A special delivery comes forward in an unexpected surprise for a freelance worker constructing his first video project.

Special Delivery

“Urgh, how much longer am I supposed to wait for this?? I’ve been waiting a long time now!” Janus has good reason to be pissed - his supplies were supposed to arrive earlier for a project he is doing in web design, and it is running behind schedule.

At the moment, Janus is scribbling down some notes and trying to organize his portfolio into several different sections. He has in mind what he wants to do and how he wants it all to go down - he is just missing some supplies. And he has been waiting for an awfully long time.

Suddenly, the phone rings in the background, prompting the black cat to get up and answer it. But while Janus answers the call, he frowns in question at being addressed directly.

“Hello? United States Postal Service - Margo Steiner speaking! Is this Janus?”

Janus blinks in confusion at the speaker addressing him directly. He responds, “Yes, this is Janus speaking. What's going on?”

“I’m coming to meet you directly in an express delivery because the mail carrier that was bringing your package was involved in an accident. It shouldn't take me long to reach you.” Just as Margo reports a situation update to the cat, Janus hears a buzzing noise that sounded like a revving engine. This leaves the cat shaking his head in wonder and contemplating, “I wonder what all that was about…?” The cat simply returns to his project after shrugging off the concern.

~~~~~

Meanwhile, a black Porsche 959 streaks down the freeway at speeds exceeding 100 mph, streaking and darting through slower moving traffic. Behind the wheel, Margo constantly maneuvers her car around while keeping her violet eyes focused on the road and on approaching cars. This is what she meant by ‘express delivery service'. All she can hope for is her cargo not being too badly damaged from her fast driving, which she has often been commended for.

Using her GPS tracker on her smartphone, Margo is able to follow the route to her best degree. However, she suddenly starts to slow down - a police checkpoint is up ahead and she does not want to get caught; that will add several seconds of time she will have to make up. She plays it cool, for now.

The police checkpoint only consists of two cars - a Porsche Cayman S (987) and a BMW M3 (E46). Thanks to her police scanner going up at approach, Margo is able to slow down to remain undetected. Then once she is out of range of the checkpoint, the snow leopardess hits the gas again, accelerating away like a rocket.

“Okay 10 minutes, not that far away.” Shifting up a gear, Margo increases her speed while checking her GPS to make sure she is staying on track. Finally, she maneuvers her 959 towards the far right, having checked out an approaching freeway off-ramp. With no other cars ahead of her, Margo guns the accelerator but quickly presses her brake pedal upon seeing an incline.

“Whoa, can't go too fast here! Can't risk a rollover!” The female snow leopard can feel her car and body adjusting to the elevation change. But around a blind corner, trouble can strike at any second. Fortunately, Margo is able to make it off the freeway along the curve, which turns out to be a blind uphill curve, and exit the freeway unscathed.

Now on surface streets, Margo has to be extra careful racing down local side streets. But she manages to make it quickly to Janus’ street where he lives. Seconds later, she arrives at Janus' address with a screeching halt, which catches the attention of the block to an extent, but Margo calls Janus in particular once more to inform him of her arrival.

Janus arrives at his front door to receive his brand new package while mumbling in worry about his order being damaged. But upon confronting the mail lady, he sees this beautiful snow leopard mailwoman, making him flushed in the face. The black cat gulps anxiously and begins gazing around in hopes of finding a replacement mail truck when he then spots a black Porsche 959 with white racing stripes in the background. While the snow leopardess extends the box out to Janus, the black cat is still staring at the German sports car, seeing not only the hazard lights but also the tire tracks. In fact, he is so lost that it takes Margo snapping his fingers in his face to bring him back. “Hello? Earth to Janus! Are you registering with me??”

“Huh?? Oh, sorry.” Janus shakes his head, finally snapping out of his daydream and paying attention. This time, he blushes a rose red and impulsively speaks, “Gosh, you’re beautiful. I never expected a pretty snow lady to show up as a replacement mailwoman! I don't see a mail truck anywhere! Who are you??”

Her tail swinging about, the female snow leopard laughs off the flattering commentary, leaving Janus to accept his package later. She reminds the black cat, “Flattery will get you nowhere, even on the job. As for who I am, I'm Margo Steiner. That was already established during our phone call update regarding your package delivery. And as for the absence of a mail truck, I had to use my personal car instead to prevent mail from literally flying out.”

The female snow leopard points out the black Porsche 959 parked on the curb with its yellow hazard lights flashing, to which she bemoans, “I really don't like those doorless mail trucks - you risk losing your cargo with those things!”

“That's why there's a compartment in the back for –” suddenly, reality comes crashing down Janus when it dawns on him about the delivery service. “ – wait a minute! Are you saying this is what you mean by ‘express service’? Nothing's damaged, right?”

Placing her hands on her hips, Margo retorts, “Don't worry your pretty little head, dear. Nothing is damaged. I'm not a race car driver, but I mean express service when it says ‘express’. Get there as fast as I can without damaging myself or the cargo.”

Janus, impressed with the sight before him, whistles in awe. He further compliments her, “Margo, huh? Not only are you beautiful, but you have something peculiar about that really makes your beauty shine. I can't quite put my finger on it. In fact, why don't you come inside and we can talk more? I’d love to get to know you more. And maybe I can learn how to pilot that striped rocket of yours.”

“I don't know about that. I’ll ask my husband if it's fine with him. Other than that, I’d have no problem. Maybe some other time, dear. But enjoy your package!” After humming and explaining herself to him, Margo hints at her marital status to let Janus know that she is taken already, but still wouldn't have any other problems. Then bidding Janus farewell, she turns to head back to her car, chalking up another satisfied customer.

Watching Margo leave and race off, Janus chuckles to himself and retreats inside his house with his new package to open up and build as part of his project. The black cat, feeling completely satisfied and awestruck, resumes working on his overall project while remarking to himself, “That is one amazing woman I will never forget - beautiful, nice, and cordial. She will brighten up anyone's day. That's for sure.”

~~~~~

Janus belongs to  Alnair Yorim; Margo belongs to me!