It's Fun

Charlock counted the number of guards standing around the storage building. He waited for his father to finish thanking their host for the meal before speaking, "Why do you have so many guards?"

"Ah..." Keres reveled, "they protect my most important thing. Many guards for precious treasure."

"What kind of treasure?" Charlock probed.

"The best kind." Keres assured him before turning his attention back to Charlock's father for their final goodbyes.

Walking out of the compound Charlock signaled to his attendant to his side and quietly spoke, "I counted eight guards. Is that going to be a problem?"

"No Sire."

"What happened to you?" Charlock jumped up from his chair at the sight of his attendant's bloodied face and dirty, torn clothes. "Were you discovered?"

"No, I tripped and fell into a tree and then I tumbled down a slope." They confessed as they picked a twig from their shirt.

"I...I don't," he stared at his attendant, completely dumbfounded. "What is wrong with you? You have the stealth of a cat but the grace of a baby."

"I got what you wanted didn't I?" The attendant grumbled as they pull a package wrapped in brown paper from their back.

"This is it?" Charlock questioned as he took the box and turned it from side to side, examining it. "His great treasure?"

"Yes, it was sitting on top of a pillar in the middle of the room. It was the only thing there, the rest of the room was entirely empty."

Charlock removed the outer wrapping and discarded it to the side. Taking a small blade from his attendant, he sliced the tape holding the sides together.

Handing the blade back, he lifted the flaps, opening the box.

Keres hissed with laughter as he listened to the chipmunk tell him what they had seen at Charlocks'.

"Wha...what?" Keres began mimicking surprised faces at the chipmunk. "It's empty?"

Laughter exploded from him as the chipmunk finished their story. "He so stupid."

"Who's stupid?" Dero inquired as he joined his uncle at the patio table.

"Charlock..." he turned his focus to his nephew after giving a few nuts to the chipmunk, "He sneak into my compound."

"What?" Dero questioned as he grabbed a couple grapes from the bowl on the table. "Why?"

"To steal what I guard, of course." The swoon of his voice matched his Cheshire smile.

"What were you guarding?" Dero asked rhetorically as he popped a couple of grapes into his mouth.

"An empty brown paper box."

A knowing smile pulled to one side with a light chuckle. "Why?"

"Because it funny." Keres snickered with delight. "He like stupid child, he steal empty box."

"As long as you're having fun." Dero chuckled as he popped a couple more grapes into his mouth while inquiring, "so what are you going to do now?

An indulgent smile spread across his face as he declared, "I already done it."

Charlock came out of his cottage with his ears covered to investigate the unrelenting screeches that were piercing his ear drums.

At the sight of him, the screeches stopped. A bird flew above him and dropped a package down to him.

Catching the box he read the inscription on the tag:

If you need box. I give you box. No need to steal box. We friends. I help you.

Charlock looked up as the sky began to darkened as flocks of birds began raining down hundreds of brown paper boxes all around him.