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Another warm and glorious day greets the land of New Mexico as the sun stretches its light rays for arms and slowly ascends into the clear blue sky above. Birds begin chirping their morning songs, little critters emerge from their homes to seek breakfast and bask in the morning sun, and as the story goes, Road Runner runs down the black pavement that cuts through the warm sands of the vast desert land. With Wile E. Coyote hot on his trail.
For nearly 80 years, the iconic duo have followed this beautiful routine of cat and mouse. Or well, bird and coyote for them. Road Runner, with speeds unmatched by any other creature in the desert, runs all around the wide open space of their home while chirping out his classic beeps and sticking out his tongue in playful taunts. And Wile E. Coyote, with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, chases after the bird while placing traps that ultimately fail and leave him at the bottom of a canyon. Or in some other painful cartoonish configuration.
Okay, so maybe beautiful isn’t the right word for their little routine. But, it’s un-mistakenly theirs. Always has been, always will be. And today, like any other, is shaping up to be the same.
With a few key differences in between.
The first, and most obvious to the average viewer, is the distinct lack of ACME products at Wile E.’s disposal. After his rather epic lawsuit against the company and the uprise it sparked in fellow toons, it’s left the once beloved company on the rocks. It’s also left the coyote without a place to order tools from. So Wile E., with no other alternative for the time being, has stuck to simply chasing after Road Runner on foot. Or, if he’s lucky to find enough scraps around the desert, make his own little contraptions for the bird to get caught in.
Of course, this hasn’t led to success as of yet, but it’s kept their little chase interesting, fresh, and has even boosted the confidence in Wile E.’s already inflated ego.
The second difference is his newly formed friendships with Kevin and Paige. Wile E. wouldn’t admit it out loud, or well, by sign, but these past decades have been incredibly lonely for him. Sometimes, after a particularly bad failure, the coyote would lay awake in his bed or even sit at the edge of his cave to look at the stars and contemplate where his life is going. What will he have after he’s caught Road Runner for good? Is he to start a family? Go back and stay with his dad? Is his dad even alive anymore?
It made those night restless.
But now that he’s got Kevin and Paige for support and companionship, that worry has dissipated. Mostly. And it is still his plan to share his wonderful Road Runner stew with Kevin. Paige, too! If she wants some.
Finally, the most conflicting difference of all, is this… shift between Wile E. and Road Runner. The trial did a lot of things. It helped to grow Kevin’s confidence in being a lawyer, exposed ACME for the evil corporation that it is, and most importantly, it changed Wile E.’s perspective. All this time, he only saw Road Runner as food. A meal ticket that would prove his place in this world and with his father. Sure, he made a truce here and there in the past. One must exercise a little restraint. But, it was all to aid in his goal of finally catching Road Runner.
But when he showed up to Congress that day? Beeping his yeses and nos to Kevin’s questions and revealed that he views Wile E. as a friend? When he asked if he was coming back and they met after all the dust settled with the trial? Things started to change. At first, Wile E. thought it was because of his new tactics. Road Runner needed a little time to adjust to the admittedly small changes to their routine. But it soon became clear that wasn’t the case.
An example? The bird leaving small scraps of food for the coyote in the mornings before their chases and at night afterwards. Or the few times Road Runner has asked him to watch the sunset together. The time he saved the poor coyote from being smashed by a surprise sign that appeared out nowhere. One that was gone the very next day.
And what about Wile E.? Sharing leftovers with Road Runner when he had it. Him agreeing to watch the sunset when asked and wrapping his arm around the bird. Or when he helped Road Runner who accidently got stuck in between some boulders. Which were obviously moved the next time the pair ran through there.
Or, most damning of all, the times when Road Runner would stay behind and cuddle with Wile E. in his cave after giving his nightly findings. Staying with the coyote all night long until it was time to find them some breakfast.
Needless to say, the confession has caused the two to become… chummy with one another. And today is no different.
“Hmeep-hmeep!” Road Runner beeps happily as he runs down the ever winding road, looking back to make sure Wile E. is chasing after him. Of course, the coyote is right behind him, running as fast as his legs can go with his paws outstretched in front of him. The blazing sun now begins its crest downward towards the setting West as the two continue to engage in their chase.
Wile E. is doing so good today! According to Road Runner, that is. So many times today, the tips of the coyote’s claws have brushed against his feathers. He even had a hold of his tail for five whole seconds! Road Runner couldn’t be happier for his friend and his mild successes today. Maybe he’ll find them a nice, plump snake to celebrate tonight. Won’t that be nice?
For Wile E., each near success stroked the flames of hunger and determination in his soul. It fueled him to keep going. Maybe today is the day! The day he’ll finally catch Road Runner and make the stew of his dreams to share with Kevin and maybe Paige. The day he’ll finally fulfill his destiny and prove himself to his family. This could be it!
But, as is always the case, Wile E. failed to actually capture Road Runner. His last attempt of the day involved him flinging himself in a self-made catapult to snag the bird mid-air. It ended with him smacking straight into a cactus. One with lots of sharp thorns.
A weak groan escaped him as he falls onto his back to the warm sand below. With a cartoonish splat sound accompanying the impact. His arm shakily holds up a sign that simply says, {OUCH!} before accepting his defeat for the day and settling on the desert floor in a puddle of goo.
