A Gnome's Work Is Never Done

[Oneille]

There came a loud crash! Inside the cramped work space of a one Tinker Frena Doublefuzzle there was a large pile of cogs and metal bits strewn about the area. Underneath the newly created mess in the center was Frena cursing up a storm. Her small voice grumbled angerily while outside in Ratchet town life busied about.

"Oh fuzzle rot!" Frena growled as her small hand pushed and heaved away heavy metal spanols till her blue haired head poked through.

"This is the eighth time this week that calibrator as exploded and the bloody cogs have gotten off center! This machine is not worth fixing!" Frena climbed down from the pile of spare parts and dusted off her oily apron and made a sharp, shrill whistle. Out of the wreck of a nearby abandoned lumber, buzz-saw came Wrenchy the Tinker Mechano Squirrel.

Leaping into action the small mechanical creature dragged a long wrench with him. The large tool scrapped across the ground and finally the creature placed the handle into Frena's left hand and scampered off to perch upon the gnome's work bench.

"Leaping lugnuts!" Frena stared off out the window of the workroom and gasped. Already the Barrens sun was fading into the dark hues of evening. "Well if that Goblin husband of mine knows what is good for him he'd get his carcass home soon, eh Wrenchy?"

The small mechanical mammal made a deep metal toned squeak. He seemed to agree in his own chirpy way. Leaping down from his perch and making his way to his mistress's shoulder, Wrenchy peered out to the world that was Ratchet late in the evening.

"All right little guy enough tinkering with this apparently broken down machine. If my husband knows what is good for him he'll do well to let the thing be."

Frena and Waslo Doublefuzzle owned and operated a Goblin-Gnome repair store just off the edge of Ratchet. Most days Frena spent tinkering while Waslo hawked the wares in the Steamweedle ports. Waslo and Frena seemed constantly busy with the Northrend demands. Many newly founded engineers sought the shop for one reason: Waslo's Tinker Shop sold a rare component used in making motorbikes, the same motorbikes that were the rage of Azeroth as of late. Such demands left Waslo out of the shop and poor Frena tasking Wrenchy and Buzzerby the Robo Worker for the extra help. Frena crafted the gears required for the famed component whereas Waslo knew how to socket the item. Ah such demands equal great money but no room for anything else...

Frena dreaded it when an orc or human heartily greeted and threw down the gold. It meant well for business but...not for a marriage.

"All right Wrenchy get the sign changed to closed." Wrenchy leaped to the floor and hurried to change the sign. Flipping the sign to "closed" Wrenchy chirped and sauntered off to the work bench where Frena put away the mess from before.

Yawning, the gnome tinker reached for the dimming light above her work bench when a rapping noise caught her attention. At the door someone knocked softly at first then a loud pounding. "Oh come on! We're closed...dammit!"

Jumping from the stool she sat upon, Frena trotted over to the door an angered look about her countence. Hand on the latch and door handle the Gnome threw open the door and as suspected there was a small gathering of engineers clamering for goods.

"Oh by the Bronzebeards! Can't you read signs: CLOSED! C-L-O-S-E-D!" Frena huffed arms crossed as a large troll with lime green dreadlocks knelt down to her level.

"Ey dere girlie we 'jus be wantin ta get dat ..." Frena groaned cutting off the troll's thoughts.

"Look for the last time, we are CLOSED! I do not question your busy nor your gold but...I have a store that is closed and a household to maintain. Come back at first light! Waslo clearly stated you want something come back later!" With a huff and a up turned nose Frena slammed the door leaving behind a much confused troll and his friends.

"That Waslo better get home soon...I am making strider kabobs and I know it's his fave!" giggling Frena began to head out the back door of the shop with worker creatures in tow. Tonight Frena was happy to be going home knowing soon Waslo would return. But for now the blue haired gnome began to head home, where even there her work was never done.

~The End ~