The Sleepy Sheepy Spa

The neon green hatchback rumbled down the two-lane road that curved softly through the grassy field. The road was flanked on either side by evenly spaced trees shaped into circles, their leaves bouncing lazily in the midmorning breeze. In the distance, at the end of the thin strip of black in the sea of green and tan grasses, sat an ornate metal gate, beyond which was a group of buildings, painted soft white like the clouds on the horizon backing them. It was also the destination for the three young men in the car.
Only one of them was currently focused on their destination, the driver, Theo. The other two were currently occupying themselves to pass the time. In the passenger seat was Chris, his foot propped up on the dash as he tapped away at his phone, jumping between social media, a mobile game, and checking to make sure he still had signal. In the backseat, Max studied the flyer that came with the pack of tickets Theo had won, a colorful advertisement for a day spa, complete with high-fidelity photos of the facilities and its mascot, an anime-style sheep girl drawn with expressions of joy and admiration for the activities on offer.
He looked up from the, admittedly cute, mascot to Theo, “You sure this is legit? Like, did you even enter a contest you could be the winner of?”
Theo shrugged, eyes dutifully on the road ahead of him, “I think it was through my bank or a delivery service or something. That’s why it’s a package deal and not just me, they probably don’t know if I have a family or whatever to bring with me.”
Chris looked up from his phone, “I guess we’re the whatever, then?”
Theo nodded, “You’re the best whatevers I ever had.”
Max playfully slapped the back of Theo’s seat, “You’re too kind.”
“I really am,” he looked at Max in the mirror as he pulled into a side lane leading to the shiny metal gate, “inviting my two whatevers to a free day spa instead of my mom or a date.”
Chris’ eyes dropped back to his phone, “I bet both were too busy and that’s why we’re here.”
Theo hummed as the car came to a stop, “I can neither confirm nor deny that theory.”
The three shared a laugh as a guard approached the car, dressed in a white and gold uniform. After confirming the tickets, he gave them directions on where to park and opened the gate for them to move forward, the trio looking up at the sign that arced over the entrance.
SLEEPY SHEEPY SPA
On either side of the sign were mirrored images of the sheep girl, smiling brightly and waving energetically.
Chris held up his phone, “Anyone want me to send a last known correspondence before we get out of the car?”
Theo sighed as he turned off the engine, “Joke if you want. Hell, stay in the car if you’re worried about it, but I’m heading inside for my free spa day,” he pulled a silver vape from the cupholder to his lips, “and I’m gonna enjoy it as best I can.”
Chris threw his hands up in playful defeat, “Fine, fine, you’ve convinced me.” He slipped his phone into the pocket of his cargo pants and turned to look at Max, absently stroking his beard as he did, “what about you? You gonna stay here and stare at the sheep girl or come inside and see if there’s higher res art of her?”
“You both like hitsujimimi as much as I do,” Max set the flyer down on the seat and adjusted his glasses, “as well as every other mimi there is, if your wall scrolls are any indication.”
Chris shrugged, “Hey, I’m a guy that knows what I like.”
Theo opened his door and exhaled outside the car, “You two going to spend all day talking about the best way to spend an evening alone or are you going in with me?” The passengers relented, joining Theo as he stepped out of the car and looked at the building in front of them.
It was a two-story building, painted white with tall windows along the top floor and a tiled roof that resembled the top of clouds. The glass double doors were framed in gold, with a sign hanging above them featuring the same waving sheep girl from the main gate.
WELCOME CENTER
The trio walked up the half dozen stone steps to the doors, pulling them open and heading inside. The first thing they noticed was the thick aroma of clean cottons accented by a welcoming bouquet of vanilla, lavender, and lemongrass. A waiting area furnished with a pair of fluffy white couches was to one side, a bathroom and drinking fountain was to the other, and a softly curved reception desk sat directly in front of them.
A perky young lady popped up from behind the desk, “Welcome to the Sleepy Sheepy Spa.” A bright smile adorned her face and a clipboard was clutched to her chest with both arms, “where relaxing is just a baa away.”
Max sighed under his breath, “Give me a break.”
Theo shushed his friend with a hand before looking at the young lady, “Hi, I’m Theo. I won a group package and brought my friends, Max and Chris.”
The receptionist checked her clipboard and nodded, “I see, I see.” She walked out from behind the desk, revealing an outfit consisting of a white velvety lab coat over a pair of overalls and striped undershirt.
Max rolled his eyes, “I repeat-“
There was another shush from Theo as the woman approached them, “I have you down for the full package, valued at over $1000.”
Chris stepped forward, “And that’s all comped for us?”
The woman nodded, “If you’ll just sign here, we’ll be on our way.”
Each young man scanned the document and signed numbered blocks in turn, the legalese surprisingly legible, basically just a standard liability waiver for allergies or other medical reactions.
The woman took the signed documents and briefly looked them over before smiling at the trio, “Everything seems to be in order,” she turned towards a door behind the desk, “if you’ll just follow me to the most relaxing day of your life.”
The women led the young men past her desk to a pair of maroon double doors. She pushed through them and the group walked into a small, six seat theater. The chairs were three to a row, larger and fluffier than what one would expect from a normal movie-going experience.
The receptionist motioned to the chairs with her clipboard, “If you’ll all have a seat, we’ll start the welcome movie.”
Theo and Chris shared a look, but Max hopped forward and fell into the nearest seat, letting out a yelp as the seat reclined under his weight. He rolled to his back and kicked a leg up as he crossed them, “Reclining movie seats. This is pretty sweet.”
Theo shrugged and walked to the seat next to Max, letting out a playful sigh as he dropped into the chair and reclined as well. Chris looked at the screen, currently displaying the same logo from the flyer, then turned back to the receptionist, “Are movies normally part of a spa experience?”
The woman nodded, “Many high-class establishments have introductory films for their offerings. I’d call it a sizzle reel of sorts, but that makes it sound more exciting than relaxing, I think.”
“So,” he glanced back at the screen, “it’s a marketing pitch?”
“Not exactly, as you’re already here and signed up,” she tapped the pen against her clipboard, “this is more of a teaser of what to expect during your stay.”
“Come on, man,” Max sighed, “you’re holding up the whole day. It’ll be over in like five minutes.”
His gaze moved from Max to Theo, who gave another apathetic shrug. He walked past his friends and sat gently in the chair next to Theo, smoothly leaning back and soundlessly reclining the chair.
“Excellent,” the woman smiled brightly, “enjoy the show and when you finish, just head through the door over there and have a wonderful day,” she made a rounded wave, “mee mee.”
The woman turned and left before the trio could fully react to the sound she made, but a soft chord played and the lights went down, drawing their focus to the screen as it faded to black.
