"Dear Darren Cosma, Thank you so much for your interest in our Account Manager position at MagicWay Express! Unfortunately, after a recent background check and given your previous history, we have decided to move forward with other candidates at this time. We wish you well on your job-searching endeavor and encourage you to apply again in the future!"
Darren groaned as he set his phone on the kitchen table, rustling his fingers into his grassy, green hair. He cursed under his breath as his father, Linnie, a tall man with shoulder-length green hair and reading glasses on his face, placed a sandwich and some apple slices in front of his, taking the seat across the table.
"Something wrong dear?", Linnie asked, frowning at his son's distressed position. Darren sighed before he looked up.
"That's the 50th rejection this month! This is some serious BS. I mean, I gotta make a living too, dad. My rent'll be due any day now."
"Well…sweetie, I can give you some money if you need it. How much do you need?"
"No dad, I'm not taking your money."
"O-Oh are you sure? I mean, I don't want you to lose your home. I-I really don't want you living out in the streets."
"Yeah. It wouldn't be right knowing that you just GAVE me money, you know. It's kind of a principle.", Darren sighed, "Besides, not like it'd be a permanent solution anyways. I need a job NOW, but these arrogant asses look more at my history than they do my qualifications."
"Well, don't take this the wrong way dear, but um…I-I don't think a bank would be interested in somewhat that has a history of stealing. Um…have you thought about working retail until you can get your history cleared up, or at least find a job with better pay?"
"Pssh..No way in hell I would do that, especially not in this part of town. Most of the people here have sticks so far up their asses, they don't.."
"Alright Darren, let's cool the language, please.", Linnie said gently but warningly, "I don't know Darren. I'm just trying to help. I uh…I'm wondering if maybe you..uhm…maybe now that your mother isn't here anymore, you might want to consider moving back in with me."
"Wait what? Why?"
"Well I just think it might be a better option financially for you, and I can help you get back on your feet. Maybe there's some programs out there that can help ex-convicts find a job or get some support."
"No way. I can take care of myself, dad. I'm a grown ass man."
"Darren please.."
"Ugh sorry. But I'm grown now, dad. You can't just expect me to come crying to you whenever life gets a little hard."
"N-no of course not. It's just that it doesn't seem like you have that much support in your life, and I-I'd just like to help as much as I can. It doesn't make you any less grown up. Just…please Darren, let me help. I know I hadn't been the best father when you guys were young, but I'd really like to make up for it. You know, your sister's no where to be found nowadays, and I can't help but get the feeling that her disappearance was my fault, a-and I don't want the same to happen to you."
Darren said nothing, but looked down at his sandwich coldly. He knew he didn't hate Linnie by any means, but he's never gotten the feeling that he could 100% trust him. Throughout his childhood, he had been plagued with the idea that Linnie might turn into a fly again, or he might actually pack his things up and leave. He also studied Linnie's timid body language, his concerned face appearing somewhat genuine, but Darren wasn't sure what Linnie would gain out of helping him.
"Why?", Darren finally asked, "What could you possibly benefit from helping me?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"I mean, why are you so willing to let me back into the house? Even after all the thefts you heard about me? What could you possibly want out of me?"
"I-I don't want anything out of you, Darren, I promise. You're my son and I love you, very much. It's just..I guess if anything, I want to have a relationship with you. I-I know you're not a little kid anymore, but that doesn't mean my job as a father is finished."
"And what kind of father could you have possibly been? You left us for 3,000 years!"
"Yes yes I know, and I'm really, truly sorry, Darren. I don't think I can apologize enough for you. I-I really do wish I could take it all back, and if I had known how violent your mother would become, I wish I had never flown off. I needed some time to cool down, but I didn't think I'd get lost!"
"For 3,000 years? Come off it, Papa. Just be honest and say you wanted to leave us.", Darren said, crossing his arms, glaring coldly at his father.
"I-I really can't say that Darren. Again, I really truly wish I could have been there, and that none of that happened. Those memories haunt me everyday, and the fact that I can't take them back haunts me even more. I'm sorry Darren. I know you don't forgive me right now, but would you at least think over my offer when you go home tonight, unless you want to stay the evening of course.."
"No Papa. I don't think that'll be necessary right now.", Darren said sharply. Linnie frowned sadly.
"Right of course. Well, when you go home tonight then, will you please at least just consider my offer? Despite what you think, I really do want what's best for you, a-and I really don't want you to end up living in a cardboard box or something, dear. I'm not sure when your rent is due, but you don't have to make a decision right now. Just please, consider it."
"Maybe", Darren muttered to himself, placing the plate in the sink for Linnie to wash, "You know what, I think I'm gonna go ahead and head home. I'll think everything over."
