The Feeling - Alternate Chapter Nineteen: As We March Into The Future
Tino drove down the familiar street very slowly looking for a parking space. He looked at his watch and then turned to Lor in the passenger seat.
"Alright, it looks like we are gonna be right on time as usual. Perfect timing every year, oh yeah, that's what it's all about."
Lor chuckled slightly, "You get so excited over such little things."
"Punctuality is a sign of a gentleman, my good lady," Tino responded with a fake sophisticated air in his voice.
"Hey, just because I'm in a dress don't start calling me a lady. I'm not too big a fan of dresses, which is why I practically never wear them," Lor responded.
"No one told you to wear one. I mean the only other times I can remember you in a dress are my mom's wedding to Dixon and our own wedding four years back," Tino commented as he started to park.
"I guess that's true, but I felt like wearing a dress for the party this year."
"Why? You have never worn one in the past to my mom's New Years Eve party." Tino asked.
Lor went to answer, but she was interrupted by a small voice from behind her, "Mommy, are we going into grandma's?"
Lor turned to the small boy sitting behind her and said, "Yes dear, in a moment. Just hang tight with your sister."
Lor pointed to the baby seated next to him as she finished.
"Like I was going to say, I'm wearin' a dress because tonight is a special New Year's Eve," Lor said slightly smiling.
"It is? What makes this one special?" Tino asked.
Lor smiled wide and said, "This is the tenth anniversary of our first New Year's as a couple, and it's when you said that this would be our time."
"Could we please go inside now?" an impatient voice called out.
Tino looked to the way back of the van, "Have some patience, Carver! Geez."
Carver mumbled something and got himself an elbow in the side from Tish who was sitting next to him and giving him a stare. Everyone piled out of the van with Lor carrying her baby daughter and Tino holding his son's hand.
"Ahhh, feels good to walk up this walkway once again," Tino commented.
"You say that every time we come here," Lor said.
"Yeah I know. That's because it feels good every time. I grew up in this house and it feels good to come back."
In those ten years a lot had changed, and yet things still seemed to stay the same. Tino and Lor had gotten married and both lived together in a house on the edge of town with their two children, Kain and Mindy. Tino had become a writer of comic books and novellas, and Lor had become a minor league softball player. As for Carver, he landed his dream job as a shoe designer after Dixon put in a good word for him at Tommy Hugo's. In addition to that, he had recently become engaged to none other than Dixon's daughter, Moira, after Dixon put in a good word for him again. While Carver had gotten a career and planned on settling down, Tish was still in school. Not just any schooling though, she was on her way to her doctorate. She had chosen to get a PhD in English Literature before plans for marriage and a definite career choice. She was still deciding on becoming a poet or an actress. Despite all their different paths, the four still were regulars at the ever-changing pizza shop, and their synchronization remained intact.
"Man, I can't wait to get some food. I haven't eaten all day, and I'm starving! Plus, Dixon makes the best food in the world," Carver said licking his lips.
"Yeah, tell me about it. I love eating Dixon's food. It certainly beats the food that I am used......" Tino trailed off as he caught Lor's eyes burning a hole into him.
Lor knocked on the door and it was promptly answered by Dixon.
"Well, look who it is. We're glad you could make it, come on in."
The group entered and when they did Tino's mom rushed right over to them.
"Oh what a warm welcome, Mom!" Tino said stretching his arms out to hug her.
However, she passed right by him and hugged Mindy instead.
"My, the love in this house is overwhelming," Tino commented flatly.
"Oh sorry, honey. I didn't notice you were there," Tino's mom said, "And look who you have with you, it's little Kain."
"Hello, grandma," Kain answered.
Mrs. Tonitini picked him up and carried him into the living room and everyone else followed.
"Here let me take, Mindy so you can take a load off and enjoy yourself," Dixon offered.
"Oh, are you sure? I don't want to trouble you," Lor responded.
"Think nothing of it. I love playing with the little kids," Dixon said picking up Mindy.
Lor joined the others standing around at the food table.
"Nothing like this traditional New Year's Eve party. I tell ya, this the best way to end the year. Every year I have a great time here. Good food, good friends, and good champagne, yep this is the way to see in the New Year," Carver said in between stuffing his face with food.
