Chapter 34: Leader in training
I woke the next morning feeling better about myself. Susan was laying across me, and I just started to stroke her ears. She started to chirr and I joined her. The wake-up song started to play, and I found dad had changed it. "you are my sunshine" was now playing from the speaker, and I just broke down in tears again.
"I told you Daniel, we all forgive you; can't you forgive yourself"? "In time yes, but…" " No buts mister, that wasn't a request". She lightly punches me in the shoulder as she gets out of bed. I get up and dry my tears, Susan just holds me for awhile until I'm more stable, then she lets me go, we both use the facilities, and head down stairs.
I just can't face the family today; but Susan drags me to the locker room and I put on a white Karateka. "Daniel, you know that's not the right color"? "Yes, but how can I stand in front of them and wear the black"? Susan shrugs and exits the locker room. As I exit the locker room, Vivian has all ready started the class, when she sees me, she breaks form and comes over to me.
"Daniel J Wilde, what do you think you are doing"? Everyone stops and stares at me. "Daniel, why are you wearing white"? "Grandma, it just doesn't fell right, I failed you all, and…" Grandma softens a bit, "Daniel, have you ever hurt anyone here in the DOJO"? "No". "and have you ever lorded over any of us here in the DOJO"? "No". "and have you been a fair teacher"? "Ye…yes". "Then go back into the locker room and come out properly dressed". "But Grandma…. No buts young mammal, we have a teacher here, and we intend to learn from him".
"Now are you going to change? or do your dad and I have to come in there and hold you down, while your mother paddles your butt"? "I don't recommend the latter son, my butt cheek was sore for two days, and I had to sit at an angle". There were several giggles from around the room. Mom just hugs dad. I give up and go change into my black Karateka. When I come out, mom and dad are surprised at the change. "Ah what's with the black Daniel"? "Grandma pipes up, Daniel is in truth, a master now". "Wow, you don't do things by half measures do you son"? "No, I guess I don't, do I"?
I see Izzy sitting on the side, "come on Izzy this is for you too". "But what are we doing"? "We are doing our morning routine". "Routine"? "Yes, our routine is an exercise to tone our bodies". "But Daniel, I can't see you doing it, how will I"? I then send a mental picture to her, "Oh, I can do that". I lead her over to a clear spot, and keeping up the mental pictures, I lead her through the routine. "Wow you weren't kidding, that was quite the work out". "Well now comes the fun part". We all head for the showers and then the pool.
"Ah grandma could you help me please"? "Sure sweetie, jut give me a minute to finish your grandfather". Peter just turns around, kisses Vivian, and heads for the pool. Vivian brushes Izzy out and more of the old fur is washed away. Instead of a dark orange Izzy is beginning to have the same color as everyone else. Izzy then takes Vivian's hand and they both head for the pool.
"Ah, grandma shouldn't I be wearing a bathing suit"? "Why Izzy, no one else is". She squeaks with embarrassment. "Izzy we are all family here, no one will even look at you, in a weird way. Just look with your feelings, and you will see". As they enter the pool, she can feel the fun around her. Vivian leads her to the shallow end of the pool, and easies her into it. Izzy starts to panic; she is scared of the water. Ava goes over and helps her. She shows her the rudiments of swimming, and how to float. Soon she's floating, comfortably in the water. After awhile we all get out, shower and head for breakfast.
After breakfast we head for the station. "Morning guys", says Clawhauser. "Morning Ben". "Ah, guys am I miss counting or is there one extra of you today"? "No Ben you are not wrong, this little angel here is my grandkit, Izzy". Izzy blushes, "Sir, can I see your face"? Clawhauser is wondering about the strange request when he notices her eyes. "Sure, you may little Izzy".
With that he reaches over and plucks her off the floor and hugs her. She lets out with a squeal, and gently runs her hands over his face. "Oh, you're a cheetah Mr. Clawhauser". "That's right how did you know"? "Did they tell you"? "No sir, I see faces and names in my head, and your face says Clawhauser". He hugs her again, and puts her back on the floor. "Ah, Vivian I believe the chief is looking to talk to you". "Is he now, Daniel can you start without me? I need to talk with him". "Sure Grandma, all right everyone to the gym".
We all enter the gym from the looker rooms, and Fangmyer blanches at seeing me wear the black Karateka. I walk over to her, "I'm still the same person as yesterday Fangmyer, has some thing changed"? She takes a few gulps, "Daniel, I don't know what to say, You're a master"? "Yes, I am, is that a problem"? "Daniel, I have never been taught directly by a master", "well I can tell you nothing has changed, you get your instructions the same way as before, unless you would like me to beat it into you"? I cock my head sideways inquiringly. "No….no regular instruction is fine", "good I won't beat on you too much".
Her form is good so we work on some offensive moves, by the end she is back to full form, and relaxed around me. "Told you I wouldn't beat on you to much". "That's not how I feel Daniel, I feel like I have been totally beaten up". "Good my plan is working, get her so exhausted she will agree to anything". "What would you like me to do Daniel"? "I would like you to treat me like anyone else, I have no Aires, and I just want to be your friend"." I can do that". "Good, take a break you deserve it".