The scene opened on a brightly animated field of tall, green grass, wind pushing rhythmic waves across the rolling hills that extended in all directions. The camera panned down from the cloudless sky to a round bundle of wool, moving up and down slowly, the sound of snoring barely audible.
“Tsuji,” a young man’s voice shouted from off-screen, “get up, they’re here.”
The bundle moved, a wool blanket that pushed back to reveal the same sheep girl from the flyer and signs, dressed in a white sailor outfit, complete with a sky-blue neckerchief. She yawned cutely and ran a hand through her white hair, faded to black at the tips, before humming in sleepy confusion and looking at the camera. Realization hit and she bounced to her feet with a surprised “mee.”
Her cheeks went red and she looked at someone off camera, “Hitsu, you have to wake me up before you turn on the camera, mee,” she stomped a foot energetically, her baggy white shorts bouncing as she did. She paused, looking at the camera again. She let out a sigh and straightened up, dusting off the front of her top before focusing on the camera, “Well, hello there,” she waved both hands in big circles, “I’m Tsuji and I’m here to welcome you to-“
The camera spun around to frame an animated version of the spa. Tsuji’s head came in from the top of the frame as a sheep boy, similar in appearance to Tsuji save for two stubby horns on his head, came in from the bottom, both shouting enthusiastically, “the Sleepy Sheepy Spa.”
Chris leaned over and nudged Theo, never looking away from the screen, “It’s original, I’ll give them that.”
Theo chuckled, his own gaze still locked on the screen as a montage of the campus played, “Hey, it’s better animation than half the stuff we’ve rented online.”
Chris shrugged, “Meh.”
“Mee,” Max repeated softly, the only one of the three genuinely enjoying the show.
The montage ended and the scene transitioned to an exercise room, Tsuji jogging lightly on a treadmill in the foreground and Hitsu struggling to maintain a bench press in the background, “Enjoy our variety of exercise and weight equipment in the gym. It’s a great way to get a good work out, mee.”
Hitsu dropped the weights to one side, the scene switching just before they’d clatter to the ground. They were in a sauna, the twins sitting next to each other, still in their matching outfits, though Hitsu’s wooly hair and tail were puffed up to cartoonish proportions from the steam. “Enjoy a nice steam in our world-class saunas,” Tsuji spooned water over the coals, her ears twitching at the resultant steamy hiss before leaning back and letting out a slow, relaxed, “mee.”
The three young men subtly relaxed as well, shoulders going slack as tension left their bodies. The bright colors and surround sound pulled them in, the warm steam and fragrant hardwood nearly prickling their skin.
The scene switched again, to a grassy hilltop with a single, broad tree that rocked back and forth on the breeze, a slow metronome that dominated the landscape. The sound of the soft breeze surrounded them, their heads rocking back and forth in time as they relaxed further. Max grunted a soft “mee” as his body went fully slack, irises quivering and going flat as he rocked from side to side.
The camera closed in on the twins, seated below the tree. Tsuji smiled warmly from beneath an oversized sunhat while Hitsu slept to one side, curled up and snoring soft “mee mee”s as he did, the sheepish snore rising from him in fluffy text bubbles.
“Or just sit out in one of our many fields, enjoying the afternoon sun and breeze, mee mee.”
Chris and Theo let out their own stupefied “mee” grunts, eyes flattening as their entranced gaze held on the screen.
Tsuji stood up from her cozy seat beneath the tree, walking forward and looking over the theater, “My, what a handsome trio of sleepy sheepies we have today,” she smiled cutely, hands behind her back as her hips wiggled playfully, “all ready to let go of all that tension and worry and be comfy happy sheepies, mee mee.”
“Mee,” the three boys responded in unison, unfocused ovis eyes still on the bright screen.
Tsuji nodded proudly, “I’m glad you’re all so relaxed. Just let all those worries go, forget all your troubles as you enjoy our a-mee,” she cleared her throat with a playful giggle, “amenities. Live the good sleepy sheepy life to the its full fluff, mee mee.”
“Mee.”
She waved big circles with both hands, “Have a fun day, baa-bye.”
The film faded to black before reverting to the spa’s logo. The boys shook their heads, irises snapping back to circles as the house lights came up.
Theo rubbed his head, “What just happened?”
Max leaned back in his chair and then rocked forward, throwing himself to his feet before turning to his friends, “What do you mean? We watched the not sizzle reel, weren’t you paying attention, mee?”
“No, like,” Theo sat up, “I don’t know, I feel kinda like I dozed off during it.”
“Yeah,” Chris nodded, “it’s weird cause it was poppy and fun, but then I feel like I faded out at some point.”
“Well, she did say it was meant to be relaxing,” Max nodded proudly, “what better sales pitch for a spa than if the introduction is enough to relax you to sleep, right?”
The pair shared a shrug as they got to their feet, feeling surprisingly energetic for having been so drowsy a few moments ago. The three walked towards the doors opposite the ones they’d entered through, Max with a bit more pep to his step than his friends. He enthusiastically pushed open the doors as they reached them, all three pausing in awe as they took in the atrium beyond.
Marble steps led from the doors to a ring of benches surrounding a tiered fountain. The stairs were flanked on either side by bushes, flowers, and holographic projections of Tsuji and Hitsu repeatedly welcoming them to the spa and excitedly listing off the schedule of activities. The burbling fountain provided soft white noise to back their exuberant invitations, adding to the calming charm of the space. Light was provided via a ceiling of patterned glass, the supporting iron woven through it to create branching blades of wheat and thistle-topped grasses. The wall opposite the trio was also made of glass, the atrium overlooking rolling green fields, a hill straight ahead topped with a tall shade tree.
Max’ mouth hung open, “Mee.”
Theo silently mouthed the sound before speaking, “Y, yeah, this is, something alright.”
Chris took a few steps forward, “Definitely getting our money’s worth, so to speak.”
Theo stepped forward before the two continued down the stairs, leaving Max to stare in awe at their surroundings. The pair stopped when they reached the fountain, sunlight reflecting off the rippling water as polished stone shone in the basin beneath the softly undulating waves. Their gaze held on the shifting pool for several seconds, pupils pinching with a slight wiggle before snapping back to circles, their focus moving to the rest of the room.
To their left was another set of double doors, signage above identifying it as the spa, with art of both Tsuji and Hitsu on either side, towels wrapped around their waists and heads, despite them still wearing their matching sailor outfits beneath. The doors to the right of the fountain led to a canteen, the sign overhead featuring the pair enjoying a meal, Tsuji licking her lips while looking at a flower covered pizza as Hitsu held up a burger bun filled with deep green grass, mouth open to comical proportions.
