Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Hi everyone, Deadly Fangs here...I know, it's, um...it's been a while since my last update...and if you couldn't pick up on the tone from my AN, I do suffer from depression...I can't control it and I'm not on any meds for it, mostly because I can't afford it...
That's one of the reasons I haven't updated in a while.
Some of you may recall me mentioning me having issues with my job, right?
I lost it last month.
New management cleared out most senior staff, including myself, and brought in "non-whites"...I say that because all the workers are now immigrants. I have nothing against them, some of my friends are immigrants, but...the new managment is an immigrant...and I'm pretty sure I was targeted because I was the only Canadian born there...
Another factor in my life is that my father is being charge with assult and mischief...
Against a sister...
Sadly, in the province I live in, there are hundreds of assult cases a day...so chances are, he's going to be slapped with a fine, maybe take some anger managment classes, and that's it...
So on top of my family falling apart...me being without a job for more than a month and unable to find another because I'm too experienced/not experienced enough/too white/too female...
Don't look at me like that. I told you all before in some of my other stories/reviews I'm female...
With all that piled on me, I'm stressing out...I'm running low on money and if I don't find work soon, I'll have to move back home...
With my parents...
Where my father still lives...
*sighs heavily*
So...updates will be spotty at best...I'll try my best to get back into the normal once a week update, but...I can't make any promises guys...not while my life is falling apart before my eyes...
I'll answer your review replies again in the next chapter...
For now though...enjoy the story...
XxX
"Okay Edd, what's this one called. Remember, take your time." Nazz held up a flash card with a picture of an apple on it. Kevin was out dealing with the bank over something or other, then was going out to get some more food. Dr. McKay had given Kevin the flash cards, in hopes that he could assit Edd in relearning how to properly say certain words, but...he just hadn't found the time.
"Ah...ap...ap...le...ap...le..."
"Hey, good job little dude, you almost got it. It's 'ap' and 'ple'. You just need to add that extra pah sound and you got it." She put the card in the growing pile of 'almost' cards, which was next to the 'not yet' cards.
The 'right on' pile only had a handful.
"Few more and we'll work on something else, okay dude?"
Edd slowly nodded and glanced over at the work sheets he knew he would have to complete, no matter how badly his writing had become. Some things he could do or remember...though they were few and far between...but everyone had been supportive and encouraged him to keep at it.
"Edd? Come on now, I need you to try and focus, okay?"
Blinking several times, he turned his attention back to Nazz and the card she held.
Oh...
Oh, he hated this one...
The card was simple, a picture of a popsicle on it, red in colour, and Edd couldn't help but wonder if it was cherry or strawberry.
"You can do it Edd. Just remember to take your time and sound it out, okay?"
Frowing deeply, Edd tried to pronouce it. He knew how, that was something that wasn't lost on him, but when it came to actually saying the word...
"P...pah...poooh...p...ahp...see...kale..."
Nazz could see the frustration slowly covering Edd's face and put the card down. "I think that's enough of the cards for today...you did really good though Double Dee. Before, you couldn't say any of these words." She gently fixed his hat when he whimpered softly. "I know it's hard, but...you'll get there."
Edd slowly nodded, but didn't fully believe her. It had been months since he had been saved...and not that long ago since he had gotten his memories back...so why couldn't he do something as simple as say the word popsicle of all things?
"You know...after you went missing, Kevin never gave up looking for you..."
Looking up slowly, he saw Nazz smiling gently at him, like a sister would while trying to comfort their younger sibling, even though Edd was technically older by a few months.
"Even after the cops had given up and your parents had moved away...after all of us had believed you were dead...cause none of us wanted to believe that you were still being held against your will...he kept looking for you. He would go into the woods almost everyday after school, trying to find even a trace of you..."
"Re'ly...?"
"Yeah little dude, really." Nazz looked out the window at the softly falling snow. "I know he was a bully in the past...and I know you don't remember if he was like that to you or not, so I'm not going to say anything to trigger it, but...no matter what he said or did, he never gave up on you Double Dee...
"No matter what it took, he was gonna bring you home...and he did, even if it did take six whole years." She gently wrapped his blankets around his shoulders tighter, then moved to put the cards away.
She stopped however, when a thin, pale hand wrapped their boney fingers around her wrist.
"N...ooh...k...keep...tr...tray...try...ing..."
Nazz smiled and picked up a card from the 'almost' pile. "Alright. What's this one called?"
XxX
"Double Dee! Lookit what I have found for us to watch!" Ed yelled as he ran into Kevin's house, Eddy close behind. In his hand, he held up an old VHS tape, the cover so faded already that it was hard to make out.
"Close the door dorks, you're letting out all the heat!"
"Yeah yeah, can it shovel-chin!" Eddy slammed the door but took off his boots before calmly walking into the livingroom and watched Ed jump up and down in glee. "Just tell him already Lumpy, we don't have all day!"
Ed couldn't stop grinning as he shoved the tape close to Edd's face. "It is Robot Rebel Ranch! I bought it after you went missing and I dropped the cover into my tub of gravy and that is why it looks like the victims of the slime monster from plantet zuplon!"
Edd faintly remembered that movie. The slime monster looked like a huge booger and more of a cheap remake of The Blob, but Ed had loved it and it had been a fond way to spend the rainy days of their summer youth.
"Can we watch it!? Oh please please please with gravy on top!"
Kevin pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. As much as the brainless oaf annoyed him, he knew it would be crule to keep them away from Edd now that he was back. "Alright, fine. But it better be good!"
Ed talked through most of the movie, but it wasn't to bad...Edd was able to enjoy being with his long time friends, something that they all agreed he needed.
It reminded him of the good times, which helped his still broken mind to heal even more. He fell asleep close to the end, as it was getting late and he just couldn't stay awake while he was so comfy and warm and surrounded by people he knew and trusted.
Yes, he drifted off hearing Kevin and Eddy taking turns poking each others buttons...and Ed screaming at the actors to run away and that one of them was a traitor...
But he wouldn't have it any other way.
XxX
Okay, I think that's good enough for this week...like I said, I'll try and get back into the normal updates, but...without a job and my life falling apart, well...no promises people...
Remember! Reading + Reviewing equals one happy Deadly Fangs! (Seriously, I need it right now.)