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09-07-02, for Conjugate
A Very Special Birthday Present
She huffs, she puffs, she blows 3;.
No, that's not quite right. She huffs, and she puffs, and she pulls mightily to drag a box into the Taverna.
There's not all that much room between the tables, but the patrons are kind enough to push aside some of the unoccupied tables and chairs to give her space to leave the package.
It's a large box, and it's on wheels. Wrapped in gaily-colored paper - yellow and dotted with orange and green 'pi' symbols - and it's neatly tied with a green silk ribbon and bow.
Once situated, the Nymph flutter to stand atop one of the tables. She shakes her shoulders delicately, unfurls her gossamer wings then flies to the top of the box. Grasping one end of the silk in her fingertips, she begins to pull, untying the ribbon.
<ahem> “Pardon me. Excuse me 3;”
<ahem> “People! Thank you. I bring today, not a song, not a poem, but a gift.
A birthday gift for a wayward and missing member of the fold. Conjugate, keeper of all that is mathematics, a very happy birthday to you. Perhaps this will help pass the time until you can return to us.“
With a flourish, she pulls the ribbon free. The paper unfurls and the sides of the box crumple, revealing a desk, a chair, and its occupant.
Cashmere sweater, short linen skirt, tanned bare legs, a sandal dangling from toes with pink-painted nails. The co-ed scowls at the calculator in her perfect fingers then raises one arm. Her voice chimes in the silence of the taverna.
“Um, Professor? Could you please help me? I think I might need some private tutoring. I can't figure out how to get one and one make 69.”
