Chapter 7: In Jesus Christ, Amen
Suggested Track: Imaginary - Evanescence
It was eleven o'clock in the morning on a Sunday.
Abbey Bominable rubbed her eyes, stretching as the warm sunlight washed over her through the apartment window. As she brushed some wisps of hair from her face, she noticed Heath whispering something very quietly. Brow furrowing, she sat up, seeing that Heath had brought their baby boy into bed with them. Heath was trying to get Icer to smile, something the little baby had recently started doing. However, Icer just stared at his father curiously and tried to stick his fingers into his mouth. Abbey smiled, stroking Icer's head lovingly.
"Why is he not in own bed?"
Heath gave Abbey a kiss on the cheek, and then he gave one to Icer. "I heard him start to cry, and I didn't want that to wake you up."
Abbey chuckled, picking up the little boy and holding him close. Icer rested his head on his mother's chest and cooed contently, curling his tiny, clawed hand into a fist. Heath wrapped Abbey in his arms, gazing down at his son as well. "He's such a cutie," Heath murmured, letting Icer grab his finger. "I hope he doesn't freeze me, my God."
Just then, Heath's phone on the end table beside him buzzed. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone, seeing it was Clawd. A little surprised, he answered.
"Uh, hey."
"Heath?"
"Yeah?"
"Oh, hi there. I'm at my church right now, and we're having a luncheon today at eleven thirty. I wanted to know if you'd like to come."
Heath chewed on his lip in thought. "Okay…a luncheon…that's like a lunch party, right?"
"Yep," Clawd's voice got a little softer all of the sudden. "Abbey can come if she wants, and you can bring Icer, too."
Heath considered this thought before giving Clawd his answer. "I'll ask her and text you her answer, all right?"
"Sounds good," Clawd agreed. "See you there."
"See ya," Heath hung up, resting the phone down next to him and nuzzling his face into Abbey's hair. "Do you wanna go out to lunch in thirty minutes?"
Abbey was a little surprised. "So soon? We just wake up!"
Heath shrugged. "Yeah, but it might be fun…I guess. Clawd's gonna be there. And I'm hungry, so that's another reason why we should go," He then began to tickle Icer's ribs very gently. "What about you, buddy? You wanna go, too?"
Icer bounced up and down excitedly, sticking his tongue out and smiling a little. Heath clapped his hands together at the sight of this. "There we go! You smiled!" he slid out of bed and made his way towards the bathroom. "If you wanna go, get ready, Abbey!"
Abbey sat on the bed, still a little confused. But, nevertheless, she shrugged and went to give Icer his bottle before she prepared to leave.
By the time the luncheon started, the church service was already over. Clawd made sure to invite Heath after the service because he knew that someone like Heath couldn't sit through something that long. Heath wasn't the only Clawd had invited. Duece was arriving, too, but he'd brought someone with him.
"Did he have to bring her?" Clawnor whined to Clawd when Cleo DeNile entered the room. Clawd gave his little brother a look.
"Be nice," he said sharply before going to greet Duece.
Cleo looked around the church when she walked in, scrunching up her nose. "This place could use a cleaning job. I mean, look at the- oh, no!" she jumped, looking in disgust at the gum she had stepped in. "Oh, my Ra! Where am I!?"
Duece helped his girlfriend sit down on the church steps and clean the bottom of her shoe with a disinfectant wipe from his wallet. Clawd took this moment to approach.
"Hey, glad you could make it!" Clawd smiled, shaking Duece's hand.
"Yeah, totally! I'm glad I could come!" Duece broke the handshake and peeled the rest of the gum off Cleo's shoe. "Is that better, babe?"
Cleo sighed. "I suppose. Hopefully I don't step in anything else." She stood up, straightening out her skirt. "Now, where is this luncheon I've heard so much about?"
"Come with me," Clawd said, beckoning the two. "I'll show you around."
Heath had arrived awhile earlier, and he accompanied Clawd around the church with the others. Clawd led the group down a long hallway, where detailed paintings of saints lined the walls. Heath grimaced at a picture of Saint Bartholomew being skinned alive.
"Geez, this place is creepy. And not in a good way." He turned to Clawd, quirking an eyebrow. "How do you come here every Sunday?"
Clawd rolled his eyes. "Because I have to. That's why."
They entered a rather large patio decked with three plush white couches. Beyond the patio's steps and on the church backyard, tables and chairs were being set up, and three older she-wolves were lining up food on the table. The wind blew not too hard, but hard enough to send the white curtains in the patio blowing like thin ribbons in the air. The sound of laughter was present, and a chubby, albino werewolf girl sat up from the couch, giggling and smoothing her ivory hair down. Her cheerful eyes set on Clawd, and she stood up to greet him.
