Challenge: You take a quote from the show and person who accepts has 5 days to write a short fic on said quote.
Episode: Structural Corruption
Summary of episode: Date gone bad with the lady who likes ducks.
Quote: Don: "Dad I'm sorry, we gotta go."
Alan: "Sure go ahead, it couldn't get any worse."
Don: "Dad, listen; alcohol, lots of alcohol"
Alan "For who?"
Title: First date gone to the ducks.
After Jill left Alan, started to clean up the dishes from the meal. He stood over the sink as he hand washed the wine glasses. Feeling annoyed he stopped washing the glasses and tossed the towel into the sink. He stepped out of the kitchen and went to the living room to try to clear his head. He sighed as he sunk into his favorite chair and picked up his Soduku book. He thought, "Could that have been any worse?" He settled back and tried to start the next puzzle. After the forth try he book the book down and pinched the bridge of his nose. He sighed and looked at the ceiling. When he brought his head down his eyes fell on the wedding photo of his wife.
He murmured, "Margaret what did you make me promise? I know you don't want me to be lonely. But I can't do this. I can't. I'm sorry I know I promised but with you it was so easy."
He got up and walked to the photo and thought about one of his first few dates with Margaret. Those dates were amazing. She made him feel at ease with her laughter. She always knew the right things to say and made him feel like the most important man in the world. His eyes settled on photographs of the boys from graduation and other events. They were memories from so many years. Memories that at times were filled with joy and laughter. He loved looking at the photographs that he had scattered around the house. It always made the place feel like a real home. Alan walked the perimeter of the house and stopped and looked at the photos. He stopped at one with the three Eppes' men in fishing gear. His mind wandered back to the events form earlier.
Alan fled back in to the kitchen holding the serving tray with the duck. He couldn't believe it the woman had ducks for pets! This proves the cosmos was truly against him. His son and Terry were trying not to laugh but they covered their mouths as giggles seeped out.
Don's cell rang. His face flicked back to Agent mode and he answered the call. After hanging up he turned to his dad and said, "Dad I'm sorry, we gotta go."
He replied, "Sure go ahead, it couldn't get any worse."
With a grin on his face he advised, "Dad, listen; alcohol, lots of alcohol" As him and Terry grabbed their coats and started to leave.
Sighing he said, "For who?"
Now looking back on the whole thing it was actually pretty funny. He went back to his chair and started to chuckle. If Margaret were here she would laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing. She would tell him that it was not so bad for a first date. Maybe he could tell his grandchildren (as if he would ever get any) the story of the duck lady. Margaret always could find the good things out of any situation and she just always new how to enjoy life no matter what. She would say sometimes why should you cry when you can laugh. Laughing can always make most things feel bearable. That's when it him Margaret didn't want him to forget her or not to love her anymore. She wanted him to enjoy life. Laugh again. He looked at her picture again and said, "I know now Margaret. All you want me is to enjoy life. I will. I'll get back on the proverbial horse. " With a wiry smile he continued, "Just not with Jill. Thanks Margaret. I love you." He smiled to himself as he picked the puzzle book up and started working on a puzzle.
