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I was half dozing on the couch paying no attention to the T.V. when the front door opened and closed. "Hi Ben." Shelly spoke looking over the back of the couch at me. I checked the clock and realized it was already late afternoon on Monday. "If you want I'll help you out now." She said as she walked past the couch and into the dining room setting her bag on the large table. She turned holding a packet of stapled papers that came out of the bag. "Today and tomorrows."

I went and got the books from my room figuring now was a good time. I had done some, well mostly the easiest parts I could find but if I didn't get working I'd be spending all day tomorrow bent over a table. I worked on my homework for nearly two hours while Shelly pulled out a few papers and work on hers. I knew she was already finish and had gotten us both something to drink and was busy flipping through a book just to keep me company when I finally closed my book and pushed my chair back. "Enough for now."

Shelly packed up quick while I piled everything between the two textbooks and headed back to my room with her following. "You got the card?" She asked behind me as I dropped everything on the desk. I carefully pulled the open the drawer and flashed it to her before she started wandering around my room and I moved to the bed.

"Is there anything you really like, planes?" She had noticed the two small fighter jets on the top of my dresser.

"Not really those are from my uncle he is into jets but only gets to work on older planes." As I spoke Shelly had moved around and sat next to me. We talked for a while before she got back around to trying to apologize again.

"I didn't want to leave you here but I couldn't let my dad know I was here. Especially since you were in bed and ummm..." She looked at me blushing before glancing down a my crotch for a second then back up.

"What!? I had my short on." I had several pairs of shorts which I felt most comfortable sleeping in.

"You didn't have shorts on." She spoke quietly.

"I what...?" Now it was my turn to blush looking down at myself trying to bring back a foggy memory of what happened. "I threw up." I stated staring at the carpet between my feet. "What was..." I couldn't remember nor could I really state the question.

"Underwear." She answered. My blush deepened, I was in my underwear, she had led me through my house in underwear. Oh crap all the ambulance people and fire and even neighbors all saw me in underwear.

"Were they.. Umm which ones?" I asked fearing the worst I still had a few, well kiddie ones that barely fit but I was still kinda attached to.

"They were cute," those words were a shock until she added, "a cute little white pair." I guess my shock was still pretty evident with me just staring at her but that didn't seem to stop her from leaning forward and kissing me on the muzzle. Caught and unsure what to do we stayed there nearly pressing our lips to each other leaving only a fraction of space between us. Pulling back slightly she slid out her long tongue and licked me over the nose before I leaned in a little and did the same. She licked me, I licked her and we stopped to stare at each other again. I was so close I could see this little strand of hair that was sticking out and a second that seemed to be laying next to it. Both little black hairs seemed out of place on her short blondish fur and both were likely mine. With a paw I gently reached up and picked both pieces of the top of her muzzle causing her to start giggling as I flicked them away.

A louder than normal bang from the front of the house startled us both. We both turned away slightly but stayed sitting on the bed. I didn't want to leave to find out who it was but that was answered less than a minute later when my bedroom door was shoved open hitting the wall hard.

"What do you two think you're doing!?" Mr. Thaner demanded standing there and growling at the two of us.

"I told you I was going to come over and help him with his homework." Shelly tried keep a steady voice under the low rumble that came from the doorway.

"In His BED!!" Both of us had jumped upright with that, she moving quickly away while I faced off against the door more than ready for an unfair argument.

"We were just talking." I said not wanting anything of the past few moments known especially by him.

"I was only sitting here." Shelly followed.

"And you think that's Okay!!" Mr. Thaner was definitely working in to a full throated growl as he stared down at me.

"Mark that is enough." My father spoke from the hall behind him giving his shoulder a firm shove and walking the two of them out of the doorway and into the room. "If you two were doing homework Ben where is it?" I pointed to the desk where I had left the pile.

"Did you even start?" The more gruff voice demanded.

"YES I DID!!" I was quickly felling like I was facing my mother again raising my voice only this time I was getting very pissed and not feeling the need to sheathe my claws. "I did more than a third of that and Shelly finished all of hers." I continued to speak in a very loud voice.

"Ben that is enough, and Mark that is enough as well." Always the mediator my father with a simple voice that seemed to calm me and my mother down enough to listen. He always go the last words in no matter the argument. I had tried arguing with him a few times but it was always pointless he never raised his voice or seemed to anger. "Alright ground rules now."

"What?" I asked surprised

"Ben she is not allowed in you room unless and adult is in the house and your door will be open." He started.

"It wasn't closed." I half mumbled out.

"All the way Ben. Second, if no adult is home no one I don't care if its Shelly, Matt, John, I don't care who it is they stay in the living, dining, or kitchen. The same would apply to Shelly's house. I expect you in the front room or kitchen only."

