Verano, a white German Shepherd wakes up in his bed and yawns. He gets up from his bed and checks the time on his clock. It's about 8:30 in the morning, he stretches and walks into his bathroom. He takes a shower and then shakes himself off and dries himself the rest of the way with a towel. Verano then looks at himself in the mirror and looks at himself over. "You think you're better than me!" Verano said, looking deeply into the mirror.
"A wise guy huh? Put 'Em up buddy!" Verano said, pretending he was in a fight. Verano chuckled and then smiled looking into the mirror. "Today is going to be a good day," Verano said with confidence as he smiled looking at himself in the mirror. "Verano! Breakfast is ready!" Verano's grandfather said from downstairs. "Coming!" Verano said before looking in the mirror one last time. "You're a good dog Verano," Verano said to himself before heading downstairs.
Chapter 56: Verano
Thomas was eating his oatmeal while scrolling through this phone as sisters came into the kitchen. "We don't talk about Bruno!" They both started singing. "Really guys? Enough with that song," Thomas groaned. The girls giggled as they sat at the counter. Chilli had brought over the girls Breakfast as Bandit came into the house from his morning walk. "Hey family," Bandit said, getting some juice from the refrigerator. "Hey dad!" The girls said before eating their food. "Hey dad," Thomas said while looking through his phone. "Hello husband of mine," Chilli said as she kissed Bandit on his cheek.
"Dad, can we go to the park today?" Bluey asked while taking a bite of her toast. "Ah mate I have to work today," Bandit said looking down. "Aww," the girls said in a sad tone. "Can mum take us?" Bingo asked, looking at her mother. "I'm sorry kids, I have some Errands to run today," Chilli said looking at her daughters. "Aww," they said again. Then the whole family looked at Thomas. Thomas was about to take one last bite of his food as he looked at his family. "Oh no! I already had to hear them singing that same song for the past week!" Thomas said, looking at them. Everyone then gave him the ultimate look of desperation. Everyone at the same time gave Thomas a please face.
"Aww man," Thomas said looking at his family. Thomas bit his lip while looking at them, Thomas blinked and looked at his dad and then gave in. "Alright I'll take them," Thomas said looking down in defeat. "Hooray! The girls cheered, Thomas chuckled and cleared his plate and washed it. "Here mate;" Bandit said, handing his son some money. "What's this for?" Thomas asked, looking at the money. "Just to make sure you kids can get some lunch later," Bandit said softly. "Oh okay, thanks dad," Thomas said, taking the money. "Your welcome mate," Bandit said with a smile. Thomas nodded and then looked at his sisters. "Alright! The brother train leaves in ten minutes!" Thomas called out to his sisters. "Coming!" Bluey said as she and Bingo raced down the stairs.
"Have fun! And listen to your brother!" Chilli said waving to her daughters. "We will!" They both said as they got into their brother's car. They buckled themselves in and Thomas then started the car and started to drive them to the park. Bluey and Bingo were whispering to themselves and giggling. "Alright! Spill it!" Thomas looking in the rear view mirror. "Can you play we don't talk about Bruno?" Bluey asked, looking at her brother. "Do I have too?" Thomas asked in an almost groan.
"Please!" they said again with their please faces. "Fine.." Thomas said, turning on the song. It wasn't long that they then found the park with Thomas parking his car. "Alright girls will be here for an hour or two and then we'll go get lunch," Thomas said as he locked his car. "There's Graham!" Bluey said pointing at her friend. "Who?" Thomas asked, looking at his sister. "He's new to school and he has two dads," Bluey said, wagging her tail. "Oh okay, alright I'll be sitting here and you two have fun with your friends," Thomas said sitting down at the bench. "Aww won't you play with us too?" Bingo asked, looking at her big brother. "Maybe, in a little bit," Thomas said, sitting back on the bench. "Okay!" Bingo said, wagging her tail before joining her sister at the playground. Thomas smiled while shaking his head and then looked at his phone.
