It had been over three years since Randall's adventure in Alaska with his friend, Jesse. They were still living down in the Louisiana bayou.
Rowan, one of the women from the Haida tribe up in Alaska had moved down to be with Jesse and they had gotten married a little over a year ago. Rowan was now expecting their first child.
Jesse's family was happy that he was starting a family of his own.
Since they got married, Jesse, Rowan, and Randall had since moved away from that area so they wouldn't have to put up with their cruel neighbors. They still chose to live in the country. As a vet, Jesse wanted to have animals and wanted his child to grow up with animals. Rowan was fine with that too.
They currently had a dog that lived outside to just be like a guard dog. They had some barn cats, a few horses, and some chickens to give them fresh eggs.
Even though Randall had been living with the two humans all this time, he sometimes felt like a third wheel. Sometimes he felt like all responsibility for the animals was placed on him. And he didn't have anyone to hang out with when Jesse and Rowan were out to dinner together, but would bring him home something.
But Jesse and Rowan would do separate activities with him to let him know that his presence was appreciated. And with a new baby on the way, he could even be a babysitter for him or her. Though that did make him a bit uneasy.
In all the three years in knowing him, aside from the Haida tribe knowing about Randall, the only other person who knew about him was Jesse's younger brother, Travis. Their parents never knew about him. But they did know about all the other animals as their pets.
Every year, Jesse's family would visit and that's when Randall felt he had someone else. He and Travis would go and play outside and Randall stayed in his room. Travis felt like he needed a friend. So did Randall. But he never revealed himself to the parents, as they probably wouldn't understand.
Then one day, a telegram came in the mail for Jesse. It was from social services. Why would he be getting something like this?
Jesse opened it up and it wasn't good news. Both of his parents had been killed in a car crash and Travis had been home with a babysitter that night. Jesse was now going to be the new legal guardian for his little brother.
He told Rowan and Randall. This was upsetting news, but at the same time, good news. Randall would have someone to hang out with when Travis came to live with them. And he could even be like a big brother for the new baby when it came.
Jesse had to head to Alaska to get his little brother ready to come down to Louisiana. Randall would stay and help out Rowan with the animals and get things ready for Travis.
Rowan told Randall that even though he would have him to hang out with, she just said to take precautions that Travis might be upset too, as a lot of young kids would be upset when they have to leave everything they know behind and move somewhere else and after the death of their parents.
"I know what losing a parent is like. I lost my mother and only had my sister, Amanda, and her son, Rex left of my family in the monster world." Randall said to her. "I don't know if they would ever let me see them again if I went back. Amanda didn't want me to see them anymore before I left there for good."
"Because of how you were before? You aren't like that anymore, Randall. You've changed. You have been a big help to us and a great friend since you've been living with us. You can be like an uncle to our little one coming too." Rowan said.
"Thanks."
"Also remember that even though you and Travis are friends, when you are babysitting him, you can't be afraid to say no to him when something might be wrong. But he should know more now since he is nine now." Rowan said.
That would be true. But even nine year old boys could get into trouble.
…..
Jesse and Travis came home a few days later with a lot of luggage. Travis gave both Rowan and Randall hugs, but didn't seem like the most happy camper. It was obvious he was grieving for his parents. He wished it hadn't happened. He had left behind everything he had ever known, despite having visited his brother down here before, but now, he wouldn't be going back to Alaska.
Randall helped carry the luggage to the room where he would be staying in. Jesse had said they might be getting a bunk bed for him and Travis, as they were going to turn the other room into a nursery for the new baby. Rowan was only three months along, so it was still too early to know if it was boy or girl.
All of Travis' stuff was placed on the floor. The boy went and sat on the bed to test it out. Randall finished putting some bags down and just watched him. He was still in shock of this happening too. Then he noticed Travis started to cry. Randall went over to him.
The lizard monster sat down beside him and Travis leaned into him, hugging him. He could feel the tears on his skin. He put his hands around his young friend.
"I know what you're going through. I lost my mother too, a long time ago." Randall said.
"It's just not fair! I want them back! I want my life back!" Travis sobbed.
Randall knew there wasn't much he could do but just give the boy a shoulder to cry on, to just get that pain out. When he was younger, he too could be very emotional. Right now, he was just trying to be a good friend. Things would get better in the long run, hopefully.