"I definitely agree with you on that, Carv. Having all my friends and family here it makes me happy and relaxed allowing me to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future," Tino commented.
"Definitely, after working hard in school it feels good to relax and just hang out here. I love these parties because they are the most fitting end possible to the year. I look forward to this even more than my birthday," Tish added.
"I know I'm glad that even after all these years we are still here every New Year's Eve and we ring in the New Year together," Lor commented.
"Of course, we are the quintessential quad after all. We are friends to the end and in ten, twenty, thirty years, we will still be ringing in the New Year together," Tino said.
"Well, unless of course one of us dies in ten, twenty, thirty years."
"Yeah, but what are the chances of that happening?" Tino responded.
There was a knock at the door, and in walked Moira.
"Hey, if it isn't my fiancé," Carver called out to her.
Moira walked over to them and grabbed Carver's hand.
"Hey sis, I haven't seen you in awhile. Congratulations on your engagement to Carv. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's a good guy," Tino said with a smirk.
Moira chuckled a little and said, "Thanks, bro. I sure hope he is a good guy I'm goin on my dad's word and yours now too."
Carver stared at the two not very amused by their joking.
"Ahem. Since I see I'm not appreciated here. I guess I'll just leave."
"Oh lighten up. You know we are only joking. I know you are a good guy. I mean how could someone who knows so much about shoes not be a good guy?" Moira said.
Carver smiled, "That's right. You can tell I'm a good guy just by looking at me. My shoes alone tell you that."
Tino, Tish, and Lor rolled their eyes, but Carver ignored them and fixated himself on Moira instead.
"Hey, I'll catch you guys later. I want to talk to Moira for a bit," Carver said walking away.
The three nodded in acknowledgement.
"I have to say those two make the perfect couple. I've never met two people more into shoes than them. In a way, I'm anticipating and also fearing the day they have a child," Tino commented.
Lor and Tish both agreed.
"Well, I'm going to take my leave for the time being and discuss some poetry and literature with Dixon. Hopefully, some of our discussion will rub off on your daughter in these early, impressionable years," Tish said leaving Tino and Lor exchanging glances.
"It looks like it's just us for the time being. This used to be a very familiar setting before we had children. I like this peace and quiet," Tino commented.
"Yeah, but I would take our children over this peace and quiet any day. It will be wonderful watching them grow up, and of course they can benefit from our knowledge of maturing."
"Yeah, but we won't have to worry about that for some time. Kain's only three years old and Mindy is just six months old. But you are right, though, when the time comes I want to make sure that these kids to learn from us. My hope is that I can be as a good a parent to these kids as my mom has been to me."
"I have faith in you, Tino. And of course, it's not like you are alone. We are a team, remember? I think that between the two of us we will do just fine."
"Yeah, I think you're right. We have worked together well so far, and we'll raise our kids just right. Enough of that, let's get something to drink and celebrate New Year's Eve."
The party continued on into the night approaching midnight. Everyone danced and talked the night away throughout the house, but everyone gathered together once midnight was a few minutes. Everyone that is, except Kain and Mindy who had fallen asleep earlier. The countdown sounded off and everyone broke into song and dance at the stroke of midnight. The four friends all gathered together and Tino filled their glasses with champagne and proposed a toast.
"Here is to good friends," Carver said.
"And to good family," Tish offered.
"And to good times," Lor added.
"May they all continue as we march into the future," Tino finished.
The four tapped their glasses together and drank up. They all looked at each other and smiled knowing that they couldn't ask for anything more than for moments like these.
As he looked at his friends Tino couldn't help but think, "This is it. Good friends, good times, yeah that's what it's all about. It's still our time."
Tino smiled wide as he looked through a window, up at the sky and thought, "Later days."
THE END
Okay, that ends that. Now everything has been posted and this story concludes for real this time. Remember though, that this is just an alternate ending. The definitive ending resides in chapters 18 and 19. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who read this story. I'm very appreciative of any and all support I received. It all means a lot to me, and so I thank you once again. I hoped you enjoyed reading this story, I know I enjoyed writing it. And though this story may be done now, I am certainly not. I have already started work on a new Weekenders fic. I'm here for the long run. Remember to keep readin' and reviewin'. Later days!
