Legends Live On ~ by Patrick Councilor

There was a knock at the door of the apartment above the Cunningham's garage. Fonzie stood up and turned to put Shi's picture back up on the wall. He walked over and opened the door to find Shi standing there. She rushed into his arms.

He could feel her shivering. "Come on over here," he told her.

They sat at the table.

"Hey baby, don't worry. That was just round one. Okay, it didn't go so good. Round two is tomorrow night and I'm still standing."

Her eyes started to tear. "It's my father. He and my mother are leaving the day after tomorrow."

"Okay - so I've got to get a KO in the second round." He hugged her. "Piece of cake."

"My father wants me to leave with them."

Fonzie pulled away from her and stood up to take a few steps into his kitchen. He then turned back to her. "If it does come down to that, what will you do?"

"I… I will stay with you."

"Shi, truly understand I will do everything in my power to turn your father around. But let's face facts. I love you. I love you so much it hurts. But I don't want to look across the table from you in thirty years from now and wonder where your smile has gone."

"My father cannot run my life."

"Shi, I can see the pain in your eyes."

"Fonzie, I love you." She stood as he went over and hugged her.

"I still have a chance. His approval is now the most important thing in my life. We're going to do this."

She kissed him. "Fonzie, I'm scared. My father is very stubborn. If it comes down to a shouting match, it will just make him more angry. I've been there before and it's not a nice place to be."

He kissed her forehead. "I'll think of something. I'd better get you back to the house before your parents get even more upset at me."

"My parents wouldn't stay in your house. They are staying at Uncle Arnold's."

They wouldn't even stay at Fonzie's house. "I've got my work cut out for me, don't I?"

Fonzie woke up with the morning sun coming through the kitchen window and Shi who had fallen asleep with her head on his chest. They had been cuddling on the couch trying to come up with some type of approach to the father situation. That was the

last thing they remembered before they drifted off to sleep right there on the couch.

He gave her a little nudge. "Shi, let's get you back to the house. If your father finds out you've spend the night, I won't have a chance to win him over at tonight's dinner."

Shi sat up and pulled her hair away from her face. "Oh my gosh, what time is it?"

"Time for me to get you the heck out of here," he replied as he jumped to his feet and gabbed his boots that were under the coffee table.

Fonzie, Chachi, Potsie and Ralph stood in the tuxedo shop. Fonzie was in the middle of being measured for his tux.

"So did you get her back to your house without her folks finding out?"

"Yeah, no problem. But everything is riding on this dinner tonight." He stopped down after they finished his measurements.

Ralph stepped up to be measured. "I read somewhere that the exchanging of gifts is a really big thing in Japan."

"Yeah, that's right", Chachi confirmed.

"Great," Fonz said. "But what do I get him?"

"How about slippers?" Potsie suggested.

Fonzie turned to him with clenched teeth. "The man is crippled Potsie. What would he do with slippers?"

"Wait a minute, Fonzie," Chachi said. "That's not a bad idea. He may be crippled, but he still wears shoes. House slippers are also very popular in Japan, aren't they?"

Ralph nodded. "That's right."

Fonzie turned to Potsie. "Pots, I apologize. I've underestimated you."

"Thanks Fonz."

"Alright, house slippers it is. I've got to call Shi to get his shoe size."

Marion had set the table for six. "Where is Danny?"

"I don't know," Howard replied. "I saw him earlier this morning."

"Now is Shishuichiu coming?"

"No, Fonzie said this is something he has to do himself."

"What about Arnold? Isn't he going to translate?"

"Shi told Fonzie that her mother will translate."

"Chachi and Joanie have gone out for dinner with Howie. Well, we'll just leave this extra plate out just incase Danny shows up. Where is Fonzie? He should be here by now. Howard, run up there and get Fonzie. The Takahasi's will be here any minute."

"Marion, I've climbed those stairs twice in the last half hour. Now, he'll be here."

There was the door bell. It startled Mr. and Mrs. C.

Howard answered the door. There stood Arnold with his brother and sister-in-law. "We here," Arnold announced.

"Arnold, will you be joining us tonight?" Marion asked.

"No, but thanks Mrs. C. No - Arnold has a hot date with Momo. I'm taking the Mrs. out to dinner. I don't know why she won't let me cook for her." He laughed, "Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."

Howard invited them in. Arnold excused himself, but Howard stopped him at the door and whispered to him. "Arnold, any advise on getting on your brother's good side?"

"Oh, Mr. C. My bother not have a good side. Right side - left side - topside - bottom side - sunny side up - he would punch out Santa Clause if he came to his house."

"Well, thanks anyway, Arnold."

"Oh, dare is one ting."

Howard leaned in. "What's that?"

"Don't take food away from him when he's eating. He bites. Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." He left and closed the door behind him.

"I'm so sorry," Marion said to their guests. "I didn't catch your names the other day."

Mr. Takahashi made a farting noise with his mouth.

Marion replied, "Oh, isn't that nice?"

Mrs. Takahashi said, "My husband's first name - Kazuhiko and my first - Takako."

"Pleased to see you both again. I'm Marion and my husband's name is Howard."

She bowed to Marion. Marion bowed back. She bowed to Howard. Howard bowed back. Howard bowed again. She bowed. Howard bowed. "Help me Marion," he said out of the corner of his mouth.

Marion said, "Let me check on dinner." She went into the kitchen.

