The streets of Fandom, Thursday afternoon

[14andseven]

Roland's usual busking pattern had been disrupted today by a group of little scaley green things doing a very growly, not terribly verbal rendition of "White Christmas". He applauded politely when they wrapped up, and they were taking their bows when a little swarm of squirrels in Victorian dress came rushing over, gathered in front of the gremlins, and starting squeaking "Silver Bells". The gremlins, looking quite put out, answered with "Deck the Halls" -- the switch of "fa la la la la" to "ra ra ra ra ra" actually worked surprisingly well -- to which the squirrels, after a brief conference among themselves, returned with "A Soalin", complete with tiny mandolin. The gremlins, hopelessly outclassed, subsided with a series of angry grumbles. One of them reached a clawed hand out towards the nearest squirrel, only to get whacked on the chest and told off by his fellow gremlin. The squirrels cheered for themselves, toasted each other with tiny bottles of rum, and then went scurrying off.

Roland watched them go, then looked back at the now thoroughly grumpy looking gremlins. "I don't suppose any of you play an instrument?" The gremlins grumbled. The one who'd wanted to eat the squirrel started eyeing Roland's leg hungrily. "Look," Roland said, playing a soothing chord on his guitar. "How about you try something like this."

And that was how Roland ended up teaching a mob of gremlins how to sing "Carol of the Bells".