"Hey, your shift ended half an hour ago. Why are you still here?"
Eddie, the muscled rhino who worked at the book store, saw Simon at the reception desk writing down some things on paper and also typing at the computer. The cougar lifted his head to look at Eddie.
"I had to check if there was were any really good books to give as Christmas present to some friends and relatives."
"You're actually gonna give them books? Most of the people in this city hardly read anything. Have you thought of anything else?"
"Of course I'm not gonna buy only books. I need to go to the mall, I'll find some good variety there. I'll see you tonight for the movie!"
Simon took his jacket from the hanger and exited through the main door, putting a piece of written paper into one of his pockets. He headed to the mall by foot, since it was about a 15 minute walk from the book store. On his way there, since it was in the middle of Autumn, Simon went a different route and was now walking down a path through a brown and orange covered park, leaves falling everywhere from all the trees. Halfway through, he noticed someone sitting on a bench, wearing a brown jacket and a pair of dark colored trousers, and sipping on a soda.
"Oh, hello, Dax!"
The gorilla swallowed the gulp of soda and turned his head to meet Simon's eyes, barely smiling at him.
"Sup."
The cougar stood next to him, not knowing what to say after that brief response.
"Were you jogging and taking a break now?"
"Actually, I was on my way to where you work."
Simon became happy when he heard that. It was the first time he had seen Dax interested in books. But then Simon started wondering, thinking about it, and then he thought of something.
"Ooh. You actually wanted to see Eddie, right?" Simon asked with a little smirk.
Dax looked at the cougar for a few seconds and then laughed.
"Naaah. I wasn't going there to see him. I was looking for you, actually. I have a few things to talk with you about."
"Oh. Well, I'm going to the mall. Wanna go too? We can talk on the way."
Dax nodded at the cougar's suggestion, took a final sip of his soda and threw the empty can in a trash near the bench before lifting himself up and walking next to Simon through the park.
Dax began to talk, which was a rare thing for him, as he was usually a quiet kind of guy. Simon listened attentively as his friend talked about some issues at work. The gorilla, who worked as a bouncer at various night clubs, was getting tired of constantly having to deal with drunk and/or pushy guys who would get up on the gorilla's face for whatever reason, namely guys wanting to prove they were tough, and guys flirting heavily with him. Both would cause the gorilla to react, the rowdy guys getting forcibly kicked out, the flirty guys getting promptly fucked in the back, in part so they'd just leave Dax alone so he could do his job. He was 39 years old, he had been doing this kind of job for many years and was starting to get tired of it. Even the part where he got a lot of sex. Dax did like sex, but so much of it on a constant basis could be tiring and interfere with his work performance.
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you want to talk to me about this?" asked the cougar, the two of them almost at the end of the path that ran through the park.
"Well, because you're the most responsible guy I know, so I wanted to know what you'd suggest me to do with this situation. Anything, honestly, even a different line of work."
Simon was flattered by that answer. He kept walking and thought for a few seconds about the right answer to give to the troubled gorilla.
"I don't think I can really help you with that, Dax. To be honest, I don't know what kind of jobs could be suitable for you with your set of skills. Well, maybe you could be a cop. You're big, strong, intimidating, and you're a really nice guy. I think you'd be a great cop."
Dax listened attentively. "Could be an option, but I think I'm too old to get into that kind of profession. I was thinking of something more relaxing."
"You're not thinking about... office work?"
"Ha! Now that's a laugh! Do you see me sitting at a desk, wearing a shirt and glasses and a tie, and trying to type on a computer with these giant hands?"
"I'd want to see that so I could have a good laugh too!"
They both laughed for a good minute, and Dax seemed to be in a better mood now, which also put Simon in a good mood. They continued to talk, about other things now, until they reached the other entrance of the park, where the path ended. The gorilla looked at the cougar with a smile on his face and shook his hand. He wasn't the type of guy who hugs people, but a handshake was a good way for him to show his affection.
"Well, I'll leave you here, got to go back home and get some sleep some before work tonight."
"Before you go, what do you want for Christmas? You don't seem like the kind of guy who likes surprises, so if you could tell me what you'd like, it would be great. Or maybe just a hint or two."
"Ah, don't worry about that, Simon. Gifts really aren't my thing.!"


Winter's almost here, but Autumn's not finished yet. Where I am is getting colder and colder day by day, but there are still trees with falling leaves that makes for beautiful environments!
Don't ask why they're barefoot. I don't know either.

Characters @ Me

Artwork @  crocdragon89