Page 24 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

Ollie smacked his hands together, sending dust flying as he rubbed them together.

“Ooh, I like the sound of this.” Shuffling closer, both dwarves diminished the distance.

Dillon had grown enough over the past year that Ollie and Burt now had to tilt their heads up to look at him.

Soon enough they’d be craning their necks to look him in the eye. “I like a good conspiracy.”

Ruthie’s eyes scrunched in confusion. “What does that mean?”

Burt pushed his cousin aside. “Don’t worry about what that word means. Ollie’s just bein’ a smartass. Now, what’s this about?”

“I ain’t bein’ a smartass. I’m just tryin’ to—”

“Shut it,” Burt cut Ollie off. “I wanna hear what this is about, and the way the two of them are actin’, we don’t got much time. Now, out with it.”

Dillon leaned forward, voice hushed. “Phil’s birthday is coming up soon.”

Both dwarves appeared surprised. “First I’ve heard about it.” Ollie ran his stubby fingers through his dirty, snickerdoodle-laden beard. “You sure about that? Sed would have said something.”

Dillon shook his head. “We don’t think he knows. Not yet anyway.”

“Oh.” Ollie and Burt’s eyes widened as they quickly glanced at each other. “Now there’s a pickle. When is Phil’s birthday?”

“I—” Dillon stared at his sister, but she only frowned and shook her head. “We aren’t sure. We just heard about a few minutes before coming here.”

“Heard about it how?” Burt asked.

Dillon quickly relayed how he and Ruthie had overheard Phil talking to Peaches, along with the house’s role in allowing them to find out.

“Shit, that’s one sneaky house.” Ollie swallowed and appeared uncomfortable. “I’m not sure I’d be comfortable livin’ in a house that manipulative.”

“What does maniputivev mean?” Ruthie asked.

“Quit using big, fancy words the kids don’t understand,” Burt scolded. “It means that the house is doin’ shit to get its own way. Or maybe what it wants.” Burt shrugged. “I’m not sure on the particulars of your house’s feelin’s.”

“I don’t think it was trying to do anything bad.” Dillon defended their home’s actions.

“Didn’t say it was,” Burt agreed. Waving a small, calloused hand in the air, Burt changed the subject. “Moving on from the creepy house…”

Dillon and Ruthie both bristled.

“Phil’s birthday is soon, and he doesn’t want anyone to know?” Burt frowned. “Is he older than I think he is? I mean, is he embarrassed by is age? Is Phil a cougar? Is he a lot older than Mr. Voss?”

Head tilted to the side, Ruthie asked, “What’s a cougar?”

Ollie slapped his hand over his face, running it along his cheek. “Forget you heard that word.” Slapping Burt upside the head, Ollie scolded, “Phil’s not that old, you idiot.”

“I don’t think he’s embarrassed.” Dillon tried steering the conversation back to safer ground. “He said he doesn’t think it’s important.”

“ Not important? ” Ollie scoffed. “Now that does sound like our Phil.”

“Definitely,” Burt agreed. “It would be nice to know the exact date.”

“We can call and ask Peaches,” Dillon said. “That’s who Phil was talking with, so he must know.”

“That makes sense,” Ollie answered. “Peaches has known Phil longer than the rest of us.” Ollie chuckled. “Sed’s never been happy about that. ”

Dillon gave Ruthie a confused look. “Why? Peaches and Mr. Moony are together. Peaches is Mr. Moony’s beloved.”

“He is now,” Burt snickered. “Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. Talking with Peaches sounds like a sound idea. So, what can we help you two with?”

Now they were getting somewhere. Dillon checked the area again, making certain they were still alone. “We want to get Phil a present. Something that will let him know just how important he is. It needs to be something special.”

“Ah…I see.” Ollie sagely nodded. “And you’d like to know what we think.”

“Yes!” Ruthie beamed. “What should we get him? What would make Phil happy?”

“Hmm…that’s a good question.” Ollie’s head lowered as he stared at his boots. “You can never go wrong with a good bottle of booze.”

“Alcohol?” Dillon leaned back, lips pursed. “Phil doesn’t drink much.”

“Not at home,” Ollie answered. “I’ve seen him a few sheets to the wind a time or two at Dusk.”

Burt was in agreeance. “That bartender, Johnny, he’s got a cousin that makes a killer honeysuckle mead. Not that Ollie or I’d know for certain. That’s a pixie drink, to be sure. But Peaches raves about it.”

Dillon stared at Ruthie. Years of reading and interpreting her expression had made him an expert, and right now she appeared just as skeptical as he did. “I’m not sure that’s what Phil would like the most.”

Ollie shrugged. “Eh, maybe, maybe not.”

“Jewels,” Burt offered. “Everybody loves somethin’ sparkly. I hardly ever see Phil without that necklace Mr. Voss game him.”