"He'd better not be in my house unless I'm there!" Mark growled interrupting. "As for you missy don't think your coming back over!"

"DAD!" She shouted in protest.

"Oh yes Mark why don't we give them a reason to defy us that will work out oh so well." I think that might have been the first time I truly heard a near mocking tone come from my father as the two men glared at each other. My father continued with just a little smile, "Maybe your right. Maybe I would understand if I had a daughter. But I do trust Ben and I trust you daughter. But I would be surprised if she didn't end up hating you in some way for trying to stop their friendship."

We all stood for a moment staring at one another trying to gauge each other. I was still pretty upset but I knew when to keep my mouth shut at times especially when Dad was on my side. "Well I think we should think about this but later," My father spoke, "could all of you please go to the living room. I did want you all here so I could tell you some things." We all moved out into the living room Mark guiding his daughter to the large couch while I skirted to the side slipping into the recliner.

"Shelly can you move over a bit. Mark please don't argue at this moment and Ben move and sit next to Shelly." Surprised I slowly stood up and moved to the couch as Shelly bounced to the middle and closer to her father leaving space for me at the end.

"Allen!" Mr Thaner growled slightly.

"You will understand in a few minutes but right now more than a father I believe he need a good and understanding friend." There was something wrong with how he said that or maybe it was what he said but as I sat down and looked at Shelly her face seemed as worried as I felt. My concern only grew as I looked over her shoulder and saw the blank stare of her father who normally would be still growling slightly wanting to separate us.

"Ben you know the times your mom locked herself in her room? Do you know why?" He asked the question that had a simple answer in my mind.

"Because she was to angry to face me." We almost always finished are larger arguments with one of us locking ourselves in a bedroom or a few times storming out of the house not that I could do more than just sethe out in the back yard.

"No, you should know that isn't true. Ben I need you to listen to all I'm going to say." He took the ottoman propped against he wall and slid it in front of the couch and sat down while Shelly had placed her paw on my lower arm. "Your mom loves you a great deal just like I do. But, there are times when your in pain, you will lash out at anyone including some one you love. You want them to hurt so your not in pain alone." I was trying to figure the connections between mom and pain? and how, what kind? When?

"But sometimes she kept yelling in her room she always said we needed space to separate and to cool off." It just didn't make sense. Mom and I just couldn't seem to agree most of the time or maybe it was we couldn't allow a small disagreement to go unnoticed. Besides we had been going on for years now true we didn't fight every day but there were times when my throat felt raw and days when I avoided her because I didn't want to keep yelling. I realized several seconds had passed and I looked back to my father to explain.

"Been it's been a little over two years, do you remember before Julie's wedding she was complaining about the gray spot of hair on her back arm?" He asked.

"Kinda." Actually I did remember how she was ready to rip the brides maid dress apart because the sleeve ended just before the spot. Julie was aunt Lisa's eldest daughter and although Mom and Lisa didn't get along my cousin had begged my mother to be part of the wedding. Together Julie and my mother had nearly planned out the whole wedding leaving Lisa out of everything but the ceremony. That I think was when I learned that if you could yell and scream at your sister then why not your parents.

"We went to the doctor." Dad's voice knocked me out of the past. "We found out it was a type of cancer." I'm glad he didn't let the silence last to long leaving that word hanging in the room seem like dark shadows had stepping in during the silence. "The problem was not that spot really which she had removed but.. well she had lots of cancer in her body and it had spread around. The doctors gave her an option to aggressively fight, they were talking multiple surgeries and several treatment including Kemo." Shelly had grabbed my hand at some point and was squeezing so hard it was almost making it hard to keep listening until it seemed like a kinda click went off and all I could do was listen, frozen unmoving and ears open. "There was no real hope, she knew that, she might gain some time but in her words, 'Mutilated, drugged, and sick' was not a choice she would ever choose. She quit working and stayed home. She wanted what time she had to be with her family and had every one who knew swear to not tell you."

I waited for him to continue surly there was more there, he said choice what was the other choice what did mom do? "And?" I barely got that choked out. I could feel Shelly shift suddenly letting go of my hand in exchange for using both paws to grip my arm pulling me closer and leaning in.

"She waned you to grow up without ever having to worry for her. She tried so hard to not fight with you, all she wanted was to be a happy family for you, to keep you safe. All those times in her room were mostly spent in a lot of pain on her bed screaming at pillows or crying on them till they were soaked." Shelly was trying to hug me now as Dad spoke she had I guess already figured it all out but I was still working towards what all this might mean. I had a few thoughts, images of my mother laying on her bed screaming when my Dad continued, "Now she has reached the end of her fight her body can't keep up and several organs have been invaded with cancer. They won't say how long she has but it's soon."

