Epilogue; Happy New Years, Baby

(Johnathon's point of view)

It had been 12 years since they had gotten married. Yet they still acted all lovey-dovey all the time. I can't stand it. Besides, I was thirteen; the halfway point at which you love your parents and then don't.

"Mom! Can you sign this permission slip?" I yelled down the stairs. I heard no reply. Hastily, and also slightly angrily, I clambered down the stairs to see my mother and father slowly dancing along to a song by Beethoven.

"MOM!"

My parents turned around and my father glared at me before sighing and shaking his head. My mother stared at me worriedly.

"What is it, Johnathon?"

I shook my head in the same manner as my dad and held the permission slip out.

"It's a permission slip to go to Disneyland at the end of 7th grade. It's for 3days in California. Can I go? The price is like, $500 dollars though."

I saw my mom's face crease up even more.

"I don't know... Will there be chaperones?" she asked while sitting down on the couch.

"Mom, don't be such a killjoy. Besides, yes, there will be chaperones," I sighed.

She still didn't look convinced. But then my dad interuppted both of our thoughts.

"Oh, Cindy. Just let him go! Here," he said while taking his wallet out of his back pocket and produced five one hundred dollar bills. I guess it pays to have a really rich dad.

"Thanks, Dad." I smiled at him before taking the bills from his hand. My mother shook her head playfully, but she signed the permission slip.

"When is it?" asked Mom.

"In two weeks. I think."

She frowned at me and looked at the paper she was holding. She nodded at some parts, then shrugged and handed the paper back to me.

"Thanks, Mom." I smiled just like I had smiled at my father.

"Well?" asked Dad. "Aren't you going to leave your mother and I alone?"

I shook my head and muttered, "If you're going to 'reproduce', please lock yourselves in a hotel room."

I saw Mom slap Dad playfully on the chest before I could no longer see them; I had entered my room.

"Hey, Goddard!" I said to the hunk of metal gnawing on a silvery bolt. "Guess what? I get to go to Disneyland!"

"Bark, Bark!"

He used to be my dad's, but he was handed down to me, ever since my mom and dad had finally married.

"So what are you gonna do while I'm gone, boy?" I asked, shoving the permission slip and money into my backpack.

He lifted his chest plate and typed out his reply.

'I'm going to ask your father to give me an update; I've been feeling sort of rusty for a while.'

I bit my bottom lip, just like my mother used to, or so I'm told, and muttered, "Oops. I forgot to... Um... Never mind."

Goddard shook his head like an elderly uncle or something and continued chewing on the bolt.

I smiled to myself. Life was indeed better than expected. Ever since the wedding 12 years ago, my mother had stopped crying at night when she thought I was asleep; although she still came in at night to stare and stroke my hair.

"Goddard?"

The mechanical dog looked up from his snack.

"What was life like before I was born? Were my parents high school sweethearts?" I asked eagerly. "Why did they break up? Why did they wait until practically two years after I was born to get married?"

The questions hung in the air as Goddard just stared at me. I looked at him expectantly. He shrugged and went back to his bolt.

Perhaps life's questions are best left unanswered. Right?

A/N: Do you guys want me to continue on with the story, from Johnathon's point of view, or have I been taking this story too far? Well, actually, even if you guys want me to continue, I won't... I'm sorry I even asked. I guess I like being the center of attention.