FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Gideon awoke the next morning, to the smells of blueberries. Quickly getting up, he scrambled to get dressed before dashing downstairs. "Somethin' smells really good in here."

Amanda, who was at the stove making pancakes, turned to look at him. "I made blueberry pancakes. I've got a few made already, so feel free to help yourself."

Gideon nodded and walked over to the platter that had a stack of pancakes on it already. Grabbing a plate, he put a few of them on it, before walking over to the table, putting the butter and syrup on it. He then cvut into then, taking a bite. "These are delicious, Mama."

"Thank you, sweetie," Amanda replied as she finished making the last few pancakes. She then shut off the stove before grabbing a plate and putting a few on it and making her way to the table.

"Is Papa already gone," Gideon asked after swallowing another bite.

"Mmhmm. He wanted to be at the car lot early today to finish some things." Amanda put the butter and syrup on her pancakes before she cut into them, taking a bite.

After about half an hour, the two finished eating. The kit pushed his plate back, patting his belly. "Thanks fer breakfast. That was great."

Amanda smiled. "All full then?"

"Yeah. Thank ya," Gideon replied. He got up then and cleaned up his dishes, also taking his mother's plate, before taking the dishes to the sink to rinse them off. After putting them in the dishwasher, he started putting away the leftovers.

"You don't need to clean that up for me, Gid," Amanda told him.

"Ah wanna, Mama. Ah wanna do it as a thank ya fer makin' breakfast fer me," the kit responded. He then set to work cleaning up the other dishes.

"That's very sweet of you," Amanda commented. "I'll be in the living room then."

"Alright." Gideon then spent the next several minutes cleaning up all the dishes that were used to make the pancakes and put them in the dishwasher. He then wiped off the table and countertop before finally making his way into the living room again. "All done."

Amanda turned to look at him from the couch. "I appreciate it, sweetie."

Gideon just gave a satisfied smile. "Ah was glad ta do it." He walked over to her and leaned in, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek, which she then did in return. "Would it be alright if Ah have Travis and Alizar come over?"

She nodded. "That's fine with me. Feel free."

"Alright." He then pulled out his cell, calling Travis.

"Hey Gid," came the voice of his ferret friend.

"Hey. Ah was wonderin' if ya'd like ta come over fer a bit and hang out. Ah was thinkin' of invitin' Alizar too."

"Yeah, sure," Travis replied. "I was just watching TV, since Dad just left to head to the clinic. Lemme get dressed and I'll be right there."

"Alright, Ah'm gonna go get Alizar then. See ya in a few minutes," the kit replied.

"Yup, see ya." Gideon hung up. He then looked at his mother again. "Okay if Ah go next door ta get Alizar?"

She nodded. "Sure."

Gideon nodded. He went outside, headed for the crosswalk then crossed the street before going to Alizar's front door and knocking.

When the door opened, Alizar stood there with a smile. "Hey, Gid."

"Hey. Ah was wonderin'... Would ya like ta come over ta mah place fer a while? Travis is comin' over too, and Ah figured we could watch TV and hang out fer a while."

"Sure. Mom and Dad are at work right now anyway. Gimme a sec." Alizar pulled his phone out, quickly sending a text to his parents before looking to the fox. "There."

"By the way, Ah forgot ta ask, what is it yer parents do fer a livin'?"

The older kit chuckled as he stepped outside, locking the door and slipping his key in his pocket. "Mom's a therapist. That's actually another big part of why we moved here. Mom got a good paying job offer and she wanted to take it. Dad does IT work."

Gideon nodded. "That's cool, Ah guess... So yer Mama helps people with their problems, and yer dad helps people with their computers?"

Alizar laughed again. "Something like that." He then walked with Gideon across the street. Gideon was just opening the door when he heard Travis' voice from behind him.

"Hey Gid. Hey Alizar," the ferret called out.

Alizar looked at the ferret. "Hey, Travis. How are you?"

"I'm doing good," Travis replied.