Tino drove down the familiar street very slowly looking for a parking space. He looked at his watch and then turned to Lor in the passenger seat.
"Alright, it looks like we are gonna be right on time as usual. Perfect timing every year, oh yeah, that's what it's all about."
Lor chuckled slightly, "You get so excited over such little things."
"Punctuality is a sign of a gentleman, my good lady," Tino responded with a fake sophisticated air in his voice.
"Hey, just because I'm in a dress don't start calling me a lady. I'm not too big a fan of dresses, which is why I practically never wear them," Lor responded.
"No one told you to wear one. I mean the only other times I can remember you in a dress are my mom's wedding to Dixon and our own wedding four years back," Tino commented as he started to park.
"I guess that's true, but I felt like wearing a dress for the party this year."
"Why? You have never worn one in the past to my mom's New Years Eve party." Tino asked.
Lor went to answer, but she was interrupted by a small voice from behind her, "Mommy, are we going into grandma's?"
Lor turned to the small boy sitting behind her and said, "Yes dear, in a moment. Just hang tight with your sister."
Lor pointed to the baby seated next to him as she finished.
"Like I was going to say, I'm wearin' a dress because tonight is a special New Year's Eve," Lor said slightly smiling.
"It is? What makes this one special?" Tino asked.
Lor smiled wide and said, "This is the tenth anniversary of our first New Year's as a couple, and it's when you said that this would be our time."
"Could we please go inside now?" an impatient voice called out.
Tino looked to the way back of the van, "Have some patience, Carver! Geez."
Carver mumbled something and got himself an elbow in the side from Tish who was sitting next to him and giving him a stare. Everyone piled out of the van with Lor carrying her baby daughter and Tino holding his son's hand.
"Ahhh, feels good to walk up this walkway once again," Tino commented.
"You say that every time we come here," Lor said.
"Yeah I know. That's because it feels good every time. I grew up in this house and it feels good to come back."
In those ten years a lot had changed, and yet things still seemed to stay the same. Tino and Lor had gotten married and both lived together in a house on the edge of town with their two children, Kain and Mindy. Tino had become a writer of comic books and novellas, and Lor had become a minor league softball player. As for Carver, he landed his dream job as a shoe designer after Dixon put in a good word for him at Tommy Hugo's. In addition to that, he had recently become engaged to none other than Dixon's daughter, Moira, after Dixon put in a good word for him again. While Carver had gotten a career and planned on settling down, Tish was still in school. Not just any schooling though, she was on her way to her doctorate. She had chosen to get a PhD in English Literature before plans for marriage and a definite career choice. She was still deciding on becoming a poet or an actress. Despite all their different paths, the four still were regulars at the ever-changing pizza shop, and their synchronization remained intact.
"Man, I can't wait to get some food. I haven't eaten all day, and I'm starving! Plus, Dixon makes the best food in the world," Carver said licking his lips.
"Yeah, tell me about it. I love eating Dixon's food. It certainly beats the food that I am used......" Tino trailed off as he caught Lor's eyes burning a hole into him.
Lor knocked on the door and it was promptly answered by Dixon.
"Well, look who it is. We're glad you could make it, come on in."
The group entered and when they did Tino's mom rushed right over to them.
"Oh what a warm welcome, Mom!" Tino said stretching his arms out to hug her.
However, she passed right by him and hugged Mindy instead.
"My, the love in this house is overwhelming," Tino commented flatly.
"Oh sorry, honey. I didn't notice you were there," Tino's mom said, "And look who you have with you, it's little Kain."
"Hello, grandma," Kain answered.
Mrs. Tonitini picked him up and carried him into the living room and everyone else followed.
"Here let me take, Mindy so you can take a load off and enjoy yourself," Dixon offered.
"Oh, are you sure? I don't want to trouble you," Lor responded.
"Think nothing of it. I love playing with the little kids," Dixon said picking up Mindy.
Lor joined the others standing around at the food table.
"Nothing like this traditional New Year's Eve party. I tell ya, this the best way to end the year. Every year I have a great time here. Good food, good friends, and good champagne, yep this is the way to see in the New Year," Carver said in between stuffing his face with food.