Shelly had her head pressed against my shoulder and I could suddenly sense a warm wet spot, she must be crying. I wasn't crying, I wasn't even sure what to feel or if I was feeling anything besides a sorta numb no not numb just simple not feeling feeling. I had moved my arm up and around her and was struck by the fact that I felt I was consoling her not the other way around and maybe I was. She already knew what it was like to be without a mother and I only really knew what it was like to have a, pardon the word, bitch for a mother.

All that being said it was then I came to the realization it wasn't me she had been angry with all the time, well maybe sometimes it was me but Dad said she was hurting. My mind turned a little further still not really accepting that fact. Maybe she was angry with me for not knowing or maybe I really was on the path to being a hellion teen that she had recently accused me of, it could still be my fault.

I thought back to our last few fights pants, being very late, music that was to loud. That was the one I had ended with slamming the door and turning the radio up louder. She pounded on the door and of course I turned it up louder actually making my own ears hurt. I never had expected her to go the the back pantry and flick the breakers cutting the power then locking the pantry. I had screamed louder than my radio even called her a bitch and avoided a paw swipe and fled back to my room locking the door. Thinking back again I do remember her crying when I snuck down the hall to try and listen after dad came home. When my Dad finally came to my room to talk later I remember feeling satisfied and happy that she was so upset even though he announced my punishment of being grounded for the weekend and confiscated the radio.

We really do like to lash out and hurt those we feel had hurt us or even just to be able to cause pain to another so we don't hurt alone. I pulled Shelly closer and laid my head on top of hers. Although my vision did blur a little I didn't cry. More and more though I was growing with an awful and icky feeling inside trying to push back all the memories of us shouting and arguing with each other. I heard the phone ring and looked up but Dad was already on his feet and moving, "I got it."

Looking over the pink side of Shelly's flipped ear I could see her father staring at his hands as they clenched and unclenched trying to grab at something that wasn't there. When I looked up I noticed his eyes were closed and realized he was lost in some memory likely of Mrs. Thaner. I didn't really know much about Shelly's mom the only memories I had of her were at Halloween time. She had all the streets kids over each year to make their own special candy apple which she then gave out on Halloween night.

It was the hand on my knee that grabbed me back to the present. "Ben that was the hospital... she, she passed."

"But we just, she was okay." I couldn't say any more how could I.

"She started slipping as soon as we left on Sunday. They moved her to critical care this morning when I stopped by they wouldn't let me see her right then. I thought about staying but I felt here was a better place for me to be." There were some tears now that leaked past my eyes but that didn't stop me from seeing Mr. Thaner rise and walk slowly around the couch. I turned to watch as he walked out the front door closing it softly behind him with a quiet click. I guess all three of us had been watching the closed door for a moment but when Shelly turned back she kissed me on the cheek and hugged me again pulling close.

I sorta felt like following him. I mean out there was better than in here wasn't it. But then I wouldn't have anything to do out there either. Dad gave my knee a shake and walked back into the kitchen. It took a moment before I could hear him talking on the phone with someone else. "I.. umm *sniff * I will be right back *sniff *" Shelly spoke as she peeled her arms off me and stood up heading to the hall and the bathroom.

I was sitting there trying to figure out why I was alone and how to change that. I didn't want to be left alone. I got up and went to the kitchen, Dad was sitting on one of the chairs with the phone resting on his knee. Several papers and two notebooks and mom's address book were sitting on the counter. "Get a drink please." He spoke pointing to the table where a pitcher sat. "Then head back out and watch some T.V. or something. I have a lot of work to do and it's going to take a while but when I'm done we can talk more." By the time I had a glass and filled it he had already dialed a number and began talking. "Yes.... Hey Jace I need to talk with Lisa now. Well no it's not a matter of life and death, just death now get her on the phone." I walked back out not liking the words nor the rather nasty tone in my fathers voice as I took several sips of warm orange cool aide. Besides I could sense he wanted me gone when he was talking with aunt Lisa.

Walking back through the house I paused at the bathroom door trying to listen inside. Not hearing anything I kept on to my room and flopped heavily into the middle of my bed after setting the glass on the desk. Pulling a pillow to me I laid there and waited, there was nothing for me to really do and nothing I wanted to do.

The front door closed loud enough for me to hear and a moment later my father was at my doorway. "Three or four more calls and I'll be back. Shelly went to take her backpack home and to check on her father. Moving to my knees I moved forward and pressed my cheek to the window looking out at the back porch of Shelly house. It was foolish I knew she would use the front door it was only when we came home from school and her father wasn't home that she had to use the back door.

I had flopped back and laid sideways on the bed till my father finally returned nearly an hour later.

He moved to the desk and pulled the chair out and moving to sit at the foot of the bed. "Do you want to talk?"

"About what?" I mumbled.

