The Box of Crocs

One fine fall morning the Emmas had gathered in the yard. Some of the crocs and Alfred Alligator had joined them. They had gotten together to talk about garden plans for the fall season, but the girls were very dispirited and sad. Their friend Carlisle had now been missing without a word for two entire months. They had received a letter from the local authorities informing them that parts of the garden were violating international law. Their hero Steve Irwin had been killed by a stingray. And the final blow was when another good friend, Timmy the cat, had gone to join his buddy Coal-Face in kitty heaven. Everyone was feeling so low that they didn’t even bother to bring out the chocolates.
Carin had brought along her favorite gardening manual. "It says here that fall is the perfect time to divide and plant perennials," she pointed out, opening the book to a page with an illustration of bee balm, one of the girls’ favorite plants.
"Why should we bother when we just get letters from a bunch of rubber stamp wielding bureaucrats telling us to cut down our stuff," complained Corky. "Maybe we should just tear everything up and plant concrete!"

"Now, now," said Cavendish. "Come, girls, we must have a stiff upper lip. When I was in the foreign office we never allowed such glum faces. And, if things got us down we just stood together and asked ourselves "What would Winston Churchill have said?"
"Oh, Cavendish, the foreign officee never had troubles like we do," sighed Sally, from where she was perched next to Clinton.
"My fellow Americans," Clinton spoke up, quoting from his first inaugural address, "Profound and powerful forces are shaking and remaking our world, and the urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend and not our enemy."
"That’s easy for you to say, Clinton," said Kerry, rolling her eyes. "I don’t think we Emmas adjust to change all that well."
"Especially Taryn". Carin tittered.
Just then another Emma came to where everyone was sitting. "Hi, I’m new, my name is Tabitha and I am hoping I can join you," she said brightly. "I have heard about the Royal Society of Emmas for a long time and I’m so excited to finally be here."

The other girls looked her over in silence. "Sure, have a seat," said Taryn.
"She still has a tag on her shoe," whispered Sally to Kerry.
"My nickname is Tib but you can call me Tibby if you want," Tabitha continued cheerily. "I've heard so much about the Continuum and I couldn't wait to get here. Do you think I could get a wig with bangs? I've heard you have lots of wigs."
"Sure," said Carin, motioning toward a nearby bench. "Nice to have you with us," she added, but not with any enthusiasm.
"I even wore a shirt with alligators on it hoping that would help my chances of joining," Tabitha added. "Is there something I should do? Do you have a test? Or an initiation? I can’t wait to meet Carlisle. I have heard so much about him from other Emmas back at the factory."

"We would like to meet him ourselves," muttered Sally. "Look, Tibby, we are happy you are here. You don’t have to do anything but be an Emma to be in the Royal Order of Emmas so I think you qualify. Unfortunately Carlisle is missing and we don’t know what has become of him. In fact you have caught us when we are not at our best."
"Oh no," said Tabitha, sinking down on the bench. "I am so sorry to hear it. I was hoping to go to Croc Camp next summer, too."
"We don’t know if we will carry on Croc Camp anymore," said Corky. "I can’t believe that just a few months ago we were all together, teasing him." The other girls nodded sadly.
Clinton spoke up again, feeling a few more words from his inaugural address might be helpful. "Thomas Jefferson believed that to preserve the very foundations of our nation, we would need dramatic change from time to time. Well, my fellow citizens, this is our time. Let us embrace it."
"Fine philosophy, Clinton. Very bracing," said Alfred.
"Absolutely brilliant old boy, even Winston would have agreed with that." Cavendish said with admiration.
The feeling of gloom was interrupted by the sound of a wagon rattling on the pathway. It was Randy doing the morning mail run.
"Hey, Emmas! Mail call. You got a box and some letters." Quinn, who was riding in the wagon and holding the mail, hopped out and handed the envelopes to Corky. A big envelope was pasted on the box which Randy and Quinn set on the grass by the girls.

