Epilogue, Part 1
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-Wednesday Afternoon-
Kit walked outside right after breakfast. He looked around and noticed that somehow the sky was brighter, the water was cleaner, and the air smelled sweeter. All those lonely nights in the streets, all those relentless days aboard the Iron Vulture, they were gone forever! He couldn't help but smile, he had everything he had ever wanted and then some. He finally had a home, folks who cared about him, and the freedom of his hobo days; well, mostly. Nonetheless, he had everything a normal kid had and more.
The frigid wind blew by his ears causing goosebumps to crawl down his spine, arms, and legs. A whole new chapter of his life had begun. He had been forced to grow up so fast and so young, now he was looking forward to living what years of his childhood were left. Kit sat on the edge of the dock looking out towards the bay, he wasn't there any more than a minute when he noticed a pair of small honey colored legs and a pink shirt out of the corner of his right eye; she still hadn't put her blue overalls back on.
"Molly? What are you doing out here?"
Kit looked behind him and saw that neither Baloo nor Ms. Cunningham were outside before turning back toward the bay and looking a Molly.
Her voice did not convey a request for permission but instead was more of an informative statement not to be argued with though it lacked any authoritative force behind it. Molly spoke softly yet with confidence, "I wanted to sit with you."
Molly plopped down next to Kit on his right so close that their sides were touching and grabbed his hand; her legs dangling off the dock next to his. He grasped her hand and held it securely and a short moment later he felt a little head leaning against his shoulder. Kit felt a little confused that Molly was so willing to forgive him for what he had done to her earlier but concluded that this was her way of telling him that she forgave him for everything, that it was best to leave such a mending conversation unsaid so that wounds could heal and the two could move on and be as they were before. Kit soon leaned his head on top of hers. They kicked their bare feet over the waves; his legs still too small to reach the water.
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.-End Epilogue, Part 1-
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.Epilogue, Part 2
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. -Wednesday Afternoon-
Rebecca had sent Baloo on a short delivery much to Baloo's protest given everything; a protest that had evaporated when he found out and Molly and Kit were to go along with him. It was a short run and she had really needed some time to think. She estimated that it would only take three hours to get there, unload, and get back. So, naturally, Baloo would be gone for double that. The business was quiet with the kids gone which allowed her to really crunch some numbers as well as deal with some emotional baggage from the past week. Baloo and Kit were in a kind of honeymoon period now that they had been reunited after the worst miscommunication in history had been cleared up, and Molly was excited to just simply go along for the ride. But given that the package they were delivering weighed only about ten pounds Molly was overjoyed when she was told that she would be the one in charge of the actual delivery of the package. The address was a seaside residence, all Molly had to do was pick up the box, get off the Seaduck, walk up the dock, ring the doorbell, and return to the plane. Short, sweet, simple, and less than five minutes…..or so Rebecca had hoped. Ultimately she would find out when they all got back.
For the first ninety minutes or so of alone time Rebecca just sat in her chair and stared at the wall. The world had finally downshifted gears and had slowed its pace; for a while at least. She had recognized the need for some healing among everyone but had neglected herself as she often did and this period of meditation had allowed her to collect herself and reorganize her mind; it allowed her to see how desperately everyone needed some time off and time together. She had decided to close the business for the next few days and accept new contracts by appointment only, informing everyone – customers and employees alike- that their cargo would not ship until the business had reopened. As it stood right now only Wildcat knew of the new memo, the other two and a half employees she would tell at dinner. Rebecca chucked a little to herself as she considered Molly being a "half employee". She thought about adding her to the payroll but ultimately decided against it as it would complicate tax matters not to mention bringing up new child labor laws for children under ten years of age.
She put her hand to her forehead and rubbed it.
"Oh, they never went over getting emotionally involved in business school, yet here I am. A boss and a mom to thirty three percent of my employees. I never saw it coming."
Just then Rebecca had an idea: Morale Booster. She got up, went over to, and unlocked the money vault. After a quick look at the ledger inside and the monies in reserve she decided that Higher for Hire had enough funds that she could afford a companywide business trip over a long weekend. She could even write it off on taxes as a much needed wellness event and team builder.