"Anything or everything." After several minutes of silence he stood up and reach out over the bed grabbing my arm and dragging me across the blankets. He switched to grab under my arms and pulled me upright before sitting back down and dragging me the rest of the way into his lap where he hugged me. I hadn't moved or resisted as he handled me glad just to not be alone but suddenly again I had the feeling that I was the one consoling not the one being consoled. "Is there anything you want to do?" He asked the back of my head.

I thought for a moment, "Can we go see mom?" I could feel him jerk before he returned to a tighter hug.

"She didn't want you to, she asked me not to let you see her once she passed."

I struggled trying to turn but with my legs still on the bed I was no match for my fathers strong arms. "What does it matter? I just want to see her."

"Ben it was one of her last requests when she went into the hospital. She also told me she didn't want you coming back to the hospital once you left yesterday especially with all the effort she made to look better just to be able to see you. It was her way of saying goodbye." He told me and I knew that would be just how she wanted it looking good at the end even if it was faked.

"But I didn't say goodbye." I tried to argue.

"You can at the service, everyone should be there and you can say goodbye then." He had released me enough so that I could turn and slip my legs off the bed and sit straight in his lap.

"So I can see her?" I asked sensing something that he was trying to evade. "No." He said quietly

"No?" "Ben it will be a memorial service not a real funeral, she made plans. Her body is going to be cremated and the ashes are going to be scattered at sea.

That came as a total shock, like if she had suddenly come home dyed blue and saying it was the perfect color. She wanted to be burned? Struggling and using my legs I tried to get away. He gripped tighter standing up and lifting me slightly off the floor before he set me down and turned me around. "Then I should be able to go see her! I'll go to the hospital, walk take a bus whatever, you won't stop me!"

"She's not at the hospital or likely won't be by the time you get there." He said quietly.

"Then WHERE?" A simple head shake was all I got for and answer. "Dad, please..." With patients that both mom and I had taught him the past few years he kept control while I started to fume. When he took a step towards me I took two steps back.

"Okay." He said still speaking in that quiet tone as he grabbed the chair and moved it back to the desk and sat down. "Is there anything else you want to or would like to do?"

With that I had lost. Being angry with him was about as useful as being angry with the sun and yelling at him worked as well as trying to make yourself heard over a 280z at full throttle. I don't even think a swipe across his face with my paw would have brought much more than a disappointed frown. With little else to do I sat down on the bed. "No."

"Ben I'm sorry but it's one of the last things I'll ever be able to do for her. I know its tough, unfair, and it sucks." I had to look up since he rarely ever spoke harshly. "But it is what she wanted so I want you to simply accept it. You fought with her so often just let her have this one. We both know she's vain at times and so does she. She just doesn't want anyone to see her." Suddenly burned made so much sense. She would want her body burned so that the only thing left would be pictures where she would always look her best. And the fact my father used this as a reason to let her have the last win of an argument was a hard point to even defend.

I felt drained as I nodded letting go of any hope of saying goodbye to a physical form. I watched as Dad walked out and still not really wanting to be alone I followed him into the living room where he was turning on the television. I flopped onto the couch laying down but before he could sit down the phone rang again taking him from the room. The volume wasn't up very loud but enough so that I really couldn't understand what was being said from the kitchen but I was sure he wouldn't want me in there again.

The door opened a few minutes later and a rather rough hand patted me on the shoulder as Mr. Thaner walked over and sat in the recliner. I heard someone else moving behind the couch and dropping something heavy onto the dining room table. A moment later Shelly walked in and prodded my leg trying to get me to move and make room. I didn't so she just sat on my feet making me grunt.

She wiggled around and I tried to ignore her as her father stood up and flipped a few channels before turning up the volume slightly. "Ben... Ben." I didn't answer her but I did feel her stand up and "OOHHFF" Her whole body landed on my back as she laid on top working her arms around and hugging me while pressing her muzzle against my neck.

"Shelly" I heard Mr. Thaner grunt but he made no more to stop her nor did he speak again as she wormed her hands under me till she finally achieved a full hug and squeezed me tightly.

"Ben? ... Come on.. Please say something." "What" was my reply muffled by the couch cushions. "We brought some dinner over will you eat with us?" "Now?"

"Now is as a good a time as any." I heard my father say as he came back into the room, "What's for dinner?"

"Well I had made a kinda spaghetti and noodle casserole, it was warming in the oven. Mr Thaner answered.

"I think we have some bread." My father spoke moving back off into the kitchen.

Neither Shell nor I had moved yet, I knew she was waiting for me to actually say something but in reality there was nothing that wanted to come out. I had no clue what I could or should be saying after all she had already lost her mother while I was still trying to figure out what that meant. With a clink of plates and silverware our parents set the table and served out portions. "Ready?" I finally heard her ask.

