A Tale of Magic and Woe, set in an Arby's Restaurant. Part 2

As Clarence the Sheep and Ferdinand the Monkey's friendly embrace came to an end there was a rough, annoyed cough from the other side of a large, artificial plant. The cough carried the kind of wetness that would cause any loved one to question the health of the person from whom it had originated. Clarence tried to see through the plant, tried to see who was surely dying of the consumption, but the plastic fronds blocked his view.

Just as Clarence had decided to leave well enough alone a curmudgeonly duck waddled out from behind the faux-fern and into view. Clarence recognized him immediately, it was Fauntleroy, the owner of the frame shop where he and Ferdinand had worked for so many years, and he had to fight very hard not to fall immediately back into the funk he'd been in after work.

In the same way that Ferdinand had been the reason Clarence stayed at "Totally Trimming" for so long, Fauntleroy was the only reason he'd finally left. Fauntleroy had been the definition of "irritable" on his best days and on his worst he'd been as horrible as a Wampa with a frost thorn in it's foot. Ferdinand realized instantly that his estranged friend wasn't happy and flashed the best "I'm SO sorry!" look he could muster. He'd never thought he'd run into Clarence at Arby's but now that he had Ferdinand was caught between pure joy and stark horror that he'd been caught eating lunch with the enemy.

Clarence extended his hoof and said "Mr. Fauntleroy, it's been too long!". He almost surprised himself with how convincing he'd been at acting happy to see the old duck. He noticed that Ferdinand, too, was practically slack-jawed as Clarence shook appendages with Fauntleroy. The crotchety old duck grunted as he pulled his hand away from Clarence, as if any further contact would cause him to lose the wing. "You're looking quite pleased with yourself, Mr. Sheep, you can cease your deceptively happy act this instant. I know you don't like me and we're wasting time better spent chewing."

Clarence held his lips shut through force of will alone and headed towards the counter to drown his anger in roasted meat.