She figured that there was enough here for the four of them to go spend some quality time together, whatever they did there just needed to be some good memories made to bring an end to the last past days of anguish. She had heard of a new place opening up called a theme park. She did not know what it actually was but a colleague at a business conference she had attended some weeks back had described it as a state fair, a carnival, and a circus all wrapped into one that never closed and never traveled; instead you traveled to it. She had made a few calls and had done some quick research in the hours that followed and as it turned out, this theme park had offered a four day and five night stay on their property at a low introductory rate; something about getting the word out there. Rebecca wasn't even going to ask Baloo his thoughts on the matter, that man would happily take advantage of time off no matter the form it came in so she had booked a Thursday night to Tuesday morning stay for this weekend for the four of them all before Baloo and the kids got back from the delivery. She asked Wildcat if he wanted to go but he declined stating that he would take the time off to spend with Clementine Clevenger. Rebecca granted it and right after she left Wildcat's place she couldn't help but think to herself that she didn't even know Wildcat had a girlfriend!
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-Wednesday Evening-
The Seaduck roared through the tide outside and then became silent as it docked. Rebecca had an eerie feeling. She thought that she should be excited but given that she didn't really know what to expect from a theme park or how the kids would react she was apprehensive. It wasn't until about an hour after everyone walked in at Higher for Hire and was eating dinner that she had made her announcement.
"What's a Theme Park?" asked Kit first. Molly and Baloo looked at Rebecca expectantly as they both had the same question.
"I am not entirely sure Kit. But from what I have read and been told it is a new kind of place with rides and roller coasters and shows and parties all day every day. And to top it all off they have music and fireworks to light up the night."
"Sounds like my kinda place" Baloo said as he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "When're we goin'?"
Baloo's reaction was predictable, Kit's however wasn't what she expected after the description she had provided. But then again she didn't know what she expected. The poor kid had never been on a vacation or leisure trip before outside of a day trip to a circus or a movie theatre or an outing at Louie's and as such was struggling to process it. For that matter he had never been camping. He would, eventually, but that was not something she was going to push yet. For all she knew he would interpret her suggestion of going camping as getting kicked back out to live as he did for half of his life: outside, on the ground, in the dirt as opposed to the fun that it really was.
Kit put his silverware down, sat up in his chair with a downcast face and softly said, "How much is it going to cost? I haven't been paid in a while."
"Don't worry about it Kit. This is a company trip. The Company vault is paying for it. And everyone is still getting their normal paycheck for all the deliveries made".
Rebecca observed a smile creep across everyone's face as she picked up some envelopes from the table behind her and handed them out to everyone from today's delivery. And then she picked up an extra envelope and turned to her daughter. "Including you Molly".
Molly looked at her mom and just cocked her head. "What did I do?"
Baloo spoke before anyone, "Ya delivered a package Cupcake! Kit didn't pick it up and carry it to the door. I certainly didn't, I was too busy keepin' the Seaduck in idle."
Rebecca picked up where Baloo left off, "Yup, and here is your pay that you earned. You can do anything you want with it. But if you want some suggestions…." Rebecca hinted the last bit to her as she saw her daughter's face light up. She did not believe in allowances, but she certainly believed in fair pay for fair work.
Molly took the check and looked at it and the numbers on it, it wasn't much but to her it was everything. This was the first bit of money she had ever earned in her life and it made her spirits rise, it felt good. Then the obvious hit her and she looked back at her mother holding the check in her right hand showing it to everyone, "How do I turn it into real money?"
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-Thursday-
The next morning was met with the normal movement and routine of every morning but this time it was extra early. Usually Kit and Baloo would wake up, have breakfast and be on their way to the next delivery shortly after Rebecca -and Molly if she wasn't with a sitter- arrived. Or instead of going on a delivery, once Ms. Cunningham arrived with Molly, Kit would gather his backpack, take Molly, and the two would walk to Cape Suzette Elementary School while Baloo would make some deliveries and Ms. Cunningham did her Boss-Lady stuff. This morning was almost exactly like the former, the only difference was what and who was going and being loaded and that breakfast was skipped. The freight (their personal luggage) was loaded onto the Seaduck after breakfast, Rebecca gave Wildcat the business keys, and everyone climbed aboard.
