Chapter 3
When Samus got home, Samus came to Diesel, as he prepared some medicine. "Medicine time". Diesel said, in a gentle, hum of a voice. "Time to get some medicine, and some milk". "Then, we can go take a nap if we want". Diesel said, kindly. "Ok". Samus said. Diesel helped Samus take her medicine, as he helped her swallow the cannabis oil. "There you go, baby girl". "Drink it up….drink it up, nice". "You've got it". Diesel said, gently with softness. "Ok". Samus said. Samus looked up from her milk, as Diesel gently wiped her face. "You've got it, sweet pea". "You're good". Diesel said, kindly with gentleness. "Thank you". Samus said. "How you feeling today, sweet pea?". "Everything ok?". Diesel asked, gently with softness. "Fine, I guess". "I'm just glad I went to therapy….I kind of….got everything out that I needed to". Samus said. "That's good, baby". "I'm happy you're doing well". "I love seeing you happy, and smiling". "I love seein you peaceful, and nice". "You're my favorite…and I like seeing my favorite doin' well". Diesel said, gently. "Thank you". Samus said. Diesel picked up his cigarettes, as he and Samus went outside to the porch.
"Man, I didn't know the time change was coming up, tonight". "I woke up last night, thinkin it was early, when it was late". "It's all messed up". Diesel said, gently with kindness. "But then again, I'm a pretty goofy guy as well". Diesel chuckled a bit. "I guess". Samus said. "The time change doesn't happen until tonight, I think".
"Yeah, that's what I hear". "It might start getting dark earlier now…heh, I'm not a fan a' that". Diesel said, gently. "Neither am I". Samus said. "But hey, it is what it is". Diesel said, kindly. "I guess". Samus said. "How have you been sleepin' by the way?". "Everythin' good at night?". Diesel asked, gently with kind softness. "Everything is good for the most part…I had a nightmare last night…but it's ok….I guess". Samus said. "Oh….what was your nightmare, baby?". "What happened….tell daddy". Diesel said, softly with gentleness. "My nightmare consisted of me…with my parents….and then this black cloud of thunder swept them up". Samus said. Diesel tapped ash from his cigarette. "Oh, honey….I didn't know that…I'm sorry I wasn't there to comfort you, or hold you". "I will always be beside you, no matter what happens". Diesel said, gently with softness. "No, it's ok….I didn't really tell anyone the nightmare". Samus said.
"Hey, that's ok, sweet pea". "I respect that because you are someone with a lot of strength and courage". "We both know you can do anything". "Whatever happens, things will work well for ya". "I know grief can be tough…ever since you were a lil girl, you kept your feelings inside, but now you're learning to come to terms with em". "That's good, too". Diesel said, gently with softness. "You're doin' it, Samus". "You're makin life work well for you".
"Thank you". Samus said, as she looked up at Diesel. "I'm happy for you, sweet pea". "You're gettin' to where you wish to be". "I feel ecstatic about that". Diesel said, kindly. "Thank you". Samus said. Diesel smiled a soft, kind smile as he smoked. "I'm sorry for lying to you, too". "I'll try to be better about that, too". "I'll try to be as honest as I can, from now on". Samus said.
"Hey, that's alright, sweetie". Diesel said, gently with softness. "Whenever something happens, we'll just go to the side, and talk about it". "Nothing can bother us…because we can do anything". "You are my favorite…because you've done great things". "And I will always love you". Diesel said, kindly. "You have been so honest, and open with us, and I'm proud of that". "I'm proud of you…always". Diesel smiled a kind smile, as he blew out some smoke. "Thank you…Dad". Samus said. Diesel smiled a gentle smile, as he let some ash drip from his chin, coming over, and in his infinite wisdom, kissing Samus on the cheek. "Thank you". Samus said.
"Y'know I love you…y'know you're my baby girl". "Forever and always". Diesel said, gently with softness. "I know". Samus said. "I guess….you're pretty amazing, too".
