That was 'Moon River' by Audrey Hepburn. Not just a great actress but a sensational singer. Now here's Louis Armstrong's classic 'What A Wonderful Word'. " Alastor grabbed another record from the shelf and placed it in the device. He hit the button and the song began to play. "Though to be honest I think wonderful is a bit of an exaggeration. In my opinion the world is neutral at best. Ha! Ha!"

He was around seventeen to eighteen years old at the time and spending his after school days working as an intern for the local radio station. Recently he had suggested that maybe his employers could choose a day of the week to play classics as way to appeal to the listeners with old fashioned tastes. Some found his suggestion very skeptical but saw they no harm in giving it a chance and they were surprised to see how much positive feedback they received. Due to this Alastor was promoted to being the one who would host these classics.

"I have to tell you Alastor." Said Ray Davis, his boss at the time. "I really wasn't sure about that idea of yours a month ago but ever since we went through with it my ratings have gone through the roof."

"Glad that my suggestion proved to be very successful."

"And you have a gift for radio talk." He added. "You're real funny and witty with your words. That's exactly what listeners want in a radio host."

"Thank you Mr. Davis."

"Kid how many times have I told you to call me Ray?"

"Sorry sir. My mother raised me on old fashioned traditions."

"Well just remember that I like you kid. I like you a lot. Which is why I think you've earned a little something."

Ray pulled out his wallet and handed Alastor a fifty dollar bill.

"Sir I appreciate the offer." Alastor said. "But I couldn't take this."

"Nonsense. You've worked here without pay for a half year, you never give me any lip, and you helped my ratings go up. You deserve it."

"Thank you very much sir."

"Don't mention it. Seriously don't. I don't want any future interns begging me for dough. I never give money to interns because normally they turn out to be disrespectful smart mouths who are completely useless. You're not like that so you're the exception."

"I won't tell a soul."

With that assurance given, Alastor left the station to go on his lunch break. From the window he saw his girlfriend Charlie standing outside. Her hair was much longer back then and she kept it braided, she wore a cream-colored spring dress with long sleeves and a high neck along with matching white sandals. In her right hand she held a basket and with her left hand she waved to him so he would come out. He was already down before he could lower her arm.

"Hi Charlie." He greeted with a big smile. "What are you doing here?"

"You forgot your lunch." She told him. "I stopped by your mother's house to return the trimmers my father borrowed from her and she asked me to bring this to you since I was already on my way into town. I thought that maybe we could have lunch together."

"Sounds splendid."

They sat under a shady tree and enjoyed a meal of venison sandwiches, fresh strawberries, and a thermos of ice tea. When they finished eating there were thirty minutes left into Al's break so the two decided to take a walk by the lake that was located a little ways from the church. They walked hand in hand, in the sunshine and through the breeze, feeding leftover bread crumbs to ducks and geese. It was a lovely afternoon though the clouds were getting a little grey which indicated that it would probably rain this evening. This made Alastor worry a bit.

Charlie's parents had taken a week long missionary trip and they had decided to leave her home alone for the first time. She acted like she would be alright but Alastor was worried that she might be scared at night time. Especially if it was going to storm tonight.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me and Mother tonight?" He asked for the second time. "She doesn't mind."

"I'll be just fine." She replied. "I'm not as scared of being alone as I used to be. I've grown up. I've matured."

"Okay but if you get scared at all tonight don't hesitate to come over. I don't care how late it is."

"Stop fussing over me." She giggled. "I swear you're worse than my father."

"I just want to make sure that you-"

"Hey stupid!"

A rock was suddenly thrown at the back of Alastor's head. He and Charlie turned around to see One of his classmates from school.

"Why don't you go to a special school where you belong?" The bully who threw the rock said. "You're not actually going to graduate you know? You're a damn retard!"

"Quit it!" Charlie demanded. "Why don't you get a life and leave him alone?!"

"Need your girlfriend to fight your battles for ya, jackass boy?"

"No, no, no. No fighting." Alastor said. "We don't want any trouble. Come on Charlie let's keep going."

"I hate how everyone acts like your dumb or something." She said. "Do they even pay attention to how you act? Because you don't act retarded, you don't talk retarded, you're perfectly normal."

"I'll just grin and bear it a little longer. Soon school will be over and I can finally get away from these people. That is if my internship gets me into higher places."

"I'm sure it will. You know I listen to you every time you go on."

"Every time?"

"Every time and you sound incredible. With enough time I'm certain that-"

However she was cut off when she noticed some people staring at them. Staring, pointing, whispering, snickering, or giving looks of shame.

"Look at her dressed modestly, as if she's done no wrong." One gossipy woman whispered.

"The nerve of her trying to advantage of that poor retard." Another woman whispered. "Does she have no shame? Imagine the disgrace her parents will feel when they hear of this."

"I always knew that she was secretly a dirty girl." A man whispered. "I'm jealous of whoever she stripped for."