Baloo and Kit assumed their normal positions and prepared for takeoff when Molly and Rebecca entered the cockpit.
"Baloo! Put your seatbelt on, and Kit, scoot over, Molly is going to share your seat."
Baloo rolled his eyes as he buckled in and Kit squeezed in close to the right arm rest as Rebecca set Molly down in the seat and held onto the back of the Navigator seat. Kit looked up at her.
"Mom, where are you going to sit?"
Rebecca wasn't used to it yet but couldn't help but delight in the new sound of that word coming from the mouth of a boy.
"I'll be fine right here, now you two buckle up. Better to have three safe and secure than two."
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Once the Seaduck was airborne and heading toward the gap in the cliffs Baloo and Kit started their normal in flight process.
"Pilot to navigator, where're we headed?"
Kit was flipping through his maps trying his best to find their heading and their destination. There was more paper being flipped and turned and folded than a paper mâché art class yet for the first time Kit was amiss as to where they were going
"Uh, um, well….hold on."
Typically he was able to look at a map and know where they were, where they were going, and what their heading was, and how long it would take to get there in seconds, but this time he was having some major difficulty and then it dawned on him.
Kit looked up and put his maps down on the writing surface in front of him.
"Wait a minute! Baloo, this whole trip was Miz Cunningham's idea!" Kit looked up as Ms. Cunningham was standing right above him. "Mom, where are we going?"
"Oh, right." Ms. Cunningham went to her bag in the back of the plane and retrieved a map before returning to the cockpit and handing it to Kit.
"I forgot to give this to you Kit. The property is about an hour or two south of Duckberg, Calisota. Flying, not driving. Baloo, we should make a quick stop at Louie's to top off the tank, hit the bathroom, and get a snack. It is going to be a looooong flight."
"You're telling me Miz Cunningham, I am still plotting our course!"
Kit had his compass and pencil and ruler and the new map completely unfolded and awkwardly covering the little copilot area and Molly's head was acting as an extension of the writing surface to support the map. She sat with her hands folded and a disgruntled face; not that anyone could see under the map. She understood that there was no way around her current predicament but that that didn't mean she had to like it.
Rebecca wondered why Kit kept switching back and forth between addressing her as 'Mom' and 'Ms. Cunningham' but quickly dismissed it as an adjustment period. After all he had called her 'Mom' for the first time about twenty hours ago; not even a full day had passed.
"Soooo, I have done the calculation three times and the way I figure, we should arrive at Duckburg at sunset." Kit looked out the window at the twilight blue sky. "And the sun isn't even up yet."
"It will be by the time we get ta Louie's. And Ima tell ya, Ima get me some burgers; I am starvin'."
Kit giggled as he folded up the map revealing a frustrated first grader. "Baloo, you're always hungry."
"Well, we can all get something to eat. Personally Molly and I will be having breakfast. You boys can have whatever you want, this whole trip is on company dime; just don't go overboard. In the meantime I am going to take a nap in the back."
Molly got up and followed Rebecca to the back of the plane.
"Me too mommy."
The door to the cargo hold and bunks shut softly as Kit leaned back in his seat and stretched, "Finally I have my seat back".
Baloo looked over at his little buddy with a half-smile, "It was always yours."
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-Sixty four minutes later-
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"Hay, Lil'Britches, Wake up, we're about to land."
Kit had fallen into a dreamless sleep in his chair, the boy's small body still able to make a tiny bed out of the chair cushion obviously made for someone Baloo's size.
"KIT!"
He jumped up clearly startled and was looking around the cabin, "HUH!? What?! I'm awake. What'd I miss?"
Baloo laughed a bit at the kid's reaction, "We're about ta land, why don't'cha go an' wake up Beckers and Molly?"
Kit rubbed his eyes and yawned before stretching, "Yeah, ok, I got it."
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Baloo landed the plane and taxied to the dock where Louie's boys assisted with the docking procedure and opened the door to the Seaduck; service was a staple of the establishment.
Molly and Rebecca exited the plane but paused when they were not followed directly by the Pilot and his Navigator. Anticipating the question Baloo answered before it was asked.
"Beckers, ya'll two go on in, Me an Kit are gonna insure the tank is topped off and double check the plane. Don't want nothin' happenin' mid-flight."