"I am as amazing as I seem". Diesel said, kindly as he winked. Samus smiled, as she looked at Diesel. She felt a warm hug come from him. Even so, she was in a better place. Diesel looked up from his smoke, as he put down his cigarette. "Well, hey, kiddo". "At least, there's nothin' outside". Diesel said, gently. "That's true". Samus said. "No ships, or nothin". "We've been good for quite a while". Diesel said, kindly. "It might be time to head inside, and lay down to bed, baby darlin". "Princess baby". Diesel smiled a gentle smile, a soft smile as he made a kissy face, with kissy lips. "Let me be your prince lovey dovey". Diesel said, gently with gushiness to his soft, gentle, kind allure. There was so much gush, it was almost disgusting.
"Oh, well, thank you". Samus said, as she looked up at Diesel, while he planted a kiss on her cheek. "Love you, darlin". "Oft, I gave my baby a poochie….a red red, rose". Diesel sang, in a gentle hum, as he gushed with softness. "Ok". Samus said. Samus drank her milk, as she glanced around. "Hey, kitten, y'want ta' see my special wine?". "It's real classy, I got it from this fella on th' Northside, he has this collection". "It's very crisp, and cool". "It's a nice wine one would have with steak, or cheese". "I got it, I think you'll get a kick outta it". "It's a great collection". Diesel said, gently.
"I got it right here for ya". Diesel said, kindly. Diesel went into the house, only coming outside with an expensive Merlough when he found it. "This is it…this, is Merlough Frege". "This is a French wine, a special kind y'need with cheese, and steak". "I do like a fine prime cut steak every now and again". "Mm, hey, Chosuke's outta town, this would be the perfect time to wine about it". Diesel said, laughing as he made a pun. "Look at me being goofy again". Diesel smiled, as he unscrewed the cork, pulling it out of the bottle, while he poured some wine in a glass. "Mmm, yeah….hey, a guy like me can't class it up a lil?". Diesel said, gently, as he swirled his wine around in the glass. "Mm, begin with a spin, and the whole nonsense of antioxidation". "Yeah, yeah". "I like to whirl with a swirl, and drink til I get pink". "I'm a fine hunk a' meat if I do say so, myself". "Ladies come get this fine cut while he's still here". Diesel said, as he really tried to be as classy as he could.
Samus laughed as she glanced up at Diesel. "I love ya, girl". "Y'know I always do". Diesel said, gently. "I know". Samus said. Diesel winked at Samus. "Ok…so, where did the collection come from that the one person you met, gave you?". Samus asked. "Eh, it came from the South of France". "It was the special spot where we all got our name brand items". "But it was in a good place for the most part….he got it from storage, and brought it out, an' hey, it aged quite well". "I was expecting it to be worse off, but it actually wasn't….which is weird". Diesel said, gently. "This fella, I think his name is Chopper, but he's not a bad guy….he's quite educated, he's been places….seen the world". "I like this guy….but for some reason, no one can get his new number after he changed it". "He's pretty far off, an' while he's been back to different planets, different places, he hasn't changed a bit". "Time mechanics, eh?".
Diesel chuckled as he said this. "I guess". Samus replied. "But this bottle was from 1966". "Right when this guy graduated from Cal. Tech in Astrophysics". "Man, he knows where to put em". Diesel said, gently as he examined the bottle. "But this is nice, either way".
"Mm, wine and dine". Diesel said, satisfied, as he exhaled, taking a sip. "Almost the goofus to a man's gallant". Diesel chuckled as he said this. Samus laughed as well. "Perhaps". She replied. "Goofus and Gallant are old comic strip characters I would read about in the papers". Diesel said, kindly. "That was way before your time".