"Hi, Clawd!" She grinned, hugging him. "It's great to see you!"
Clawd smiled, pulling away. "It's great to see you, too," he then gestured to his companions. "I hope you and your dad don't mind, but I brought some of my friends. Guys, this is my pastor's daughter, Felicity."
Felicity shook Cleo's hand first. "Nice to meet you! Oh," she began admiring Cleo's heels. "Those are so pretty! Where did you get them?"
Cleo flipped her hair a bit, putting her hands on her hips and showing off with a smile. "I've had them a while. They were a gift from…oh, I can't remember."
Felicity nodded. "I see!" she suddenly threw her dense arms around Cleo in a tight hug. "You're gonna be sooo happy here!"
Cleo gasped for air as the thick-bodied wolf released her. As Felicity scampered away to the tables, Duece put a hand on Cleo's shoulder. "You okay?"
Catching her breath, Cleo panted out, "That ghoul almost broke my spine!"
At this moment, Abbey caught up with the group and made her presence known by tugging on Heath's ear. "There you are! Been looking for you, naughty boy!"
Heath tried to wrestle from her grip. "Yow! Abbey, let go-hey! Shoulda kept up, honey!"
Icer, whom Abbey was balancing with her free hand, began to whimper, and Abbey released Heath to comfort their son. "Poor mal'chik," she cooed, rubbing Icer's back. "Eto normal'no, papa idiot."
"Abbey, you know I don't understand you when you talk like that." Heath sighed, running his fingers through Abbey's hair.
Abbey simply smirked. "Good."
Clawd picked a table for the group to sit at, and soon Howleen joined them.
"Hey, Howleen," Abbey greeted, patting Howleen's shoulder. "How are doing?"
Howleen looked up, her eyes sad and tired. "I could be better."
Abbey looked at her sadly. "Do not be so sad. Baby can be happy thing, too." She suddenly handed Icer over to Howleen, letting her hold and look at him. Howleen did manage to crack a smile as Icer grabbed the necklace she was wearing and gnawed on it with his gums.
"He's so cute," Howleen murmured, watching Icer play. "Can he…talk yet?"
Heath shook his head. "Nope. He smiles, but he doesn't talk."
Just then, Clawd became aware of somebody standing behind him. He turned around in his chair, seeing Romulus and Brocko. "Oh, hi, you two! Do you wanna sit with us?"
Romulus nodded. "Of course," he and Brocko both pulled up chairs and sat down. "How are you all enjoying this so far?"
Heath shrugged. "Kinda boring, but that's okay."
Duece raised an eyebrow at Brocko. "I didn't know you went to this church, Brocko."
"I don't," Brocko stated, bringing up his drink to sip it. "Romulus invited me."
Once again, Felicity appeared and constricted Brocko in her chubby arms, making him spill some of his drink. "I'm so glad you're here!" Felicity squealed. It was no secret among the wolves that Felicity really, really liked Brocko. However, Brocko was not amused.
"Damn it!" he shrieked in annoyance, grabbing some napkins and soaking up his spilled beverage. Felicity grabbed some napkins as well and began to help him mop up the mess.
"No, no, I'll do it!" she stated, pressing her shoulder uncomfortably close to his. Suddenly, the two stopped to a screeching halt at the sound of a deep, angered voice.
"FELICITY!"
Felicity stopped, turning around and looking up into the hollow eyes of her father, Flanagan. Felicity's ears flattened against her head. "Sorry, daddy," she said in what was almost a whisper. Flanagan's eyes narrowed.
"Felicity, I've had enough of your sick, sexual nonsense. Your behavior today has been shameful." Flanagan scolded. "Now, go sit somewhere else. And pull up your blouse, you little whore!"
Felicity bowed her head low in shame, pulling her neckline up. "Yes, Daddy." And with that, she shuffled away.
Brocko watched Felicity go, then he looked up at Flanagan in shock. "Jesus Christ! She didn't even do anything that bad!"
Flanagan suddenly pulled a ruler out of his pocket and smacked Brocko's knuckles with it. "Do not take the Lord's name in vain! It is a sin, and heaven hates a sinner," he then turned to Howleen. "Did you take those pills, dear?"
Howleen shook her head, handing Icer back off to his mother. "N-no, sir."
Flanagan pointed the ruler in her direction. "You must," he walked away, not taking his eyes off Howleen. "You must…"
When he was out of sight, Clawd exhaled loudly through his nose, glaring at his fork. "God, I hate him."