"Glad to hear it," Alizar said as the three of them stepped inside. He then saw Amanda turned to her. "And hello, Mrs. Grey."

"Hello, Alizar. It's a pleasure to meet you," Amanda told the older kit.

"The pleasure is mine," Alizar replied.

"Ah'm gonna take 'em up ta mah room fer a while, if that's alright, Mama."

Amanda turned to her son. "You go right ahead Have fun with your friends."

Gideon nodded and walked upstairs with Alizar and Travis. He stepped inside his room and sat down on his bed. The other two did the same.

Alizar then looked around a bit. "Nice room you've got."

"Thank ya," Gideon commented. He then clicked on the TV, switching over to some cartoons.

Alizar turned his attention to the TV. "No matter how old I get, I think I'm always gonna love cartoons."

"Yeah, same here. Some of them are just so funny. Makes me wonder how Dad can stand watching some of the stuff he watches," Travis added in.

Alizar snickered. "Yeah, my mom and dad watch some funny stuff too."

"Ah'd be just as happy comin' home and sittin' in front of the TV watchin' cartoons after a long day of work," Gideon commented.

Alizar laughed again. "Well, some of them are pretty funny," the kit remarked.

"I think we can all agree on that," Travis added in.

"Yup," Gideon nodded. He then turned to Alizar. "What kinda stuff do a therapist and an IT guy watch anyway?"

Travis turned toward them. "Come again?"

"Mom's a therapist. Dad works as an IT technician," the older kit told the ferret. "And to answer your question, Gid, mom usually watches a lot of talk shows. Dad doesn't watch a lot of TV though. When he does, it's usually just whatever's on at the time." He pauses. "Unless there's a sports game on."

Both Gideon and Travis snickered at that.

"Typical Dad thing, right," Alizar said with a smirk.

"Yeah, kinda," Gideon replied. "Mama likes those talk shows too. Ah have no idea why. Ah think they're borin'."

"She says not everyone's as... well... crazy as some of the people on TV but they give her ideas for how to handle... or in some cases not handle, different clients she has."

"Uh... okay..."

Alizar chuckled. "Suffice it to say, she watches them because she says watching them helps her."

"Okay then... So... yesterday yer dad said on of the reasons ya moved here was because yer mom got a better job. Where did ya move here from," Gideon asked.

"We moved from one end of the Tri-Burrows to here," Alizar told him.

"Just because yer mom got a better job," Gideon asked.

Alizar rubbed his neck. "There's a bigger reason as to why we moved here..."

Travis looked to the fox. "Doesn't sound like it's one you're happy about."

He sighed. "Two years ago, my birth parents were killed in an accident."

"Oh..." Gideon frowned. "Ah'm really sorry ta hear that, Alizar."

Travis nodded. "Me too."

"Thanks... We moved here shortly after I was adopted two years ago, because they both knew I was finding it hard to stay living near a place where my parents died." Alizar looked to Gideon. "Mom transferred to a job here and we lived in a nice two bedroom apartment until we found the house across the street. And once the sale on it was finalized, we moved in."

Gideon nodded. Both he and Travis got up, pulling Alizar to his feet, and hugged him.

"Thanks guys." Alizar hugged the two of them.

"Alizar, Ah wanna let ya know... Ah know we just met yesterday, but if ya ever feel like ya need someone ta talk ta, Ah'll be here fer ya," Gideon told Alizar.

"Same here," Travis agreed. "We'll help you out however we can."

"I appreciate it, you guys. It's not as hard as it was two years ago, but there are still times where I miss them," Alizar told the two.

Travis nodded. "I know how that feels." He rubbed his neck. "I lost my mom several years ago. It's been just me and my dad for quite some time now, and I still have trouble looking at pictures of the three of us."

"Thanks for sharing that with me, Travis." Alizar smiled.

"Thank you for sharing with us, Alizar," the ferret replied.

"Anyway, enough of that sad stuff, huh? Let's go back to watching the cartoons," the elder kit commented.

"Yeah. Sounds good ta me," Gideon turned his attention toward the television.