As his friends looked around the room, Max remained near the entrance, leaning against the chest high wall to the side of the stairs, his focus drifting over the colorful flowers and leafy bushes that filled the space between the various walkways. He’d never really liked flowers, but he’d also never really disliked them. He’d never really considered them at all, but the greenery of the spa was strangely enticing in a way he couldn’t quite describe. It was a feeling in his gut that was familiar but he couldn’t quite place from where it came.
The Tsuji hologram to his side did a playful spin, “…so be sure to enjoy your stay at the Sleepy Sheepy Spa, mee.”
His irises shivered, “Mee.” His stomach rumbled as he continued to look over the thick leaves and full flowers, the sensation developing as he licked his lips.
His pupils snapped into rectangles.
He was hungry.
Max shifted his weight from one foot to another as a wave of gratification rippled through him, a pulse of relaxation that put a soft smile on his face and a playful wiggle in his hips. The sense of relief at realizing the feeling was hunger was so delightfully muddling he didn’t fully parse that it was the sight of shrubs and blossoms that triggered it, or that the realization only strengthened the discomfort, his field of vision growing wider as his focus drew in on a nearby group of yellow flowers clustered along a thick peduncle.
He pushed to his toes and leaned over the wall, a soft bleat on his lips as Tsuji spoke again, “…let go of all that tension and worry and be a comfy happy sheepy, mee mee.”
Max shifted his weight forward in time with the hologram’s vocalizations, thoughts slowing as the smell of the flowers filled his nose. With another soft bleat, he took the bunch of blossoms into his mouth and pulled back, chewing clumsily as he leaned against the wall. The petals were slightly dry, but flavorful. The pollen bloomed from the buds, dusting his mouth from lips to throat. Though not uncomfortable, the sensation made his mouth feel dry. He absently licked his lips, then started chewing and roiling his tongue, instinctively trying to remove the powdery feeling. The taste of the flowers and the rhythmic motion of his jaw slowed his thoughts fully and relaxed his muscles deeply. He slumped against the wall, resting his chest on it as he stared dreamily at the tasty flowers surrounding him. His ears twitched as Tsuji’s words massaged his diluted focus.
“Comfy happy sheepy.”
A soft wind washed past him.
“Mee,” her soft voice called.
Max dully responded, “Baa.”
“Hey Max,” the dazed man perked up when he heard a familiar voice call his name, “Max.”
Max turned to see his friends, still standing near the fountain, calling to him. He turned towards them, shifting his weight forward with one hand resting on the wall as the other hung limply in front of him. His pupils tensed as he leaned, finally snapping back to circles as he straightened up, “Y, yeah,” he sputtered at the strange powdery sensation on his tongue, “what is it?” He worked his jaw, his mouth feeling weirdly heavy.
Chris pointed towards the canteen, “Theo’s hungry, you wanna grab something to eat with us?”
Max’ pupils wiggled, “Y, yaa,” he cleared his throat as he walked forward, “I could go with a nibble, mee.”
The two waited for Max to join them before heading towards the canteen.
As they pushed through the double doors, the fragrance of flowers and grasses that permeated the spa was augmented with the smell of fresh breads and myriad seasonings. All three young men felt pangs of hunger as the bouquet of enticing aromas washed over them.
The canteen was a large, open space, with sparse four-person booths around the outer perimeter of the room. The exterior walls were painted in light, simple colors, with a bay window across the far wall allowing sunlight to cascade through the room, giving it a comforting warmth that helped the trio relax.
At the center of the room, surrounded by a generous open space on all sides, was an impressive salad bar. While the sight of the buffet alone was enough to draw Max forward, a subtle, but excited, bleat on his lips, Chris and Theo were a bit less enthusiastic about the offerings.
Chris looked around the room and then back to the sectioned heaps of chilled produce, “Really? A salad bar? That’s it?”
“Well,” Theo sighed, “it’s free, right?”
“Free only matters if it’s a filling meal. If we have to stop for burgers on the way home, it’s kind of a wash.”
“I have a feeling we can make a pretty good meal of what’s here,” Theo looked down the line of food, Max nearly at the end, pouring some nuts and grapes over his pile of mixed greens, a playful bounce in his step, “Max is certainly making the most of it.”
Chris shrugged, “Fine, but if I’m hungry at the end of the day, you owe me dinner.”
“You’ll get the best combo meal a drive through can provide.”
“Well,” Chris cocked an eyebrow, “now I want to try and stay hungry.”
Theo turned back to him, “No, you have to make a go of it. Get a full plate of food and make the effort to eat it all.”
Chris picked up a chilled plate, “If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes.”
Theo waved playfully and started filling his own plate, leaving Chris to look over the offerings and a mission to make a full plate, but not a filling one. First up were several bins of leafy greens; there was a spring mix of varied leaves, iceberg lettuce, spinach, arugula and a few others he didn’t recognize. He naturally gravitated toward the iceberg lettuce, capable of making a firm pile on his plate but being about as filling as saucer of tap water. With a hesitant glance at Theo, however, he grabbed a few clumps of spring mix and arugula, worried the judges would disqualify him for trying to game the system.
Next up were bins of diced vegetables; carrots and tomatoes, naturally, but also beets, eggplant, celery, bell pepper, and several more. Fortunately for Chris, he enjoyed veggies, just normally as a side with a good steak or as part of a hearty soup, not resting on a pile of edible garnish. He scooped up some carrots, tomatoes, and peppers, humming affirmatively at the nice splash of color it added to his plate.
With a bit more bounce in his step and pride in his heart, he moved to the sprouts, looking over the numerous leafy plants. Without much consideration, he scooped up a clump of alfalfa and a nice pile of mung bean sprouts.
Feeling confident his plate was full enough, he moved past the more filling options to hit his lunch with a splash of vinegar and a few swishes of oil before grabbing a fork and joining his friends. Theo was just sitting down, sprinkling some pepper over his greenery, and Max was already eating, a healthy quarter of his salad already gone.
“Well, someone’s enjoying their,” Chris sat down next to Theo, eyes on Max, “leaf.”
Theo snickered, but Max didn’t respond, his focus on the tasty beet he’d just eaten, the fresh root crunching between increasingly heavy teeth.
Chris shrugged off the lack of response and started into his own salad, focused on fulfilling the second part of the deal, eating the meal and not getting full. It wouldn’t be difficult, he could easily eat four to five times this much salad in a day.
Theo and Chris settled into the same relaxed state as Max, their forkfuls of foliage getting larger as their chewing became more deliberate and measured. The only sound besides their rhythmic chewing was a muffled, barely audible ruffling of tall grass that flowed through the café at regular intervals, an audible breeze that amplified their relaxation.
