Date:         Sun, 26 Jun 1994 02:30:54 EDT
 
 
Here is another snake story, written by my niece.  I realize that all the facts
aren't exactly correct (i.e., we've seen Nick dream before), but I just had to
share it... I thought you'd all like to meet Alexander.
 
 
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
 
 
Nightie Knight:  A Snake Story by
 
  by January Tavel
 
 
 
***************************************************************************
"Hello?" Natalie Lambert said, picking up the phone.  "Toronto PD morgue."
 
"Nat?" said a timid voice on the other end of the phone.
 
"Nick?!  Is that you?" Natalie said in an alarmed voice.  "Nick?  What's wrong?"
 
Nick rarely called Natalie on the phone.  He really needn't bother; he
usually just dropped by.  This, however, was not what worried Natalie.  It
was nearly 11:30 and a clear sunny day.  Nick was usually asleep now.
 
"Are you okay Nick?"
 
"Um, yes, yes, I'm okay," he said, not sounding too sure.  "It's just that,
well," his voice quivered, "I know it's only 11:30 and you don't break for
lunch until 12:00, but, well, could you possibly slip out?  I... er... I
need you."
 
Natalie liked the sound of that.
 
This situation was odd; it was a rare thing to see this side of Nick.  He
sounded weak and vulnerable.  Natalie smiled to herself.  "Don't worry,
Nick," she said in a soft, soothing voice.  "I'll be over in a few
minutes."   And she hung up the phone.
 
****
 
Upon arriving at the loft, Nat pulled her car into the back alley behind
Nick's caddy, and, as usual, she let herself in.
 
Nick was seated on the black leather sofa in his black silk pajamas.  He
sat there staring into a glass of red liquid on his coffee table.
 
"Nick?" Natalie whispered.  But he didn't answer.  "Nick, hello," she said
a little louder.  "Nick!?"
 
Nick's head jerked to attention.  "Oh!  I'm sorry," he said absently, "I
was just..." his voice trailed off.  "I had a dream," he whispered.  He
said DREAM as if it was a secret, magical word.
 
"Oh?  You don't usually have dreams?" Nat said, sitting down opposite him.
 
"Well, I don't know," he mused while stroking a long furry green object.
"I don't know; I don't remember ever having any.  It may be nothing; I just
thought you might want to know."
 
"And...?" Natalie added, still staring at the object Nick held in his hand.
 She knew he hadn't called her out there just to tell her he had had a dream.
 
"Well, like I said, I hadn't remembered ever having a dream, but it wasn't
just that.  It was just so..."
 
Natalie smiled, "It scared you."
 
"No!" Nick said, picking up the glass of blood defiantly.  He put the glass
to his lips but didn't drink.  "It was just so strange."
 
"What is that?" Natalie asked, reaching for the green furry object Nick had
been clutching.
 
"This?!" Nick said, trying to hide it.  "This?  Oh, this--it's nothing."
 
Natalie couldn't help herself and began to laugh.  "Nicholas," she choked,
realizing what it was.  "Let me see."
 
Nick flung the long green stuffed toy at her and took a long swig of blood.
 "His NAME is Alexander," he grumbled.  Nick's face, normally abnormally
pale, was now almost crimson.
 
"He is lovely."  Natalie smiled, handing the toy back to Nick.
 
This was perhaps what she loved most about Nick.  He of course was the most
ancient person she had ever met, but at the same time had such a childish
quality about him.  The joy he took in small, seemingly unimportant things,
like eating a French fry, were really huge victories and he shared them
with her.  His sweet face and eyes with the glow of childish innocence, she
adored.  She placed her hand over his and said, "Put down the snake and
we'll talk."