Chapter 29 (Grandson?)
In the World of the Remembered seating down on the porch playing his most prized song that he ever written during his time alive on his new golden version guitar.
Hector smiled happily and finally felt whole when fixing his marriage with his wife that he had been in love with since they were only seventeen years old. That, and finally seeing his baby girl again after all those long waiting years and finally reunited with his family that he haven't met before. He wouldn't have his life back together and finally knowing the truth about his real cause of death, if it wasn't for his grandkids that made history by being the very first living people to enter the realm of the dead. Humming away while playing the strings on the guitar with peace of mind and see things were going all nicely.
"Playing Remember Me again Poppa Hector?."
Hector stopped playing his guitar and open his eyes to see his great, great granddaughter Cindy as she smiled sweetly and grab a seat beside him. Smiling happily he set his guitar down to the side and got his full attention to Cindy as she was a great person to get to know. "Why yes Cindy, I've been playing my favorite song as of late. And you?." Hector asked grinning making the middle dead women chuckle. "Oh I'm just taking my forty minute break from making shoes where you need to be doing." Cindy told him making each other laugh as Hector was known not to make shoes that much. Hector cooled down his laughing and picked up his guitar and did some random playing to lighting up the mood.
"Oh you know that I'm better good with playing my guitar instead of making shoes." He told her while playing another one of his classic songs that was stolen from his former best friend, who he once call him his brother.
"Well duh but still you should at least put more effort into the shoe shop, plus it wouldn't hurt to do some hard labor work." Cindy said while taking out a photo from her pocket and take a look at the people on it.
The people that were on the picture was her three kids that she have wished that both she and her husband haven't died in that car crash, and could be currently be with them as we speak but life had other plans. Hector lean over and saw the photo of one of his great, great, great grandkids as it was a picture of Tadashi who was about eleven having his arm around his little brother Hiro who must be around say about five or six years old, but Hector couldn't tell since it was truly hard to tell in that picture. And finally beside Hiro was their baby sister who was just a baby in Hiro's arms.
"You know something Poppa Hector?. I haven't seen my kids in years to the point that, I can't even count the total numbers of years that me and Brian have been here waiting for one day to see our kids." Cindy told Hector while not losing eye contact on the picture in her hands.
Hector can know exactly how Cindy felt as he once was in that very exact position.
For years in the realm of the Dead. Hector have been all alone in the Remembered since his former best friend poisoned him and have no family to live with. He remembered when first entering the realm of the Dead he felt strange and weird when he see dead people around him, and worst of all to learn that he died when seeing himself in the mirror. During that time of misery and regret, Hector had missed his wife and daughter and wished that he could see Imelda and Coco. He wanted to tell his wife that he was so, so, so sorry for putting his music dream first and his family second. He also wanted to tell his baby daughter CoCo that he loved her and never again leave them. He had to admit one thing from Imelda's parents during the time they were dating and later on got married at a the age of fifteen. And that was them telling him that he couldn't keep his priorities straight when needed to when it comes down to Imeldas needs, and never grow up to be a real man in the future that won't take responsibility seriously.
Hector remembers it like it was his own breath and soul as he also remembers that Imelda had defended him time after time, and never in her life listen to the negative or mean things that her mother and father have told her about Hector and her life. What finally hit the argument to its highest climax was when Imelda's parents have dishonored her by saying that Hector wasn't going to be noting and she'll be a noting too let alone their future child. But that's old ancient history in Hector's mind as he was back to focusing his granddaughter.
"Don't worry Cindy you'll see your kids soon one day." He told her giving the women a pat on the back making the dead women smile.
"If I have known that Hiro was here due to Miguel's stealing. Then I would have ran out from my sisters Cafe and run back to The Remembered and see my baby boy." Cindy told him making him smile as this was a rare thing to happen around here.
Before Hector could speak to add on to their conversation, the door behind them got opened up and out came Brian and Imelda with pure shock on their faces. "I.. I.. Imelda?. What's wrong my sweet sun petal?." Hector asked wife not liking what his seeing on her face. Cindy looked at Brian who was shocked the most as he had some troubling news written all over his face and dared to ask him. "What's going on Brian?." She demanded with calmness in her voice matching her face of worry. Unable to speak to his wife without the pain breaking down on him. Seeing how much Cindy wanted to know what's going on and it concerns the family, and not just themselves.
"Its Tadashi pumpkin. His here. Our first born is in the Land of the Remembered!." He blurted out as Imelda was upset with a cry in voice.
"What!?. How!?. When!?." Cindy blurted out in questions when getting up full of stress and anxiety, as this was more of a upset than a celebration.
