<strong>Vern ~ collecting Evie</strong><br/><br/>It was the morning again. Vern sat on the side of his bed tryin to wake up. He yawned as he stepped into his Taz slippers and walked to the bathroom. A thick seam of tooth paste on the tooth brush. A dab of deodorant. A whisk of the shaver to preserve but trim his goatee. A little mustache wax and a slap or two of Old Spice original.<br/><br/>Vern even changed underwear and khakis. He pulled the fresh blue wife beater over his head, tucking it into his cargo khakis then took the palm brush to his hair. He was ready to go see his new arrival.<br/><br/>Stopping by the large cage at the front door he made his selection. Snagged by the tail he bagged the two foot garden snake and put the small bag on his belt. Down the hall, and into the lift, even though there were several other people waiting for the elevator Vern rode down to level 3 alone.<br/><br/>He stepped out and immediately headed toward Unit 13. The guard at the entry way gave Vern lots of room to pass.<br/><br/>Vern didn't even stop to check his covey for mail.  Today he was on a mission. His mission had a name. It was Evie.<br/><br/>He eyed the cages as he walked past. The occupants scurrying to the back but he paid them no mind. He was not surprised to see Jethro curled up against the crook of Evie's legs as she curled in sleep. What did surprise him was what happened when he reached for the door.<br/><br/>First, it opened. Second, Jethro immediately hissing and posturing between Evie and the rest of the world. Vern was impressed by the display.<br/><br/>It told him that someone had tried to enter that cage and they did not get very far. It also told him that Jethro had decided that Evie was his heating rock and would defend her to the death rather than have someone disturb her. Jethro had never found anything worth protecting quite so vehemently.<br/><br/>Vern was delighted.<br/><br/>He threw open the door. His right arm out to his side. All other body parts stopped moving. He waved his right hand at the wrist like he was shaking off hot water.<br/><br/>The rest happened in a flash of movement that was more a blur than anything else.<br/><br/>Jethro zeroed in on the movement. Aimed. Leaned back. Then flung himself fangs showing, jaw open on a collision course with Vern's wildly waving right hand.<br/><br/>Vern had been waiting for the lunge. He snagged Jethro behind the head with the left hand.<br/><br/>"That's a boy!" Vern exclaimed in approval as he dropped Jethro in the burlap sack.<br/><br/>Vern tied it off the top of the sack and hung it on his belt before looking in Evie's direction.  His voice a solid announcement.<br/><br/>"I'm back!"<br/><br/><br/>