Howard straightened. "So Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi, do you prefer to be called by your first names?"

She spoke to her husband in Japanese. He spoke back. She told Howard, "You can call me Takako. My husband don't care. He no speak Engrish."

"I see. Well, Marion has prepared a wonderful American meal." He called out, "What's for dinner, Marion?"

"We're having Chinese," she called back.

"I see. Well, Fonzie will be down shortly, He really is an outstanding gentleman. He's great with his son. Did you know that he is probably the only single person who was allowed to adopt here in Milwaukee?"

Takako spoke to her husband and he spoke back. "My husband want to know where is Fonzlee son."

"You know, I think he had some errands to run."

She told her husband.

He replied with another farting noise with his mouth.

"Oh, that IS nice," Howard responded. "Fonzlee… a… Fonzie is also a hard worker. He is currently holding down three jobs."

She translated.

The man made no reply.

Fonzie came through the front door with a gift. "I am so sorry I'm late. He removed his shoes at eh door and left them there.

Howard watched him carefully.

"Old Japanese custom," Fonzie offered him an explanation. He turned and bowed deeply to Mr. Takahashi. "Mr. Takahashi, it is my great honor to offer you this gift." Fonzie gave it to him.

Mrs. Takahashi translated.

He opened the box. They were leather house slippers.

"They are soft leather," Fonzie said. "I've spent the last six hours working the leather to soften it up and then I hand-stitched them myself."

Mr. Takahashi slowly stroked the slippers with his hand. He knew fine craftsman work when he saw it.

Marion came in with the main dish. "Foods on."

Everyone took a seat at the table. Mr. Takahashi wheeled up to the table. He then said something.

Mrs. Takahashi said, "My husband say 'Is dat only jacket?'"

"My only jacket?" Fonzie said. He was again in his sports jacket and tie. "No. This is my best jacket which I purposely wore in your honor."

She translated. He replied.

"What did he say?" Fonzie asked.

"He say da food smell funny."

"Well…" Howard tried to soften the blow. "Wait 'til you taste it. He'll love it. Marion's a great cook."

"Mr. Takahashi," Fonzie went right in for the kill. "About Shishuichiu, I love your daughter more than anyone I've loved before. And let me tell you that she thinks so highly of you. She loves me and we make each other very happy. But we need your blessing or we will never be truly happy. I just want you to know, I will never stop loving your daughter."

She translated, but he made no reply. He just started eating like a horse that was starving for two days.

"Mr. Takahashi, I will do anything for your blessing."

Again no reply.

"Do you want me to beg?"

Again no reply.

"I will beg. I have never begged anyone before in my life, but if that's what it takes… I love Shishuichiu too much not to beg."

Mr. Takahashi turned and spit his food on the floor. He took a drink of water and spit that on the floor as well.

Fonzie jumped to his feet in anger. "Listen old man, if you are testing my patience, you have just crossed the line. You can take your best shot at me - I can take it. And don't you EVER think about spitting on ANYONE EVER AGAIN. AND NO ONE

DISRESPECTS MY FAMILY IN THEIR OWN HOME AND GETS AWAY WITH IT WHILE I'M ALIVE!" He pointed to the door. "GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE!"

Mr. Takahashi threw the house slippers across the room then spun his wheel chair toward the door. Mrs. Takahashi hurried to open the door for him. He stopped his wheel chair, spun around, said something, and then turned and went out the door.

"My husband say he will not walk…" She realized what she was saying and corrected herself. "…wheel Shishuichiu down the isle for wedding." She then bowed to Marion and Howard. "Tank you for dinner." She turned and hurried out the door.

Marion hurried over to the door. She didn't know what to say. "Drive safely!" She closed the door. "Oh Arthur, I am so sorry."

Fonzie grabbed the edge of the table to brace himself. His anger was causing his whole body to shake.

Marion hurried over to hug and comfort him.

"My life just went out that door."

"We'll think of something, Fonzie," Howard said. "The first thing you have to do is calm down - think rationally."

Marion threw her hands up. "Oh look at this carpet. Let me clean this up."

"No Mrs. C. I'll do it," Fonz said through clenched teeth. "If there are any stains that need aggressively scrubbing out, that's just what I need right now."

Fonzie had been scrubbing the rug for a good ten minutes when there was a knock at the door. Howard answered it as Fonzie stood up.

Officer McMillan stepped through the doorway. "Fonzarelli, I was told I could find you here."

"Officer McMillan," Fonzie said. "This is not a good time, to say the least. Could you come back later?"

"It's about your son."

"Okay McMillan." Fonzie put his scrub brush down. "What did he do this time?"

McMillan tried to clear the frog in his throat. His voice dropped, "Fonzie, there's been an accident."

Fonzie waited in silence. It was as if the last time he exhaled, his lungs and heart collapsed.

"As far as we know, there were no other vehicles involved. Your motorcycle was found along Dead Man's Ridge at Inspiration Point. The bike is a total loss. We can't find Danny. When was the last time you saw Danny?"

Fonzie couldn't move - couldn't respond.

"Mr. Fonzarelli, do you understand what I am telling you? Your son is missing."

Fonzie tried to compose himself, but he couldn't. He gestured toward the sky. "DON'T YOU DO THIS TO ME!" He aggressively ran out the door. McMillan, Howard, and Marion followed.