"Wait...Tadashi is a young man. What cause him to get killed?. I thought he was free from leukemia?." Hector said dropping his guitar not caring if he made scratches on the instrument.
Imelda took the time to pull herself together and be the grand leader of the family, and stayed strong as this situation was urgent and needed to be handle right away with no problem. "Cindy calm down my child. Brian, please take Cindy inside of the house to calm her down while me and Hector go pick up Tadashi from the arrival station." Mamma Imelda ordered him as he nodded and guided his stressed out wife back inside. Then she turn to her husband who got up and put his arm around her as she had a sad look upon herself, knowing how it feels to die and knowing that there was no turning back to the living. In fact she recalled when she died due to overworking herself at the shop, she was all alone when she got settled in to realm of the dead. A few years later she was reunited with her granddaughter Victoria, her son in law Julio, the Twins, and Tia. Then a few more years she welcome Bobs parents Arnold and Lucy aka Mr. and Mrs. Strong in their superhero name, and Helens parents Ricky and Stephanie who were also Supers as their names were Mr. and Mrs. Stretch. And later on had Brian, Cindy, and Cornelius's real biological mother Gwen and finally her sweet daughter CoCo.
Imelda thought that this was the final addition to their none living family until the next few years or more, but unfortunately she was wrong about that as she have to come and pick up her love one. And that love one was Tadashi of all people. "Don't worry Imelda." Hector told her with his hand around her waist and pulled her close to him. "I'm sure our grandchild can explain how he rounded up here a little too soon." He said making his wife nodded and headed to take the trolley downtown to the Arrival Station or Center.
At The New Arrival Station...
"How the hell did this could have happened to me?." asked a now dead Tadashi who was in the waiting office with the other new arrivals.
Tadashi can't figure out how his life could have ended so quickly and felt that he was cheated out. He didn't expected the building to just blow up like a exploding atomic bomb and send him straight down where his currently is now. He seat back up against his chair while massaging his head in soreness, as this was so much to take in as the hard reality just shot him dead. He realized that his never going back to his living family again and let alone never seeing his beloved Honey Lemon. "Honey Lemon...my fiancee." He said to himself as he had the engagement ring on his finger and took it off, and place it to his pocket and heard a few cry's being heard in the waiting room.
He noticed a young girl who was around his baby sisters age was all by herself crying out for her mother and father, as she died very young and now have to spend her days in the afterlife by herself or unless her dead relatives are here to comfort her. "Tadashi Hamada?." Tadashi took his focus on the person whose calling him and see that it was his turn to get settled in to the new world. Getting out of that chair with his hands in his pockets and walked straight down to the dead man's office and closed the door behind him. He looked at the none living skeleton and see that his been down here for quite a spell as he had a long grey beard wearing some odd pair of glasses, wearing a black button down dress shirt with a red neck tie with a golden watch in which Tadashi figured that it was buried with him. And then had a pair of black gator dress shoes on as it was hand polish.
When seating down to his desk and motion his client to have a seat. Tadashi did what the man asked of him and sat down and noticed the man's name was Vince Helsing. The old senior citizen looked at the papers that were clearly all about his client and sat them down and smiled at him as it was time to break the ice. "So Tadashi, I'm assuming that you have a lot of questions to be answered. And frankly it's everyone's same motives when they arrive here. And so before we begin with your paperwork." He lean forward and smiled. "Go ahead and start asking all the questions that is itching in your skull...literally." Sigh in relief and gave the old man a calm pleasant smile as he felt much comfortable.
"Tell me something old timer. Is this Heaven?." Tadashi asked his first question.
"Technically this isn't Heaven my dear boy. Instead it's what we call Limbo. You're dead yes, but you can live your life here like you original did in the living World. You'll see its like you have unfinished business only except you don't have any unfinished business and it's just you waiting for your official resting place from the Lord himself." The old man explained to him the best way he can explained as possible.
"Oh okay. So The Land of the Remembered is Limbo right?." Tadashi asked his second question.
"Absolutely correct my dear boy." Helsing told him with a smile.
"Okay now here's my third question. Whose in charge of this dead world?." asked Tadashi getting really comfortable with the conversation.
"That will be La Muerte...she's."
"I know who she is. I'm just playing with you. Now that's basically all my questions except...where's my hat?." Tadashi said finishing the last questions that he wanted answered.
"Your hat fell off your head when you ran inside the burning blow up building." He answered simply the way it should be.
Happily to get the questions out of the way before getting down to business.
