Chapter 9

"Come on, everyone in their seats," Ortensia ordered as she walked around the places made in the hallway. She sounded out two claps, the murmur dying down at the sound.

"My chair's gone flat," a girl's voice called out.

"I'll help, 347," Ferdie said, getting off of his stool to go to the rabbit a few seats over.

"Thank you, Ferdie," Ortensia said. She looked around at the rest of the children, her brother sitting with Oswald Junior 26 and Morty across the table. Ortensia looked into the dining room only to see the head of the table empty of the adults that were supposed to be there. She made her way pass the corner of the line of tables that went down the hall and into the living room. "The kids are almost ready," she said as she put her hands on her hips. "Where's the adults?"

"Sorry Kitty," Oswald offered. "We're coming."

"You're sure you don't mind?" Mr. Whiskers said as he got to his feet.

Mickey gave the old man a nod, following suit as he rose out of the sofa seat he had been sitting in. "I think you should."

"Alright," Mr. Whiskers said, giving the mouse a smile.

Mickey followed behind as the six led the way into the dining room. Instead of taking the head of the table he sat on Minnie's other side with Oswald Junior 224 on his other side. He leaned over to the bunny and asked, "Do you want me to help you when the food's coming around?"

The blue bunny turned his sightless eyes onto the mouse, his mouth open as if to say one thing only for him to close his mouth. Instead he nodded his head before saying, "Okay, thank you Unca Mickey."

The clinking of a spoon against one of the few glasses on the table ended any last conversations, getting all eyes to the cat standing at the head of the table. "Guess I should get to where I can see everybody," Mr. Whiskers commented as he sat down his spoon. He walked around the outside of the table, stopping just outside the dining room doors, to look down the hall of bunny children all seated at attention. Holding his glass in both hands he looked at those gathered and started. "'Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God wills, who receives everything as an instance of God's goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it. Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by his thankful spirit, for it turns all that it touches into happiness.' A man in the eighteenth century said this and he couldn't be anymore true. And our family has a grand thing to be thankful for, for family back together and the start of maybe something bigger." Mr. Whiskers gave a glance at Mickey, his eyes traveling through the mouse's family. "We've gone through separation, loss, death, and disappearance. But here we stand, or sit in most of your cases," laughter came from some of the children, "together as a family. Let's not only give thanks today, but every day. 'Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.' Now raise your glasses as we give thanks for the day, for the people, and for the happiness we all have." Mr. Whiskers raised his glass and ended with, "Amen."

Choruses of amens sounded through-out the house.

"Before you let us eat," Amelia said as she rose to her feet. All eyes that were able turned to her as she added, "I'd like to say something."

Mr. Whiskers gave her a nod, a silent motion for her to continue.

Amelia took a deep breath before looking at Andrew sitting beside her. She pushed her chair back and got down on a knee, careful of the brown dress she wore. She grabbed Andrew's hand in both of hers and asked, "Andrew Souris, if you can forgive all of the times I turned you down, will you marry me?"

Andrew stared at her a moment, the only sound muttering coming from the hallway. Confusion was written on his face as he studied her.

Minnie stole a glance at Mickey, the two sharing a look of worry at how long it was for the mouse to answer the question.

"Are you… sure?" Andrew asked.

"Just say yes!" Ferdie's voice called from the hallway.

He threw a glance over his shoulder towards the hallway before turning back to Amelia before him. "Yes! Of course," Andrew said, a smile pulling at his face. He took his hand out of hers and wrapped them around her to pull her close for a kiss.

Applause broke out through-out the house as words of congratulations sounded out.

"You better invite me to the wedding," Moocher said.

The End

AN: Hopefully it won't be another 5 years for OA7: 88 Years. I think what discouraged me the most with this story is it isn't that adventurous. It's a lot of just talking and getting to know the characters, but a lot of new ones appeared for this series. Amelia (or Felicity as I found out after already having her mentioned in past OA episodes is her English name) has so much of her past that's really a mystery to us. The artist that called her Felicity gave her a husband named Frank but we've never seen him so I hope you don't hate me for taking a few liberties with her character. As for Moocher and Madeline, I was debating about bringing in more family here but Moocher does what he does best and just appears where there's food, Madeline just came to make sure if Mickey didn't want them there she'd be able to take Moocher out of the house. I hope to work more with them, especially Madeline. I've always loved the comic she first appeared in, "Love Trouble" from '41. Though it'll be a few episodes before we see them again. Christmas is just around the corner in the timeline and I have two stories set up before the end of 2015. Here's a little hint of what's to come.

OA7: 88 Years - Someone loses their memory: you do the math and see who was 88 in 2015 after thanksgiving.

OA8: Oswald on the Isle of Death - Captain Churchmouse has found one last treasure he wants to get before the wife forces him to retire.

OA9: Somewhere to Hide – Oswald has to clear his name of a bank robbery from 1930 and the only way to do it is at Universal.

OA10: Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air – 1938 Mickey Mouse is recording an episode of their radio show when the magic mirror appears. Putrid Pete and Julius have 2015 Mickey tied up, who's using the mirror to call for help.

Hope you'll enjoy!