Rebecca nodded. "Baloo, Molly and I are going to hit the bathroom and grab a bite. See you two inside." Kit and Baloo watched for a moment as their boss and her daughter strolled down the dock before doing a double check on the Seaduck. It mostly consisted of Baloo doing all the work while Kit handed him a tool here, held a screw there, or simply sat and watched and talked. It wasn't long at all until Baloo and Kit had finished their work, crossing and dotting their proverbial 't's and 'i's. In total it took the two about half an hour to do it all and once they had finished they headed inside to fill their bellies.
As they made their way to the door they saw it open and out came a petite female bear and a second much shorter and energetic version of the first.
"Finished eating already?" Baloo inquired.
"Molly doesn't eat much and I had some eggs and fruit. Molly and I are going to watch the sunrise; you two don't take too long, we have a long day ahead of us."
"Awww, Miz Cunningham, don't you know by now that the one thing that will make Baloo move quick is being late to a party?
Baloo shrugged, "What can I say? Ima simple man and the kid knows me well."
Molly giggled, Kit smiled, and Rebecca just rolled her eyes as she turned toward the end of the dock as Baloo and Kit made their way inside to breakfast.
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Kit and Baloo were having a ball at Louie's. As soon as they had entered it was apparent that the place had obviously been rockin' and rollin' for a while now; as if the party never stopped here. The band was on stage making so much music that the rafters sang, the servers were swinging this way and that with the beat, and Kit was sipping on a milkshake while Baloo was eating a few burgers in the seat across from him. Louie was moseying through the room when Kit waved him over. As soon as he noticed he took out a notepad and pen, happy to serve his customers and more importantly his best friend and his new ward.
"Hay Man, what'cha want? Another shake?"
"Can I have a basket of fries?"
"Shure man, be right out! Eh, Hay, Baloo, ya good man?"
Baloo was busy chewing with his mouthful and simply gave a thumbs up, Ketchup and Mustard caked upon his lips and chin.
Louie nodded and swung off to the bar to place the order while Kit turned his attention to the performers on the stage, clapping and whistling in his seat.
"Did ya see that Papa Bear?"
When he heard no response he turned to the other side of the table and saw Baloo gave another thumbs up as he continued eating and sipping on his shake.
"Baloo I'll be right back, I am going to hit the bathroom."
Baloo nodded as Kit scampered off to the little bear's room.
A few moments later Kit emerged from the restroom and made his way back to their table only to find an empty seat where Baloo once sat.
"Papa Bear?" he said confused.
He turned his head around the restaurant, perhaps he had made a mistake but quickly confusion had given way to fear; panic overtaking him once he realized that Baloo wasn't the only one gone.
"WHERE IS EVERYONE?!" he yelled.
Louie's was now completely empty and silent, everyone was gone, not even their plates of food remained; nothing but vacant tables, cold chairs, and a dark silent stage with ominous thick fog cascading off it. Kit dashed to and out the door his feet disturbing the blurry mist around his ankles as he ran. He emerged from the building just in time to see the door on the Seaduck shut, its engines start up, and the plane begin to taxi. There was no sound except for the Seaduck's engines, the 'pat pat pat' sound of foot pounding upon wooden dock, and Kit's own voice. The sky was a dark starless void and all he could see was the dock in front of him, the shining yellow Seaduck, and the shrouding mists in the distance closing in around him and the island pulling light away from its surroundings like a towel absorbing water.
"BALOO! WAIT!" Kit was running down the dock as fast as he could yelling at the top of his lungs. "BALOOOOOOO!" Sweat beaded upon the boy's head and knuckles, the dock stretched out in front of him more and more, growing with each step he took. No matter how fast he ran he could not catch up with the Seaduck that somehow remained just out of reach, and then the throttle was engaged and a moment later it lifted off. Kit slowed, came to a stop, and fell to his knees, his heart pounding in his chest like a sledgehammer as it shattered. He sat there watching the plane grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the void along with his hope, leaving him all alone. He closed his eyes for a moment feeling them burn from dryness, opening them only when he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He looked around sure that someone was there and saw that the dock behind him had vanished along with the island, consumed by the black fog encroaching upon him. He was now adrift in open waters, the secure and steady dock had turned into a small wooden platform that spat dirty black tar-like water up between the slats as it wobbled with the waves. Kit turned around again and again sure that someone would be standing just behind him, he could feel it. But all he could see was the black and grey fog surrounding him and suddenly it roared rushing toward him, angry red bolts of lightning shot within the clouds illuminating the rolling and twisting currents of air and mist within. Above was only the eerie opaque white light that was fading with the gathering of the billowing black clouds.