Mr. Helsing picked up the papers on his desk and took a quick read before beginning the conversation with his client and said in professional manner. "Alright Mr. Hamada. I want you to sign these papers to verify that you're here and officially a member of the Remembered, and that you know that you're officially dead." He sat the papers down and slid it towards him and gave him the black ink pen to sign. With that in mind he picked up the pen out of the man's hand and started signing the foams neatly from page to page and finished it with a period at end of his final signature. Tadashi then set the pen while letting the old timer grab the papers and put them together with a paperclip, and sat it down in the paper bin.
"Now you'll get your death certificate in the mail on the day of your funeral, in which that will be next week in a half. Plus you'll get your original bank account, credit card, debit card, and you social security card in the mail as well." He informed him while cleaning up his work desk.
"So uh my things in my wallet are no good around here?." Tadashi asked again not realizing he'll get his new social security card and bank account in the mail.
"It's still good temporally until your things get sent through the mail. Now I have called your family in this world to come pick up before I had to come out and call you in, and so they should be here by now." Helsing informed him while taking his glasses off to clean.
"Mr. Helsing they're here." said a female from intercom on his desk phone.
He pressed the button and spoke. "Thanks sweetie you can send them in please." taking his finger off the button and automatically had his door open.
Tadashi turned to his relatives who he haven't seen before in which confused the guy, until started to remember the pictures that were on the ofrenda and finally hit him. "Mamma Imelda and Poppa Hector?." He asked to be sure of himself. Imelda smiled down on Tadashi as this was the first time meeting one another officially. "Yes it is I." She told him while walking up to him and rub his shoulder nicely while Hector came over to sign the release form from Mr. Helsing to prove that Tadashi was picked up by his family. With the papers finalized the three went on out to catch the other trolley to head on home and try to keep Tadashi relaxed throughout the ride, due to feeling once again depressed of handling the truth about being dead.
"How can this have happened to me?." He asked himself not excepting for someone to answer back.
"Tadashi that's part of life. Will all had that shock experience when coming here at first but trust me it will wear off." Mamma Imelda told him looking at him in utter calmness while Hector nodded in agreement.
"Your Mamma Imelda is right Tadashi. No matter what you do you'll still going to be round up here. The only thing that is different is that you're not going to be alone." Hector said digging in his jacket pocket to take out a pamphlet. "Here this is for you. I picked it up when me and your Mamma Imelda came to the New Arrival Station." He said wanting to give it to his oldest great, great, great grandson. Tadashi looked at the pamphlet with zero interest and depressed attitude and looked up at Hector.
"Let me guess. You can get cancer here too when you're dead right?." Tadashi said it so miserably.
"Haha no, no, no amigo. Once you're dead you'll no longer be killed or catch a deadly disease. But you'll still experience pain and emotion." said Hector smiling and shaked the pamphlet in his hand.
Telling that Hector wasn't going to stop until he give the pamphlet to him.
Tadashi slowly grabbed the pamphlet from him and went to reading the front. On it reads...
Group Therapy for both New Arrivals and Former New Arrivals.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Start Time: 8pm to 11:40pm
Admission is Free
Snacks and Drinks are Available
"Group Therapy?. Ah no thanks Poppa Hector." Tadashi handed the pamphlet back and rested his head on the window with depression.
Hector can't blame Tadashi for being this way as he too was just like that, when living down here and not once had interest in getting help like anyone else. It turned out that it helped out rather well as it really helped him accept his afterlife and had his mind on his daughter CoCo coming back to him when she dies, as that was one of the lessons that his group therapist have told them that if they came to the world of the dead. They should keep their mind on their love ones as one day they too will come to them and live together for eternity. After all those long years of going to the group therapy and graduated in the process, now Hector felt it was his civic duty to be the main man of the dead family to guide Tadashi to the right path and so froth as two had something in common.
As for Mamma Imelda on the other hand was weeping on the inside while her outside was being a strong woman for her family, but her weeping on the inside was beating her hardcore. The pain that she felt was for Tadashi as he was too young to be here officially with them and lost his opportunity of having the chance to live his life at the fullest, plus Imelda also weep for Honey Lemon as well. The new edition to her family reminded of her when she was young and alive, minus her love for technology. Imelda remembered the good old days when she was in her youth when she loved being alive and loved Todayland with all of her heart. Plus she loved the great romance that Hector have given her when they were just fifteen.
