Chapter 2: Marta meets a sloth for the first time and also meets Eufemia, an interesting character...

As the two pulled into the border town, Marta was filled with adrenalin. She could feel an excitement of sorts in the air. All around her, Mexican villagers were brewing about, getting on with their daily business. Peddlers were shouting out the day’s sales, and abuelitas were hobbling around the unpaved roads, watching over their friends and family.

Everywhere a spicy scent filled the air and Marta felt quite at home. They drove down a winding road and then down a smaller windier one. Gilbert explained that the town was called Ciudad Juárez, and it was a great place to have a fun time. Apparently, Gilbert had spent a lot of time there in his younger days. After reminiscing a while about his past adventures in the town, he explained why exactly they were there. Besides meeting up with Floaty, they were also going to meet up with Eufemia, Gil’s niece. He could speak of nothing but her infinite beauty, goodness, and intelligence. Apparently, she was a beauty queen in the old days and every young man for miles would come to swoon her. She was quite a bit younger than him, but they had gotten along fantastically. Unfortunately, her family had been killed in an Evil rampage of their village. Gil had raised Eufemia as her closest living relative. She too was a Good sloth aficionado. She had traveled the world with him and was now stationed in Mexico.



{A picture of the younger Eufemia}

After they were about 20 minutes outside the city limits, Gil veered off road, and began to drive into the brush. They continued to drive until they came to an old abandoned looking hut.

“Okey-dokey then Marta! We’ve arrived at the Ciudad Juárez headquarters!” proclaimed Gil.
“I’m so exited!” cried Marta, and the two got out of the car and walked promptly to the old house.

As they approached the house, they could hear rummaging from inside. Hesitantly, Gil knocked on the door.

After only a few brief seconds, the wooden door sprang open. Marta looked around, but could not see a soul. It was only after she peered down towards the ground did she see a spectacular sight!

“You must be Silent Spring!” cheered Marta.
“You got me! But call me Floaty, it’s less of a mouthful,” said Floaty.

As Marta quickly learned, Floaty was a brilliant sloth. He had mastered English many years ago and was also quite skilled at communicating with humans. He ushered Gil and Marta inside.

“Well, things have been going really well here friends. Eufemia and I have been anticipating your arrival for days! We were so pleased to get your letter, Gil, saying that you’ve recruited two more humans, and that you were coming down to Mexico! What a treat! I’ll secure you with a bicycle, and we can all ride down into the brush to find Eufemia,” said Floaty.

Floaty swiftly walked over to the corner where a few bikes were propped up against the wall. He wheeled a bike to Marta and then one to Gil. Afterwards, he pulled on a pair of riding pants, and hopped on one himself.




The three walked their bikes back out into the sunshine, mounted them, and took off, with Floaty in the lead. After no time at all, Marta spotted a lady from behind. She figured this must be the beautiful Eufemia. After Eufemia heard the bikes roll up behind her, she turned around

Marta uncontrollably swallowed a gasp. She had never seen a face so disturbing. One eye was noticeably larger than the other, and much lower. There was a large scar encircling the big eye. The other eye looked a little lazy. The lady’s teeth stuck out at odd angles, but were fairly white. Hair grew on only one side of her scalp and an ear was missing. A black top hat was perched on her head.



Eufemia held Floaty in his riding jeans close


Gilbert was speechless and Marta was deeply confused.


“Oh Uncle Gilbert! I’m so exited to see you! It’s me, Eufemia!” said Eufemia, a little shyly.

“Oh my dear Eufemia…how….what…I mean…er….how have things been going for you lately?” stuttered Gil.

“I forgot! You haven’t seen me since the accident…. It was dreadful! I was on a mission with Floaty, down in the jungle, when out of no where, a horde of Evil sloths came rampaging out of the jungle debris! We were defenseless! Luckily, Floaty and I were able to fight them off, but I paid a terrible price. My face was left scared and mutilated. They must have used their Evil magic to jinx my face. No matter how much Good magic Floaty and the other sloths used to try and fix my face, it wouldn’t budge. It’s only been recently that I’ve regained my speech abilities actually. So, other than my mutilated face, I am unharmed,” recounted Eufemia.

Au contraire! thought Marta. Eufemia’s ability to wear fashionable clothes, brush her hair, bathe, and brush her teeth had been impaired. She smelled like Melty’s soiled panties he left under the deck in the hot sun that one time. Marta thought maybe it was because Eufemia was so busy fighting Evil, she had no time for trivial things like hygiene.

“My dear Eufemia! This is most tragic! But at least we know you are ok!” sympathized Gil. “This is the young Marta I wrote you about! She is exceptionally brilliant and Good. You two will make great friends!”

“I’m sure we will! It’s good to meet you Eufemia!” And smell you… thought Marta.
After they were all thoroughly acquainted, they sat down for a picnic in the bushes.