Epilogue

Fluff & Puff vs. Cupid

“If Jazz finds out we did this we’ll be in a lot of trouble,” Fluff, a bit more timid than his furry cohort, said as he followed his fellow magickal bunny slipper down the street.

“Naw, she’ll understand. The guy messed with Stasi big time.”

“It all worked out.”

Puff stopped, turning his head from right to left, while his ears lifted to full point. “We wish the land of sweet. It’s the land of love we seek,” he chanted. “Take us to the creep who does it neat, or else.”

A curtain shimmered red and white in front of them and the slippers quickly slid past it and landed on a path paved with smooth, glimmering white stones. Soft music seemed to come out of the air, while on either side of the path, glittering red hearts sprang from the ground. Overhead, the sky was a soft illuminated white with fluffy red hearts for clouds, and the air was faintly scented with cinnamon.

Augh!” The slippers’ horror escalated as they recognized the singer. “Barry Manilow!

They gritted their razor-sharp teeth and forged on until the path ended in front of a three-story building shaped like a gigantic heart, complete with a red satin bow. A matching mailbox was set at the end of the pathway with “Cupid, One Heart Drive” written in elegant gold script on the sides.

“Talk about subtle,” Fluff grumbled, pausing at the mailbox post. He sniffed the post and tentatively nibbled. “Hmm. Marshmallow.” Pretty soon the mailbox was on the ground and the post was resting comfortably in Fluff’s tummy, while Puff discovered the mailbox was chocolate.

“A lot of cinnamon out here.” Puff used one of his ears to point out a display of cinnamon candies arranged in a heart shape. “Jazz wouldn’t want that from Cupid. Just chocolate.”

They skittered to the door and pushed it open. The sound of Barry Manilow crooning Mandy echoed throughout the entryway as they peeked in the rooms. Another voice joined in lustily from upstairs, clearly belonging to someone who was so tone deaf his singing could shatter glass.

“Cupid’s got pretty cool digs,” Puff commented, stopping to try out a few chocolate-shaped hearts. “Too bad he’s such a jokester.”

“Don’t let him get out the bow and arrows,” Fluff warned him. “I like being single.”

“You think I want a million kids running around?” Puff made a gagging sound.

“Same here. I’m too young to be a father. Okay, now that we’re here, the plan is we eat everything in sight while he’s in the bathtub and then run for it.”

On their way out, the slippers gazed at the huge red cinnamon candy heart in the middle of the front yard, exchanged glances, and headed straight for it.

When they left Cupid’s realm, the cinnamon candies had been rearranged to spell the words: Fluff and Puff Were Here.