"O-Oh alright then. Be careful please.", Linnie reached his arms out for a hug, only for Darren to shrug him off. He waved Darren off goodbye before he shut the door gently, sighing sadly as he sank back down on the kitchen table, finishing his lunch up. He found himself glancing at the old family photos that decorated his fine china shelf, pictures of Linnie holding his newborn children while he was in the hospital, and a photo of a much younger Darren, being pushed on the swing set by Linnie, his little smile bright enough to light a city of darkness.
After he had cleared his plate and wiped down the table, Linnie grabbed his house keys and green, velvet coat, placing on his head a green velvet hat with a yellow strip, before walking out the door. The crisp, cool breeze bristled through his face as he flew down his street, headed towards the park that interrupted the line of buildings and stores that surrounded his apartment building. He passed by the bar and looked at it briefly with a raised eyebrow.
"Maybe one wouldn't hurt…Just for today…It had been a rough one….No no Linnie, you don't need it. That's an awful thing to think. Imagine how many people you could hurt. Just keep moving. What's wrong with you? Why are you such a bad man? Such a bad father.."
After he had reached the park, he took a seat n a nearby bench, smiling softy as the children played on the playground, some swinging on the swing set, and some girls playing pirates on the slide. A couple of fairy dogs ran by to catch tennis balls being thrown, and other people had just stopped to enjoy the cool, but bright weather.
Linnie watched the kids playing on the swing set, reminding him to how he and Darren used to play together all the time, remembering all the times Darren would beg Linnie to let him stay just a little bit longer before they would have to go back to their hell-hole of a home. Linnie felt slight tears fall down his cheeks, as he saw a little girl being pushed by her dad, wishing he could go back and time and let Darren have "just five more minutes". However, nothing stung more than the very last visit to the park with Darren, where his late wife, Nora, had demanded he get home early to cook dinner and clean the kitchen, and Darren breaking into tears that "It's not fair! It's not time yet! It's not fair!", and after hearing about his little tantrum, Nora had declared that Darren was "unworthy of such a privilege" and kept Linnie from taking him again.
Maybe that was what kept Darren's trust for Linnie at bay? Not too much longer after Nora's ban on the park, the Cosma family had found themselves pregnant with little Cosmo, and eventually, Linnie's transformation after Nora had used him as a shield against baby Cosmo.
That was another thing too. Linnie began digging around in his coat pockets, trying to find his cell phone, and debated on calling Cosmo to check up on him. It had been a little bit since they're last visit, and Linnie admitted that he was starting to miss both his son and grandchildren. He wondered if Cassia ever ended up making straight As this last semester, of if Poof started talking in complete sentences. He also wondered how Cosmo was doing with his wife, Wanda. Last time he came over to visit, Linnie couldn't help to notice a somewhat tense feeling in the air, similar to how he felt with Nora, and almost more than anything, Linnie had hoped that his children would never live the same life he had.
Linnie had finally given up on searching for his phone, settling to call Cosmo when he got home, until his ears picked up a sharp, female voice, and a deep, warm male's voice, much different than Cosmo's squeaky, high pitched voice, talking not too far behind him. He turned around slightly before he felt his heart drop, seeing a woman with pink, swirly hair, sitting down on a picnic blanket next to the man, a darker skinned fairy with sleek, black hair tied back, lavender eyes, and large biceps that reminded Linnie of a miniature Jorgen Von Strangle. There was a brown, picnic basket in the middle, and the two fairies seemed to be interlocked with each other, holding hands, the male constantly kissing the woman's hands, and the woman pouring an expensive bottle of champaign into the glasses that rested near the basket.
Before he could get caught eavesdropping, Linnie quickly turned his body around, trying to process what he just saw. Did he see things correctly, or was that…Wanda? Maybe his glasses prescription wasn't working like it was supposed to. Continuing to listen to the voices speak behind him, he cleaned them gently with his sleeve, before putting the back on, focusing in on the woman slightly. The woman's pink hair swirled in the same places as Wanda's, and she was wearing a yellow shirt with black pants..Yep, no denying it.
Linnie turned around again and struggled to process what he had just witnessed. He knew what his wife was doing wasn't really any of his concern. But then again, Linnie struggled to imagine the reaction Cosmo would have if he had caught Wanda with the other guy.
Maybe it's just a misunderstanding? Maybe they were just co-workers catching up on lunch? Maybe they wanted to discuss a project? Or maybe they were meeting someone else later that didn't involve Cosmo?
With his thoughts spinning and starting to give him a headache, Linnie got up and flew on home, careful not to attract attention. He watched TV for a little while before fixing himself dinner and eventually, getting settled into bed, putting off calling Cosmo until the morning. Hopefully, it was all a big understanding and Wanda was really only there casually…right….right?