It didn't stay there long though. Around half an hour later, Amanda poked her head into the room. "Boys? Are any of you hungry?"

Gideon turned to look at her. "Ah am, Mama."

"I wouldn't mind something to eat, Mrs. Grey," Travis replied.

"Yes, please. And thank you," Alizar told her.

"Alright. I'll bring up some sandwiches for you in a few minutes then," Amanda told them.

"Thank ya, Mama," Gideon replied. He then got to his feet, walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

"You're welcome, Gid. I'll be back in a few minutes." Amanda kissed Gideon on his cheek before she disappeared.

Gideon then walked back to the bed and sat back down.

Alizar turned to look to him. "Your mom's very sweet, Gid."

He nodded. "Yeah, she is. Ah love her a lot. She's really special ta me."

"I could tell. You two are really close, huh?"

"The day the three of ya moved in, Ah was makin' a pie usin' the stuff Mama taught me. Ah wanna be a baker when Ah get older. Maybe run mah own bakery or pie shop someday."

"Got any more of it left," Alizar asked.

"Nah, we ate what was made that day, and I gave the rest of it ta Travis' dad," Gideon told him. "When Ah make another one though, Ah'll save ya some of it so ya can have a slice."

"I'd like that."

Amanda came in several minutes later, setting the plate of sandwiches down on Gideon's nightstand, along with several napkins. "Here you go, boys. Enjoy."

"Thank ya again, Mama."

She gave a soft chuckle and left.

Most of the next several hours was spent with the three eating and and watching cartoons.

Eventually, Gideon's attention was drawn from the TV again when he heard his father calling out. "Gid? Can ya come downstairs fer a second?"

The younger fox got to his feet. "Ah'll be right back," he told the other two before making his way down. He walked over to his father, giving him a hug. "Is everythin' alright, Papa?"

"Everythin's fine, Gid. Ah just wondered if ya'd like ta go out fer dinner tonight."

"Uhhh... Yeah, sure. Alizar and Travis are here right now though," the younger kit told his dad.

"Ah see..." The older fox gave a chuckle. "Been havin' fun with yer friends?"

Gideon nodded. "Yes, sir. Ah have. We've been watchin' cartoons most of the day. Mama also made us some sandwiches fer lunch earlier."

"Alright, well, Ah'm gonna sit and relax fer a bit, and maybe get a shower in. After that, Ah was thinkin' we could head out."

"Sure... Any special reason, Papa?"

"Nothin' really. Ah just feel like goin' out. Been a while since we've been out," Tyler told him.

"Yeah, that's true. Ah'll go let Travis and Alizar know then."

Tyler nodded, making shooing motions. "Go on then, son."

Gideon smiled and made his way back up. "Papa says he wants ta take me and Mama out fer dinner tonight. He's gonna unwind first and get a shower before we go though."

"Whatcha wanna do until you need to go," Travis asked the fox.

"Ah'd be just fine with watchin' some more TV fer a bit, if that's okay with you guys."

It would be about another half hour before Alizar heard his cell chime. He pulled it out of his pocket, looking at it and responding to a text message. He then looked at the other two. "That was mom. She brought dinner home with her, so I need to go."

"Alright then," Gideon got to his feet and hugged the other fox. "Thanks fer comin' over. It was nice sittin' and watchin' cartoons together."

Alizar nodded. "I had a lot of fun."

Travis stood and hugged Alizar too. "We've seen your place. And now you've seen Gid's. Maybe tomorrow you can come over to my house."

"Yeah, sure. Sounds like fun to me," Alizar told him

"Cool," the ferret smiled.

Both he and Gideon walked Alizar downstairs.

"Are you taking off, Alizar," Amanda asked.

"Yes ma'am. Mom brought dinner home with her."

The female smiled. "Alright, sweetie. You take care, and please tell her I say hello."

"I will, ma'am. Good night." Alizar then left and the younger kit returned upstairs.

Gideon sat down, looking at Travis. "Kinda interestin' ta learn more about Alizar, huh?"