In their euphoric haze, Theo and Chris failed to notice that Max’ pupils had squeezed flat once more. His nose twitched softly with each bite, white spreading up from the tip and around his lips, expanding over his cheeks with each crack of veggie and crunch of lettuce. After swallowing a particularly flavorful bite, he stopped, sitting motionless for several seconds before his jaw went slack, exposing thick teeth. His shoulders slumped and he exhaled.
“Baa.”
The throaty bleat sent a shiver through Theo and Chris, the pair perking up slightly, pupils twitching subtly. Theo scooped another bite of greens into his mouth as Chris shook his head weakly, the wiggle in his eyes slowing as he did.
“Baa.”
Theo’s fork dropped as his fingers went limp, pupils tensing into wide ovals, warm fog settling in his head. Chris reflexively pushed at the haze, discomfort prickling the back of his mind as the fog dug deeper with each bleat.
Max rolled his shoulders as his bangs turned up into thick curls, brown fading to white. The change spread through his hair, patches of follicles bending up, pulling back into loose ringlets before puffing into more white curls. The progression felt amazing, like a soft brush pushing through an unkempt mop. He leaned forward against the table and vocalized his pleasure once more, “Baa.”
Theo’s pupils became wide rectangles, “Baa.”
The stereoscopic bleating crashed into Chris’ already struggling defenses, his fork dropping from his hand as his pupils squeezed smoothly. As his focus faltered, his mood elevated. Tension left his body and he slumped back against the booth.
Another pair of passive bleats drew a response from the final member of their trio. His head lilted to one side and he opened his mouth lazily, “baa.”
All three boys bleated in rough unison.
The sound of the other two tugged at Max’ ears, pulling them up into points before turning them down and out, stretching them away from his head as white fur spread over them from the base to the tip. He’d never felt so relaxed in his life, and let himself sink deeper and deeper into the comforting warmth that came with each bleat.
As the trio continued to bleat lazily, holograms of Tsuji and Hitsu leaned into view from either side of the booth, dressed in their aprons and chef hats. The three barely paid them any mind as they continued to bleat and absently chew their greens.
The sheep girl leaned forward, smiling brightly, “Aww, look at the three sleepy sheepies,” her gaze moved from Chris, to Theo, and finally to Max, watching as, with another bleat, his fingers curled, leaving a small gap between his middle fingers. Her ears flicked energetically, “Oh, you seem particularly relaxed.”
Hitsu spoke up, “I think he’s ready for the special treatment.”
Max struggled to parse their words through the thick fog obscuring his focus. They were saying nice things about him, that much he knew, and they were talking about some kind of treat for him, and that sounded great. He bleated his agreement, numbness spreading through his fingers as sensitivity prickled the base of his spine.
The twins giggled and clapped, with Tsuji bouncing forward playfully, “That’s a good sheepy. Come on, we’ll help.”
Max slid to the edge of the booth and stumbled out, nearly falling over. His body felt heavy, torso puffy and limbs stiff. He leaned forward a bit, unsure of exactly how well he was standing. He released a confused bleat, eliciting a pair of bleats from his friends. He felt puffier, the sensitivity above his butt focusing to a point.
“I’m not sure, sis,” Hitsu tapped his chin, “I’m not sure he’ll make it.”
Tsuji shook her head and waved her finger cartoonishly, “Don’t be mean, he can do anything he sets his mind to.” She hopped into Max’ line of sight, “I believe in you sheepy, one step at a time.”
Max nodded, putting one foot in front of the other and pulling himself forward, a sensitive nub twitching against the seat of his pants. He took another step, and another, smiling dumbly. The twins walked on either side of him, encouraging him step by step as he walked from the cafeteria, bleating energetically at the promise of the spa’s special treatment.
Chris and Theo remained in their dazed state as they continued to eat, bleating to each other lazily every few bites, until their plates were completely cleared. As the aftertaste of the greenery faded from their mouths, their other senses returned.
Chris blinked, shaking his head as his pupils stretched, wiggling for a few seconds before reverting to their human shape. His gaze fell to his empty plate, a fullness in his gut that both satisfied and disappointed him.
He chuckled, still looking at the plate, “I guess you can keep your fast-food offering, Theo.”
The sound of his name roused Theo, his pupils twitching as a response rippled from his throat, “Baa.”
“Yeah, yeah, gloat about it if you want,” Chris sighed, “at least it was a good salad.”
As Chris pushed up from his seat, Theo struggled to rouse himself from his stupor, licking his lips for stray bits of flavor, his eyes almost reluctantly returning to a human shape. He sighed and glanced back at the salad bar, considering a second helping, or at least a small bowl to graze on as they went.
“Wait,” Chris turned to the empty seat, “Where’d Max go?”
Theo’s eyes snapped to their focused state as he too looked at the empty seat, also unsure of when Max left or where he’d gone. He scooted out of the booth and got to his feet, scratching his chin absently as he continued to stare at the empty booth. He was curious where Max had gone to, but it didn’t feel all that pressing.
Eventually, Theo managed a placid shrug, “Probably just went to check out an activity or take a walk.”
“Without telling us where he was going?”
Theo shrugged more dramatically, “You know him, always kind of a flake. Remember when he left the grill running at the end of his shift and almost got fired?”
“Yeah,” Chris chuckle-sighed, “building almost did too.”
Theo nodded, “Mee.”
“Right then,” Chris turned towards the doors leading out of the dining area, “we gonna look for him or do our own thing?”
“If he wandered off on his own, he can find his way back on his own.”
“Works for me,” Chris ran his fingers over his bearded chin, “so where are we off to?”

Max struggled through the pleasant haze billowing about in his head. He wasn’t sure where he was going, but the encouraging words from the two holograms tugged him forward, and the warmth in Tsuji’s voice told him he was doing the right thing.
“Here we are, little sheepy,” she giggled, “just through here, if you would.”
He stumbled into a heavy door, pushing it open and nearly falling over in the process. He let himself drop to one knee, the sensation of something twinging against the seat of his pants tickling up his spine as he tried to steady himself. His dazed, flat pupils scanned the room, his foggy head slow to take in the details.
Max was in some kind of massage therapy room. There was a row of five massage tables placed on grated metal platforms, each with a pole next to it that had headphones hanging from them. On the other side of the tables was a ceramic trough with water flowing through it. The burbling of the liquid made his ears twitch in delight. On the far wall were five TVs, one for each of the massage chairs.
Tsuji bounced into his view from the side, “Alight sheepy, just get yourself up on a table and we’ll start your special treatment, mee.”