Dillon’s cheeks flushed. The necklace was platinum with pink diamonds spelling out the word, Sedrick’s . Dillon didn’t think something like that would be the same coming from him and Ruthie. Besides, Phil already had something sparkly.

Not catching on to Dillon and Ruthie’s questioning expressions, Burt pushed forward. “We’ve found some interesting gems while mining. We always give them to Mr. Voss, but he doesn’t always wanna sell them all. I can see what we’ve got. Maybe something in there will catch your eye.”

Dillon shrugged. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea.” He and Ruthie could take a look. Maybe there really was something that stuck out.

“Oh, I’ve got it.” Excitement filled Ollie’s expression, and Dillon and Ruthie waited with bated, expectant breath. As excited as Ollie was, it had to be something spectacular. “Why didn’t I think of this before?” Ollie slapped himself on the forehead. “The party bus.”

Burt’s eyes lit up. “Shit. I didn’t think of that either.

” Grin so wide Burt’s teeth showed behind his bushy beard, Burt bounced on the balls of his feet.

“We bought our own a few months back. We take it out every chance we get. Everyone has a great time on the bus. Once you know the exact date, we can plan a party. We can put a big banner on the side and drive all around Rutherford Haven. By the time we’re done, everyone will know it’s Phil’s birthday. ”

Ollie’s eye’s narrowed in thought. “Phil won’t be able to stay away from the house for long.”

“True,” Burt agreed. “Bonded pixies have to stay close and can only be gone a few hours at a time. Longer would be unsafe. How long does he stay at Dusk?”

“Not sure, but we could find out. Johnny would know.” Ollie and Burt turned to each other, hammering out plans that were far from confirmed.

Dillon gave Ruthie a meaningful look and nodded when she shook her head. He and Ruthie were on the same page. He just wished his conversation with Ollie and Burt had been more useful.

“Dillon! Ruthie!” Their collective heads turned toward the sound of their uncle’s voice calling for them.

“We’d better get going,” Dillon said, happy for the out. “Thanks for your ideas. We’ll, uh, keep them in mind.” Dillon grabbed Ruthie’s hand and started walking backward towards his uncle’s office.

“You just let us know, and we can get the bus gassed up and ready to roll.” Burt grinned and Ollie nodded his head.

“Thanks again.” Dillon waved before turning and jogging, Ruthie at his side. “We’re coming, Uncle Sedrick!” Dillon hollered. Quieter, he said, “I think that was a bust.”

“I think so too,” Ruthie answered. “Maybe we should ask Peaches.”

Dillon shrugged as they kept up their quickened pace. “Sounds good. We need to speak with him anyway.”

Phil and Sedrick were waiting for them outside the office.

Sedrick’s arm was wrapped around Phil’s shoulders, holding him close.

Phil leaned into the touch, his head resting against Sedrick’s chest. His uncle’s face was relaxed, his lips tipped up in a perpetual grin that was nearly always present when Phil was around.

The sight always eased Dillon’s soul. Their uncle had never treated them poorly.

He’d never doubted that Sedrick would care for them, but having Phil around made everything so much lighter and easier.

They were no longer simply existing. They were living.

A Peach of a Plan

Dillon and Ruthie felt Peaches boundary wash over them, welcoming them into the orchard.

The road leading to Peaches and Lucroy’s humble home was rugged with dips that challenged even the heartiest of vehicles.

Dillon and Ruthie didn’t care about that as they walked up the lane.

Dillon hoped Peaches didn’t mind the uninvited visit. Maybe he should have called first.

Ruthie tilted her head back, arms spread wide as she twirled and giggled.

Dillon rubbed the fabric over his heart.

Ruthie was so much better now. While she still didn’t speak a lot to strangers, she often endlessly babbled when it was just the two of them or when they were around Phil and Uncle Sedrick.

The sun was low in the sky and would set in the next hour or two. Dillon considered coming the next day, but they didn’t have time to waste. For all he knew, Phil’s birthday could be tomorrow.

Uncle Sedrick needed to meet with his lawyer, Ray, in town. Phil decided to go with him and make a date night out of it. They’d be gone for the next two, maybe three hours. That gave Ruthie and him time to get out to Peaches’s orchard and back.

It was nothing for Ruthie and him to run to Peaches’s orchard in their wolf forms. They’d packed their clothes in a bag, hung it around Ruthie’s neck since she was bigger and stronger, and taken off.

Dillon had made sure to leave a note just in case Uncle Sedrick and Phil got back before them.

He’d figure out a story to explain their absence if needed.

A flare of bright, white light zipped past them along with a high-pitched squeal. The sprites knew they were there. It wouldn’t be long before Peaches came out to greet them. Then again, Peaches probably knew they were there the minute they passed through his barrier.