October 19, 1962

It was a beautiful fall day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was Friday, and Chachi Arcola had just gotten out of school. The young man, who had just turned 18 on the 22nd of September, was the younger cousin of locally well-known cool cat Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli. Fonzie was ten years Chachi's senior. But regardless of the age gape, the two cousins were very close. Chachi was an only child and his father died when Chachi was only eight years old. Because of these two things, Fonzie and Chachi were especially close. In fact, if Chachi was being 100% truthful, he would say that Fonzie was his best friend, other than his girlfriend Joanie.

Ah, Joanie. What a summer it had been! After three months of ups and downs, September had finally come. They decided they were ready to officially be a couple. Joanie helped Chachi grow up a lot that summer. He realized the importance of commitment and knowing when you have a good thing… or in his case, a great girl.

But as much as he wanted to think about his wonderful girlfriend, this wasn't about Joanie. Chachi was experiencing so many emotions. Anger. Hurt. Surprise. Shock. Uncertainty. He needed to talk to his cousin.

Chachi walked through the front doors of the local favorite teen hangout. "Return To Sender" by Elvis Presley was playing on the jukebox in the corner. There weren't too many teens there yet. The crowd would be coming, however, later that afternoon and evening.

Chachi walked up to the counter. "Is Fonzie here, Johnny?" he asked his classmate, who worked after school and Saturdays at the restaurant.

"Yeah he is. I'll go get him."

Chachi nodded. "Thanks." He turned towards the tables and took a seat.

Fonzie soon came out.

"Oh Fonz, am I glad to see you! I need to talk to you." Chachi said. "Is Al here?"

"He's out on a couple errands. Why?" Fonzie asked as he sat down.

"Because this is about him."

"Do you want something to eat?" Fonzie asked.

"Sure, sounds great." Chachi said.

Fonzie called Johnny over. The cousins ordered.

Johnny brought the plates out soon.

Chachi groaned. "I said ONLY ketchup, not everything but ketchup! You'd think you could get a simple burger order right, Johnny!" But Johnny had already gone back into the kitchen.

"Chach, what's eating you?" Fonzie asked calmly.

"The terrible service, that's what's eating me!"

"I'll go get you another burger. But this isn't like you. What's wrong? You mentioned Al."

"Yeah, I'm sorry Fonz, it's a lot of things."

"Should we get it to go and eat at my place?"

"Sounds great. I walked. Can I hitch a ride on the bike with you?"

"I thought you'd never ask. I'll be right back."

Fonzie walked up to the counter. "Johnny, my cousin is very upset as you can see. He didn't get his burger the way he ordered it. He would like a burger with ONLY ketchup. And you'll get it on the double, if you know what's good for you. If you get my drift. Bring a couple to go boxes too, while you're at it, Johnny."

"Sure thing Fonz." Johnny ran back to the kitchen. Within minutes, he brought out the burger and two to-go boxes.

"Is it right this time?" Fonzie asked.

"Yes." Chachi managed to smile.

They put their burgers and fries in the boxes. Then they went outside, climbed on Fonzie's bike, and rode to the Cunningham house.

The Cunninghams were good friends of Fonzie and Chachi. They just so happened to be the parents of Chachi's girlfriend, Joanie. Joanie had an older brother Richie, who was in the army. Richie's wife, Lori Beth, lived with the Cunningham family in Richie's old room. Fonzie lived in the apartment above the garage. Fonzie had lived with the family for about six years.

Fonzie and Chachi entered the apartment.

"Home sweet home." Fonzie smiled. "It was a long day at the restaurant."

Chachi sank into a chair at the table.

Fonzie handed him his burger. "Eat and tell me about it, Little Cousin."

Fonzie went over to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of Coca-Cola. He opened them and sat at the table with his cousin.

"Has Al told you anything about the last week?"

"No."

"You know how Al was really bored?"

"Yeah, that was all he could talk about one afternoon." Fonzie chuckled.

"Fonz, I felt bad for him. I really did. Just jokingly, I told him he might consider taking Mom on a date. I didn't think he'd take me seriously. Do you know that he's taken her out three times this week?"

"Aunt Louisa and Al, well that's great." Fonzie smiled. He paused, studying Chachi's facial expression. "Isn't it?"

"No Fonzie, no it's not. I like Al and all, but it's just…"

"Just?"

"Just that it doesn't seem right." Chachi shook his head and took a bite of his burger.

"How do you mean?"

"Well Fonz, Mom hasn't had any serious relationship in the past ten years."

"So? She's not an old maid. She's a beautiful woman."

"She is. It's just, I feel bad about it."

"I'm listening." Fonzie tried to get Chachi to voice his emotions.

"It was ten years ago in June." Chachi said quietly.

Fonzie knew exactly what his cousin was referring to. His Uncle David, Chachi's father, died of a sudden heart attack. No one saw it coming. He was only 33 years old.

"I remember that day. I was the age you are now. Aunt Louisa called me in tears. I was so shocked. The first person I thought about was you."

Chachi nodded. "I guess I feel that Mom seeing another man is somehow…" Chachi paused, hating to even utter his next words. "Betraying Dad."

"Oh Chach."

"It's a terrible feeling. I feel guilty for even thinking it, but I can't help it."

"Chachi," Fonzie took his cousin's hands in his. "Your sweet mama deserves to be happy. She has you, and you make her happy every single day you're alive. But take a moment and think about how happy Joanie makes you. And how happy you make her. If you were to die, would you want her to be lonely and sad the rest of her life?"

Chachi shook his head. "I'd hate for her to feel like that."

"Exactly, you would never want that in a million years. If Uncle David was here, he wouldn't want your mom to be sad, would he?"

Chachi shook his head. "No Fonz, he wouldn't."

"Al's not trying to replace your dad. He just wants to make your mom happy. Does that make sense?"

Chachi forced a smile. "It does." He paused for a moment. "Dad loved Mom with everything he had, Fonz."

Fonzie grinned. "I remember. They were like newlyweds even after twelve years of marriage. It was such a joy to watch them."

Chachi smiled. "It really was. I miss those days." He whispered. "I miss him."

Fonzie nodded. "So do I. Uncle David helped me get through some really rough days after Dad left."

"I remember you coming over to our house and going into his den to talk with him for long periods of time." Chachi paused. "I was named after him."

"Charles David Arcola." Fonzie smiled. "In the last few weeks before you were born, I told Aunt Louisa if she had a boy, she should name him Charles Arthur Arcola. But she didn't listen to me."

Chachi laughed. "I got his smile."

"You sure did. That wonderful smile that lights up your face. I remember him smiling too. And that contagious laughter. And those beautiful brown eyes. You inherited all those things, Chachi. You should feel very blessed."

Chachi nodded grinned. "I am." Then he grew serious again. "I just really miss Dad sometimes. Even after all these years, it hurts to not have him here."

"Chachi, talk with Aunt Louisa about this, please. Let her know what you're feeling."

"I'll try. Right now, I'm gonna go downstairs and work on some homework with Joanie. Thanks for talking with me, Fonz."

"Cousin," Fonzie said. "I love you."

"I love you too Fonz." Chachi smiled.