Author's Note: Another chapter in Garth's Story, just for you.
Chapter Ten
Garth woke up late in the morning. He had been out so late with Christina that his parents had made it home before he did. Tony and Mary were a little worried that Garth was gone for so long, but when he had finally made it back to the den, he was so tired that they put off questions to the morning. Now that the sun had already risen and Garth was awake, Mary asked Garth about last night.
"Garth," she started, "why were you out so late last night?"
Still half asleep, Garth asked, "What? When?" He paused and then let out a large yawn.
"Last night," Mary continued, "where were you?"
"Oh, yeah, about that…"
Just then Tony entered the den dragging a caribou behind him. "It's a little late, but here's breakfast," he announced.
"Well Garth just woke up so it's not too late. Thanks dear," Mary said.
"Sure thing," Tony replied. "So, um, Garth… What kept you out so long last night?"
"I was asking him the same thing, but then you came in," Mary informed.
"Mom, Dad, calm down," Garth began. "Okay, last night was really big and exciting for me, so let me tell you."
"Go ahead! We're all ears!" Tony directed.
"Okay, so last night…" Garth let out a happy sigh. Mary and Tony smiled as they started to guess what had really happened. "Last night, when you two were at the Full-Moonlight Howl, I went over to Christina's den. She was there and kind of looked sad so I invited her to take a walk with me. Eventually, we sat down on top of a walk and just enjoyed the moonlight and the howling behind us and… Oh, it was all just perfect. So…" Garth paused and smiled at his parents. "So, I told her how much I loved her and guess what she said!"
"What!" Tony and Mary both exclaimed.
"She said that she felt the same way about me!" Garth practically yelled. "So, I asked her to be my girlfriend and she said yes, of course! That was the best night ever!"
"Awww, Garth," Mary said, "I'm so happy for you!" Mary hugged her son tightly.
"That's awesome, Garth," Tony cheered. "I'm glad you were finally able to let it out and tell her the truth."
"Thanks guys," Garth said.
"Well," Tony continued the conversation, "I suppose, mister, that that was your very first date."
"That's what it sounds like to me," Mary said.
"Well," Garth said thinking aloud. "I… kinda guess it was. And I can't wait for the next one!"
"I'm sure it will come very soon. Why don't you ask her out to the next Moonlight Howl?" Tony advised. "It comes up again in fourteen days."
"Thirteen and a half now," Mary corrected. "Garth, you slept so late that the day is nearly half over!"
"It's okay, Mom," Garth stated. "I'm just… so overjoyed right now! Can I go straight over to Christina's right after I eat, well, lunch?"
"I guess so," Tony answered. "You'll need to spend a lot of time together now that you two are together."
"Thanks," Garth replied as he began to stuff himself with caribou.
Tony and Mary watched their son as he swallowed one last mouthful of caribou and ran out of the den in the direction of Christina's den. They both smiled and leaned in together as they watched him vanish as he headed down the small cliff.
"He'll be full grown and married soon," Mary said sobbing.
"Well, you can't hold him back forever. My parents always did that…" Tony comforted.
"They did?" Mary questioned.
"Shoot, yeah!" Tony interjected to Mary's surprise. "You have no idea how many times I asked to do stuff that we let Garth do all the time and they said 'No Tony, we don't want you always going out and away from us.' I moved out early…"
"Ha ha! Now I remember you telling me that when we were dating. But now you're way down here in Jasper and they're up in the Arctic Circle. They definitely were a little…" Mary made motions with her paw as she tried to think of the word. "…Out there."
"Oh yes, they were. They really were."
Author's Note: Is that a… Why yes it is! It's a review button! Don't forget to use it!
-Humphrey Loves Kate