"Ya." I said turning my head out. I wiggled a little back and forth making it easier for her to pull her hands out and get up.

It was the first time in a while the long dinning table was used. Since it had ten seats we rarely ever used it since we could easily fit up to five people at the kitchen table. The first couple of bites passed before I really began to taste the rather pleasant flavor and felt my stomach suddenly appreciate the fact something had been placed inside. I hadn't eaten anything since late that morning and the weird mutant lasanga had a great deal of appeal right then. There were heavy layers of cheese baked with a few different kinds of noodles and a rich sauce thick with meat but added in were strips of carrots and potatoes along with corn and what I though were some kind of peas.

The meal was finished quickly because everyone was concentrating on eating and not speaking. I took my dishes to the sink and rinsed them off setting them on the side counter to be washed in the morning. We all eventually ended up back in the living room watching what ever was on the television. It was more to fill up time than to actually enjoy what was on. I know I was just hoping bedtime would come soon and I could maybe sleep. Twice my Dad had gotten up an served me a glass of water and when I had excused myself to go to the bathroom Mr. Thaner had decided it was time to head home. I was allowed to give Shelly a hug before they left and found myself sitting back on the couch leaning back with my eyes closed.

"Ben." My father said a few moments later, 'mmmmm' I answered. "You should go to bed, see if you can sleep. You may not be able to but you should try. Just stay in bed till morning if you can't sleep." I didn't reply. I just kept sitting there while a pop went off signaling dad had shut off the T.V. "Is there anything you want? Or anything you want for tomorrow? Uncle Albert should be here with your cousins by lunch and they will be spending the next few days here." That had me up and looking across the room at him. My room invaded on top of everything else.

Albert and his wife and my three cousins would mean John would at least likely end up in my room unless some how we got booted out for the two girls who would take possession. "I want my room to myself." He nodded with no argument.

"We'll set up the back den and put up a curtain." Although there were two doors leading off the back of the dining room the one on the right lead outside while the one of the left lead to the addition that had been built in behind the kitchen. There was a door frame but there had never been a door there at least not that I ever remember. Also a den was a rough word since for us it had been more of an extra storage space just a small eight by twelve foot room that held a few bookcases a broken table and two chairs and loads of boxes and junk. To be honest it was the one spot in the house besides the garage that my mother allowed to be messy, well had allowed. "We will work something out even if we have to set up a cots in the garage you can have your room. Anything else?"

"What's gonna happen?" I finally asked for the first time really wondering what exactly was going to take place now that she was gone.

"Right now I have a memorial setup with a boat on Thursday morning, about noon we have a meal set for everyone at the Seaside restaurant. I'm not exactly sure who all is coming mostly family several of your moms friends from a few years back, maybe some of her old co-workers. I'll be on the phone most of tomorrow morning so you'll pretty much be by yourself." I nodded when he paused looking down at the rug.

"Ben there is something you need to decide tomorrow." My head came back up what could I possibly have to make a decision on. "You won't have to go to school Wednesday and likely everyone will still be here on Friday so if you want to spend time with your family I would totally understand but like I told you if you miss more days especially any next week they will not let you advance to the next tier, you will be repeating the third tier again. I will be here to help you out all I can, I have to work a few hours here and there next week but otherwise I will be home. Ben if you want to just end school for this year and start again next term that is a choice and one which I would support." Repeating a tier, its like the ultimate failure especially when you still have to see all your friends in other classes and go through the same lectures over and over. I know I'd get teased bad no matter what had happened.

"Just think about it. Like I said if you want you don't have to go back to school this year." After a moments pause he again added, "Anything else you want?"

"Bacon and eggs." I answered with out even really thinking about it.

I could almost see a small smile as he nodded slowly, "I'll make some when I get up." With that he turned an left the room walking down the hall to his bedroom which was next to mine. It took me a few minutes before I did get up and turn the lights out moving to my room.

I took a seat at the desk rearranging everything till I opened the science book flipping through the pages. The instructions said pages and notes with class observation, paper due Thursday. I randomly flipped though pages, it was just a waste of time half the book wasn't even used till the next tier. We were only going over the basic stuff besides and with out the class observations how was I supposed to know what we were even studying. I spent nearly and hour looking at pictures, symbols, and concepts I didn't understand. Finally feeling tired I turned out the light changed in to some shorts and crawled into bed. I tossed some, I slept some, but mostly I spent my time thinking about what was going to happen and what Thursday was going to be like.

I spent most of Tuesday morning finishing another chunk of homework and cleaning thing up around the house and washing the dishes. Dad vacuumed in between phone calls and cleaned the rest of the kitchen. He asked me twice before I finally decided to clean the bathrooms which ended with a full shower in the master bedroom. I put on a new shirt and a nice pair of shorts before I returned to the kitchen to find dad working on making several sandwiches. I wasn't really feeling like a sandwich so I went to the freezer and pulled out a frozen pizza I knew was there. Not hearing any objections I put it on the counter and set the oven to preheat. I went back to my room to get my shoes on and comb out my fur for company then picked up my own room taking a basket of laundry with me back to the laundry room which was between the kitchen and the garage along with the pantry.

