Chapter 20:
As I got up this morning, I noticed grandma was not in the house, so I got up and made breakfast. I had to stand on the counter to get the waffle mix out of the cupboard. I heated the waffle iron, mixed the batter, and started to cook waffles. I turned on the oven to keep things warm. I made a pot of coffee, and made some fruit spreads. As we were low on fruit. (whipped cream, sugar, fruit, and vanilla). Just as I got it all done, mom and dad came into the kitchen, to say they were surprised, was a bit of an understatement. "Where's grandma Daniel? She's not here. Then who made all this? I did, I reply. I have been helping to make breakfast for a while now, this is the first time I have done it all. Wow, you are a kit of many talents." Mom and dad both grab a coffee, and sit at the table as I bring the waffles out of the oven. At this point grandma come in the front door, and rushes to the kitchen. "Oh, sorry guys, I'll just get breakfast started." She notices the food on the table and gets a surprised look on her face. "Sit down mom, Daniel has already got it." I jump onto my chair, and slather fruit spread all over my waffles. "Wow Daniel, I'm impressed, I didn't know you were paying that much attention to what I was doing. You mean he hasn't been helping you? No, he has helped with clean up, but never in the making of it." With this all eyes turn to me, I turn beet red, "Surprise everyone. Daniel, you told us you had helped, said mom sternly. I may have stretched the truth a bit, but I am a quick study." At this grandma takes a bite of the waffles, and exclaims, "this is good, did you add cinnamon to the batter? Yes, I like cinnamon, and this fruit spread, is divine. You can cook for me anytime Daniel, says Vivian." Both mom and dad agree that this a good breakfast.
"So, mom, how did your date go last night? It went well last night; Peter was a real gentle mammal. I can see that, keeping you out all night, said dad a little testy. OH, Nick, says Vivian as she grabs his paw across the table before he can remove it. I know this kind of sudden for you, but I'm not trying to replace your father. Your father will always have a place in my heart, and I will never forget him. But Peter makes me feel, alive again. I want to live again Nick, not be stuck in the past, and play the game of what could have been. At this statement Nick deflate a bit, I'm sorry mom. How serious is it? Well, why don't you ask him yourself over supper? I have invited him for supper tonight. And this time I do the cooking." Grandma says, looking over to me. I just blush again.
We got to the park, and I get a strange urge to do my isometrics. This is the first time I had done it in public. I get into my stance, and grandma notices what I am doing and comes to join me. We are about ten minutes into our routine, when an older gentle mammal joins us in the routine. The three of us are in perfect sync, Mom and dad are impressed, as they had never seen our full routine. When we were finished, we put paws to palms and bowed to each other. "May I ask who has trained you? Oh, excuse me my name is Oscar. Well, I say, a snow leopard named Gab, trained us. And how far has he taught you? As far as offence, he would not teach us offensive moves. May I test you both? You may, replied Vivian." No sooner than that Vivian was under attack, she was not as good as me, but she was very impressive. Halfway through his attack on Vivian he turned to me, and attacked. I tell you Gab had been holding back, I had to scamper and jump and move a lot faster than ever before. But after a bit of this he steps back and puts his fist to palm and bows. "That was the best workout I've had in a while. You both have the forms and style, and you youngster, are fast very fast. May I have your names, please? Vivian speaks up, my name is Vivian Wilde, and this is my grandson Daniel. My full name is Oscar Delaront, am I to assume you wish further training?" Both grandma and I say yes. "Good, meet me at this address Monday, I will be there all day," with this he hands grandma a slip of paper with an address on it, and then he turns and walks away. "Wow guys, that was very impressive, where did you learn those moves? Gab taught us I reply. Does he live around here? You could say that," as grandma looks at me and we both burst out laughing, dad doesn't get the joke. We continue around the park, and have a good Saturday. By the time we got home, Vivian was stiffening up, we both jump in the tub for a soak,
"that sure did take a lot of energy, grandma says. Yes, I respond but it will be worth it."
Mom and dad go for groceries, as we are just about out, Grandma has them pick up some special stuff for supper. And Vivian starts to cook. I am shooed out of the kitchen with a stern warning not to come back. So, I sit in the living room and watch a kit show on TV. Ma were back, Good just put the groceries on the table, I'll put them away. Mom and dad join me in the living room, and we all decide to watch a chick flick. Mom is crying by the end of it, and dad is playing the stoic "nothing gets to me" But I could tell it did get to him. I just did a quick trip and hugged Susan, she was kind of puzzled, but I replayed the movie in my head, and she hugged me back, Silly fox she sent. Movie done, we played cards till Supper.
Peter arrived about 6:30, 10 minutes before supper was ready. I answer the door, "Good evening, Mr. Howler I say. Good even Mr. Wilde, nice night isn't it? It sure is mister Howler, Won't you come in? Why thank you kind sir." Vivian starts to laugh at our exchange. Peter ruffs up the fur on the top of my head as he passes by. "Good evening to you Wilde's, as he shakes mom and dad's hand. You can call me Judy, says mom, only if you call me Peter, deal," mom says as she lets go of his hand. Dad says nothing as he lets go of Peters hand. Peter notices this, and knows that it is Nick he has to win over. "Well, come on in every one, supper is ready."
