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It started innocuously enough. Kevin and Wile had met up for one of their lunch hangouts at the local Mexican place. Wile never ate anything there, but Kevin always ordered him something, just to be polite.
“Y’know, I’ve been thinking.” Kevin says, “And if chasing the Roadrunner is your job, then you’re legally entitled to days off.”
Wile gestures broadly. What do you think this is?
“No, no, this is a lunch break and you know it. You’re just going to go back to it when we’re done here.”
Wile crosses his arms and raises a brow. Your point?
"My point is, for every 40 hours of work a week, you should get at least a full day off."
Wile considers it. He works much more than 40 hours a week. Maybe he does deserve to take a day off every once in a while. At the very least, he can use the time to dream up more schemes.
"I don't like that look in your eyes. You do get that a day off means no work whatsoever, right? Not even preparing for another chase." Kevin says.
Wile sighs. It just seems so pointless.
"Just give it a try. Tomorrow, sleep in late and enjoy a full 24 roadrunner-free hours." Kevin suggests.
Wile shrugs. Fine.
The next morning, Wile wakes up at dawn and springs out of bed. Then he remembers that it's his day off. He wilts, the manic grin fading from his face.
What do people do on their days off? He selects a book for reference: Top Ten Ways to Relax.
Now armed with some ideas, Wile races off to gather his supplies.
As the sun crests over the canyon walls, Wile traipses out of his cave and down to the sandy basin below. He's loaded down with a beach tote, positively stuffed with everything he needs.
As Wile starts unpacking, he hears the familiar far-off sound of one approaching roadrunner. Ignoring it, he calmly unfolds his lounger and opens his umbrella, sticking it in the sand.
"Beep-Beep!"
Wile startles, whipping around. A short distance away, the Roadrunner stares at him, tilting his head inquisitively.
Wile makes a shooing motion. Go away.
He puts on a pair of sunglasses and takes out a book. Then he settles onto his lounger in the shade and gives a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Beep-Beep!" The Roadrunner calls again.
Wile cracks open his book and pointedly begins to read. He's one sentence in when a yellow beak pokes over his shoulder. "Beep-Beep?" Whatcha reading?
Wile snatches at the Roadrunner on instinct, and the bird zips away. With a frustrated growl, Wile hunches his shoulders and tries to go back to reading.
Luckily, the Roadrunner seems to be gone for now. Wile slowly relaxes, actually getting into his book. The desert sun is unrelenting, even with the shade, and Wile is as hungry as ever. But it's nice to be still for once, to let the world pass him by.
There's a zoom! and the Roadrunner reappears by Wile's side. Wile looks over to see that the Roadrunner is carrying something in his beak. It's a rolled-up beach towel. As Wile watches, the Roadrunner unfurls it and lays it on the ground next to the lounger. Then he folds his legs beneath himself and sits down, casting a look in Wile's direction.
Wile licks his fangs. He's sorely tempted to lunge at the Roadrunner, just a couple feet away and watching him expectantly. But this is his day off. There will always be tomorrow's chase.
Wile reaches behind himself to adjust the backrest of his lounger, laying it flat. He lies down and places his open book over his face. Though every muscle in his body is tense and ready to leap into action, he feigns sleep.
There's a soft rustle beside him, feathers shifting. When Wile sneaks a peek out from under his book, he can see that the Roadrunner has curled up, his head resting on his back in the way birds are wont to do.
The Roadrunner's eye cracks open, catching Wile peeking. Wile hastily looks away and fakes a snore.
They lie like that, side by side, as the sun slowly crawls across the sky. Wile relaxes by increments, his perked ears drooping down, his balled fists loosening. Soon he's dozing for real, the exhaustion of his entire lifetime rising up to overtake him.
The sun falls behind the canyon walls, and the desert rapidly cools. Wile awakens with a shiver, then freezes as he notices a warm weight on his chest.
He frantically throws the book and sunglasses from his face, staring into a pair of wide, shining eyes. The Roadrunner is curled up on top of him, looking pleased as punch.
Wile grins with all his teeth, claws curled as he lifts his paws to finally capture his prey.
In a flash, the Roadrunner extends a leg and wraps his talons around Wile's throat. He pins him to the lounger, pressing just firm enough to send a clear message: Don't ruin the moment.
Wile nods slowly, lowering his paws and going limp and harmless. The Roadrunner chirps a happy, "Beep-Beep!"
Then the Roadrunner lies his head back down and closes his eyes, his foot still on Wile's throat. Wile swallows hard. It's going to be a long night.