There was already a cookie sheet on the range top of the oven and when I went to open the box I found that a second frozen pizza had been set on top of the first. I got the pizza in and set the small timer to twenty minutes before I heard my dad calling from the store room. He had moved a pile of boxes and now had the table on its side and it was moved to the center of the room. Two legs were gone and only one had been replaced by a long block of wood. We had kept it against the back wall and had boxed stored under it to keep it from collapsing.

"We're gonna put it outside the back door under the awning." Gripping one side I tried following my fathers instructions while we grunted and occasionally dropped the table but in the end we were able to maneuver it outside and several feet away from the back door leaving it resting against the wall. After that we had the chore of moving several boxes stacking them under the table before the egg timer dinged. As I searched for the cooling rack while Dad donned a pair of oven gloves and slowly pulled the cookie sheet out. While he moved the hot pizza to the rack I ripped open the second box and in just a few seconds we had the second pizza in the oven and the timer set again.

In another ten minutes we had moved enough boxes outside or shifted them across the room to clear nearly two thirds of the floor. I was about to take the two chairs outside to join the table when my father stopped me telling me to set them at the dining table. Before I had a chance to check the timer the door bell rang.

"They're here. Let's go." I followed my father to th front door where I found myself almost happy to see Albert, his wife Mary, and my cousins. There were reintroductions since only Albert had been here a few times in the last few years including my last birthday. There was Leanne sixteen, James twelve, and Amiee who was eight. I really didn't remember much of my cousins it had been nearly five years since our families had been together for the reunion that my father took me too. The Kalson family was larger than my mom's since it was only her and her sister, I had never met my grandparents on that side before they had passed.

I got a full waist hug from Leanne who was just as tall as I was, a kinda handshake slap from James who barely seemed interested in me at the moment, and from Amiee all I got was a squeal of, "I smell PIZZA!" as she rushed into the house.

"Yep it should be ready soon. Ben show the girls the back room and then go check it." My father ordered.

Having Leanne and Amiee follow me through the dining room I led them into the back room and waved my hand. "We can move a few more things so you'll get to use most of the room." I stated as they looked around.

"But there's no door." Leanne exclaimed. I walked out grabbing the hammer, nails and heavy drape my father had left on the dining room table.

"We're gonna put up this." I told her dropping the pile on the floor and going back for a chair to stand on. *DING * "Oops just a minute." I left he chair by the doorway and went to fetch the pizza from the oven.

"Pizza, Pizza, pizza." Amiee was chanting as she had followed me into the kitchen to watch. The door bell rang again but I stayed grabbing a knife and the cutting board quickly sliding the cool pizza over then dropping the hot one onto the rack. It seems Amiee had already found the stack of plates left on the kitchen table and was standing as close to the cutting board as she felt was allowable, "Pretty please. Pizza please!" She asked with her best wide eyed kid pleading face. I did my best to cut the crust into eight even slices with out leaving any fur or blood behind. I slowly tore a slice of cheese pizza off and placed it on her plate getting a strong rumble of a purr in appreciation.

"Go to the table and sit I'll get you a napkin." I got her situated and by the time I made it back to the den Leanne had moved a two nearly identical crates back next to the door making a small table which had a back pack sitting one and a duffel bag sitting on the other. I moved the chair to the center of the doorway and began trying to hang and hammer the drape into place. It wasn't until Leanne arrived several minutes later with two sleeping bags that I was finally able to make progress with her holding the drape and me concentrating on hammering a nail.

"Ben be careful please." I had to move the drape to see who was talking. There were two women I didn't recognize and I had to stop myself from staring at the two otters who were obviously siblings. They smiled and said hello telling me there names were Michelle and Sherie and after I said hello they both moved into the kitchen. The two of us finished hanging the drape but as I got down Leanne asked for two more nails in the wall. One on each side of the doorway just above where a handle would normally be. When I had finished she hooked the drape on the wall side catching the edges on the nail and holding it open.

"Is there anything else to do?" She asked me.

"Well we have two cots and stuff in the garage." She followed me into the kitchen where my father stopped me again introducing the otter pair.

"Both Michelle and Sherie were co-workers with your mother and her two closest friends for years." I watched as the both gave me a rather big smile and nodded while my father spoke. I knew mom had friends who she went out with and I could only able to guess that these two were them. I shook both of their hands this time feeling odd staring at the sleek paws and arms wondering for a moment how much trouble I might get into if I tried rubbing one of them. Everyone else that was in the house was in the kitchen as well and I had to ask my aunt to move so we could get to the garage. I heard the phone ring as I was about to step down to the laundry room but my Dad just waved me on as he moved to the phone.