Verano just finished his breakfast and looked out the window and stared at nothing in particular, just admiring the warm day. "Any plans for the day Verano?" Joe Verano's grandfather asked. Verano didn't answer as he really didn't hear the question as he kept staring out the window. "Verano?" Joe asked again, now looking at his grandson. "Huh? Oh sorry grandpa, what was the question?" Verano asked, looking at his grandfather. "I asked you if you had any plans for the day," Joe asked, now sitting down at the table with his coffee. Verano looked down and thought for a moment before answering. "No nothing really, but I was thinking about taking a walk to the park," Verano said.
"Really? that would be nice, need some money?" Joe asked while reading his paper. "Grandpa, I don't want to take your money," Verano said, still looking down. "It's fine Verano, you should get out more and meet people even," Joe said as he grabbed his wallet. "Here boy, go have some fun and pick up some milk on the way home," Joe said, handing his grandson some money.
"Thanks Grandpa," Verano said nervously. "Alright boy, your burning daylight," Joe said, still reading his paper. Verano nodded and then stood up and left the apartment. Verano walked along the sidewalk to the park with his head down low. About halfway to the park Verano stopped at Churro cart and bought a strawberry cheesecake churro. "Thanks sir, it's a nice day that we're having aren't we?" Verano said nervously to the dog selling the churros.
"Yeah sure," The dog said, handing Verano the churro. "Um, did you know that the churro was supposedly inspired by the ridged horns of the native Churra sheep," Verano said before taking a bite of his churro. "Kid, I really hate my job, just please go away," The grumpy dog said. Verano looked down with a sad face and then went on his way to the park.
Thomas was looking at his phone and heard his sisters laughing and having a good time which made him look up and smiled while seeing them play with Graham who was a black lab with a bandanna around his neck. "Say cheese Graham!" One of Graham's said while trying to take a picture of his son. "Cheese!" Graham said while smiling on the monkey bars. Thomas chuckled and then went back to looking at his phone. Verano had made it to the park while eating his churro and sat down at the bench on the other side of the playground.
Verano watched the kids play and watched as the two dads were taking a picture of their son on the monkey bars. Verano took a bite of his churro and then saw two Heeler pups one red and one blue playing on his side of the playground. He noticed the red Heeler pup looked at him and smiled while waving at him. Verano smiled at her and waved back. "Hello," Bingo said, looking at Verano. "Hi," Verano said a little quietly. "Bingo we shouldn't be talking to strangers," Bluey whispered to her sister. Verano heard that and looked down with a sad look. "Bluey you hurt his feelings," Bingo said looking at her sister. "B-but mum and dad said-" Bluey said before Bingo interrupted her. "He's friendly and needs a friend," Bingo said, now looking at Verano.
Verano perked up and smiled at Bingo. "Do you want a bite of my churro?" Verano asked awkwardly. "Ooh! Sure!" Bingo said happily while wagging her tail. Verano smiled, wagging his tail before standing up. Bluey knew she had to speak up about this. "Bingo No!" Bluey shouted which startled her and made her fall from the slide. Thomas quickly shot up as he saw his younger sister fall. Verano quickly ran over to Bingo as she landed on her leg. "Ow!" Bingo holding her leg with tears in her eyes. "Bingo!" Bluey getting down from the slide. "Bingo!" Thomas shouted as he ran over to his sister.
"Bingo, are you okay?" Verano asked her, now knowing her name. He then tried to pick her up to comfort her from the pain. "Hey! Get away from my sister!" Thomas shouted in anger. Thomas then grabbed his sister from Verano. "Hey man I was just trying to help! She fell from the slide after I just asked if she wanted a bite from the churro," Verano explained very badly. "What the hell?! Get away from us!" Thomas said while holding Bingo who was still crying. "Come on man, you're scaring her!" Verano said while trying to follow them to the car. "Dude! Back off!" Thomas shouted. "At least let me help man please," Verano said while continuing to follow. "Bluey get in the car," Thomas ordered while trying to put Bingo in the car. "Don't yell at her!" Verano growled. Bluey started to tear up as she then got into the car and buckled herself in.
