Here is the next chappie. Enjoy.
Over the next few days, Rusty and Veronica got quite close. When Sal offered to take him out her flippers for a day, so she could get more work done, she refused, and had him paint pictures of all the construction work.
"What are these for?" he asked, as he painted Jackson's family standing in front of their unfinished igloo. Jackson's wife, Donna supported him on his good leg. Their two daughters, Jenna, who was a little younger than Rusty, and her older sister Ruby, who was a young teen, stood in front of their parents. All had big smiles, despite their troubles.
"To make memories," Veronica explained as she watched. "Memories on how we've grown stronger as a community, from helping each other out. I had my share of problems, too, when the seals came, but none as bad as others. So I set aside my own needs, to help them out."
"How can you be so selfless?" Rusty asked.
"I just look on the positive side of things. I still had my own life, my health, and my home. I only lost my husband. Sure I was sad for a spell; even angry. But I used that to keep me going."
"She's an inspiring woman," Ruby said. "You're so lucky to have her as your mother; she'll do anything for anyone!"
"I know," Rusty said, putting the finishing touches on the painting.
"This is amazing!" Donna gasped in awe.
"It'll look great in the igloo we've built for it," Jackson agreed.
"We're building a hall to display pictures, and paintings of this hard time," Ruby explained. "We took pictures of the village just after the attack, and it looked pretty bad. It's come a long way, already, and we're taking pictures as it progresses. Wanna come see them?"
"Sure!" Rusty agreed.
Ruby and Jenna led him to an igloo, larger than the rest. Inside, the walls were covered in photos. Jenna pointed out how it was like a timeline. Rusty was horrified at the state the small town was in after the attack, and was amazed to see the development as it was fixed up.
"Wow," he said.
"It was pretty bad," Ruby agreed. "At first, everyone thought we wouldn't be able to restore it, and we'd have to move to the larger, near-by village. But your mom, and a few other parents started working, anyway, and soon everyone realised they could fix it up."
"Which I'm glad about," Jenna added. "I like this place; it's not a large town, like the other village, it's near the ocean, and leopard seals don't come here too often. This was the first attack in fifty years."
"What did you say?" Rusty asked.
"This was the first attack on this village in fifty years," Jenna repeated.
"No, before that."
"It's near the ocean?"
"Yes! I've never seen the ocean, before! Can you guys take me?" Jenna and Ruby looked at each other, then back at Rusty, and nodded.
Plz Rivew. :P