Shadow started to walk towards the door along with Frank and Marie. The driver watched Shadow's long tail slowly come out of the car. After a few steps Shadow's tail finally was out. The driver couldn't help but stare at it. Shadow turned to see the driver gawking at his tail and decided to ask him something. "Tell me, what's wrong with my tail?" Shadow asked seriously.
The driver had no clue on how to answer that. "Well, uh." He started.
"Everyone says my tail is horrible looking. Is it?" Shadow added.
The driver did not want to make Shadow angry, but had no clue on how to get out of answering. "Uh…well… it is rather sharp looking." He started. Shadow just stood quietly, listening. "It also looks like its purpose is for…killing things." The driver reluctantly finished.
Shadow was confused. "Don't you humans kill things?" He asked.
"Well, yes, but we don't have any body parts that are for the sole purpose of killing." The driver stated.
At that Frank walked up and said sternly. "Shadow, please don't ask the driver hard questions. The poor man has had a hard enough day."
The driver turned and look at Frank with a look on his face that said it all: Thank you.
Shadow simply said. "I was just asking the man for his opinion."
Frank shut his eyes in a frustrated way. "Shadow, opinions on you are very hard to give."
Marie was now standing on the step waiting for Frank and his friend.
Shadow decided not to start an argument. "Fine, fine, I'll stop pestering him." Than started to walk towards Marie's house.
Once Shadow and Frank began to walk towards Marie's house, Marie remembered something. "Gregory, would you please get Franks bags for him." She called to the driver.
Gregory looked over to Marie and responded. "Frank didn't have any bags, ma'am."
Marie looked back at Frank confused. "No luggage, Frank?" She asked.
Frank shook his head, and said sounding stressed out. "It's a long story."
"Oh what, they lose your luggage?" Marie asked empathetically.
"No." Frank flatly answered.
Suddenly Marie got a slight smile on her face. "What, did your friend eat your luggage?" She joked.
Shadow ignored the joke, but Frank started to laugh. "No, no, I just didn't have any time to pack anything." Frank said as he glanced back at Shadow.
Shadow looked back at Frank and said. "Hey, you're the one who told us to hide in that box."
Frank closed his eyes and held his breath yet again.
Marie looked at Frank with a serious look. "What?"
Frank didn't answer.
"Frank, are you in some kind of trouble?" Marie pressed.
Frank took a deep breath and said. "Okay, allow me to make a long story short: I had a fight with my parents and left. Then decided to try the life of a homeless man, but that's when I met Shadow, whom had talked me into going back home and trying to work things out, but some military folks came by and tried to take Shadow alive. He ran, and I met him down at the shipping yard and hid him inside a shipping container, which was apparently supposed to be loaded on my, Uncle Sam's ship. He found us down in the haul of his ship and… here we are!" Frank finished, gasping for air.
Marie looked stunned at Frank. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! You mean to tell me you arrived here on Maui by accident?" Marie asked.
Frank quickly nodded.
"And you mean to say: That old salty sea dog, Sam Smith brought you here?" Marie asked.
Suddenly, before Frank could even nod, they heard a man yelling from the end of the driveway. "Did somebody say my name?!" It was Smith.
"Oh no, there he is." Marie grumbled under her breath.
Shadow in the meantime was finding all of this amusing.
Without any warning Smith backed up a bit, and ran at the gates and climbed them like a pro.
"Jeez, like a boss." Frank admitted as Smith jogged up the driveway.
"Swell, just swell." Marie said frustrated.
Within a few seconds, Smith made it to Frank, Shadow, and Marie. Smith grinned with a wolfish grin as he said. "Hi, honey"
Frank got a tense look on his face, and Marie just looked down right annoyed.
"Why are you here?" Marie asked Smith.
Smith smiled and said. "My favorite nephew and his best friend are in town."
Without saying another word, Smith entered Marie's house without asking.
Marie's house was beautiful. Decorated with white marble flooring, expensive furniture, lots of collector's items, and lots of art work.
Marie did not like this, at all. "Hey!" She yelled as Smith barged in.
Smith took only a few steps when he said in full seriousness "Wow, you've decorated this place nicely! Is that a real Picasso?
"No! Now get out!" Marie answered, then instructed.
"Mind if I have a drink?" Smith asked as he entered the kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed a jug of water.
"Sam Seymour Smith, I want you out of this house, and I want you out now!" Marie demanded as she whipped the jug out of Smiths hands, before he could take a drink.
Smith wasn't intimated. "Can I have a kiss?" He said and puckered up trying to push Marie's buttons.
Without warning Marie grabbed Smith and kissed him. Frank was in total shock, and Shadow was totally confused. After five seconds Marie pulled back then instantly yelled. "There's your kiss!" She then slammed the jug back into Smith's hands "And your drink! Now I want you to leave!" Marie finished.
Smith was just grinning like a monkey. "That's why I love you! You're so unpredictable." He said warmly.
"OUT!" Marie yelled pushing Smith towards the door.
"Okay, okay, I'm leaving." Smith surrendered. "Humph, some hospitality." He then said like a little kid who didn't get his way.
"Goodbye!" Marie yelled as she slammed the door in Smith's face.
At that Marie turned and said very sweetly. "Now Frankie, do please finish your story."
"Uh, Frank, are all human women this scary?" Shadow asked openly.
Marie turned to Shadow and said. "I'm sorry about that. That man knows how to press my buttons" Marie apologized.
Shadow was about to ask a few things, but Marie started talking again. "He is such an ogre!"
Frank started to laugh, but Shadow was lost completely.
"What's an ogre?" Shadow innocently asked.
Frank got control of his laughter and answered his question. "An ogre is a big hideous monster, and according to mythology, eats children." Frank struggled not to laugh while elaborating.
Shadow didn't understand how that was funny, and just stared blankly at Frank and Marie.
After a few moments of being stared at by Shadow, Frank finally asked. "Oh, come on, Shadow, haven't you ever tried to scare that little brother of yours with monster stories?"
Shadow just stood quietly for a moment, and then gave a vague answer. "No, we were all too afraid of being killed by monsters, so we never joked about such things."
Franks amused smile quickly faded and was replaced with a look of concern. "You were afraid of being killed by monsters? Why?" Frank asked in a full serious tone.
Shadow just shook his head and said. "I'd rather not talk about it. It was a very horrible time for me and many of my kin." Shadow said sounding depressed.
Frank was perplexed, what could possibly scare Shadow? "Are you sure? Me, and Aunt Marie are great listeners." Frank pressed for Shadow's story.
Shadow fell silent.
"Sometimes talking can really help with coping." Marie added with no fear. She was now very interested in Shadow and, what could possibly be so terrible that even him and his kin seemed to show fear.
Shadow stood quietly; conflicted. Should he talk about it or should he push it back down.
Will Shadow tell his story, or keep it to himself? Please review, and tell me what you think of my story.