Roadie stopped to check if his beloved friend was okay, holding up a sign that asks as much as questioning beeps leave his beak. For his part, Wile E. simply nods before weakly holding up another sign.
{SAME TIME TOMORROW?} It reads.
“Hmeep-hmeep!” Roadie beeps with a head nod. But instead of running away like he normally does, the bird stands there, watching Wile E. and the surrounding area closely as the coyote lays there and gathers his strength. Reconfiguring himself from his gooey mess.
{WHY ARE YOU STAYING?} Wile E.’s sign reads once he’s settled.
{WANT HELP?} Roadie replies with a sign of his own, beeping the same question. The question stuns Wile E. Help? Help with what? The coyote asks this question with the tilt of his head. Roadie flips the sign. {WITH THE THORNS!}
Oh. That… that makes sense.
{NO} reads the sign, {I CAN HANDLE IT} reads the other side. Roadie stands there for a minute, watching as Wile E. finally stands up and begins pulling the thorns from his body, flinching as he does so. As long as he’s okay, that’s all that matters to Roadie. So, with another round of beeps and a gentle smile, the bird finally runs off to find them some dinner. Find them that nice, plump snake for all of Wile E.’s close successes today.
Wile E. trudged to his cave as he continued to pick thorns from his poor body. He just had to smack into the thorniest cactus in the whole desert, didn’t he? But his painful finale of the day is quickly overshadowed in his mind by all the close calls he made today. He’s getting so close. He knows he is! Soon, he’ll finally be victorious.
Though, isn’t he already victorious? He has good friends. He’s gained mass success over ACME and popularity beyond his wildest dreams. And, though very confusing, he has a nice bond with Road Runner. Would it really be worth it to ruin all of that by eating him? Is proving himself to his father all that important if it means losing the one being in this entire universe who has been there through thick and thin? Who has stayed and allowed himself to be chased for all these decades?
Who would run all the way to DC just to defend you in court, say you’re his friend, and ask if you’re coming back?
Is his one true desire really worth it?
“Hmeep-hmeep!” The familiar, albeit muffled, beeps pull Wile E. from his trance, causing his head to shake as he looks over at the mouth of his cave. Standing there is Roadie! With a very large, very dead snake hanging from his beak. He looks very proud of himself. And with the backdrop of the setting sun illuminating him in this almost angelic glow, the bird looks so… heroic.
It makes Wile E.’s heart flutter a little.
{BROUGHT A CELEBRATORY DINNER!} Roadie’s sign reads as he waves it proudly. Celebratory? Wile E. tilts his head in confusion as he looks for a sign to express his feelings.
When he finds one it simply reads, {CELEBRATING WHAT?}
Roadie smiles at the sign and flips his sign so it says, {YOUR SUCCESSES TODAY!}
Words that made Wile E.’s fur bristle and face flush with surprise. This has to be a joke, right? But that look in Roadie’s eyes told him that it wasn’t. That the bird truly wants to celebrate today’s chase like it’s some important milestone for them.
And honestly… maybe it is.
{THANKS} Wile E.’s new sign reads before he spins it around, {LET’S EAT!}
The snake was delicious and if Wile E.’s pride let him, he would admit it was nice to share such a sweet meal with Roadie. One that allowed the calm quiet of their connection doing all the talking. While he loves having lunches and dinners with Kevin and Paige, he isn’t used to the amount of conversation even just two people can have. Especially in such a short window of time.
But with Roadie, they don’t need words. They don’t need long conversations that can span for hours upon hours. Don’t need to sprinkle in fancy words or sugarcoat things. No, instead they rely on body language. The looks in the other’s eyes. The profound connection that’s formed over these nearly 80 years of partnership.
And yes, this time I used the right word.
{CUDDLES TONIGHT?} Roadie’s sign reads once they finished cleaning up. A sign that the bird has been pulling more often. And one that sends pleasant tingles through Wile E.’s body. It really does feel so nice not being so alone anymore.
He nods at the request, earning him a series of cheerful beeps that make him smile warmly. Never in a million years did he think his nemesis being happy would make him happy too. Or that he’d ever be this close with the bird he viewed as a good meal. But even for a toon, life is an ever evolving experience. One that can take unexpected twists and turns for better or for worse.
With that, the dynamic duo retire to the newly installed bed that lays in the safest part of Wile E.’s cave. A thank you gift from Kevin for reigniting his determination and drive. Roadie jumps onto the bed first, getting himself comfortable before motioning and beeping for Wile E. to join him. Which the coyote quickly does, situating himself so his head rests gently against the bird’s body. His arms drape themselves around Roadie like a warm blanket of comfort and safety. In return, he curls neck downward, resting his head on Wile E.’s chest.
How can something that feels so wrong also feel so right?
No, now wasn’t the time to think about that. Maybe tomorrow. Or this weekend when he visits Kevin and Paige. But right now? Right now, Wile E. needs to let the day end. Just as it always does. With him laying in bed and thinking of new ways to catch Road Runner till he falls asleep. Oh, and give Roadie a few little scratches to his little birdie head. Because Roadie likes that. And well, Wile E. would be lying if he said it doesn’t soothe him.
So there you have it folks! Just another day for Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. Another day of thrilling chases under the gorgeous golden sun, silent banter that speaks louder than any spoken word, and cuddles. Because what better way to end a perfect day than with some cuddles?
And tomorrow? They’ll do it all over again.