The sky was dark, the mist it burned, and the turbulence of the waters grew to the point that Kit was having trouble standing but still he kept turning, looking this way and that in a panic, desperately trying to find a way out of a doomed situation. The fog was now feet from him when he turned and was caught by surprise by a figure in a royal blue coat that grabbed Kit by the neck and squeezed as he raised him up with his right arm and held him over the waters; a very familiar and ugly Claw dripping with blood held in his left. "Useless boy! Thought you could escape me, yes-no?" Don Karnage smiled maliciously into Kit's fearful eyes, "My Claw is hungry. It hasn't been fed for weeks. You don't look like much of a meal though. HA! You are so pathetic even your fattity-fat friend in the red hat doesn't want you….and if you're not good enough for him, then obviously you're not good enough for someone as great and magnificent as myself." Kit's hands were at his neck, holding on to the red wolf's hand, choking for what little air Don Karnage's grip would allow, his legs kicking and searching in vain for somewhere to stand, his eyes switching between Don Karnage and the Claw he wielded. "I wonder, do you like to swim?" Don just laughed evilly as he threw Kit into the dirty, stinking, tar like waters before disappearing along with the platform. As Kit started to swim he became thankful, death was preferable to once more having his back ripped apart.
Kit surfaced for a moment and gasped for air treading water before quickly tiring. Again he whimpered as he begged for the first one who had ever loved him to come back, staring toward the last speck of light visible in the sky, "BALOOOO!" but he was gone. Just like all who came before, Baloo had left him.
The fog closed in around him blotting out the sky, but as he struggled to swim he had enough air in his lungs for one final shout. "BALO-!" he weakly cried out in vain as the waters flowed into his mouth muffling his screams, he was sinking. Try as he might he couldn't stay afloat; it was like cinder blocks had been tied to his feet. The salty black waters overcame him and he disappeared beneath the surf, he couldn't breathe, he was suffocating, he was dying, and Baloo was not coming back.
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Baloo sat up with a startle in his bed from hearing his name, his blanket a tangled mess as it always was. The flight from Louie's to the resort had been a long and taxing one and sleep was his only desire. His eyes were open but he could not see; the darkness combined with being unfocused made it impossible. He rubbed his face and turned to his left, his eyes now registering sight. The full moon illuminated the room and shined directly on Kit though the hotel room window; he was screaming in his sleep again. Baloo saw him twisting and turning and fighting and punching and…was he….swimming? He got up like he had so many times before. He knew the drill, but it had been so long since a night terror. He scratched his rump, and then went to work. He pulled the already twisted and half thrown blanket off Kit and moved it aside and picked up his squirming boy with one arm and held him close, setting him on his lap, and turning him toward his chest and then he adjusted his seating on the Kid's bed. "Any moment now he'll wake up, gimme his 'tough guy' routine, push me away, lay back down, I'll go back to my bed, and then we'll all be back asleep." Baloo let out a long sigh. But then Kit grabbed and latched on with the same death grip like he had two days ago, but this time he was shaking, this was not like the others, this was not the tough little man who he had held before.
Baloo shook him in an attempt to rouse him from his night terror, "Kit, wake up, ya're havin' a nightmare. It's not real, wake up!"
Kit opened his eyes wide with a start, put both his hands out in front of him against Papa Bear's chest, and sat up and looked around though he was unable to see at first. He spoke quickly, still in a tizzy from his not so sound slumber. "Baloo?! Where are you?! I can't see-, Why did you-?" Kit's vision began to return to him and he started to realize that his dock run and dip in the ocean had been a dream though he still did not recognize where he was even though he had entered the room a few hours earlier; nonetheless the whole experience had felt so real. He was still afraid deep down in his subconscious that everything would end, still contending with the last remnants and trauma of his past life. He finally made eye contact with his dad, latched onto his fur and pulled himself in close; his head was leaning against Baloo's chest just below his neck. Kit was still violently shaking, his voice clearly making audible his consternation. "I'm sorry Baloo! Please, don't leave me again!"
