
Liza breathed a sigh of relief, more then happy to get that over with.
"Pish Posh."
That was Sir Gilbert. Peck stifled back a giggle at his unusual word choice.
"This is poppycock!"
Peck doubled over in laughter. Sir Gilbert sent a death stare her way, silencing the rabbit.
"Why in Mira's name would we bring the turkey?"
The tone of the tiger warriors voice brought Liza back to the Phantom battle. She shuddered.
"Ooh!"
Pecks voice trilled.
"So it can smell good! You know, like turkey."
Cosmo licked his lips.
"If you say so. I do not see the reason for this, but I do enjoy carolling and I shall be joining you."
Graham rolled his eyes but got up and plucked the stockings of the fire place. Cosmo shrugged and moved over to the table. Sir Gilbert and Liza led Pecks Christmas tree out the door, and onto a long thin wagon.And Peck was friskily running around the studio, her arms piled high with miniature clay statures of Santa, nativity scenes and anything every remotely related to the Holidays.
It wasent long before the Alphas were all outside. It was only 7:30 but the sky was pitch black. Graham had constructed some elaborate pulley system that somehow, someway, attached the wagons and sleds together so they only needed to pull one rope.
"Peck!"
Liza tapped the rabbit Alpha on her shoulder.
"Hey."
Peck stayed where she was, starring over in the direction of Greely's cave.
"Do you think it's gonna work out?"
Liza asked. The tone in her voice was sweet and concerning.
"No. No I don't."
Peck turned to face the gentle panda who spoke such kind words.
Liza was taken aback. Peck was usually such an oppimist. She had never seen her like this. Ever.
"I think it's just....finally sinking in."
Peck's voice was cracking. A fat round tear drop rolled down her cheek. Liza watched it hit the ground. The snow engulfed the tear.
"Hey. It's ok. No crying on Christmas eve!"
Liza tried to cheer Peck up, but she couldent. There was a lump in her throat like she had just dry swallowed a huge pill.
Peck bit her lip. She turned around and faced Greely's cave. He was in there. Waiting. He knew it was Christmas. He knew the other Alpha's were having aparty. He knew he was being left out. Peck could hear Graham and Cosmo laughing behind her. Laughing. That suddenly seemed so distant, so far away from the point Peak was at. And then it hit her. This must be how Greely feels, day after day after day. But maybe the laughing wasn't just dissent to him. Maybe it wasn't anything to him. Just another word. A word without meaning. A world without laughter. Then the sad feeling inside of Peck changed. But it didn't change the way she expected. No, she didn't expect this at all. Peck expected happiness. But no happiness came. Anger came. It started as a spark. But the sadness kindled that anger into a full out fire, raging inside of Peck. She clenched her fists. She gritted her teeth. And she ran. She ran and ran and ran. Peck could hear Liza calling her to come back. But that didn't stop her. It made her go faster. And faster. And faster and faster and... she was there. Right on Greely's door steep. Peck let out her breath. She reached up and held the wolf head knocker in both hands. She knocked once, twice. Peck could hear the Wolf Alpha walking up to the door. There was no way her could of known this then, but his life, his lonely lonely life, was about to change.
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