Hitsu leaned in from the other side, “He’s not gonna make it, sis, he can’t even stand up.”
Max shook his head, legs shaking as he tried to push up. If Tsuji believed in him, he knew he could do it. He let out a forceful bleat as he took a step forward, then another. He had to make a few attempts to get his foot up on the metal platform, and when he finally did, he stumbled forward against the massage table. He grunted and pulled himself up over it, sliding forward on his belly until his chin rested comfortably at the other end, limbs dangling limply over the sides. He let out a slow bleat as his body relaxed.
“I knew you could make it, mee. Now just relax and enjoy our special treatment, sure to make you feel completely relaxed and care free, or your money back.”
Hitsu scoffed, “This is a comped visit.”
“If you don’t love it,” she continued, “I’ll give you a dollar.”
Max giggled as the headphones were slipped over his head. Soft, relaxing tones backed by an airy, lilting background played as the screen across from him flicked on. Pink and yellow flowers started flowing along the water, their smell filling his nostrils as they passed inches from his face. Images of natural environments appeared on the screen, shuffling every minute or so; a grassy field, rolling verdant hills, a pasture filled with sheep.
The young man let out another long sigh-bleat, muscles relaxing more than he thought possible.
The ivory curls on his scalp spread, neighboring brown hairs curling, buffing, and snapping back into thicker wool. His body hair followed a similar course, curling and thickening in patches. The tips of his shoes stretched as his toes flexed unnaturally. His fingers, already separated into pairs, curled slightly as nails grew darker and thicker.
The mix of sensations rippled across his body to his brain, tickling his mind like a nice rubdown, the changes amplifying to the sounds, music, and visuals entrancing his other senses. His only response was a pleased bleat and a flick of his growing tail, now a visible bump in the seat of his pants.
Hitsu leaned in from the side, “Is sheepy good enough to stay here while we check on his friends?”
Max bleated softly, eyes falling to one of the flowers floating by. He lazily leaned forward and snatched it up in his teeth, flopping back to chew on it. With each bite, inky blackness faded in around his lips and nose.
Tsuji leaned in from the top of his view, “Yeah, I think sheepy here is all good to relax and enjoy his treatment while we make sure the rest of his flock is having a good time.”
The mention of his flock drew a bleat from Max, bits of petal falling from his mouth.
Tsuji giggled, “Is sheepy excited about seeing his flock again?”
His tail twitched and wiggled, wool spreading up his lower back, pushing his shirt up to show off a slowly expanding midsection.
“Alright, little sheepy, you stay here and enjoy your treatment and we’ll go make sure your flock is as relaxed as you are.”

“A tea room?” Chris sighed, “you can’t be serious.”
“Why not? It could be fun, look,” Theo motioned to the sign overhead, featuring the twins on either side, Tsuji in a kimono and Hitsu in a hakama, each nursing a small cup of steamy tea.
“Yeah,” Chris clicked his tongue, “nothing screams fun like traditional dress and weak leaf juice.”
There was a momentarily silence as both men’s pupils shivered.
“I happen to like leaf juice,” Theo reached for the door handle, “if you don’t like it, we can do something else for a bit.”
Chris shrugged, “I guess you were right about the salads, so what the hell, why not?”
Theo pushed the door open, leading the pair as they entered the tea room.
The cool aroma of mint and blackberry washed over them as they entered the room, a relaxing scent that drew them in. Theo stumbled forward, pupils sliding effortlessly into rectangles as he took a deep breath. Chris followed behind, pupils twitching with each small sniff he took.
The walls of the room were simple panels of light, muted blues separated by thin strips of varnished wood. The far wall from the door was affixed with rows of small square windows looking out on the verdant fields that surrounded the spa.
The room was furnished with a few low tables, also made of varnished wood, matching the accents on the walls. Each table had its own tea service, pots sitting on built in heaters surrounded by small ceramic cups. Puffy white pillows sat in place of chairs, something Theo acknowledged with a delighted mee before plopping onto one with an excited bleet.
Chris slowed down, noticing for the first time the odd sounds of joy emanating from his friend, “Theo, you feeling alright?”
“Feeling great,” he leaned forward, hips wiggling subtly as he grabbed the pot and poured himself a cup of tea, unleashing a burst of flowery steam.
Chris shook his head as the enticing smells washed over him, pupils tightening flatter as he took another step towards the table, gaze drifting down to one of the soft, fluffy, cushions. He grunted as pleasant fog rolled in and his unease was pushed back by the overwhelming olfactory offensive.
Theo slurped the tea, “Mee,” he giggled, “mee, mee,” another slurp, “baa.”
Chris’ ears flicked with each sound of delight his friend made. He lazily slumped down to his knees and pulled himself to one of the pillows, seating himself comfortably before pouring his own cup of tea, another burst of bleats between them as the sweetly medicinal smell filled the room.
Chris slurped the pungent leaf juice, blurry eyes watching as curls of white appeared in Theo’s hair and his ears shifted to points, muddled thoughts unable to fully parse what he was seeing.

Max swallowed another bolus of tasty petals, bleating softly as the delightful flavors sent ripples of joy through his body. His hips twitched, straining the waistband of his pants, thick wool bunched against the garment. The toe caps of his sneakers pushed open a bit more every few seconds, black, cloven hooves growing out as his ankles pushed back. The steady stretching and tearing of fabrics was muffled by the headphones cupping his ears, even as they were slowly pushed up his head by his shifting ears.
The screen flicked to another wide view of a scenic pasture, white puffs of wool grazing and relaxing under a big tree. The sight of the flock released a ripple of recognition, a delighted bleat on Max’ expanding lips and a sharp wiggle in his hips. His tail, already bunched up against his strained pants, tensed, curled, and finally popped free above the garment, twitching happily as it puffed up with thick wool.
The sensations permeating his body were confusing, but relaxing. He’d never felt so fully relaxed in his life, and each new puff of wool, rotating joint, or shift of muscle swaddled him in thicker layers of thoughtless calm.
His fingers, thick, black nails already joining the index and middle fingers and the ring and pinkie fingers, swelled. The gap between the fused fingers vanished as they grew, the thick black material spreading up from the tips.
Another enticing flower floated past Max’ expanding face and he instinctively snapped it up, grinding it between enlarged, flat teeth. The soft flavors and satisfying texture massaged his thoughts further, muscles limp and breathing slow and steady, save for the occasional sigh-bleat. A pair of soft cracks punctuated his fingers fully dissolving into thick, cloven hooves.
Despite having lost his fingers and toes, Max’ disposition remained placid and happy, thoughts lost in cottony, simple joy. The only thought to pierce the fog was to briefly wonder where the rest of his flock was.