Mamma Imelda remembered the times when Todayland was old fashion and barley known to be a tech city let alone the districts. Now in the present time everything was all about high tech electronics and don't see it to stop as Imelda hated when people told her she needed to get into the program, and get herself an Android or Apple or whatever it was as she really don't know who turn an apple into a devil device. Cindy and Brian tried their best to help her be up to date with the time of today and it's still a difficult working progress. But had a feeling that Tadashi was going to bring all out technology to her home and don't know how to adjust the idea of having technology.
Her thoughts were cut off when the trolley have stopped to their neighborhood while Hector shook her on her arm, and the three got off heading down to their home where Tadashi have noticed that the house were kinda the same house as the Riveras only except it has a garage connected to the house. "Welcome home amigo." Hector said with excitement when opening the door and allow Tadashi to go in first. Entering the new home of the big house and had his nose caught up in the sweet smell of a hot meal coming form to the kitchen.
"Mmmmmmmm is that smoked sushi?." He asked walking to the kitchen and follow his nose to find the source.
"It's your favorite pumpkin."
Cindy popped her head out of the oven with a big tray of smoke baked sushi and smiled proudly with tears. Tadashi was happy to see his dead mother again and not ashamed of sharing a few tears as he went over their, and hugged his long missed mom who did the same with one arm as the other was occupied. The hug got even better when Tadashi felt his hair being ruffled by a familiar hand, and turn to see his dad having the same expression. "Welcome home son." Brian said. "Thanks...dad." Tadashi responded back still hugging tight to his mother.
They eventually broke apart and sat down as it was dinner time as Cindy put her cooking in a big bowl with a pair of tongs, and sat it down on the table and sat down beside her two favorite boys. Tadashi was properly introduced to his other family that he haven't met before but do know them all one by one. It was his first time meeting Uncle Bobs and Aunt Helen's parents let alone meeting the old classic Supers, as it felt he was in a Superheros Convention as the four of them started telling their heroic stories when they were alive and tell him their favorite hero moments. When the conversation with them was over he went to talking with Penny's old man who was quite interesting as his story was amazing based on what his Aunt Sierra told him about her husband, as Danny was exactly how his Aunt Sierra described him to be as he went on explaining how he was graduate skilled actor in the arts and wanted to hit the big leagues. And finally he got to meet his Uncle Cornelius's actual biological mom for the first time as this was a golden opportunity, as his uncle didn't have enough information about his real mother nor what she's done in her lifetime. Only except being his main true source of him becoming a famous inventor, and because of her she inspired him to create the very first invention that worked known as the Memory Scanner in which it was still a thing of beauty and great value to science.
"And so when I died of being accidently shot in the chest. The people at the station contacted Mamma Imelda to come get me based on finding out that I was part of the family, due to Cornelius putting my photo up on the ofrenda let alone marry my daughter in law Franny. Who were friends, well they preferred to be called sisters as your Aunt Luisa pulled him into the Rivera family and you should know the rest by now."
Gwen told him as she had the same blond hair as Cornelius while wearing a simple light brown dress that a woman would wear going to work, as she had light blue eyes that looked identical to his uncle. "Yeah I know the rest. How should I address you?." Tadashi asked before stuffing his mouth with food. Gwen paused to think on how she wanted Tadashi to address her as this was quite interesting to say to least. "You can Just call me Grandma Gwen sweetie." She told him with a pleasant smile. Nodding in understanding of how to address his uncles mom and finally got to know her and everyone else officially. When dinner was over and got the place cleaned up and put up. Arnold guided Tadashi up the stairs to his new room as the halls and living area was huge. Telling that whoever built this version of the Rivera Family house they made sure it was big enough to fit at least fifty of them, as Tadashi knows the limit of rooms that the original house can hold as they stopped to where they were going.
"Here we are slick." Arnold told him opening the door to let Tadashi in to see his room.
The room itself have its own bed already tucked and untouched as the walls were painted red mix with green with Day of the Dead skulls on them. On the other side it was empty with plenty of empty space for Tadashi to set up his electronic gear when he goes shopping, and see that he can really worked this out with no problem. "That's Grandpa Arnold. This will do nicely." He told him having a depressed moody attitude as he sat down to rest. "Still moody I see. I'll give you at lest two days to get over it. But hey at least you died young and that's all I have to say." Arnold told him when closing the door to give Tadashi complete alone time. Two days have came and noting changed as Tadashi was still depressed on the fact his dead and still a fiance as he was really forward to marrying Honey.
Currently now taking away his sadness was seating down at the bar booth having himself some rounds of bottle beer. With each bottle of alcoholic he consumed he felted the same way as the empty bottle in his hand, and that is being empty on the inside and continue on drinking more rounds. Hector enter inside to see Tadashi in here drinking and seeing his been her for a good while. "Oh God give me strength." He told himself before grabbing the strength and will to walk ahead to seat down with his grandson and see how depressed he was making him know how exactly it feels to lose everything.