"In the 1940's, and 50's?". Samus asked. "Yes, around that time". "I remember reading about em in the paper, and in magazines". "They were fascinatin' lil things". "They did all sorts of stuff". Diesel said, kindly. "They were so cute with their lil knight's helmet, and jester hat, they walked around, an' sang songs, they taught kids how to spell, and read the paper". "That's always the highlight of reading the paper".
"I'm sure it was". Samus said. "It definitely was". Diesel said, kindly. "That, an' doin the crosswords".
"That was fun, too". Samus said. "Man, I haven't read the paper in a long time". "I got so busy repairin' junk, and fixin' things up at my shop, I haven't gotten a chance to do anything relaxin' like sittin and reading the paper". "I sometimes do a lil work with a cigarette in my mouth, an' a drink of beer, or soda, but I never sit down, and read the paper, or just watch the birds". Diesel said, kindly. "I'm always doin' somethin".
"I used to be like that, too". "But I guess after the Federation terminated me, I just…I haven't done anything except go to school all of the time". "Which, by the way, I made a 4.0 this semester". Samus said. "Good for you, honey". Diesel said, kindly. "Yeah…it's pretty boring just sittin around….but hey, you ever think about meetin' someone….an' gittin hitched up with em….perhaps as a boyfriend?". Diesel asked. "maybe….I haven't thought about it, but it perhaps would work". Samus said. "You should try it…it is nice". Diesel said, kindly. "A boyfriend would be nice to go out with, and see on the weekends, he'd be nice to hug, and kiss". "A boyfriend means someone you can share time with". "He's yours for as long as ya want him".
"Perhaps….but I kind of….I don't know if I want to fall in love, yet". Samus said. "It seems kind of complicated, and I guess….I guess it seems kind of weird now".
"Hey, I feel hesitant about it, to this day". "I made a promise to myself never to get involved with no girls". "Women are so much trouble, and maintenance…why would we have em?". "I was married once, and she was a great lady…she was someone who could run the shop, and do a billion different things". "But once she passed, I figured, there's not much I could get involved with, now". "I'm just free now, I'm doing my thing, my wife is beside me, in spirit, an' I'm doin what I can". Diesel said, gently. "You're a widower?". Samus asked. "I am". Diesel said, kindly. "I've been widowed for 10 years now". "She died of cancer, my wife". "It was strange how it happened". "I came home from work, went to the hospital, I said my goodbyes, she passed, and…that was that". "I've never tried to remarry, or get involved with anyone else, again". "It's just somethin' I never wanted to try". "Because once you lose a loved one, be it a wife, or a mom and dad, or a child, anyone…there's no way to replace them". "They are so original, and unique, that trying to replace them would be weird in its own way". "You can't replace love, and family with something else". "That's why I never wanted to remarry". Diesel said, gently with softness. "That's kind of why children of widows don't want their parents to remarry". Samus said. "That is true….because they don't want their original parent….the one who raised them, and nurtured them, to be replaced by someone else". "Replacing parents is the worst thing someone can do….but on the other side of the coin, the heart wants what it wants". "Sometimes, you can't stop love, and change from happening". "Sometimes, the new parent can be tough, but if there's love, acceptance, and wisdom in the child's heart, they can adjust". Diesel said, kindly. "I never had any children….I really hate kids, but I accept that a kid just wants to be free, and have fun". "He doesn't want to listen to rules, or sit down and behave". "But a parent has to be a parent". "No matter what happens".
"What was it like when you were a kid?". Samus asked. "When I was a kid, we lived on Planet Jatsuk, and man, we built things, constantly". "We were always doin the machines, and the technology, we built night, and day". Diesel said, kindly. "But when we went to bed, and the sun went down, I'd sneak outta my house, and smoke cigarettes". "I was a smoker, and a drinker". "My lungs are shot, but I still drink and smoke". "I love smoking, because, man, it frees you from anythin'". "Smoking gives ya so much freedom, and amazement". "I did used to be addicted to heroin, and fentanyl, Oxycontin, but I've cleaned up through the years….I'm 23 years sober now".
