Because July, and especially Independence Day as well as Animalia's anniversary celebration, was only eight days away and 22 days away (respectively), the stands for fireworks had started going up. While fireworks were the main thing being sold there, there were also foam earplugs to help cut down on noise. But was somewhat surprising was the way that some people, especially from out of town, would order them.
"One dozen of your best Chinese frog-launchers my good man." said one boy from out of town at a stand that Clara was waiting in line for fireworks.
"Here you go, kid." said the man running the stand, handing a box of fireworks, "Two kilos of the finest Chinese sky-candy. They'll blow you away."
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There was also a somewhat surprising scene at the Claw Coliseum main desk. Janice was registering for Pregnancy fitness classes when she saw Milly and her mother in front of her. She was aware that Milly was one of the youngest members of Animalia to be double-dosed, being only four years old at the time.
"So you're finally 'seeded'?" asked Janice, politely.
"We both are." said Milly, much to Janice's surprise, "Mom and I will be 'baby buddies' together."
"Whoops, there it goes." said a janitor, who had been moving to mop up the latest batch of water from the warm-up aerobics classroom window. "Yup, my brain stopped."
"Get more omega-3s into you it's good for ya." said another receptionist, knowing what to say in just such an event.
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Anne, however, was called to the PR-MD offices for something that was both amusing and just plain nerve-wracking.
"I take it you know someone from Switzerland who decided to become an Alpine ibex?" asked the agent.
"I do," confirmed Anne, "Her name is Roxanne, and she's a part of my group of friends."
"She recently got her hairdressing license," continued the agent, "But when a popular black rapper from Las Vegas came to her for a 'fresh' haircut, she not only carved the word 'Fresh' into the back of his buzz cut, but also cut quite a bit of hair from the front. When he saw the result, he literally started crying over how bad it was, screaming things like 'That ain't cool, man!'. Do you have an explanation for that?"
After that, Anne explained what her group was about, mainly about 'domestic servants' being put in needlessly scandalous positions. After the explanation, the agent were able to get Roxanne off with a seemingly minor charge.
"We're going to file this incident under PTSD and forget that sometimes converted Animalians can be bleeping loons!" said the agent.
"Doesn't the elementary branch of WSA have an art teacher who is a converted loon?" asked Anne,
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Melissa Drake's video of her crushing her old motorcycle helmet by squeezing it with her bare hands was generating more than 500,000 views on the Animalia website, but it was also generating a lot of lewd comments that were becoming blocked, mainly about how that strength could be used for other things. But what was getting clear was that the clip was generating so many lewd comments that it might be moved to the premium part of the website.
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There was also a new donation to the "uplifting department", as the part of Horizon lab that dealt with uplifted animals was unofficially referred to.
"So this is a Macaroni Penguin?" asked one of the scientists, as the carrier was brought in.
"Yes," said the second, "We've also determined that this is a female."
"I've checked, and Macaroni Penguins are registered as vulnerable to extinction." said a third.
"I know," said the first, "and the naturalist who captured this one wants her to help out by being part of the group of Animalians that raise awareness for their feral cousins who are in danger of extinction."
"Let's remember to get him a $5000 compensation check as thanks." said the second.
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Sometimes there was something so unusual that it warranted looking at later.
"So this is a homosexual bodybuilder who's part of the Project White Lily summer sessions?" said the first scientist.
"Yes," confirmed his colleague, "He says that he wants to be a magnificent frigatebird."
"Not that we already have data on the frigatebird," said the first, "But does he realize what their throat sac might make him look like?"
"I'm pretty sure that he does." confirmed the second. "He also understands that he's joining a little too late to register for the IAC bodybuilding competition. His note on the application form is 'I'm trying to get ahead for the next IAC.'."
"Some people are young and crazy; and some are old and crazy; and still some are just crazy." said the first, shaking his head.
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With June drawing to a close and July on the way, things certainly weren't boring.