Supper is great, I can tell it's all of dad's favorites, but I can see a storm cloud brewing over dad's head, and I feel possible intervention is needed. There isn't much diner conversation we mostly eat in silence. Finally, supper was done and Peter spoke. "Wow, Vivian, I haven't had a meal like that in years, I could put on a few pounds eating like that. Glad you liked it," say Vivian giving him a shy smile. I could see the cloud break over dad's head, and knew, here it comes. "So, Peter what are your intentions towards my mother? NICK, mom says. But Peter just shakes his head, I've got this one Judy. My intentions are noble Mr. Wilde I want to marry your mother and grow old with her, I want a life mate, I want some one to tell me when I'm wrong, some one to laugh and cry with, some one to wake up beside, someone that I can share all my dreams with. Some one who is there for me, and I for them, and I believe that I have found that in your mother," he says all this as he strokes Vivian's paw. I can see dad's not buying this at all.
"DAD WASHROOM NOW, I holler," putting a compulsion behind it, I look at everyone and see shock on their faces. "Dad and I need to talk, we will be back in a few. Peter, please don't leave till we come back." I leave a smaller compulsion on Peter not to leave, it can be broken, if he really wants to go.
Dad is furious by the time I get to the washroom, "What the hell do you think you are doing Daniel? Stopping you from making a bigger fool of yourself than you all ready are. What are you talking about? You were about to tell Peter that everything he said was a lie, and that you believed none of it. Peter would have said that he wasn't lying, and you would have fought him over what he said, you would have hurt each other, and probably both ended up in the hospital. And the only person hurt by all of this would have been Vivian. Vivian would have had to chose between you and the person she loves. If she chose you, she would have resented you for the rest of her life. If she chooses Peter, you would have seen it as a rejection of you, and you would have resented her for the rest of your life. Tell me I'm wrong dad, tell me I'm making this all up, and I'll apologize to you, and let you go out there and make a fool of yourself."
Dad slumps to the floor, and starts to cry. I just crawl into his lap and hold him. "Dad, emotions are not hidden to me, I can see the love they have for each other, and I can see the love you have for mom. They are the same, and they fell no different to me. Does he really love her? Yes dad, he does. And does mom really love him? With the part of her heart she has to give, yes, she does. What do you mean the part? Dad there is a part that still loves John, and a bigger part that loves you, but she has room to love another, will you allow someone else into your life, someone else into her life, do you have a heart big enough for someone else into our lives? Daniel, how old are you? Dad for your protection and mine, I can't answer that right now, but in the near future I will answer that, that is all the answer I can give you at this time. I also felt what you had done to me, who trained you in your gift? Does it matter who trained me? Just be glad I have been trained. I'm not goanna get any answers tonight, am I? No dad, no you're not. Dad let's out a weak chuckle, can you leave me alone for a few? Yes, I'll just go back and join the others."
As I walk back to the kitchen, I can see that a lot of crying had been going on, so I just sent calm and peace to everyone. I crawled into my chair and sat there looking over everything. Mom looks over at me and raises an inquiring eyebrow, I just give her an ok sign. Vivian and Peter look up as dad enters the room. Before anything can be said, dad raises his paw. "I'm Sorry everyone, I let what I was losing blind me to what I was gaining." As he walks over to his mom, and hugs her. "I'm sorry mom I was being a real asshat. He stands up and looks at Peter, Peter I'm sorry, I would like to start again if I may? As he holds out his paw, Hi I'm Nicholas Wilde I'm glad to meet you Peter Howler. As Peter takes his paw, dad pulls him into a hug, I hope you can forgive what I almost did tonight, and for what its worth you have my blessing to marry my mom." He did not say it very loud, but everyone heard him. Vivian's paws fly to her muzzle as she exclaims, "do you really mean it Nick? Yes ma, I really mean it." Judy came over and hugged Nick. "Wow, Slick that was very big of you." Dad just reaches down, picking up his wife, kisses her. At this point I pass out.
It is a bit before anyone notices my state. But when they do, I'm just picked up and put to bed.
"Sir, we have a small development. Small? Yes Sir, while in the park today, they met up with one Oscar Delaront. Who is he? He appears to be some sort of martial arts fighter. They appeared to do some sort of martial arts technique with him. So, where did they learn this? It appears that the isometric technique can be turned into some sort of defensive fighting, the watchers weren't sure but it appeared that he was testing them. I don't see this as problem. Like I said Sir, it's just a small development.
Also, it appears that there may be a new member in the house hold, one Peter Howler, a pediatrician doctor from Mercy General. Was he the one who looked after "J"? Yes Sir, he was. The good doctor appears to have fallen for the grandmother, and they are now planning a wedding. Does this interfere with the study? No Sir, should have no affect on the study. Right, then carry on." (from the files of the institute.