The blatant look of shock on the Aussie's face had been captured perfectly by the mobile cameras of the game show. As a birthday gift to himself, Silverpaw had bought himself a ticket to go see a taping of the new "Splaturday Morning" television show that had been making waves for the last few months on WKNX. As a lifelong fan of messy television, he had jumped at the chance to watch a real live episode of this new Saturday morning sensation. Of course they'd collected some basic personal details during the booking process, but he'd never dreamed that some part of his information could be used “against” him in such a way.

When the host of the show had announced that there was a birthday in the crowd, Silver had had barely enough time to even remember that today WAS his birthday, before all the spotlights in the room flared down on his seat. His heart skipped a beat as he suddenly found himself at the very center of attention. A couple of smiling stagehands appeared in the aisle to escort him down, front and center. The Aussie had never been on TV before, and suddenly felt very self-conscious. Then his roving gaze shifted over to the big metal-and-glass booth at the center of the stage, and his heart skipped again as he guessed that that's where he'd be going...

After the host introduced Silver to the audience and asked him to say a few words about himself (which the Aussie had managed to stutter out, still taken aback by what had happened to him just 30 seconds ago), he was escorted backstage with the host's proclamation that “Silver will be back with us in just a few minutes,” trailing behind him. The backstage crew was very nice and put him a little at ease... Until they advised him to shed as much of his clothing as he was comfortable with, because the button-up shirt and pants he had worn to the studio were much too nice to get slimed, and he probably wouldn't want to wear sloppy clothes home anyway. They had showers but no laundromat, they told him with a playful smile.

Blushing, he shucked off his shirt and pants and sat himself nervously into the booth, which was currently darkened and closed off from view of the stage. He took a shuddering breath as the door clicked shut behind him; he was now bound to his playful, but certainly tremendously messy, fate. He hugged his knees to his chest, wondering what might be about to happen to him...

After what felt like hours of waiting, but was really only the length of a commercial break and a reintroduction to the show, the curtain drew back, and Silver found himself staring out at a few hundred cheering audience members, whom he could barely see over the glow of all the stage lights directed at him. His blush deepened. Then, to his surprise and even flattery, he heard them all break out into a loud chorus of “Happy birthday to you!”. The host was “directing” the song with exaggerated arm motions, and everyone had a smile on their face. Despite everything else he was feeling, Silver couldn't help but feel genuinely touched.

* * *

Silverpaw is © Silverpawwolf

Art is © Susi

Do not alter or redistribute!