Chapter 1: New Duds.

Howdy. Mah name's Douglas. But most people Ah know just call me Doug. Don't matter none to me. To everyone's own Ah always say. You probably want to know what makes me so important, why you should sit here, and listen to me. Well, Ah would feel better if ya knew... It's not because Ah'm important, as much as mah story needs to be heard. It's kind of repetitive and a little grim, but it's full of friendship, and yes, romance. Not mah romance, no, Ah didn't really fall for anyone on that team. 'What team?' You may ask? Heh, Just the goofiest bunch a nutcases ever, put together in the solitude of an almost very confined space... But Ah love ever'one of 'em. And Ah wouldn't mind taking a bullet for 'em. A thousand times, over, and over, and over again...

A bit of a shorter man walked from his small, two bedroom house, and stretched. The man was wearing a buttoned up denim shirt and belted/buckled blue jeans. He walked to the mailbox, removing the papers held inside and a quickly glanced through them. None really caught his attention, but he came across an envelope near the bottom of the stack. He quirked an eyebrow, before walking back into his house, still looking at the enclosed object. He kicked any excess dirt from his steel toe, brown leather work boots, and closed the door behind him. He sat down on his comfy chair, in his highly decorated, and bright living room. Each wall contained several different signs, lined with neon of different colors. Bright blues and yellows and reds filled the room, lighting it up enough that the man didn't have to even turn on the house lights. The man let out a heavy sigh from his rough lips, scratching his grizzly 5 'o clock. He opened the envelope slowly, and slipped his hand in to lightly grab the papers inside. He pulled them out, even smiled then he reached do them, and read the first words he saw with his dark blue eyes, which read: MANN CO. The man sighed, knowing exactly what the paper was about. He pulled it all the way out, placing the yellow holder onto the table next to him. He straightened his very short, dark brown hair as he continued to read the paper further. The man's eyes widened the further he read, mouth going agape, then widening into a smile.

MANN CO.
REGISTRATION
We at Mann Co. Registration Facility are proud to inform you that we had read over your entrance resumé, and agreed to sign you up under Mann Co. as a primary Engineer. Thank you for your help in making Mann more Mannly!
-Mann Co. Facility

The papers below it were just the sent in forms the man had. The name read: Douglas Denton. Doug suddenly jumped up and cheered, extending his arms. He ran up got the small television, and turned on the radio next to it. It suddenly started blaring Garth Brooks: Ain't Going Down 'till the Sun Comes Up. Doug danced to the song for a moment before running back to the chair and grabbing the picture of another man on the table next to it.

"Ya see that, Pa? Ah told ya Ah would find mahself a job! Weeeeeooooohhaaeheha!" He laughed out, returning to dancing to the song for another brief moment. He sat back down, song sill blaring before he grabbed the paper and looked at it again. A smile plastered and stuck on his face as he stood back up and grabbed the phone. He went to dial numbers, but a sudden knock was heard on his door. He looked at the door, then at his radio.

"Shoot, mah bad." He hushed to himself before rushing to the radio and turning it off. He went back to the door opened it. The resident troubled teen, Johnathon Hulbert, was at the door, chewing bubble gum as usual with a small scowl on his face. Doug couldn't help but continue smiling, as he greeted the boy.

"Howdy, Johnathon. How are ya on this fine day?" He asked happily. The boy kept his scowl, blowing a bubble with his gun before continuing.

"Uh, yea. Whateva. Listen, that noise you call music? Mind turnin' it down- no, off?" He asked rudely, his lighter voice seeming rougher than the older man's.

"Oh, yea, sorry. Just got that job from Mann, you here about that?" He asked, a grin sill visible. The boy quirked an eyebrow, but kept his annoyed expression.

"No, I usually don't talk ta weird ol' guys. 'Specially, 'bout their weirder lives." Doug finally lost his smile.

"Uh... Yea, yer... Right..." Doug replied, a bit half-heartedly. He rubbed the back of his head lightly. Johnathon sighed, before spitting his gum on the ground and lightening his frown.

"Alright, look. I'm sorry Mr. Denton, but Ma doesn't really like me talkin' ta strangers. Not that I suppose you are one, livin' next ta us for like.. My whole life." He said drumily. Doug shrugged his shoulders.

"Can't say Ah blame yer Ma, she just cares 'bout ya. Good mother if'n ya ask me." Doug responded, a bit happier.

"Right. Well, I gotta get back next door before my Ma barks at me. See ya 'round Mr. D." John replied before rushing back off across the yard to his house. Doug chuckled a bit before walking back inside his own home, and closing the door behind him. He looked over at where the registration form lied, and reformed his smile. He walked over to the kitchen to grab a snack, but his phone suddenly rang. He quirked an eyebrow lightly, before walking back to it and picking it up off the receiver. He held it to his ear.

"Uh, hello?" As soon as he finished his sentence, a deeper, rougher voice came through the phone.

"Why aren't you here yet?" Asked the voice. Doug quirked his brow again, and paused for a moment.

"Where?" Doug quickly responded.

"At the facility." The voice stopped and the phone line cut off with a loud BZZZZZZZ. Doug looked puzzled at the object for what seemed like a century before walking up to his room and putting on his 'gear.' He came back down wearing dark blue overalls, over a lighter blue shirt. He wore the same work boots from before; and his fathers''s trusty hardhat. He sighed deeply and looked at his fathers picture one last time, before removing it from the frame and stuffing it in his pocket. He grabbed his wrench off of the work table in his garage, and hopped into the ol' pick up. He had to rev the engine a few times before the old thing booted up, and he smile while adjusting the mirror.

Little to Doug's knowledge, a certain trouble-making teen was watching him leave, very curiously.

"Johnathon! Come back in here!" John flinched and grimaced at heating his ma from the kitchen. He knew what she was gonna do when he went in there, she was gonna whine and yell about how lazily he's done his chores, then she's gonna get absolutely hammered and sleep until 3:00 PM the next day. Johnathon growled a bit, before looking to Doug's truck. He sat in thought for a moment, before hearing his mother's call again. And for the last time, as he suddenly sprinted off and hopped into the bed of Doug's truck, said driver completely clueless as the teen hid under random cloth and tools. John was sure this was a fool proof plan, but,.. Then "Ain't Goin' Down Till the Sun Comes Up" started playing. He groaned an shook his head before inevitably chuckling.

"Mr. D, you really make me wonder 'bout back door livin', hehe." He added quietly, just before the truck turned a bit sharply causing Johnathon to wreck his head against the side of the bed. He rubbed it with a bit of a growl, as the truck straightened out on the highway, the destination completely unknown to Johnathon, and a bit even to Douglas

Hey guys. Well, I'm giving this a try and I'm sorry to my RPers on the wait, but I try. Any who, review with necessary and gentle criticism, thank ya!