Baloo held him close, his big arms allowing Kit to feel the strength and truth of the words spoken to him, "I never left you kiddo."
Kit was refusing to let go, pulling himself in even tighter and closer as if the extra microns of space were the difference of a mile, "You left me Baloo, I saw it!"
"It was a dream. A really really bad dream" Baloo was slowly rubbing his son's back attempting to comfort him, feeling the scars of his past though the night shirt, "I'll never leave you."
Kit was quiet now, though it was about fifteen minutes until he had calmed down and stopped shaking, Baloo holding him the whole time. Soon enough Baloo laid down and turned to his side and waited for Kit to fall back asleep. Whatever that nightmare was, it must have been an exceptionally bad one Baloo figured for he had not encountered a night like tonight with Kit before. Within moments Kit's breathing had steadied and had grown heavy, he was asleep again. Baloo inched away from him little by little so as to not disturb him, covered his boy in the blanket, and got up and went back to his bed; he didn't even remember his head hitting the pillow.
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-Friday Morning-
The next morning Baloo yawned, stretched his arms and unexpectedly hit something by his side as he did so. He looked down and there he saw Kit asleep right next to him. He expected something like this from a child Molly's age, not from a twelve year old. But after everything that had happened yesterday and the days prior, he decided that he would let it slide for now. Rather than face an awkward conversation Baloo simply and slowly moved around the kid and got up and off the mattress, changed out of his night shirt and left the bedroom. He wasn't in the common area with Rebecca and Molly any more than a few minutes when out came Little Britches to join them still in his night clothes.
"Rough night sleepy head?" Ms. Cunningham said with a smile.
"Yeah, you could say that."
Kit didn't sound too happy and everyone in the room picked up on it immediately, exchanging looks in the process.
"What? Is it that obvious?" Asked Kit a little more upbeat.
Baloo remained silent at first, desperately attempting to avoid embarrassing the boy and having that awkward same-bed conversation but ultimately speaking up anyways, "Wanna talk about it?"
Kit was quiet a moment, deciding how to answer before Ms. Cunningham broke the tension.
"Kit, tell you what: whenever you are ready to talk about it you let us know. In the meantime-"Ms. Cunningham made her way to the window of the common room in their hotel quarters and opened them wide, "look at where we are going today!"
Kit and Molly ran over to the window and out onto the balcony behind it after Ms. Cunningham opened the sliding glass door; Baloo not too far behind them. There across a lake they saw big rides above the tree line and heard screams and other forms of merriment fill the air in the distance along with a fanfare music barely heard at their distance.
"Whaaaat is thaaaaat?!" Kit and Molly asked in unison, their eyes affixed on what stood in the distance, mouths open in awe, their hands on the rail of the balcony of their second story Hotel Room.
"And how come we didn' see it last night?" Baloo finished as he walked up behind the kids, his eyes locked upon the same things in the distance.
Rebecca pinched between her eyes and squinted, "Baloo, it was midnight when we checked in, the lights were off and they were closed."
"Oh, right."
All of them just stared over the lake to the theme park, hypnotized by what awaited them on the other side, gazing upon something so incompressible that they had all forgotten themselves in the moment. It was not until Ms. Cunningham spoke to regain their attention that they moved into action.
"So, are you three just going to gawk at it all day or are you going to change clothes so we can have a vacation?!"
Kit and Molly looked at their mother and then at each other before pushing off the edge of the balcony railing and bolting past Baloo and Rebecca to their respective rooms. Within moments Kit and Molly had stripped out of their night clothes into their daytime attire caring nothing for tidying up the room before leaving and were waiting at the main door to their Hotel room. By the time Baloo was entering his room to do the same as Kit was already done and raced past him to meet Molly. Had they known where to go and what to do they probably would have left Ms. Cunningham in the dust, but as it stood they were at her mercy…for now anyway.