"It'll be okay Bingo," Verano said looking at the small red Heeler who was crying in the backseat. "Don't you dare talk to my sister!" Thomas said, pushing Verano. "Don't touch me man I was trying to help!" Verano shot back. "Stay the hell away from my sister's you freak!" Thomas shouted now getting into his car. Thomas started the car and then drove off to the hospital. A lot of dogs were staring at Verano and talking to themselves about the incident that had occurred. Verano then started walking away from the park as fast as he could home.
While Thomas was heated with his blood boiling as he drove he looked in the rear view mirror and then back on the road. "Bingo what did that creep say to you?" Thomas asked in Strict tone. Bingo was still crying but calming down as she tried to answer him. "H-he… H-he," Bingo tried to say but was hyperventilating. "Well?! You shouldn't be talking to strangers!" Thomas said, raising his voice. Bingo started to cry more as he drove them to the hospital. "Don't yell at her!" Bluey said with tears in her eyes. "Bluey not now," Thomas said strictly as he pulled up to the hospital parking lot. Thomas parks the car and picks up Bingo from her car seat and Carries her in his arms with Bluey by his side.
Bingo was crying while burying her face into her brother's shoulder. "I think my sister sprained her ankle," Thomas said to the receptionist. The receptionist nodded and got them in. Thomas sat Bingo down on the bed and then started to call their parents. Thomas and Bluey sat down and waited for their parents. "Are you mad Thomas?" Bluey asked, looking up at her brother. "Mad? Of course I'm mad, why would you two talk to that kid? You don't know him, he's a Stranger," Thomas said, looking at his sister with his arms crossed. "I didn't! She started talking to him first! And then I startled her and then she fell!" Bluey said defensively. "Ever heard of Stranger danger?" Thomas said coldly. "I told you I didn't talk to him!" Bluey said, raising her voice a bit. "Calm down," Thomas said with a sigh.
Bluey teared up again and crossed her arms and looked forward. Not long later Bandit and Chilli rush into the room. "Thomas what happened mate?" Bandit asked his son while Chilli went over to Bingo. "They were playing on the playground and Bingo fell off the slide and on her leg." Thomas explained. "And you weren't watching them?" Bandit said a little rudely. "I was! They were playing with their friend until Bingo was talking to a stranger," Thomas said "he's not a stranger! He was a nice dog!" Bingo spoke up again with tears in her eyes. "Bingo, sweetie we talked about not talking to strange dogs without one of us and that includes your brother," Chilli said while holding Bingo close to her.
Bandit looked at his son with an angry look on his face. "You are responsible for your sister's mate and you're mum and I put a lot of trust in you," Bandit said firmly. "Bandit," Chilli said, noticing where her husband was going with this. "I am responsible for them! Do you think I wanted this to happen!" Thomas said defensively. "No! But look where we are now mate! You're grounded!" Bandit said, raising his voice. "Bandit!" Chilli said, looking at her husband. "That's not fair!" Thømas shot back. "Fair?! Your sister's leg is hurt, do you think that's fair?" Bandit asked, still angry. Thomas looked at his dad with anger as tears started to form. "Mom would hear me out," Thomas said looking at his dad. Bandit was surprised by that comeback. "I'm going home," Thomas said before walking out of the room. "Thomas," Bandit said but Thomas kept walking. Bandit sighed and then looked at Chilli who had an angry look on her face. "That was way out of line Bandit," Chilli said, still holding Bingo. Bandit sighed and then sat down with his wife and daughters.
Verano walked into his Grandpa's apartment and place the milk in the refrigerator and then went straight to his room. Joe was already in his room taking a nap as Verano got home. Verano shuts his door and lays down on his bed and stares up at the ceiling. Verano thought about all the different Scenarios that he could have done better for Bingo if he just had a better reaction to it. Verano then sat up and wrote down in his journal of what happened that day. After he was finished he laid back down on the bed and continued to stare at the ceiling.