Wolford is next, and I can see he has been practicing. So, I teach him some new moves, and only beat on him a little. No one else is here today, so I show Izzy some more of the routine. Grandma came back at the end of the session. "Sorry Daniel, the chief kept me longer than anticipated". I can tell something is up, but after the way I have treated my family, who am I to judge what someone may do? We all leave the station and go to the hospital.
"William" Izzy screams as she enters his room. "Izzy Angel, how are you sis"? "I'm fine bro, I've brought the rest of the family for you". We all shuffle into the room, and my siblings all introduce themselves to William. "Wow, you bunnies are so cute". Don't call us cute, they all scream. We all fall down laughing at the look on Williams face. "William a bunny may call another bunny cute, but when other mammals do it, they see it as a bit of an insult". "Oh, sorry guys, I didn't mean anything by it", "it's ok William we saw what you meant by it, that's why we all laughed".
We are just sitting around talking when peter walks in. "Oh, high guys", He then looks over at Vivian, "Oh, where have you been all my life beautiful"? "Well first I lived on fifty first Ave. then moved…". peter shuts her up with a kiss and a hug. William is looking quite scandalized. "Ah, Vivian does your husband know about this doctor"? "I should hope so William, this is my husband". We all burst out laughing at the look on William's face. "You mean to say I'm being treated by my grandfather"? "Yes William". He's floored and doesn't know what to say. "William you have now met all the family, quite an ecliptic bunch, aren't we"? "Wow I don't know what to think". "Still want to Join the family"? "Hell yes". "Ah ah, ah, no foul language young mammal". "Sorry", he looks sheepish.
Just before we go, "Oh, I almost forgot, William here you go". Grandma passes two peanut butter sandwiches to William. "Thanks grandma", he says as he gobbles one down.
As we are walking home, I look at Vivian and tell her that Gab would like to see her and Peter tonight. "Do you know what it is about Daniel"? "No, grandma, but I'm to bring Susan as well". "Well I guess we'll see when we get there". "You might want to explain to grandpa where we are going, Gab said something about explaining to other people better, I don't know if he was being serious or just joking".
Susan and I cuddle close, and our hearts start to beat as one. We both take our grandparents to the meadow. Gab comes to great us all. Peter looks at Gab, "Do I know you? you seem so familiar to me". "Yes, Peter you know me, you spent six months with me many years back". "But I don't remember you all that well". "Many don't remember me at all". Peter shrugs, "if you say so". "Peter and Vivian if you would follow me please? Daniel, Susan, I will be back in a few". Gab leads them down a trail, and out of sight.
"Now Peter and Vivian, this is a special place, it's private, calming, and peaceful". "Why are we here, Gab"? "As I was saying, this is a special place, where you can ask for your hearts desire". "Will it be granted"? "I don't know, but this is the place to ask. Now what you have to do, is confess your hearts desire to each other, and then ask for that desire in the way that only a couple can. And with that I will leave you". Gab walks back to Susan and I.
"Peter looks at Vivian, very cryptic, isn't he"? "I don't know, I think I understand him". "Well could you explain it to me? I'm a bit lost". Vivian looks at Peter with tears in her eyes, "Peter love, my hearts desire is to…to bear your pups". Peter reaches out to hold her. "Vivian love, my hearts desire is for you to be the mother of my pups". "But…" "No buts Peter, Gab said to ask in the way that only a couple can, shall we"? "What here"? "Yes love, Gab did say we were in a private place". "Do you think this might work"? "I don't know Pete, but I'm willing to try, if you are". Peter just leans in and kisses her as he lowers her to the ground.
"So, you two, your new lessons start tonight". "New lessons"? asks Susan. "Yes, Daniel asked for lessons on ethics, and as you wanted to be a cop too, I felt you could benefit as well". "When did you decide to become a cop"? "Daniel, I decided that when I found that I couldn't stand the thought of being separated from you. I'm going to be your partner in life, why not on the job as well"? "I love you", I say, as I kiss her. "Alright you two, back to the lessons at hand".
"Now we will start with an easy one, you are standing on a bridge looking down at a rail yard. You notice eight workers on the tracks, repairing them. You then see a lone worker on another track. You look up and see a runaway train barreling down the track with the eight workers on it. Now beside you is a button that can divert the train to the track with the lone worker on it. Do you push the button, and kill one worker, or do you let the train kill the eight workers"? "What if we scream in our mind to the lone worker, as we push the button"? "He looks up and freezes, he still dies as the train runs him over".
"I see that you have decided to divert the train and only kill one worker. What makes the eight workers more important than the one worker"? "Well the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the one". "Why? What makes eight worth more than one"? "There is a higher chance for good with eight than with one". "But there is also a higher chance of bad with eight than one"! "Wow Gab, this is an easy one"? "Yes, it's not so much about getting the right answer, as it is to think of an answer. There is no right or wrong answer, but you have to think". "Wow, my head hurts already". "Well it does become easier, as you see the whole picture. And that's what this exercise is supposed to help you do, see the big picture. So, shall we move on"?
Vivian wakes up a little later "joined" with her husband and mate. She snuggles back into his chest as his arm comes around to hold her closer. There are no words needed between them, their breathing slows and the both fall back to sleep.