Travis nodded. "Yeah... He seems to be okay though, despite what he's been through."

"Ah don't know what Ah'd do if Ah lost mah parents," Gideon commented.

"It's not easy to deal with. Especially when you come across something that reminds you of them."

Gideon rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah don't think Ah'm gonna bring it up again. Ta be honest, while Ah'm glad I haven't lost mah mama and papa, Ah don't wanna upset him by talkin' about it anymore."

Travis nodded. "Don't think I will either. I think just us being there for him will help him."

"Right," Gideon replied with a nod. "Anyway, did ya wanna watch some more TV?"

"Actually, I think I'm gonna just go ahead and take off too. That way, you can just leave whenever your dad's ready to go," the ferret commented.

Gideon just shrugged. "Alright then." He then got to his feet again, with Travis doing the same. He wrapped his paws around the ferret in a hug. He then walked with Travis downstairs.

Amanda looked to the two of them. "Are you leaving, Travis?"

The ferret nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I don't want to hold you up when you decide you're ready to go out for dinner. Thank you for having me."

Amanda gave a soft chuckle. "You're very welcome. Please say hello to your father for me."

"I will. Good night."

"Good night, sweetie," the female remarked.

"See ya tomorrow then," the fox told the ferret.

"Yup. Sounds good," Travis told him. "Bye, Gid." Travis then opened the front door, walked out and closed it behind him.

Gideon then looked to his mother, walked over and hugged her. "Ah love ya, Mama."

Amanda wrapped her paws around the kit and hugged back. "And I love you, sweetie. Did you have fun with your friends?"

"Ah did..." He then sighs. "Well... fer most of it anyway. Ah learned how and why he ended up movin' across the street. Is it weird that Ah feel bad Ah have mah birth parents but he doesn't have his?"

She shakes her head. "It's not weird at all sweetie, but at least you know he does have someone taking care of him."

"Yeah..." He nodded. "And Ah like Mister and Mrs. Cooper. They're both really nice."

"I'm sure they are. I may invite them over for dinner sometime."

Gideon smiled. "Ah bet they'd like that."

"Mmhmm. I bet you're right," Amanda commented.

"Right about what," Tyler asked, being seen coming down the stairs.

"About Mister and Mrs. Cooper. Mama was sayin' she wanted to invite them over sometime," the kit told his father.

"Ah see... Well, Ah agree. Ah think they'd like that," Tyler remarked. "Anyway, Gid. Are ya ready ta head out?"

Gideon nodded. "Yeah, Papa. Ah'm ready. Travis and Alizar just left."

"Alright then. Let's head out and get some food then."

Amanda looked to him. "Sounds good to me."

The group then walked to their car, getting in. Tyler then drove them several miles before eventually turning into a parking lot. When they got out, they walked inside a large building.

Standing at the podium there was a tall thin wolf. "Welcome to Luigi's. Three today?"

Amanda nodded. "Yes please."

The wolf gathered up the menus "Right this way," the wolf said, leading them to one of the tables near a window. "Is this alright?"

"This will be fine, thank you," Amanda remarked.

The wolf set the menus down. "Very good. Could I start you off with some drinks?"

"I'll have an ice tea," Amanda told him.

"Ah'll have one as well, please," Gideon said with a smile.

"And Ah'd like a coffee please," Tyler told the wolf.

"Very good. I'm Mike, and I'll be your server tonight," the wolf told them.

"Thank you, Mike," Amanda replied.

"You're welcome. I'll get those drinks and be right back," Mike said as he walked off.

"Ah never did ask, Papa... How was work," Gideon asked, turning his attention to his dad.

"Work went fine. Sold off several cars today," Tyler told him.

Gideon smiled before he turned his attention to his menu. "Well, that's good."

Tyler nodded. "Mmhmm. Sure is."

About a minute later, Mike returned with the drinks. The wolf set them down before looking to the foxes. "Have you decided what you want to eat today," he asked.

"I think I'll have your vegetable soup tonight," Amanda told him.

"Certainly," Mike replied, jotting that down on his pad.

