Winning One
Published in Rocky Mountain Fur Conbook 2015
The lights in the studio were blinding. Beyond the blinding glare and the electric hum, it was hot. The bear next to him had taken to fanning herself, the slight movement of her shirt wafting up the scent of her sweaty fur and underlying scent of nervousness. The bunny ran a finger along the collar of his shirt, missing the usual collar that was around his neck. The show producers said that it would be better to show the contestants as "independent." And, gently, they were dressed in a manner to "appeal to the studio audience." None of which really cared. The fox and cougar seemed to be unaffected by the lights, by the heat, by the fact that one of them was about to win the game and win it big.
Geo leaned over the fox's podium. They were softly murmuring something. He could listen if he really tried, but he simply was too rattled. This commercial break was taking forever--why did he agree to do this--why was he here--so many people! His heart was racing, and the bear was starting to take note as some primal need to hunt was triggered.
The bunny closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. This was it--the final round, and he was ahead in the questions. He could actually win. A slight smile peeked out of the corner of his mouth. His nose twitched as the air slowly eased out of his lungs. Turning his head, eyes still closed, he faced the studio audience.
They didn't care what they looked like. They were here to get out of the rain, to get closer to the stars, to see drama. All manner of reasons, really. There was one person the little rabbit really cared about, though. The one reason he had the nerve to actually step onto that stage. They were all murmuring softly, waiting for the big moment, too. There he was, the wolf he knew and loved. Third row up, second seat from the left. The only one not bothered with talking to those around him. Looking causal in his pinstripe black suit, a collar on his lap, holding it for the bunny. For him. He had to take it off to be here, but at least he knew that it was off but not forgotten. His blue eyes sparkled as he looked up and saw the wolf smiling back at him. He slightly nodded and uncrossed his legs, setting in his chair with confidence.
Syffy beamed, and suddenly, none of it mattered. None at all. He wasn't bothered as the host strolled across the stage. A skunk was behind the camera. The Quiet Please sign was lit, and his paw went up. Standing before the camera, he nodded, saying 3...2... before stepping back and silently holding up a single digit, 1...
The audience broke out in the required and requested cheering, the skunk running back and forth behind the camera but raising his paws to encourage the cheers. As if the master of a orchestra, he stood in the center of the floor and lowered his paws, trying to calm the roar he just made happen. What a job he must have. The bunny smirked and made his best contestant face as the camera focused on the three of them. Geo told everyone what they already knew, the places of the contestants, the importance of the final round. It went by like a blur, as well. The bunny was back in his zone. Paw flying down on the buzzer, answers stated before the questions were even finished. True, he didn't get them all. But he didn't have to. He was like a machine, filled to the brim with seemingly endless, so-called useless information. But it was down to the last final Daily Double.
Geo stood tall behind his podium; the hostess smiled as she framed with her arms the screen with the final question. Again, the bunny took in every detail of the moment, placing it in his long-term memory. The slight breeze from her walk over made the white sparkles shimmer. She stood with that false smile as she looked at the two in the lead dead on. It wasn't meant to be a challenge, but Syffy took it as one. Glancing to the side, he saw his wolf.He so had this. Lifting the card in front of him, the question mirrored on the screen: "The Rocky Mountain Fur Con was cheduled to have its debut on this month and date. However, it was postponed
because it conflicted with Anthrocon. What was that first con for the Rockies date supposed to be?" It was clear from the faces of the players that no one had a real clue. Taking a chance, the fox slammed a paw down at the same time as the bunny. Geo's eyes flicked to the skunk, who pointed to the fox as being the first to register.
Calling to him, a hush fell over the crowd as he stated in a slight quivery voice, "June 2007!" Looking hopeful, the fox started to wring his paws, his tail drooping as the cougar shook his head, not giving away anything as the skunk pointed to Syffy. Turning to face him, the camera focused on the bunny's wide-eyed look and twitching nose.
He was still confident. It was just really hard not to tuck tail and run when the whole room seemed to look at him. The camera focused on him, the lens zooming out slightly.
"Same question," Geo said, looking on as the bunny looked up and straight ahead. "It was originally supposed to start June 2006." The yells of the crowd were so loud, he could only guess he was correct. He had done it! The show ended with the shaking of paws and pats on the back. The only thing that really mattered was the audience parting a path as the wolf walked up to him and placed a paw on his shoulder.
"Well done, buns."