Theo slumped forward against that table, letting out a long sigh that dissolved into a rough bleat. He paused for a moment, eyes drifting from his empty cup to the steaming pot. He licked his lips and reached towards it with stiff fingers, bleating more forcefully as the muscles at the base of his spine tensed.
The sound roused Chris from his own stupor with a reflexive bleat. He blinked forcefully like he was trying to wake up from a nap. He shook his head and looked at his friend, taking another sip of his tea as he did.
He paused, cup to his lips, as he took in the sight.
Theo’s hair had changed, his natural red hair curling and puffing into white tufts. His ears were stretched into points and the skin had faded to white-pink. They flicked as the young man pulled his refilled cup to his lips, letting out another contented bleat as he took a clumsy drink.
Flavor washed over Chris’ tongue as hot tea filled his mouth. He gasp-bleated, dropping the cup from his hands. Warmth rippled through him, relaxing his muscles and shaking his thoughts. He looked back at Theo, trying to refocus on what had him so concerned seconds ago. He bleated in annoyance, releasing another pulse of relaxing warmth. His flat pupils dropped to his empty cup, then slipped down to look at his lap. A fleck of white caught his eye and he leaned back, pupils pushing out as he realized he was looking at a patch of soft fuzz spread across his gut.
Wool.
Chris’ eyes snapped to round focus as he took hold of the wool and pulled. Sharp pain drew a grunt-bleat from him. His ears twitched at the sound of Theo returning the sound. He looked at his friend, fully taking in his shifting features, finally realizing what was happening to them.
They were turning into sheep.
“Theo,” he leaned forward intently, “we gotta get out of here.”
His friend looked at him, allowing Chris to take in Theo’s misshapen pupils. He shivered fearfully as he pulled his phone from his pocket. A glance at the top revealed no signal, but his goal wasn’t to call for help, but to turn on his camera. He swapped it to selfie mode and whined in shock.
He wasn’t doing much better than Chris.
The tip of his nose and lips were black, the color pushing out in thin strands over his cheeks and down his chin. Thick locks of curly wool dotted his head, and his ears stuck out to the side in points, thin white fuzz along the underside.
Theo slumped against the table, “Baa.”
Chris gasped as his ears flicked and his pupils shivered, tensing at the sound of his friend bleating like a contented sheep. His pupils held their oval shape as the thought played through his mind. Contented sheep, comfortable sheep, happy sheep.
His head lilted as he watched his reflection in the camera, more wool growing along his ears and curling through his hair as the black moved out under his eyes and over his cheeks. The shifting teased him with soft warmth, like a heated blanket wrapped around his head.
A crash from across the table yanked Chris’ back from the brink, focus sharpening as he looked at Theo, his friend on his side next to the table, smashed cup and teapot nearby. He could see thick wool pushing out from the collar and hem of his shirt and more puffing up with each breath.
“Theo,” his phone slipped from his hand as he pushed around the table to his friend.
The prone man’s ears flicked at the sound of his name, “Baa.”
Chris gasped as the bleat shot through him. He stifled a bleat rising in him and pushed back against the relaxing energy that washed over him. He moved forward, kneeling near Theo’s chest and putting a hand to his shoulder, “Theo, buddy, come on, we gotta get out of here. This place is cursed or something. If we don’t get out of here, we’re going to be sheep.”
Theo looked at him passively and bleated softly. Chris sat silently, something about his friend’s gaze looking familiar, like he’d seen that same look somewhere else. Somewhere recently.
His ears flicked up, “Max.”
He snatched his phone from the table, unlocking it and going to his messaging app. He got through half a worried text before he once again glanced up at the no signal icon.
“Shit.”
He put his phone back in his pocket as he turned back to Theo, “Okay, Theo, buddy, just stay here, don’t drink any more tea or eat grass or whatever is doing this, I’m gonna find Max and make sure he’s safe, then we’re getting out of here.”
Theo rolled over silently.
Chris got to his feet, tugging at his shirt to make it more comfortable against the patches of wool that dotted his skin. The longer he was aware of the changes, the more alien each one felt; the flick of his shifting ears, then clumsiness of his larger teeth, the subtle numbness in his finger-tips.
With one more glance at Theo, he turned and sprinted through the open doors into the hallway, heading back towards the canteen to look for Max.
As he left, the doors closed behind him, revealing two diminutive holograms who looked upon Theo intently before glancing at each other.
“I thought he’d never leave, mee.”
Theo bleated in response.
The pair approached him, playful smiles on their faces. They walked around him quietly before Hitsu spoke up, “Now this one is definitely not making it to the special treatment.”
Tsuji crossed her arms, “You were wrong about the last one, wanna make a bet with this one?”
Hitsu clucked his tongue as he looked from his sister to the young man on the ground, “Maybe.”
“Maybe, mee?”
Theo bleated again, wool puffing up against his shirt.
“Hey,” the sheep girl stamped a foot silently, “that’s not fair.”
Hitsu grinned, tail swishing proudly. Tsuji waved him off and squatted down in front of Theo, “Hey, sheepy, how about it? You wanna go get the special treatment like your friend did?”
Theo pushed along the ground weakly, letting out a lazy sigh.
“He’s done for, sis.”
Tsuji ignored her brother, “Come on, sheepy head, get up and get going. You’ll love the special treatment. Your friend is still there, enjoying his sheepy little heart out. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
Theo rolled over to his gut, pulling his arms under him, mildly confused by how clumsy his fingers felt, like the digits were sticking together.
“That’s it, sheepy, come on, I believe in you.”
Theo pushed up to his knees, then braced himself against the table to get up. He wobbled and dropped to a knee with a surprised bleat, eliciting a giggle from Hitsu. The taunting sound made Theo’s ears flick as he pushed back up and started following the sheep girl as she walked to the once again open doors, the promise of a special treatment making his ears flick and a warm energy prickle the base of his spine.
As they left, Hitsu trailed behind, grunting his annoyance, “Next time we’re bringing all ewes to the spa.”

Chris started from the canteen and ran from door to door, looking inside for Max. He couldn’t even remember what direction their friend had gone, which only increased his growing sense of dread. He feared he’d open a door and find a sheep in Max’ clothing, one of his best friends completely lost to whatever was happening to them.
He shuddered at the thought, ears shivering as his worried sigh ended with a rough bleat.
He checked the gym.
Empty.
He past the sauna.
Nobody.
He passed the sand garden.
Nothing.
His search didn’t slow until he ran by large windows looking out over the fields surrounding the spa. His feet grew heavy and he stopped to catch his breath, focus moving to the undulating grasses as the wind weaved through them, the only unique feature the large tree on the hill, its branches bobbing up and down in time with the waves in the field.