"What are they talking about?" Charlie asked Alastor quietly.

"I don't know." He answered. "Let's just ignore them and keep walking."

They did but it didn't make it better because once they reached the church they beheld a dreadful sight. On the widows and doors of the church there were pictures of Charlie's face doctored on to the bodies of various models from play boy magazines. Her face paled in sheer horror at the sight as did Alastor's and the next thing they knew there was laughter.

The cruel laughter of Charlie's own tormentor Delilah, her boyfriend, and her friends. They had done this. There was no doubt about it. They had taken Charile's picture from the church photos and edited it to create this obscene trash.

"Why?" He thought. "Why would they do this to her?"

"Nice buns Charlie." Delilah smirked wickedly. "We all knew you were a crazy freak but we never suspected that you were also a dirty little slut."

Charlie couldn't breathe. She just stood there trembling. Not sure weather to run or scream or cry or anything. She could only stand there and tremble. Alastor trembled too, but not with shock. With anger. Extreme anger. His blood boiled, his face turned burning red, he felt rage threaten to take control of him and make him seek retaliation for Charlie.

"No." He thought. "Keep calm. Don't lose your temper. Just get Charlie out of here and-"

But all reason flew out the window when Delilah's boyfriend made a move toward her.

"Here we all thought you were shy." He move his hands down her hips. Charlie was still too in shock to respond. "How could a girl who looks like you be shy?"

It all happened so fast. As soon as the perverted boy tried to slip his filthy hands under her dress, Alastor tackled him, slamming him onto the floor where he proceeded to beat him within an inch of his life.

"Alastor! Stop it! Stop it!" Charlie screamed having finally come out of her shock.

But he wouldn't stop. Not yet. Not until he made this bastard pay for touching the woman he loved.

"Control your psycho boyfriend you flirty bitch!" Delilah screeched.

So that's what this was all about. Delilah's lecherous and two-timing boyfriend had set his sights on Charlie and rather than blame the creep, she took her jealousy out on his perfect angel. His everyday sunshine. Well she'd pay for that. She'd pay for her envy and he'd pay for his lust. They'd all pay. He'd beat them. he'd stab them, he'd...He'd...He'd...

"Alastor stop! Please!"

Her voice came out in a sob and that was enough to reach him. That was enough for reason to regain control over emotion and cause him to look down at the young man he had given a black eye and a bleeding jaw to. Everyone around him was just staring at him completely speechless. But poor Charlie was crying. He didn't want her to cry.

Charlie ran, Alastor dropped his victim and chased after her.

"Charlie!" He called. "Charlie come back!"

"I just want to be alone!" She said.

"Charlie I'm sorry about that. I just-"

"I'm not mad at you I just- You can't do that!"

"He was trying to grab you!"

"I know but don't you remember what happened last time?! You could have gone too far and...And...Oh god this is all my fault!"

"No it's not."

"Yes it is. I'm getting you into trouble again! Just like last time!"

"Charlie that's not true!"

"I need to go home!"

"Charlie wait! Talk to me!"

"I don't want to talk! I just want to be alone! Please just leave me alone!"

He persisted for as long as he could but eventually he let her leave. When his break ended he asked Ray if he could have off early so he could take down those pictures at the church. He not only agreed but helped him do it. When he was done he went to her house and tried to talk to her but she wouldn't let him in. She still insisted that she wanted to be by herself.

In the end he had no choice but to go home to his mother. She was making jambalaya tonight which was Aalstor's favorite so Isabelle knew something was wrong with her son because he had barely touched the bowl she fixed for him.

"Something bothering you baby?" She asked.

"It's nothing." He said. "It was just a very long day at school. Very long and very busy."

"Now don't lie to me." She said sternly. "You know how I feel about lying."

"I just don't want to talk about it."

Isabelle paid close attention to the facial expressions of her son and was able to deduce what troubled him very quickly.

"It's Charlie isn't it?" She said.

"How did you know?"

"I'm your mother. I know everything and I know that you only make that face when you're worried about her. Now will you please tell me why you're so worried about her?"

So Alastor had told her the whole story.

"Oh that poor child." Isabelle said sympathetically. "She shouldn't be alone when she feels this way."

"I know but she wouldn't let me stay. I wanted to talk to her but she just told me to leave."

"Well maybe she just needed a moment to calm down. Why don't we go check on her? Bring her some dinner?"

"She won't let you in."

"I don't know. I'll be bringing along my apple beignets."

"Oh Mother that's just low." He scolded teasingly. "Bribing her with a treat you know she can't resist."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides it always works. It worked with your father, it worked with you, now we'll see if it works with her."

"What do you mean it worked with me? I hate sweets."

"True but you loved my hoecakes. Especially with butter. Now be a dear and go bring me my tupperware."

Alastor chuckled and did as his mother said. What a woman she was. Always so full of good sense and compassion. He was certain that she would be able to help Charlie feel better.

Or so he had hoped.