Entry #2: There's more than one kind?

Today has been a strange day to say the least. Loni decided that I should come with him to help him find flowers. When I hinted at the idea that the flowers were for a girl Littl, he denied it. When we got to the meadow where he said the flowers were, he described the type of yellow daisy he was looking for. He was needlessly specific for it not to be for someone else, but I didn't say anything about it.

Instead, I asked him more about Littls. I reminded him that he'd told me that some Littls had different kinds of tails.

"Some come from other places," he told me. "Being from somewhere else makes them look a little different, but no one really minds." When I proposed that there were different races of Littls, he gave me a strange look. "Why would we run differently?" I decided to drop the subject and asked him to explain how Littls from other places looked. Before he could explain however, I felt something crawling up the back of my shirt. I don't particularly care for bugs, especially large ones, but thankfully Loni pointed out what it was before I frantically tried to remove it.

It turned out to be Loni's best friend Piit, another boy Littl who had a tail similar to Loni's. He stood perched on my shoulder grinning at me and giggling.

"I scared you!" he cried gleefully. "I could feel your heart racing through your shirt!" His temperament was so different from Loni's that I had a hard time figuring out how to answer him. In the end, Loni saved me the trouble and demanded to know why Piit was out there.

After arguing as only two best friends can, Piit eventually got down from my shoulder, agreeing to help Loni look for the yellow daisies. I reminded Loni of my question and the two of them began to explain.

Far left - Piit (Temperate); Center - Kia (Southern); Far right - Luo (Northern)
Piit was quite insistent about being the example for my area.

Littls from my area (which I will call Temperate Littls from now on) have thick-furred tails similar to a dog's and also tend towards human trends in clothing. Their hair grows in fairly thick and often straight or wavy. Temperate Littls are energetic, boisterous, and generally very curious. They seem to live for the thrill of adventure, but they dislike feeling as though they have responsibilities they have to take care of.

Littls from further south (Southern Littls) have slightly wider ears and sparser fur on their tails. Their hair is usually light-colored and fine. The Southern Littl they described to me was a girl named Kia and she had apparently visited their community with her family not too long ago on a sort of vacation (or so I gathered). Southern Littls like to wear thin and light-weight clothing to help deal with the heat. They are also known for their near-impeccable manners.

Littls from further north (Northern Littls) apparently aren't seen in my area too often. The last time one visited was when Luo (a kind of ambassador) came and then left nearly twenty moon cycles ago (about a year and a half I think). Northern Littls have thick, long fur on the ends of their ears and wear thick, fur trimmed clothes. Most other kinds of Littls don't seem to like them much because of their slanted eyes and cat-like tails (remember: Littls avoid cats). According to Piit, they also never smile. Loni says this isn't true...mostly.

A drawing by Piit
of himself.

By the end of the day, we'd managed to find six of the very specific, "not for a girl", yellow daisies, which was enough thankfully. Piit followed Loni and I back to my home and (despite Loni's protests) helped himself to the things I was getting out for Loni.

While drawing in my sketchbook, Piit noticed something in the back pocket of my jeans. When I checked, I found several flowers carefully tucked in the corner of one pocket. Though I asked, neither Loni nor Piit knew who had put them there and both insisted that neither of them had done it. They were giving each other strange looks and when I asked, Loni tried to explain.

A large blue flower and two small
yellow ones from my secret friend.

"It looks like a friendship gift," he told me. "When we want to be friends with someone or get to know them better, but don't know how to say hello, we give them flowers." He said it was very strange that no one had seen the one who'd left them though. "How else will you know who is trying to say hello?"

Not knowing what else to do, I put the flowers in a vase and set it on the windowsill. I thought that maybe whomever had put the flowers in my pocket might see the flowers in my window and come forward.

Piit has decided to stay in my home as well now. He's taken a liking to television and has figured out how to work the remote by either stepping or jumping on the appropriate buttons. He's already become an avid channel surfer, never staying on one channel for more than four seconds.

I think Loni has given up trying to chase Piit out. He made me promise not to tell any other Littls about the arrangement he and I have. When I asked why, he told me that more than half the Littl population would move into my house if they found out. Needless to say, I made the promise. Loni and Piit aren't bad roommates or anything, but I can't see myself living with a veritable hoard of Littls like Piit.

Whomever left the flowers still hasn't come forward, but Loni thinks they will eventually. I find myself looking forward to that day (especially since neither Loni nor Piit have done something like this). I only hope that the flowers won't wilt before they do come forward.

Anyway, like I said, today has been strange and long. Hopefully by the next time I write, I'll be able to tell you about my secret friend.

--Doc. Fizzy