"If you're here trying to get me out of this bar Poppa Hector then you're wasting your time." He told him before lifting the bottle entrance to his mouth.
"Aye, I was here to come get you since Arnold and Ricky told you'll be here." Hector said watching him consume more alcohol in his system.
Tadashi finished drinking and gave a good burp and sat the empty glass down. "Bunch of snitches." He said referring to Arnold and Ricky. "Group Therapy still stands you know. I too am going to join you and show you it will help kill your depression." Hector lectured as Tadashi didn't bother looking at him and just mess with some peanuts in the bucket to eat.
"I don't need no punk therapist telling me how to accept death and start over." Tadashi said grumpy while looking at his grandpa.
"Kid drinking your sorrows won't help you. Believe me." Hector warned and got ignore when Tadashi motion back to the bartender. "Bartender another round of Bud Light please." He demanded nicely and got another round of cold beverage. Having any other choice since his already down here, Hector might as well have a few rounds of alcohol before taking Tadashi back home. "Bartender get me my usual please." Hector told him as the Bartender nodded and went to grabbing a big bottle off the shelf that was big enough to share with a group and then sat it down in front of his favorite customer.
"Here you go Hector. One bottle of pure Joy. Enjoy." Bartender told him and went over to assist his other loyal customers.
Hector smiled as he pulled the glass cap off the bottle and caught Tadashi's attention. "Now this amigo is a real drink." He told him pulling himself a glass and cheered and drink it. Telling on the expression on Hector's face as it showed how good the beverage was, Tadashi grab one of the small glass cups from the tray and slightly slam it down. "Pour me some of that Joy Poppa Hector." He said wanting to get a taste. The old man chuckled at how trusty his grandson wanted to drink this alcohol as it was truly the best liquor that realm of the Dead has to offer. "So amigo but this here is a man's drink. This baby is mixed with hillbilly moonshine with all natural beer flavor with a hint of blackberry and chilli pepper juice, and a warm feeling of the hot sun. Thus making it a the best Hispanic drink." He told him when sipping another around of Joy.
"Come on Poppa Hector, I want to feel that buzz feeling in my dead body. Don't be a square." Tadashi said pulling his cup to Hector.
"Sigh alright Tadashi here but I am warning you." He said pouring the sweet black alcohol in his cup.
When drinking his first round of Joy for the first time it made the young man beg for more as the drink fired up his chest and so did Hector's, as the two went to drinking like first timers. With all the alcohol they consumed with that one big bottle they should have died of alcohol poisoning but since they were already dead there was no need to worry, except the fact that they can't escape being dead drunk as the two were straight up drunk. "You I don't know what I was even upset about." Tadashi said talking drunk as he barley speak clearly. "Haha you know what man, I don't even know why your tripping either!." Hector laughed his bone out when paying for their drinks and extra more since they drunk the whole bottle of Joy, and left two hundred dollars with fifty bucks for tip.
They helped each other get out of the bar and walked down the street arm around each others necks, and sang all the way to home as the two were off key but can't realize it and don't care. "They're home." Lucy informed Mamma Imelda who was playing checkers with Cindy. "I'm assuming that they got drunk." Cindy said telling how drunk they sounded coming down here as the door busted wide open.
"Baby girl were home!." Hector yelled while barley standing.
Mamma Imelda got up with hands on her hips with a scolded face. "Hector you suppose to get Tadashi out of that bar, not help your selves getting drunk!." She shouted. Usually when she's get like this people would be scared of her but if your that wasted like Hector and Tadashi then that's another story. "Mamma Imelda are you mad or nah!?." Tadashi asked with a busted out laugh as Hector laughed as well not knowing what that means. Mamma Imelda just rolled her eyes in disgust as it was the booze talking and so she had to storm out to make some hot coffee and came back with two cups.
"You two are drunk as hell." Gwen said covering her use to be nose as the smell of alcohol was stinking up the house.
"Yeah and y'all two need baths." said CoCo as she too was disgusted as well.
Hector and Tadashi looked at each other and said out loud. "As if!."
End of Flashback...
Both Tadashi and Hector was currently now at the back table drinking a few rounds of alcohol before heading home, and the two promised that they won't come home drunk again and never try out drinking each other again.
"Well here's to afterlife. You don't live long in the world of life but you will in here." Tadashi said raising his bottle up.
"I'll drink to that...literally." Hector said raising his bottle and clinked their bottles and went to drinking.