Thomas went into his room and laid down on his bed. Filled with rage he cried while laying down on his bed. Thomas felt betrayed by his dad once again like he used to when he was younger. Although his change of heart couldn't revert back to hating him like he did. Thomas heard his family get inside the house as he continued to cry to himself quietly. "Mate?" Bandit asked, knocking on the door. Thomas didn't answer, he continued to lay there in his bed. "Thomas I'm sorry mate I shouldn't have yelled at you," Bandit said behind the door. Thomas still didn't answer. Bandit sighed and left his son be. Bandit went to his study and worked on some work for a little bit. Chilli decided to make some lunch for the kids with Bingo on the couch resting her leg as she indeed just sprained it. Bluey brought out some paper and color pencils for them to make drawings.
"Mum?" Bluey asked, looking at her mother. "Yes sweetie?" Chilli said, looking at her daughter. "Is Dad and Thomas going to be okay?" Bluey asked. Chilli had a light smile as she looked at her daughter. "Of course they will sweetie your dad and brother just need a little time apart to cool off," Chilli explained. "This is my fault," Bingo said looking down. "Oh no sweetie it's not," Chilli said, coming over to her youngest and hugged her.
"If I didn't talk to that boy, maybe Thomas wouldn't have gotten grounded," Bingo said with a sniff. "We all make mistakes honey," Chilli said, now sitting next to her daughter. "But still," Bingo said looking down. "Everything will be okay," Chilli said, giving a kiss on Bingo's head. Bandit continued his work on his laptop and then sighed from the stress of yelling at his son who only tries his best for their family. Bandit then rolled around on his yoga ball and then looked at a picture of him and Thomas out at the park in Los Angeles playing space dog. Bandit smiled while looking at the picture.
(Flashback)
"Come on dad! To the spaceship!" Thomas said with his space helmet. "I'm coming mate!" Bandit said running over to his son and picking up the box that Thomas was sitting in and making rocket noises "to mars!" Thomas shouted as he took lift off in the air. Bandit carried his son around in the box pretending to make him fly around. "Aliens are coming!" Thomas shouted as Bandit made the box shake like it was going down. "Oh no! You're going down mate!" Bandit said, making crashing noises. "Oh no!" Thomas said as the box gently landed on the play structure. "Dad, can you be the big blue alien?" Thomas asked, looking at his dad. "Sure mate!" Bandit said with a smile. Thomas then got his water gun ready and pointed at his dad.
"Go away you big blue alien!" Thømas said while shooting his water gun at Bandit. Bandit made some monster noises and then took the hits from the water gun. "My meal is here!" Bandit said, making light growls. "No!" Thømas said while laughing while shooting his water gun. Soon Thømas ran out of water. "Uh oh," Thomas said as he looked at his dad who then had a smirk on his face as he ran after his son. "I got my meal!" Bandit said as he grabbed Thomas and picked him up.
"Dad! You're all wet!" Thomas said while laughing. Bandit then started to tickle him. "Well that's what happens when you try to kill the Indestructible alien!" Bandit shouted while continuing to tickle his son. Emily was reading a book nearby as she looked up and saw her husband and son playing and laughing. She chuckled and smiled before standing up. "Are you boys hungry?" Emily asked them. Bandit and Thomas then looked at Emily and smiled. "I am mom!" Thomas called out to her. Bandit had a smirk again and grabbed his son again and picked him up and threw him over his shoulder "nah I have lunch right here!" Bandit said while walking over to his wife. "Dad!" Thomas said while laughing.
"Such a strong and good looking dog," Emily said walking over to her husband who held their son on his shoulder. "Oh this thing? This is just my gym bag," Bandit jokes. "Gym bag?!" Thomas said with a chuckle. "Oh then a gym dog, how romantic," Emily said now cuddling against Bandit. Bandit smiled and then kissed his wife. "You guys are gross! I'm still here!" Thomas said, trying to wiggle out.