"I definitely agree with you on that, Carv. Having all my friends and family here it makes me happy and relaxed allowing me to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future," Tino commented.
"Definitely, after working hard in school it feels good to relax and just hang out here. I love these parties because they are the most fitting end possible to the year. I look forward to this even more than my birthday," Tish added.
"I know I'm glad that even after all these years we are still here every New Year's Eve and we ring in the New Year together," Lor commented.
"Of course, we are the quintessential quad after all. We are friends to the end and in ten, twenty, thirty years, we will still be ringing in the New Year together," Tino said.
"Well, unless of course one of us dies in ten, twenty, thirty years."
"Yeah, but what are the chances of that happening?" Tino responded.
There was a knock at the door, and in walked Moira.
"Hey, if it isn't my fiancé," Carver called out to her.
Moira walked over to them and grabbed Carver's hand.
"Hey sis, I haven't seen you in awhile. Congratulations on your engagement to Carv. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's a good guy," Tino said with a smirk.
Moira chuckled a little and said, "Thanks, bro. I sure hope he is a good guy I'm goin on my dad's word and yours now too."
Carver stared at the two not very amused by their joking.
"Ahem. Since I see I'm not appreciated here. I guess I'll just leave."
"Oh lighten up. You know we are only joking. I know you are a good guy. I mean how could someone who knows so much about shoes not be a good guy?" Moira said.
Carver smiled, "That's right. You can tell I'm a good guy just by looking at me. My shoes alone tell you that."
Tino, Tish, and Lor rolled their eyes, but Carver ignored them and fixated himself on Moira instead.
"Hey, I'll catch you guys later. I want to talk to Moira for a bit," Carver said walking away.
The three nodded in acknowledgement.
"I have to say those two make the perfect couple. I've never met two people more into shoes than them. In a way, I'm anticipating and also fearing the day they have a child," Tino commented.
Lor and Tish both agreed.
"Well, I'm going to take my leave for the time being and discuss some poetry and literature with Dixon. Hopefully, some of our discussion will rub off on your daughter in these early, impressionable years," Tish said leaving Tino and Lor exchanging glances.
"It looks like it's just us for the time being. This used to be a very familiar setting before we had children. I like this peace and quiet," Tino commented.
"Yeah, but I would take our children over this peace and quiet any day. It will be wonderful watching them grow up, and of course they can benefit from our knowledge of maturing."
"Yeah, but we won't have to worry about that for some time. Kain's only three years old and Mindy is just six months old. But you are right, though, when the time comes I want to make sure that these kids to learn from us. My hope is that I can be as a good a parent to these kids as my mom has been to me."
"I have faith in you, Tino. And of course, it's not like you are alone. We are a team, remember? I think that between the two of us we will do just fine."
"Yeah, I think you're right. We have worked together well so far, and we'll raise our kids just right. Enough of that, let's get something to drink and celebrate New Year's Eve."
The party continued on into the night approaching midnight. Everyone danced and talked the night away throughout the house, but everyone gathered together once midnight was a few minutes. Everyone that is, except Kain and Mindy who had fallen asleep earlier. The countdown sounded off and everyone broke into song and dance at the stroke of midnight. The four friends all gathered together and Tino filled their glasses with champagne and proposed a toast.
"Here is to good friends," Carver said.
"And to good family," Tish offered.
"And to good times," Lor added.
"May they all continue as we march into the future," Tino finished.
The four tapped their glasses together and drank up. They all looked at each other and smiled knowing that they couldn't ask for anything more than for moments like these.
As he looked at his friends Tino couldn't help but think, "This is it. Good friends, good times, yeah that's what it's all about. It's still our time."
Tino smiled wide as he looked through a window, up at the sky and thought, "Later days."
THE END
Okay, that ends that. Now everything has been posted and this story concludes for real this time. Remember though, that this is just an alternate ending. The definitive ending resides in chapters 18 and 19. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who read this story. I'm very appreciative of any and all support I received. It all means a lot to me, and so I thank you once again. I hoped you enjoyed reading this story, I know I enjoyed writing it. And though this story may be done now, I am certainly not. I have already started work on a new Weekenders fic. I'm here for the long run. Remember to keep readin' and reviewin'. Later days!