"If you three moved that fast on deliveries we would have more money to do this sort of thing more often." Ms. Cunningham stated in an upbeat sarcastic tone. She grabbed her backpack with all the paperwork and tickets and money and out the door and down the hall they went.
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All day Friday, the weekend, and all day Monday Kit and Molly ran this way and that across the Amusement Park, Baloo and Rebecca more than happy to follow them on their every whim. One Roller Coaster, ride, show, or jungle gym to explore and experience after another. Since it was in the middle of the school year there were not many people at the park which meant that there was almost no waiting for anything. Sometimes the adults would split and allow Kit and Molly to be on their own for a while to allow Baloo and Rebecca some time to have their fun, but mostly the four were together. The days at the parks came and went and each night after the fireworks had ended and the last rides of the day had come to a close the tired cubs would fall asleep either on the tram ride back to the hotel room or shortly after their showers but would eagerly awake the next morning to do it all over again. Baloo had noticed that Kit was sleeping peacefully with no signs of any nightmares, that or the cub was so tired that he was just deeply sleeping, either way he was grateful that Kit was finally getting some decent sleep for both of their sakes.
Tuesday morning was met with the melancholy feelings that normally come with leaving a place of joy. But the flight home wasn't all bad, especially with the added bonus of dinner and a last hurrah at Louie's for the return trip; that plus Kit and Molly making a few forays out to the dance floor much to the amusement of all in attendance. It was mainly filled with smiles that such an adventure had happened.
When the Seaduck landed at hire for Higher Kit was surprised how early it was and that the last few rays of light could still be seen fading in the distance. He knew it would still be daylight when they arrived what with the time zone difference and flying with the wind to get home as opposed to against it on their initial trip, but it still felt odd to him.
As everyone was unloading their gear from the Seaduck Ms. Cunningham made an announcement that tomorrow would be a day off to get ready for the real world for the day after would be met with deliveries and going back to school.
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.-End Epilogue, Part 2-
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.Epilogue, Part 3
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Over the days and weeks and years that followed Kit and Baloo would have many more adventures, some wild and dangerous, others happy and simple, and all the while Baloo watched with pride as his boy grew into a strong, healthy, and highly intelligent young man. But Kit wasn't the only one who had Baloo's fatherly affection. Molly had taken more of a liking to Baloo as more than just a friend or one of her mom's employees and joined in on the cargo runs more and more as she grew. So much so that the instillation of another chair was necessitated by the time she was eight and could no longer share a seat with her now fourteen year old semi-kinda-sorta-not-really-brother who she secretly was developing a crush on. Ms. Rebecca Cunningham managed to maintain a Boss-Lady and Motherly balance towards Kit and came to regarded Baloo as her closest friend. What with Molly going out on deliveries more and more Ms. Cunningham began to suspect something and quickly picked up on Molly's feelings towards Kit but seeing as the two were not blood-related she decided to let the young-flirt run its course and let whatever happened, happen; as long as it remained 'PG'. Little did she know that it was the beginning of something far more than just a simple crush.
Hire for Higher prospered and Kit was on the verge of high school graduation and moving on to the big leagues of life and would accomplish more in his life than Baloo ever could in his. Somewhere along the way to that pivotal point Kit had decided that it was time to discuss in detail his old life as an absconded orphan turned vagabond turned air-hobo turned sky pirate. Kit's adoptive parents and Molly listened attentively as he unloaded everything that he had been carrying for so many years and when he was done he felt like a new man, free and light; though he was still a teenager. And it wasn't long before that in which Molly, before leaving for another day of 4th grade waved goodbye to Baloo after breakfast and nonchalantly called him 'Dad' in passing in front of everyone at the business. Baloo was glad that the kids were gone because as soon as the door shut Baloo turned to Rebecca with a tear in his eye and a solemn look on his face, took a deep breath, and stated,
"Ya know Becky, I didn't know it at the time, but aside from the day I met Kit, the day you an' Molly walked through that door and took my business, that day was the best day of my life. Because of you I have everything I could ever want and never knew I needed."
Rebecca leaned back against her desk and folded her arms, trying her best to have an open heart at the moment but inadvertently going on the defensive.
