-----Original Message-----
From: ffml-bounce@anifics.com [mailto:ffml-bounce@anifics.com] On 
Behalf Of Henry J. Cobb
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 3:07 PM
To: ffml@anifics.com
Subject: [FFML] Re: [Alice Academy] [spamfic] The Imai Code

"The Eternal Lost Lurker" <lurkerdrome@sbcglobal.net>

Another completely pointless and unfunny spamfic.

OK, let me add the references for all who wander lost in such a short 
text.

The problem is, when someone says "spamfic", we're all looking for the
punchline - the point where we're supposed to laugh. A real spamfic is one
that sets up a situation that even a casual knowledge of the source can
identify with; an unexpected result from a typical action; and a pithy
comment about it.

Example: Everyone who knows anything about Azumanga Daioh knows that Sakaki
likes cats, and cats bite her whenever she tries to pet them.

***

Chiyo listened with half an ear to Tomo and Yomi's latest bout of arguing -
class was about to start, and Yukari-sensei hadn't arrived yet, as usual.
Less usual was Sakaki's absence - the tall, shy girl was seldom late. Osaka
wasn't there either, though that was expected seeing as yesterday had been
spent commiserating about her impending dentist's appointment.

Nor was Sakaki late today either, Chiyo thought as the tall girl walked
though the door. She sighed as she noticed the bandaged finger on Sakaki's
hand.

"Again?" Chiyo asked as Sakaki approached. The taller girl's (lack of) luck
with felines was legend, as was her infatuation with them. 

Sakaki reddened briefly and nodded.

"Awww," Tomo piped in, spying the bandage. "You know he only does that
'cause he likes you, you know?"

Three heads swiveled towards Tomo, and Chiyo was about to say something when
she noticed Sakaki's hopeful expression, and decided not to. As, apparently,
did Yomi, who'd usually shoot down most of Tomo's zany ideas. 

"You really think so?" Sakaki asked hopefully. 

"Sure," Tomo replied, then went on with a long description of what she knew
of cats and their behavior, most of which was probably bovine manure.
Looking at Sakaki's face, Chiyo could almost hear the gears turning. Then
Yukari-sensei finally arrived, wearing the remains of her bike, and class
started, causing Chiyo to more or less forget about it.

***

The next day, Chiyo noticed Sakaki was late again - and this time class had
already started when there was a quiet knock on the door. Yukari-sensei
broke off in annoyance and went to open the door, brandishing a pointer like
a bokken, only to drop it, and her jaw, when she got the door open and saw
what was on the other side. Mutely, she let whoever it was in, and the class
went dead silent.

Standing in the door was Sakaki, here face radiant with happiness, with the
blasted cat cradled in her arms. Her clothes were little more than rags, and
she had painful-looking scratches all over, but Sakaki apparently didn't
notice. She walked up to Tomo, who'd dropped her pencil on the desk, and
said:

"You were right! I went to pet him again this morning, and when he bit me, I
bit him back! And then we got into a friendly tussle, just like you said,
and afterwards I just picked him up and hugged him and came here! I'm so
happy, and so is he, can you hear him purr?" It was most likely the longest
statement anyone had ever heard from Sakaki, and Chiyo was pretty amazed.
She also thought the "purring" sounded more like angry growls, but at least
Sakaki was happy.

In the corner of her eye, Chiyo could see the reactions of the rest of the
class. Yukari-sensei was out cold, likely from the shock of hearing Tomo had
been right about anything; Yomi was blubbering for the same reason, and the
rest were either boggling or doubled over in laughter at the rest. Chiyo
debated internally for a second which option she'd go for, and settled for
hysterical giggling. 

And that's when Osaka said: "Wow, Sakaki! Can I pet him too?"

SP



             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'