"Thanks, Quinn. Thanks, Randy," said the Emmas. "It’s probably more Twinns wanting to be our new Penny," said Corky, making a face. "I wish the word would get out that we are keeping the one we already have."
"Look, girls," cried Taryn, who was examining the box, "There is a letter taped to the top of this box and it’s from Carlisle!"

You’re kidding! Wow! Open it, Taryn!"
The girls gathered round. Even Tabitha was excited. Taryn ripped open the envelope. "Carin, you read it," said Taryn, handing the letter to her friend. "You have always been so close to Carlisle."
"Dear girls," read Carin with trembling voice. "I apologize that I had to leave so suddenly and without letting you know I had to go. There was an interplanetary crisis among the Twinns on the planet of Ytterbia - gee, I never heard of that place, is it near Cucumunga?" Carin interrupted herself.
"Go on!" the others shouted.

"There was an interplanetary crisis among the Twinns on the planet of Ytterbia and I was sent to sort it out. I know that all of you have learned well how to get on without me and I also know that Cavendish and Clinton and the other crocs will lend a hand when they are needed. I will be back as soon as I can get free. Meanwhile, I have sent you a box of my friends to keep you company.
Also I wanted you to know that Steve is here with me and sends his love. He said to tell you to carry on his work in conservation, and, crickey, behave yourselves but have some fun, too. And Timmy and Coalface send lots and lots of purrs. They are both healthy and happy now and keeping the Ytterbianese mice in check. Along with the crocs in this box are some bubble crocs. You can wear them around your neck. If you feel lonely or sad, just blow some bubbles and they will come up to us and we will be thinking of you and sending thoughts back down to cheer you. Remember what I always told you about that star in the sky? when you look upwards and see that star just remember that we are there watching over you.
All my best wishes,
Your friend, Carlisle Croc."

"Wow," said the Emmas. "I’m glad he’s OK," said Sally. The other girls nodded, much happier now that they knew where Carlisle had gotten to.
Corky ripped open the tape on the box and out popped a bunch of Crocs.

"Hi, I’m Corbin," said one.
"Good morning, my name is Chattanooga."
"Och Aye! The noo! Campbell here, from bonny Scotland," said a third.
"Hello, I’m Cumberland," added a hot pink croc.
"Yo! I’m Caesar!" said a burly looking individual.
"Call me Chester," said another.
"Chester A. Arthur?" asked Clinton hopefully, anxious to meet another presidential croc.
"No, sorry, from Chester Pennsylvania. Down near Philly," Chester explained. "By the way, I was over at the zoo the other day and Carlisle’s Mom sends her regards to all of you."

The Emmas had to smile as the crocs trotted around, introducing themselves and clambering over Clinton and Cavendish. It was funny to see red and blue crocodiles but somehow it seemed right. "What a colourful crowd of crocs!" Tabitha exclaimed.
"I believe the word is "a raft, or a float of crocodiles"." Cavendish corrected.
"Nope, this is defintely a crowd." Kerry said as Campbell clambered over her shoes.
Carin handed out the croc bubbles and the girls put the strings around their necks.

"I am starting to feel a lot better," said Penny to Kerry, as she blew some experimental bubbles. Some flew up toward the heavens and others made iridescent rainbows when they landed on the grass. Penny considered them for a moment, "You know Corky, those bubbles remind me a lot of us."
"They do? how so Penny?"
"Well, we are all so pretty and cheerful and look really good. But anything can come along and burst our bubble of happiness. Like when Carlisle left us, and when Timmy left."
"I see what you mean Penny, but remember, there are still a lot of bubbles to be blown and admired, but happiness is like a bubble because it too is a transitory thing."
"I understand Corky. Now are you going to help me blow lots of bubbles of happiness? or are are you going to sit around and mope?"

"This turned out to be a great day after all," said Taryn from the bench where she had resumed the garden planning. "Now, does anyone want to talk about perennials?"
"forget the gardening Taryn, we have bubbles to blow!"
"And somebody go fetch us chocolate!" Sally said, smacking her lips in anticipation.