He leaned forward on the window as he took it all in, “Baa.”
Relaxation washed down him, his legs feeling weak as the hypnotic sight held his gaze. His ears flicked, more white fuzz sprouting along them as they did. He shifted his weight from one leg to the other, a soft cramp running down his thighs to his feet, making his toes feel stiff. Watching the thick grass swish made his stomach rumble hungrily.
Theo owed him dinner.
“Baa-hah,” he bleated a laugh, pushing up to his toes, tensing slightly as a sensitive spot above his butt rubbed against the seat of his pants. Though the sensation of the tender nerves was surprising, it wasn’t exactly unpleasant, and he held his tensed pose, back arced slightly. With a soft bleat, he shifted his weight to one side, breathing deeply as his clothes shifted over the lump. As he shifted his weight back in the other direction, his fingers moved to form pairs with a gap between.
His head bobbed side to side with the wavy grass, eyes condensing as more of his hair puffed into a white curls, his thoughts on how nice the wind would feel on his wool and how tasty the tall, green grains looked.

Theo stumbled roughly as he pushed through the doors, bleating sharply as he staggered forward several awkward steps before regaining a shaky sense of balance. It felt weird to walk like this, but he wasn’t sure why or what other way he’d walk to make things easier. His shirt felt tight in the shoulders and chest, and the waistband of his jeans squeezed his hips painfully, feeling two-sizes too small. A bundle of discomfort pressed against his lower back, twitching weakly in its denim confinement.
He followed the twins as they guided him towards a row of massage tables lined up along a trough of water. His expanding nose flared at the enticing floral smells drifting past him, and his ears twitched at the sound of soft bleating from one of the tables.
Theo lurched forward with his own excited bleat to find what looked like a sheep laying on one of the tables. He leaned against the table next to the sheep as his horizontal pupils slowly took in the details of what he was seeing.
The animal had a torn shirt stretched over its upper body, split up the back allowing a thick coat of wool to bloom through. Every few seconds, the shirt split further, moving towards the collar. Similarly, what looked like shorts lay across the table under its hips, split from the waistband down both legs. Sneakers sat on the ground beneath its rear hooves, the hard material twitching absently every few seconds, thickening a bit each time. A pair of headphones covered its ears, its gaze on the screen across the trough from it as it absently chewed something. As Theo stared at the sheep, a twinge tickled his brain.
“Maaa,” he leaned against the table, “Maaax?”
The sheep shifted and it bleated lazily, shirt splitting further.
Tsuji poked up from the other side of the table Theo was leaning on, “He’s enjoying our special treatment, just like you’re about to, mee.”
Theo bleated softly, as did Max, despite the headphones covering his ears.
“Special treatment?” His head lolled as he looked from Max to the hologram, “h, heee looks really,” he took a deep breath, “out of it, baa.”
Hitsu popped up next to him, “That’s cause he’s really relaxed from the treatment. Just think how relaxed you’ll feel once you take the treatment too.”
Theo’s eyes rolled back to Max, taking in his dangling limbs tipped in barely twitching hooves, the thick, soft wool covering his body, and the vacant expression on his face.
He did look extremely relaxed.
Theo turned his body towards the massage table, slumping against it with what balance remained in his legs.
Tsuji bounced up on the table, “That’s it, sheepy, just get yourself up here and we’ll do the rest, mee.”
Both men bleated again.
Theo pulled himself along the table, feet refusing to lift as he pulled himself into position with numb fingers. Tsuji jumped back off the table as he placed his head into the chin rest. The hologram moved out of the way as the screen lit up, displaying the same calming images of fields and flocks that Max had lost himself in. Theo barely registered the sensation of headphones slipping over his head as he let his arms go slack, keratin already spreading and causing his fingers to cling together.
“That’s a good sheepy,” Tsuji giggled playfully, looking from Theo’s slowly swelling face to Max’ almost completely transformed one, “both of you, wonderful guests, mee.”
Both boys bleated.
She nodded and walked between them, hopping as she reached her brother.
“Alright, just one more little sheepy. He should be good and relaxed by now.”
Hitsu crossed his arms, “I hope so, he seemed kinda skittish.”
“Then we’ll just have to help the scaredy sheepy calm down.”
The pair shared a nod and headed towards the door, fading out as they reached it.

Chris let out a long sigh as he meandered slowly down the hall, looking sideways out the window. He absently tapped his thick nails against the glass, stubby lump twitching against the seat of his pants. His stomach continued to rumble as he tried to pull enough focus together to do something. He wanted to get outside and have some grass. He wanted to get out of this building. He wanted to find his flock.
Pulling together the chain of actions to accomplish any of those things eluded him as he paced back and forth in the hall, changes progressing slowly but steadily.
“Oh no, it looks like our final sheepy is lost.”
Chris paused, wobbling slightly, the voice prickling his focus. Something about it was concerning. He should get away from it. He needed to find his flock and go…somewhere.
Tsuji walked playfully into his field of vision, drawing his gaze down to here, “It’s okay, sheepy, you don’t need to be scared, we’re here to help and we always do our best, mee.”
“Baa.”
Chris stumbled forward as his body shook from the bleat. His back felt tense as he struggled to remain upright. He pushed back against the wave of comforting relaxation that followed the sound, reaffirming he didn’t want to give in to whatever fate the little holograms had planned for him and his flock.
Hitsu spoke from behind him, “He really needs our special treatment, he’s way too tense.”
Chris took a step forward, hand on the window as he tried to move around the sheep girl, watching her nervously as he did. He wasn’t sure what she was even capable of, and he didn’t want to find out.
The sheep girl simply watched him, hands behind her back, a broad, caring smile on her face. As he moved past her, she gave him a playfully energetic nod, “Mee.”
“Baa.”
He stumbled forward a few steps, his tail nub fluffing out, curling against the seat of his pants to form a visible bulge. He looked back at the twins, then turned forward, staggering on numb feet towards the first set of doors he could find. He didn’t even bother to look at where they led before putting a hand to them.
“That’s a good sheepy, you’ll love that one.”
He pulled back, turning and running further down the hall to the next set of doors.
“That one’s even better, mee.”
He bleated and stumbled back from the door, nearly falling on his butt, barely catching himself against the windowsill. He tapped his heel against the carpet a couple times to push the numbness out, then continued on, trying to block out the sound of the twins as he made his way further down the hall and threw himself through a random set of double doors before falling to hands and knees. He stared at his hands as he struggled to focus and catch his breath, watching through the fluffy haze as his fingernails darkened with each rough breath, his index and ring fingers and middle and pinkie fingers pushing together firmly.