"That's great". Samus said. "But why did you used to do drugs?".
"I did drugs because I wanted to feel like I was flying". "That's exactly what Fentanyl did for me…was made me feel like I was the flyin' man". "When I had that with acid, I felt so freed, and loosened". "I loved that shit". Diesel said, gently with some dreaminess behind his voice. "But I wound up in the hospital more times than I care to admit". "I knew it was finally time to give it up". "When I did, I went to rehab, I went to other places, and got sober….when I got sober, I realized there was more to life than drugs". "I learned to appreciate life more, I learned to see the beauty in things, I felt free". "In addition, I felt better because I felt free er". "I kept my head down, worked on repairing junk, trained under Papa Lightnin', opened up my own Junk shop, and I'm a success". "It is a sad story….knowing what drugs can do….but it's my story". "I like telling it to whomever cares". "I know you definitely do…so I thought I'd enlighten you". Diesel said, kindly with gentleness. "That's nice". Samus said.
"It is a good thing….telling my story". "I know there's a lot that can be gained from it". "It is a nice thing to hear, and learn from". "Whatever happens, we're good". "I'm good, and I'm a better man because of it". "I appreciate what I'm made of…and what energy I'm comprised of". "My energy, is good energy, heh?". Diesel said, gently. "It definitely is". Samus said. Diesel smoked his cigarette, letting the smoke trail above him. There was a bit of a silence between them, as Samus looked off to the side. The darkness of the night prevailed. "What are you thinkin' baby girl?". Diesel asked, kindly with gentleness. He tapped ash from his cigarette tip. "Nothing…kind of". Samus said, as she glanced off. "You're thinkin about something, ain'tcha?". "I know you are". Diesel said, gently with friendly kindness. "Kind of….but not really". Samus said, as she turned her head. "Tell me, baby girl". "Tell daddy". Diesel said, gently. "Well, I was just thinking about….I guess….I guess….my parents". "My parents are kind of….I don't know…when I was talking with Dr. Kaneda, I guess what we talked about hit me kind of hard". Samus said.
"Yeah…?". "You miss your parents, huh baby girl?". Diesel said, gently. "I do". Samus said. "I miss them a lot….and it is hard".
"Hey, I know no one can replace them, but I'm sure that one day, things will be ok". "I promise you". "You've done great….you've excelled, and now, it's time to enjoy yourself". "Settle down, meet someone, build a house, with a family you deserve". "Your parents would want that, I'm sure". Diesel said, kindly with gentleness. "Don't hesitate to call me if you need to". "Y'know, I'm never too far away".
"I think that's a great idea". Samus said. "That's exactly it".
Samus and Diesel smiled, as Samus got up from her seat, coming over to hug Diesel. Diesel put his cigarette aside, kissing Samus on the cheek. "I love you, baby". Diesel said, gently. "I love you, too". Samus said, as she felt the kiss. "Always….and you know that". Diesel said, kindly. "I know". Samus said, as she felt more kisses on her cheek from Diesel. "Let's get more medicine, and get you into bed, baby". "Tomorrow is another day". "School is coming up soon, too". Diesel said, gently. Samus nodded, as she and Diesel got up, while Diesel put out his cigarette. He and Samus went into the kitchen, as Diesel poured some medicine into a cup for Samus. Samus took the medicine, as she felt a warm hug, and a friendly kiss from Diesel. "Goodnight, baby". "Daddy will see you in the morning". Diesel said, gently. "Daddy loves you very much, and always will".
"goodnight…and…I love you, too". "Thank you….for everything". Samus said. "Goodnight".
"Goodnight, baby". "My pleasure as always". Diesel said, kindly as he nuzzled Samus. Samus felt another kiss, as she went into her room, laying down. She saw Diesel smile a soft, friendly smile as he went into his room. They both laid down for the night. Laid down, to sleep. Goodnight.