"Come on," I whispered to Greg.
He nodded and started to lead me and two multicolored sheep through the lab. We almost maneuvered our way completely but Nick hindered us.
"What are you doing?"
Greg and I looked at each other and then back at Nick. "It's a surprise. Do you wanna help?"
He shrugged, it was a slow day, "Sure, why not."
"Where's George?" I asked.
"With Catherine at a scene."
Greg smirked. "Good. Can you get another sheep from the garage?"
"Any specific one?"
"Either Philip or Phoebe, we've already got Harvey and Atticus."
"Got it!" Nick hurried off to the garage as Greg and I put our two sheep in the right places. About five minutes later, Stupid face came out with both Philip and Phoebe.
All three of us took turns: Greg got Yolanda, I got Belinda, Nick got Isiaha, Greg shuffled out Robert, I took out Thomas and Hector, Nick carried David, Greg got Andrew, I got Yoda, Nick carried off Meghan, Greg commandeered Alexander and Robin, I selected Yoshi and Erin, Nick took out Laura and Laverne, and last but not least, Greg carried Eddie and Napoleon out to the parking lot and set them up with the others.
Twenty-two sheep in total. All personalized and ready for Greg and mine's surprise.
A half hour later, Maryellen and Catherine dragged themselves into the breakroom. They were not in the mood for anything.
"How's Lindsey and Rick?" She asked Catherine.
"Fine. Lindsey is going to Indiana for her first teaching job. And Rick is excited about starting football." She smiled at the thought of her children.
"That's great. That's really great."
Just then, Greg, Nick, and I showed up in the doorway. "Hey George, we got a surprise for you."
"Not now Fred, Maryellen's tired." George answered me.
"All I want is two minutes." My smiled made her suspicious, but she eventually got up. We pulled her and Catherine out to the back parking lot.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARYELLEN!" Greg, Nick and I shouted.
She didn't show any emotion but confusion. "Sheep?" She asked all three of us. "You spelled Happy Birthday Maryellen on the backs of sheep. Why?"
Greg answered. "Why not?"
"...Because it's a herd of sheep!"
"They're blue sheep with pink letters! That's just screams awesome." Nicky tried to reason with her.
Maryellen shook her head. "I just don't see how."
All four of our mouths dropped. "Who are you and what have you done with our Maryellen?"
George's face became as still as stone and she looked us over, almost as if she were deciding whether or not to tell us the truth. And then, "PSYCHE!" She shouted and started laughing. "You should've seen your faces." she was practically hysterical.
"That wasn't nice! Do you know how long it took the three of us to get all of those sheep lined up like that?!"
"Three fucking hours." Nick said through clenched teeth at Greg.
"You're the one who wanted to be part of the surprise." Greg held up his hands.
"You are so dead, Greg." Nick went to punch him, but I stepped between them.
"Don't you be touchin' my hubbie." I said all quick and ghetto-like.
Nick leaned over and looked me straight in the eye. "I will pick you up and move you."
It was Greg's turn to step between us. "Don't you be touchin' my wife." He imitated me. And then he smirked. "Wife." He turned and looked at me.
"Yeah," I leaned into him and he held me tight. It was nice to be known as a wife.
"Uh," Maryellen interrupted us. "Is this the whole surprise?"
"No, Rich," I turned back to Greg. "tell her what she's won."
"Well Bob, she's won a brand new car!"
Her eyes widened with excitement. "Seriously?"
"No." Her face fell. "But you did win...a new puppy!" Out of nowhere, Johnny came into view holding a baby Siberian Husky with bright blue eyes.
"Why can't I have a puppy?" I asked Greg in hushed tones.
"Let's not go into this now." He said, trying not to fight.
"You know I've always wanted one."
"Well it's not your birthday."
"It was eleven days ago!"
"Guys-" Nick tried to intervene.
"Anita, please..."
"I have always wanted a puppy!"
"Guys?" Maryellen tried, and failed.
"Maybe I just don't want a puppy! Ever thought of that?" Greg yelled at me.
"How could you not want a puppy? They're so cute!"
"They're expensive!"
"Oh, come on!"
"Bye." Maryellen said to us as her, Nick, Catherine, Johnny and the new puppy left for the lab. "Y'all are giving me a frickin' migraine." Then her eyes widened in fear. "Oh my God, I'm turning into her."