"I'm sorry miss, my gym bag has a mind of its own," Bandit said, adjusting Thomas to make him stay. "Mom! Dad!" Thomas said again laughing. "Well we better feed the bag before it gets too hungry," Emily said, playing along. "I think your right Mrs. Heeler," Bandit said with a smile. "Alright Mr. Heele I'll meet you at the car," Emily said as she went to pack her things. Bandit watched his wife with a smile before putting down his son. "Dad?" Thomas said, looking up at his dad. "Yes mate?" Bandit said, looking down at his son with his smile, "you have that look again, why do you have that look every time you look at mom?" Thomas asked, tilting his head to the left. "Well mate you'll understand when your older and have a wife of your own," Bandit explained as he picked up his son and put him on his head and walked him over to the car.
(End of Flashback)
Bandit then knocked on the door again of his son's room. "Come in," Thomas said in a low tone but loud enough for his dad to hear him. Bandit opened the door and walked into the room and closed the door behind him. "Can we talk mate?" Bandit asked softly while looking at Thomas who was at his desk drawing. "Sure, I guess," Thomas said while drawing. Bandit nodded and sat down at his son's bed. "Thomas, I'm sorry I shouldn't have raised my voice at you and I know you love the girls very much," Bandit explained. Thomas sighed and stopped drawing and looked at his dad. "No you had a right too, it's just this one time I wasn't looking and she fell, but they're mostly good just playing on play structure without me looking," Thomas explained.
Bandit nodded understanding. "You said mom would hear you out and I know she would have and I need to be more understanding of that, I need to hear you for what you have to say and I'm sorry that I wasn't hearing you," Bandit said softly. Thomas nodded and then sat on the bed with his dad and rested his head on his dad's shoulder.
"Thanks for listening," Thomas said, still resting his head. "Am I still grounded?" Thomas asked, looking at his dad. "No, no you're not but I do want you to do me a favor," Bandit said now standing up. "Yeah? What's that dad?" Thomas asked looking at his dad. "Can you do by Joe's welding shop and get a storage rack made for me?" Bandit asked getting his wallet out. "Sure thing dad," Thomas said as he stood up. "Great! Here's my card and don't go to wild," Bandit said with a chuckle.
"Sure… I'll buy my next ticket out of the country," Thomas jokes. "Then you will be grounded for life and until I say so," Bandit replied with a chuckle. Thomas rolled his eyes and took his dad's card and then left the house. "Everything worked out?" Chilli asked. "Yeah, I just need to trust our son and listen to him more," Bandit said as he kissed his wife on her cheek. "Dad, can you draw with us?" Bluey asked looking at her dad. "Sure mate!" Bandit said happily and went over to his daughters and started to draw with them. Chilli smiled seeing them drawing as she continued making lunch.
Thomas used his GPS to get to the shop and when he found it. He got out of his car and went inside the shop. "Hello?" Thomas asked while looking around. "Be right with you," someone said in the back. "Okay," Thomas as he then looked down at his phone and was texting Tori. "Hello, how can I- you!" Verano said speechless looking at Thomas. Thomas looked up with his eyes wide seeing Verano again.
"Oh great! You work here?!" Thomas said, taking a step back. "With my grandpa Joe," Verano said rubbing the back of his neck. Thomas huffed and puffed trying to think of what to do. The next nearest welding shop was across town and needed a boat to get to it. "Alright man! I need a storage rack and that's all!" Thomas said rudely, getting his dad's card out. "Sure thing um… Bandit Heeler," Verano said, getting a glimpse of the debit card that was Bandit's. "What? I'm not Bandit," Thomas said looking at Verano. "Oh I just thought… n-never mind," Verano said, now writing in the order. "H-how's your s-sister B-Bingo is it?" Verano asked nervously . "Man don't even start your the reason she got hurt," Thomas said looking at Verano with a Strict look.