I almost felt like going back when I noticed Leanne chewing on a slice of pizza she must have swiped in the kitchen but instead opened the door to the garage and squeezed my way past my father's suburban to open the main garage door. There was plenty of light now to see the mess that took up nearly half of the two car garage. Piles of wood and metal along with a bed frame and old bikes that I had never seen used and just a mass of other things all pushed together there was even an old engine that sat near the back corner along with a few tool boxes.

I set to work moving stuff outside and away from the bed frame where I knew the cots had been stored and after finishing her slice Leanne moved into help. With a good deal of work we unburied one but the second was lodged with a 2x4 between it which had several folding chairs stacked on it and the other end ran out of site behind a black plastic bag. Yanking hard back and forth I realized I was shifting the stacked wood to the front. Seeing the movement drew my cousins eyes and attention.

"What about that!" Leanne was pointing towards a pathetic broken down mattress which was hidden

behind the stack of wood held upright by several large pieces of plywood and sheet rock. "Really?" I could already tell her answer but I had to ask. "Ya. Amiee and I could share it."

Well it certainly would be big enough for both of them. I gave a sigh and grabbed the first thing in my way dragging the box of camping stuff outside next to mom's car wondering how long this was going to take. It was nearly an hour. We had moved enough stuff out and pulled some of the chunks of wood away that moved easily but when I slid two heavy milk crates full of who know what kind of metal parts several pieces of wood shifted and the whole pile started to move away from the wall. I had quickly jumped forward to keep the wood from crashing down on to my father's truck calling out for help.

Leanne grabbed several pieces of wood and tried to push some back against the wall while I strained under the load. I realized that there was just to much to handle when I moved and several of the smaller pieces fell forward hitting the side of the suburban. I ordered her back and with all the effort I could give I shoved on the pile and dashed out of the garage. My ears were flattened back and I had moved my hands to cover them expecting a loud crash that would have the whole house running instead there was a smaller 'Crack' followed by repetitive 'Whumps' that I both heard and felt. Turning back I could seen the whole stack leaning against the vehicle which still rocked. Most of it was held in place by a long board the same one I had been holding the stack up with the rest had dropped to the ground or was caught some where along the way.

"You okay?" She asked while I couldn't help but start pointing to the mattress that was now free to flop over nearly bending in half which got her to grin.

I could hear the kitchen door bang open and uncle Albert shout, "Hey! What was that?" as he rushed into the garage.

"It was nothing Dad, sorry. Ben are you alright" Leanne had quickly answered out but spoke quietly to me.

"Ya, you can get the mattress now." Both Albert and Leanne worked together and with just a little effort had the rather musty stained mattress sagging against the back of the suburban. I moved back inside and began sliding several of the larger wood pieces back then pushing them against the wall leaving the other two to figure out how to get the mattress inside. I grunted and groaned but over the next half hour had finally moved the stack of wood back against the wall and even freed the trapped cot. I ended up shoving the smaller pieces that were left against the wall where the mattress had been. Albert had come back out by then inquiring on the cots and he helped me to move the rest of the stuff back inside.

As I reached for the cord to close the door Albert called out, "OH SHIT!" I heard the exclamation as I watched him actually duck down behind my moms car. He was looking up the street and I noticed aunt Lisa was walking down the sidewalk in front of Shelly's house.

"I can be back on Friday to pick you up." A tall tom was telling aunt Lisa.

"Why don't you just say 'You Don't CARE' you move out with little notice and now have a free car from a friend but you can't find the time to even go to the funeral." Her tone was rough and the words seemed very harsh.

"I WORK. I work my ass off for everything I have!" The young male cat stopped being interrupted.

"Whatever! I can't believe it my own son, I mean why bother to even come back on Friday I'm sure some one would be willing, even happy to give me a ride home since I don't own a car." Aunt Lisa had cut across the grass and was now up on the porch ringing the door bell. Both myself and obviously uncle Albert had remained unseen.

After a few more words the male could be heard calling, "Bye Mother!" in a loud voice stepping off the porch eager to be away.

"Thomas!" Albert hissed out making the other turn. "Spare a moment." he spoke when he had the others attention stepping around the car. Thomas I had remembered was also my cousin and aunt Lisa's only son. The two men shook hands and Thomas started to apologize, "Sorry." he mumbled.

"It's fine I know it can't be easy." he said patting the younger man's shoulder.