Tyler looked to Mike. "And Ah think Ah'll have yer veggie burger, please."

"Sure, no problem," Mike said as he wrote that down.

"And uhhh..." Gideon quickly glanced over the menu again. "Ah think Ah'd like that soup too, please."

"You got it," Mike said as he put that on his pad. "Anything else for you today?"

"Ah think we're good fer now," Tyler replied.

The other two foxes nodded in agreement.

"Alright. Let me get those orders in for you," Mike smiled then left again.

Gideon looked to his parents after taking a sip of his drink. "Mama? Papa?"

"Yes, Gideon," the two said in unison.

"Thank ya fer takin' care of me so well. Ah love ya both very much," the kit replied.

"We love you too," Amanda told him. "And nothing is ever going to change that."

Gideon nodded. "Ah know... It's just..." He paused for a moment, before speaking up again. "Is it weird of me ta say Ah feel a little bad that Ah have both of mah parents, but Alizar and Travis don't. Ah mean, yeah, Alizar now has his adopted family, and Travis does still have his dad, but.. Ah dunno... Ah wanna help the two of 'em feel better about things but that's kinda hard ta do, when Ah don't have any experience when it comes ta losin' a loved one."

"Gid, ya don't need ta have it happen fer ya ta be able ta be supportive," Tyler told him. "Just bein' there if they ever wanna talk about it will be more help than ya think."

"Yeah, Ah guess... It's just... we got ta talkin' about how Alizar ended up here, and... well... Ah didn't really know what ta say once he started talkin' about losin' his parents. Then Travis chimed in with the stuff about losin' his mom."

"Gid, sweetie, your Papa is right. Just be there for your friends however you can. I guarantee that will do more good than you think," his mother commented.

"Ah'll try... Ah just feel a bit weird about it," the young fox told his parents.

A few minutes later, Mike came back with the food, setting the two bowls of soup down for Amanda and Gideon and setting the burger down in front of Tyler. "Here you are. Can I get any of you anything else tonight?"

Gideon shook his head. "Ah think we're good fer now. Thank ya though."

Mike nodded. "Alright. Just flag me down if you think of anything you need."

"Will do. Thank ya again," the kit replied as he started eating his soup. "Wow... this is really good."

"I agree," Amanda commented, having taken a spoonful of her soup as well.

"This burger tastes pretty good too," Tyler remarked, taking a bite.

The three sat together, eating and chatting amongst each other for about half an hour before they were, once again, met by Mike, who looked at them with a smile. "I hope things have been to your satisfaction so far."

"Ah'd say they have. This food was absolutely delicious," Tyler told Mike.

"I'm glad to hear it," Mike replied. "Will you be wanting dessert tonight?"

The three foxes looked to each other before they looked to Mike. "Ah think we're good fer tonight," the elder male fox replied.

"I'll set your check down here then," Mike said. He then did exactly that.

Tyler quickly picked it up, looked at the amount and paid for it. "There ya go. And keep the change."

Mike took it with a smile. "Thank you!"

"Thank you for having us," Amanda said as she stood. "It was absolutely delicious."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Gideon stood and rubbed his belly. "Ah loved it."

"Very good. Have a good night," Mike told them, waving as the three foxes left.

When they made it back, Gideon gave his mother and father a hug. "Ah'm gonna go upstairs and watch some more TV before Ah go ta bed."

"Alright, sweetie," Amanda gave her son a soft kiss.

"And thank ya fer takin' us out tonight," the kit commented, looking to his father.

"Ah was glad ta do it, Gid. Ah figured since we hadn't been out in a while, it might be a nice night fer it," Tyler told him.

"It was... and honestly, it kept me from thinkin' too much about the stuff Ah talked about earlier," Gideon told him. "Anyway... G'night, Mama. G'night Papa."

"Good night, Gideon," the two elder foxes replied as Gideon made his way upstairs for bed.

Gideon was only watching TV for half an hour before he fell asleep, with his mother tiptoeing inside the room to shut the TV off before leaving the room and closing the door.