This story is set after the graduation but before Fonzie's baptism.

The characters Jessica Winkler, John Campbell, Patricia Margols, Cheryl Roddy, Marsha Johns and Bethany Pogo belong to me.

I do not own this show or the characters.

7:00am—

Joanie and Richie were in their rooms getting dressed, while Marion cooked breakfast and Howard came down the stairs to eat.

"Morning, Marion."

"Morning, Howard," she smiled at him as he sat down. She continued as she put a bowl on the table. "Here you go, dear."

"Cereal?"

"Yes. You've had eggs, bacon, and sausage the last few days and you need to eat healthier."

"Morning, Mom, Dad." Richie and Joanie walked in and sat at the sides of the table.

"Morning, Richie. Here you go," she said as she put a plate of pancakes on the table in front of him.

"Wait a minute, he gets pancakes and I get cold cereal? Marion!"

"HA!"

"Go to your room!" Howard said sarcastically as Richie laughed a bit.

"Mom, come on!" Joanie said as Marion gave her a bowl of cereal for breakfast then continued, "I'm not a little kid anymore and I'm going to Jefferson this year."

"Hey, I'm older than you, not going to Jefferson, and I got cereal. Does that make you feel better?" Howard asked her pointedly.

"No."

Richie laughed as Marion sat down and ate her cereal.

"Now, I am also having a bowl of cereal, does this make you and your father feel better?" She looked at Joanie and Howard who looked annoyed.

"NO!" they said at the same time.

After they finished their breakfast, Howard went to work, while Joanie left for school, Richie went to Potsie's, and Marion cleaned up the dishes.

At Potsie's house—

"Hey, Richie."

"Hey, Potsie," Richie said as he walked in and went to the living room.

"Did your parents get you anything as a gift?" Potsie asked.

"Yeah, a watch. How about yours?"

"Not yet, they said they will give it to me next year," Potsie said with a smile. Even though Richie felt annoyed, he smiled as well.

"Let's go to Arnold's, Ralph might be there."

"Okay."

They arrived at Arnold's while some patrons danced. Fonzie and Ralph were opposite of each other at the booth. Potsie sat next to Ralph and Richie sat next to Fonzie.

"What's going on?" Richie asked.

"My dad wants me to be an optometrist like him and I can't tell him I don't want to be one. He told me that being a comedian isn't really the right way to go."

"Sorry Ralph," Richie and Potsie said.

"What does your father want you to do with your life, Potsie?" Richie asked.

"Go away."

"What?" Fonzie asked.

"No, I mean my parents want me just to go away."

"Your parents have always wanted you to do that," Ralph said.

"So. At least your dad likes to joke with you," Potsie said.

"Do you think I like it?" Ralph asked annoyed.

"How did your father feel when you told him you didn't want to take over the hardware store when you will have to?" Potsie asked.

"I think it was when my dad's parents came to visit a few years back and my grandfather suggested that I should take over my dad's place at the hardware store. Then he talked about how when my dad was a kid that he expected my dad to become a police officer," Richie said.

"But your dad didn't become a police officer," Ralph said.

"No, I think it's when you talk about something you want to do while you are in school, you are suggesting you want to do something else and I never really did tell my dad I didn't want to run the hardware store. But I think he knew," Richie said.

"At least your dad is good about it," Ralph said as Al walked up.

"Richie, someone from your dad's store called and wants you to call him back," Al the owner of Arnold's said.

"Alright Al," Richie said as he got the piece of paper while Al walked to another table.

"What's that all about?" Ralph asked as Richie got up and made the call.

After a few minutes Richie walked back to the table.

"What's up, Rich?" Potsie asked.

"My dad's co worker wanted me to go to Brady's hardware to pick up a drill since they ran out of them."

"A lot of drilling these days," Ralph said with a laugh.

"Not funny, Malph," Fonzie said pointedly.

"I thought it was funny," Ralph scoffed and Richie left to run the errand.

"Well, a perfect lady just walked in and I'm gonna check her out," Fonzie said as he walked up to the woman at the jukebox.

Ralph stayed to eat then left to see some other friends. Potsie looked over some brochures for other colleges.

At Cunningham Hardware—

"Here you go, Dad."

"Thanks Richard."

"Do you want me to stay and help out?" Richie asked.

"No, that's okay. Enjoy your time as you are no longer in school."

"Okay, Dad." Richie left for Arnold's then once he saw his friends had left, he went home for lunch.

A few hours later at Arnold's—

Joanie was at the booth chatting with her friends, Marsha Johns, Bethany Pogo, and Jenny Piccalo.

"So, now you are alone at Jefferson," Jenny said.

"What?" Joanie asked confused.

"Well, sure. Your brother has since graduated and you don't have to worry about him making you look bad," Bethany said.

"Yeah and you don't have to worry about embarrassing him either," Jenny said.

"I never embarrassed him and he didn't do that to me either," Joanie said.

"Oh, yeah," Jenny said then continued," Well, I heard that Jessica Winkler's gotta party but I don't know when it will be other than she usually has great parties."

"Well, tell us when you find out," Marsha and Bethany said as Joanie smiled.

"You bet," Jenny said.

At the Cunningham home at 6:00pm—

Joanie and Richie were at the table eating when Marion walked in the living room.

"Mom, why don't you eat?" Joanie said as she noticed Marion was nervous.

"No, I'm going to wait till your father gets home."

"I'm sure Dad will be fine, probably just got stuck with some customers," Richie said.

"That's okay. I'll wait for him," Marion said as she sat in the chair.