"Baloo, as touched as I am to hear you say that, that doesn't change the fact that when you have enough money to buy the Seaduck you will take Kit and leave as you have so adamantly stated numerous times over the years leaving me without a pilot or a craft…" she paused for a moment and then alluded to the 'Dad' comment that had happened just a moment ago, "…and Molly without a father figure. So why do you tell me this now?"
Baloo sat in his big chair and wiped his nose on his arm, looking nowhere in particular but visualizing though his mind's eye how quickly the past three years had flown by.
"Becky, I have had enough money to buy the Seaduck for over a year now, but to tell ya the truth, I kinda like the way things are."
Rebecca's expression softened realizing that gravity of what Baloo said. He stayed not because he had to, but because he wanted to, because he truly cared about Molly and her.
"Ya know, I was never the most forward thinkin' bear what with livin' for today, no thought of tomorrow, but those kids really are perspective…"
Rebecca thought to herself as she listened, "What are you getting at Baloo, the last time I heard you say that Kit had only been with us for a month!"
"…I have $140,000 saved up inside a chest upstairs and no idea or desire what to spend it on."
Rebecca's eyes grew big as she listened, "You have how much?! No wonder you always seem broke! I mistook your frugality and saving for financial recklessness and squandering!" And then as Baloo continued, his next statement made Rebecca's heart skip a beat.
"I've given this a lot of thought and I really think that I am going to give it to Kit and Molly for College." Rebecca's hand came to her chest as if she was grabbing her heart. She couldn't believe this bear! For all his faults, for all the times she had yelled at him, belittled him for doing stupid things, his heart never ceased to amaze her and was the one quality about him that she never contested. Baloo continued, "Besides, what'm I gonna spend the money on? I have everythin' I want already."
"Oh Baloo. I….I don't know what to say…I…"
"Ya ain't gotta say nothin'. At this point, given everythin' we've all been though, Kit is as much your boy as Molly is my girl. I know I never signed nothin' for Molly, but you were there in court for Kit, and in my book that counts for somethin'."
"Baloo, I never got around to telling you, but do you remember back when Kit had his meltdown after the Air Circus?"
"How could I forget? That whole week was a week of worry and struggle. Why bring it up?"
Rebecca moved a chair to sit across from Baloo who remained in his Big Chair. "Well, when Kit knocked the stars out of me it made me realize that if anything happened to me Molly would end up in foster care or an orphanage. So shortly after we got back from our vacation I went and officially added you as next of Kin. Since she is my biological child and I have 100% parental rights I can add secondary kindship without the other person consenting or even knowing at the time. If something were to happen to me you would be summoned to court and asked if you would accept custody and parental rights of Molly. So what you said is correct Baloo, Kit is as much my son as Molly is your daughter. I kept this a secret because did not want to force anything upon you or put you in an awkward position but when Molly called you 'Dad' this morning and given what you just told me, I felt you should know now."
Just then the phone rang and there was a knock at the door and Rebecca instantly snapped up and out of her heart-to-heart with Baloo and back into business mode and ran to the door to answer it and then back to her desk in the nick of time, "Hello, Higher for Hire, how can I help you?..."
Baloo just sat in his chair and digested all that had happened this morning. His kids were now set for college and he couldn't have been happier with his life.
"Baloo! Here is the paperwork. This package has to go and it has to go NOW! They need it delivered in six hours and will pay a 20% bonus if you can get it there in four! Make it in four and we will talk about an extra day off. Now get going!"
Rebecca was literally pushing him out of the building while he read the paper. He was reading it but not too quick to move. He was still digesting how he had just used the term 'His kids' for the first time along with everything else that had happened. Within twelve minutes he had loaded up the cargo and was gone. As he flew he kept thinking, looking over to the empty navigator seat and the newly installed third seat for Molly. Prior to today he had never considered himself in the sense of a father. Sure Kit had been calling him 'Papa Bear' and 'Dad' for a couple years now and he had been calling him 'Son', but he had never thought of himself using the terminology of 'Father'. It all somehow seemed new to him even though it shouldn't. Maybe it was because he had just gained a daughter? Eventually Baloo decided that it didn't matter, all he knew was that he was on cloud nine and that the Joy and Love he felt for his family was like nothing he had experienced before in his life. Perhaps this is what it felt like and meant to be a father.
-End Epilogue, Part 3-
THE END