"I-I just want to make sure she was okay that fall was pretty hard," Verano said now finishing writing up the order. Thomas then took a deep breath and then answered. "She's fine, just a sprained ankle," Thomas said, taking out his phone to get the measurements for the rack. "G-good I'm glad," Verano said with a smile while wagging his tail. "Can you make these measurements for the rack?" Thomas asked, showing Verano the measurements from his phone. "Sure thing, I just need your name for a delivery order on Friday," Verano said, getting ready to write it down.
"Thomas, Thomas Heeler," Thomas answered. "Thomas Heeler," Verano said as he wrote it down and then he recognized the last name. "Is your grandpa's name Robert Heeler?" Verano asked, looking at Thomas. "Yeah, well it's Bob for short," Thomas answered. "Why?" Thomas asked, confused. "My grandpa is friends with him, he doesn't come in much anymore but they are friends and talk a lot," Verano said now ringing up the price. "Which is why my dad probably sent me here," Thomas said with a chuckle. "Yeah probably," Verano said also with a nervous chuckle. "Alright it's going to be one twenty even but since your related to Robert I'll give you a twenty percent discount and make it just ninety six," Verano said, now looking at Thomas.
"You'd really do that?" Thomas asked, surprised. "Sure! Robert is like a family friend since my Grandpa moved here and opened the shop; he's been the first customer ever since," Verano said happily wagging his tail. "Really? I didn't know that. I only moved here a year ago and am still learning things around here," Thomas a little embarrassed, still learning everything in his dad's home country. "I could tell you weren't from here, I'm not either, I'm from Michigan," Verano explained. "No kidding? I'm from Los Angeles actually," Thomas said with a light smile. "I guess we're in the same boat of not being from here," Verano said with a chuckle. "Yeah I guess so," Thomas said, now paying for the storage rack.
"Look um… What's your name?" Thomas asked, leaning forward. "Verano," Verano answered again, wagging his tail. "Verano, I'm sorry about earlier at the park. My sisters especially Bingo, she's the youngest and she's five so we're still explaining what Strangers are," Thomas explained. "I get it and I'm sorry for causing that scene at the park. I don't you know and you don't know me I was in the wrong," Verano said looking down. "You're lucky I didn't punch you in the face," Thomas said with a chuckle.
Verano chuckled nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. "I have to close up shop and wait for my grandpa to look over everything because I'm an amateur at this so I need to help me with some stuff, but do you want to get some pie with me?" Verano asked nervously. Thomas was surprised with Verano again with him being more Straightforward with asking him to get a pastry. Thomas thought about it and then smiled. "Sure why not," Thomas said still with his smile. "Great! I-I mean yeah I know a place just around the corner with the best apple pie!" Verano said while moving quickly to get things locked up.
It wasn't long that they went to a little place on the corner that sells "Australia's best apple pie!" This place was kind of new since a normal place would have meat pies. "This is place is nice, I'll have to tell my family about this place," Thomas said while eating his apple pie with Ice cream and coffee. "I come here a lot," Verano said while also eating pie with coffee. "Do you come here alone?" Thomas asked while eating. "Yeah… I-I don't have many friends," Verano said as he took a drink of his coffee. "Oh.." Thomas said, looking down. "I think that's going to change," Thomas said with a soft smile while looking up at Verano. Verano looked at Thomas and smiled back at him.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey Guys! How's it going? This will be the last chapter for a little bit as I will continue onto "When Loves Around" and while I'm here I wanted to explain this new Character Verano. He was a Creation from a reader and we worked out the direction and his Characteristics of him. So there for he has a special place in the Sad Faces universe and will have his own spin off soon.
We will see him more as Sad Faces continues and it's sequels. Also if any of you have OCs that you want a feature and a storyline in the Sad Faces universe then let me know what you would like to have happen and tell me everything about your OC and I mean everything the do's and dont's of he, she, they or them and I'll do the best to make it happen for you! Alright guys I'll see you soon for "When Loves Around" see you soon!