"Is that BEN?" He suddenly asked seeing me. "Wow kid you've grown." Kid coming from him almost seemed like an insult since he was what almost three years older than I was. "It's been a long long time you were what five? And bouncing through the house like a rabbit last time I saw you." I took the hand shake and sorta blushed at the comment. My parents had often called me little bunny back then because I really did like to jump repeatedly. There was something about the landing and rebound that had always kept me going, especially if it was on the bed or couch.

"So you'll be back Friday?" Albert asked.

"Yep. I can't get out of work at the moment gonna be late tonight as it is. But they will at least allow that." Thomas said stretching backwards and twisting.

"You wanna go inside and grab you something to eat?" My uncle asked.

"No I should really get going, beside I won't go inside now." He spoke firmly.

"Just wait a second okay." Albert said pushing the garage back open that I had only half closed.

I stood staring at Thomas as he looked back. "Hey you want some advice?" I just kinda shrugged my shoulders, "Listen don't let my mom grab everything okay? And DON'T be a little go puppy for her. Don't let her run you around." I nodded as he finished. I knew aunt Lisa was the least liked on both sides of my family but I never knew why. The one comment I heard my mother speak years ago was the only clue I had which went something like, 'Well someone should warm him before my sister sucks him dry.' Being eight at the time I had visions of a vampire aunt but when I had asked later my mom refused to say anything and told me it wasn't my concern.

Albert popped back out of the garage, "Here ya go." He said passing over a napkin and a slice of pizza.

"Thanks I have to hustle so I don't get back to late." He was already moving before he finished talking.

This time I slipped inside the garage moving to pull the door closed again, "I got it." Albert called from the other side and I stepped back as the door banged shut. He even twisted the handle to lock it even though that had been broken for years. I took both cots off the hood of the suburban and moved them into the laundry room before I went back inside.

The kitchen was a mess, the garbage had been pulled out to the middle of the room and was just over flowing, the sink had piles of dishes and the table had silverware and a few dirty plates along with several apples on it including some that were partly eaten.

My ears folded back expecting a tirade from my mother at any second while I tried to quickly figure out how to explain why everything was such a mess. I had already grabbed the garbage and was using a twist tie to close it when I realized why. No tirade because no mom.

"Earth to Ben!" I focused on the handful of napkins and pizza crust waved in front of me. "Come on." James said pulling the bag back open. I let him and tied the bag slowly working it free from its plastic holder. With the bag in hand I went back into the laundry room and unbolted the door that led outside to where we kept the garbage cans. After tossing the bag in and closing the can I stepped back and leaned on the wall.

I spent several minutes fighting a tightening lump in my throat and blinking away water from my eyes. It didn't so much as hurt as it all felt so horribly wrong. Dishes every morning or when ever there was a stack were to be done. Garbage out before it got full so there was always room. Table cleaned when you got up. And food always put away before you left the room. They were rules her rules but our family rules too.

I took several deep breaths and cleared up my thoughts or tried to. I could fix this, just because mom was gone didn't mean we would start living like animals. I could hear her words echo in my head as I thought them. I went back inside closing the outside door so I could open the pantry door and grab a new garbage bag. I noticed a new sponge in a wrapper and decided to take that as well.

After I relined the can I pushed it back to the wall where it was supposed to be quickly gathering up the napkins and garbage off the table and dropping them in the can. In two trips I had all the dishes and silverware over to the sink except the platters. The near empty tub of potato salad I added to the fridge along with two apples that were left. It wasn't until I moved the platters that had held the sandwiches to the counter on top of the cutting board and was using the sponge to clean the table off that my first thought of food came. My stomach growled and I decided pizza first then finish cleaning. A glance at the range showed no sign and looking out into the dining room only showed three more plates stacked at the edge of the table.

I could see several backs as I stepped out further and looked into the living room evidently listening to aunt Lisa. "Well we can talk about such things later." I heard my dads voice come though the group.

"Of course, of course. I'm sure your willing to help out family." She replied. "And this pizza is cold and dry." I pushed whom ever it was out of the way to see her drop a mostly eaten slice on to a plate. She was sitting on one of the dining room table chairs in front of the living room window. "Oh Ben. Dear please go and bring me some milk or juice my throat is awfully dry."

I had pressed my muzzle shut holding in any words as I slowly looking around at family and visitors. A bunch of slobs and thieves eating everything with out a care for another fur. I thought as I walked my way through the room after all who had cooked the pizza. "Ben?" my father had asked. I had a slight pause shaking my head before allowing my feet to move again almost making it to the hall.

"Manners Ben you have guests." Lisa chimed in a rather sweet voice. It had been months maybe longer since I had truly kept my anger in check. Keeping my muzzle pressed tight and my legs moving was the only thing that stopped me from turning to yell at all of them. MANNERS? Guest should have manners. The house resounded from the slam of my room door. A talent that I had perfected nearly a year ago, just enough force to not bug my own ears if I kept them forward.