A bleat from across the room pulled his focus up, his gaze rising to find the twins leaning in from either side of him, arm outstretched to welcome him to the room as they spoke in unison, “And this room is the best room of all.”
Chris looked past them to see they were in a large room with a row of massage tables, his eyes immediately drawn to the room’s two current occupants; a sheep with shredded straps of cloth over its back and around it’s hooves, and a less fluffy sheep next to it wearing Theo’s clothes.
“Theo,” he pushed up, hobbling across the room, stumbling to his knees a couple times as his feet grew increasingly uncomfortable in his shoes. As he reached Theo, there was a soft hiss from the sheep’s massage station, the piston beneath the table lowering.
Tsuji clapped, “Sheepy is done with his special treatment, mee.”
All three of them bleated in response, Chris leaning against Theo’s table, ears twitching at the sound of snapping threads as his friend puffed up, his shirt bunching towards his shoulders. There was a quartet of soft clacks as the sheep’s hooves hit the metal grate below the table, the table itself moving down until it was flush with the floor. The sheep seemed uninterested in this shift, rocking from one side to the other as it continued to chew on whatever bolus of flowers and stems it had been enjoying.
“Max?”
Tsuji popped up from behind the fluffy sheep, proud smile on her face, “Mee, isn’t he a happy relaxed sleepy sheepy? Our special treatment is guaranteed to work or triple your money back.”
“Max,” Chris took a step back, head shaking, “Max, are, are you even in there?”
Hitsu popped up next to his sister, “Where else would he be?”
“B, but,” Chris took another step back, “he, he’s not, he looks,” he trailed off, unsure how to describe the sight of his friend turned sheep.
Tsuji nodded again, “He’s ultra relaxed, not a care in the world, thanks to our special treatment, mee.”
“Baa.”
The trio bleated again. Chris slumped against the empty massage table next to Theo, his eyes on his friend as his pants snapped down the back, Theo’s fluffy tail swishing up, followed by a burst of fluff that split his pants more forcefully down the middle. Even as his garments were destroyed, Theo continued to chew a particularly tasty red flower, limbs dangling lazily over the sides of the chair, dreamily watching the screen before him.
Chris turned to look at the screen across the empty massage table, finding a vibrant field of tall grass dotted with colorful flowers. He licked his lips as the hunger pangs returned in force. In the bottom of his vision, he saw a clump of grass and flowers float past the table, his nostrils swelling slightly as he took in the enticing scents.
His tail pitter-patted against the inside of his pants as he pulled himself forward onto the massage table, hips widening as tufts of fur pushed up over the tightening waistband.
Tsuji appeared beside the table, hands folded behind her back, “That’s a good sheepy. You’ll love our special treatment just like your friends. Just relax, enjoy, and let all those worries melt away, mee.”
Chris face pushed out as he responded with a bleat, the toes of his shoes splitting away from the sole as twin clumps of black keratin pushed forward. He barely made it to the end of the table before his arms dropped, thick nails sticking together as the same material spread over his digits.
Soft music played in his ears as he leaned forward and snatched a knot of reeds in his blocky teeth. Muscles relaxed as he bit into the damp grasses, his worries from only moments ago already distant and unimportant. He let out a soft bleat as he swallowed the bite of grass, and if the desires of his stomach were any indication, the first of many.
As Chris’ mind relaxed completely into the treatment, his changes accelerated; ripples of soft warmth tickled his skin as wool sprouted, rhythmic pressure pushed his fingers together and formed them into cloven hooves to match his feet, the warmth massaging away the feeling of individual digits. His clothes stretched as his wool coat grew fuller, a puffy cloud of fluff that strained seams and split threads.
His eyes remained locked on the screen, another image of sheep drawing bleat form him that echoed down the line and stoked his changes. Having two other sheep nearby, his heard, worked as a multiplier for his own transformation, the comfort of being near his friends allowing his body to relax completely. It was easy to let his thoughts wander, dwindle, and finally surrender to the soft comfort of the special treatment.

The rhythmic sway of grasses and the soft creak of flexing branches in the wind greeted the young woman as she stepped from the main building of the spa into the field behind it. She pulled the collar of her coat in to keep it from catching the wind, clipboard tucked under her other arm as she started towards the single tree at the top of a small hill, a dozen white dots of fluffy wool surrounding it. The flock made no effort to run from her as she approached, or as she started checking the small tags in their ears against a list on her clipboard.
“Number seventy-four,” she clicked her tongue looking down the list, “Max.”
She knelt down, looking the sheep in the face, “Max.”
The sheep continued to chew, ears flicking softly in the breeze.
“Excellent,” she ruffled the sheep’s head before standing up and continuing on.
“Number seventy-five, Theo.”
The sheep looked at her curiously.
“Theo,” she waited a few seconds, “Theo.”
The sheep turned from her to take another bite of grass.
With a pleased hum and a mark on her sheet, she continued on.
“Seventy-Six, Chris.”
The sheep’s ears twitched.
“Chris,” she knelt down, hand beneath the sheep’s chin, “Chris.”
The sheep’s ears flicked and it shivered hesitantly.
“Hmm,” she shook her head, still holding the sheep’s chin, “not quite relaxed, I see.”
The sheep pulled back, but she held firm as she set down her clipboard and reached into the pocket of her overalls. She withdrew a small bolus of reeds and colorful petals, holding it to the sheep’s face.
“Here you go, a nice treat to help get the last of that worry out of you so you can be a completely happy sheepy.”
The sheep remained tense, even as it sniffed at the enticing treat. It bleated weakly, triggering a series of bleats from the rest of the flock. The sheep wobbled, lilted, and relented, snatching the treat from her hand. She watched as the sheep chewed, tension lessening as focus faded from the sheep’s eyes until it was as relaxed as the rest of the flock.
“Excellent, another set of fully satisfied customers.”
Tsuji popped up from the behind the tree energetically, her sudden appearance barely startling the sheep as she bounded up to the woman, “Ma’am, ma’am, the next group of guests is here.”
The woman checked her watch, “They’re a little early, I see.”
Hitsu appeared from behind sheep number seventy-six, “How many are there this time?”
She started back towards the building as she checked her clipboard again, “Five.”
“Wow,” Tsuji skipped up beside the woman, “that’s a new record for us.”
Hitsu joined them, sighing softly, “I hope there’s at least one ewe with them this time.”
The woman and Tsuji laughed playfully, the sheep boy joining in shortly as they reached the door. The woman adjusted her coat again and opened the door, the twins fading from site as she turned down the hall towards the reception area, preparing to welcome the next group of guests to the most relaxing spa experience they’d ever have.