Situations and temptations Chapter 5
Fethry sat back down on the couch. He was pretty tired. It was still far from getting dark, not unusual at summertime. Of course it was dinner time, no question. Yet, he did not feel like doing so at all. We all don't like mondays much, do we? We may have another manic monday, and nobody can tell us why we don't like mondays… and Fethry always feels like this on Monday evenings. Especially today, when his cousin got in big trouble. OK, not really, but he definitely had been about to get into it. He just managed to avoid the worst, yet so as by fire. Usually Donald keeps complaining over Fethry. But today that had not been the case at all. Shocking, but true! Donald had been the troublemaker today and Fethry the peacemaker. Of course Donald did get away. But it was obvious that sooner or later Uncle Scrooge would find out. And it was obvious too that Fethry felt like Donald would need some support. But… how could he help him? That wouldn't be an easy job. Definitely not. He just could hope that Donald could get through it. Even though that definitely wouldn't be the case.
Fethry now himself started feeling bad that he hadn't helped Donald. OK, usually he had brought Donald into more trouble. But this time definitely would have been his chance. He could have proofed Donald that he was not dumb. „I mean, wouldn't that been obvious that he was really looking for uncle and not for Mr. Rockerduck? Now come on, why would Mr. Stanford been so wrong to go here to our Uncle's office when he was actually looking for Mr. Rockerduck? OK, maybe I've though too much about that now. Time for some dinner. Even though I'm not very hungry. Even though Dugan definitely is. I'll just go call him."
He went to the stair and called up: „Dugan, it's time for dinner now."
„No, I'm not coming", Dugan said. „You grounded me."
„You can still leave your room", Fethry replied.
„I'm not hungry", Dugan complained.
„Honestly, neither am I", Fethry said. „OK, you can stay in your room, nephew."
Fethry sighed. He felt pretty bored. What should he do?
He decided to go out and take a walk. His head was filled to the uttermost. He started feeling wretched, miserable and blind. He needed some fresh air. Therefore he decided to go out for a walk.
Fethry walked along the street, heading west, not far away from the harbour. He slowly started feeling better now and his heart started beating slower. He had already been walking for a pretty long while until he eventually didn't watch out and rush into someone else!
„Oh s-sorry."
„Nevermind, nothing happened."
The other man had been wearing black, therefore Fethry didn't really see him. That man was no bigger than Fethry. Fethry looked at the other man and gasped.
„Mi-Mister Ro-Rockerduck?"
„Exactly. And you are Mr. McDuck's nephew Fethry, I suggest?"
Fethry just nodded his head. Now his heart started beating faster again. „Well, how was your day?"
„Why do you ask?"
„Well…"
„I think this might interest your uncle. Today I had a great deal with Mr. Tim Stanford. I am sure he has a great future ahead of him. He is not a big adress yet, but I certainly can help him. I am very blessed to support his company, which runs coach busses and motorhomes. That would be great to beat McDuck in that area!"
Fethry didn't answer, just waved his hand and walked away.
„Bye and good night", John Rockerduck replied.
Fethry decided to pay a visit at the Stanford family. Did he know their adress? Of course not, but now he had arrived in the Flower Avenue, where Donald lived too, and just ahead of him he saw the house of the Stanfords.
He didn't think for a long time, but went to the doorbell and rang.
It did not take long, then the door opened. It was Grace, Tim's wife, who had opened the door. Unlike her husband, she usually is from Australia. She was born in Melbourne and she and her husband met for the first time in Auckland in New Zealand.
„Greetings sir!", she said. „Who are you? Did you come here to bring some food? If yes, that would be great because we have something to celebrate."
„Let me guess", Fethry said. „Your husband Tim signed a contract with John Rockerduck. And now you all are happy because John is paying him a lot, a lot more, than Scrooge would have paid him, who usually was supposed to talk to him."
„Th-that's r-right!", Grace mumbled. „But how could you know that?"
„Not important", Fethry said. „Can I speak your husband?"
„Mom, who's that?", a voice asked. It was Connor, Tim and Grace's older son. He is their second child and 18 years old. Their oldest child is their daughter Damona who is 19. They have two more children: Wendy (15) and Derek (9).
„I don't know", Grace said. „My name's Grace and this is our son Connor. And you?"
„I'm Fethry Duck and I would really need to speak your husband."
„OK then", Grace replied. „But the problem is that he is not back yet."
„Why that?", Fethry asked.
„He just called me and told me that on the way back home he met a friend whose car broke down. And since my husband is usually a pretty gentle and well meaning person, he decided to help him fix the car. He told us that it may still take a while and we should start celebrating without him."
Fethry sighed. „Nevermind. Can I wait here?"
„Sure thing", Grace said. „Just come in. You can sit down on your couch if you like."
„But mom", Damona complained. „You forget it's brand new!"
„Sis, don't forget it's not just your couch", Connor said with an annoyed tone.
„That's not your business, little brother", Damona replied angrily.
„Now now", their mother said. „Don't argue on a great day like this."
Fethry didn't listen and just took place. Then there was another thing that came into his mind.
„Can I use your…"
„The dunny?", Wendy interrupted him. „Sure."
„The what?", Fethry asked, who definitely does not understand Kiwi accent very good.
„The bathroom", Grace translated.
„No, I mean your phone", Fethry said. „I sadly didn't take my mobile with me."
„Sure thing", Grace said.
Fethry went to the family's phone. He had forgotten to inform Dugan. It was Dugan's bedtime soon, so he had to inform him where he was.
Fethry selected the number and rang the phone. Less than a minute later he heard Dugan's voice. „What's it? If you're calling my uncle, I can't tell you where he is."
„Well, he is here", Fethry said smiling.
„Where are you, Unca Fethry?", Dugan asked.
„At a different house", Fethry said. „I wanted to speak to the house's owner, but sadly he's not at home. So I'm waiting until he comes back."
„OK", Dugan replied. „When will you be home again?"
„I don't know", Fethry said. „I think you have to go to bed on your own today."
„What?!"
„Now come on, you're a big boy, aren't you?"
„Yes, but I can't sleep without my bedtime story", Dugan complained. „You know that!"
Fethry sighed. He decided to forget about all that what he came for and left.