Disclaimer: I don't own the 2004 animated film Shark Tale and all rights goes to DreamWorks Animation SKG. Shark Tale has been one of my favorite movies since my childhood, and it still is today. I've enjoyed that movie many times since I was a kid, and I still enjoy it today. Since I love the movie so much, I decided to do a whole retelling of the movie that is called When A Little Fish Tells A Great White Lie with new characters, new scenes, and different dialogue, and my OC belongs to me. Oh, and by the way, please enjoy the retelling of the movie and please review. Also, you can follow and/or favor the retelling if you want to. Please enjoy and share your thoughts and opinions of the retelling of the movie :)
When A Little Fish Tells A Great White Lie
Chapter 16: A Whole New Start
Three weeks later, things already have been changed for the better for everybody in Southside Reef, and they have made peace with the great white shark mafia as well as the other mafias of the Five Families right after Oscar did the right thing and told everybody the truth, and made a truce with Don Lino and brought peace to the reef where fish and sharks can bury the hatchet with each other which made him a true hero.
During the evening in the reef, everybody are now able to swim throughout the streets, go to various places, and do their various routines as usual since they are safe from the mafia, and this time, they don't have to worry about being terrorized by them any longer because they will be getting along with them from now on and Don Lino has promised that he and his mafia as well as the other mafias of the Five Families will never terrorize them ever again right after he has made a truce with Oscar, much to their delight. While everybody does what they usually do, Thomas and Rachael make a report about what just happened three weeks ago on the local news of Southside Reef Sea 9 on the jumbotron of Pelagic Square.
"Good evening, Southside Reef. I am Thomas." Thomas announced to the viewers.
"And I am Rachael." Rachael announced to the viewers.
"One of the local restaurants of the reef known as the Sushi Bowl has been shut down for good." Thomas continued.
"And that's because it has been selling sushi which is highly illegal in the ocean." Rachael announced. "Also, the one who owns the place has been arrested as well."
"But before we could talk about that, we're gonna talk about the changes from three weeks ago." Thomas continued. "And those changes are fish and sharks making peace with each other. Everything has changed for the better, and it's all 'cause one of the citizens of the reef Oscar has revealed that the Sharkslayer was actually a fraud the whole time and never actually killed a shark."
"He told the truth that he was only pretending to be the Sharkslayer." Rachael continued. "And we were all very shocked to find out that he has made up a whole story about killing a shark in order to become rich and famous. Even though we couldn't believe he was lying the whole time, he apologized for what he did and admitted his own mistakes of taking credit for killing a shark without realizing the consequences it has since fish were usually afraid of sharks and wouldn't dare to fight them off."
"Once the truth has been revealed, we all thought we're gonna deal with being terrorized by the sharks again." Thomas continued. "But it turns out we won't be going through that kind of thing any longer 'cause Oscar made a truce with Don Edward Lino and agreed with him that fish and sharks can bury the hatchet."
"It was a good thing that Oscar has brought peace to this reef, and he has managed to save it from the sharks as well." Rachael continued. "He has saved the reef from the threat of the sharks by making peace with them, and from now on, fish and sharks began getting along with each other and it's a good idea to do so. Also, right after the truth has been revealed, he has lost everything, and it was the only consequences he had to face when it all turned out that he was never actually a Sharkslayer in the first place."
"He had his money and fame taken away from him." Thomas continued. "His celebrity endorsement commercials has been removed from TV, his appearances on TV shows has also been removed, the merchandise of himself has been recalled from many stores, his Golden Pearl Award has been revoked from him, his name from the Swim of Fame has been removed, and his statue at Ripple Park has been demolished. Right after he has lost everything, he is now doing what we will be doing next, and we all wish him good luck with the life that he has right now. Have a pleasant evening, everybody, and enjoy how things have changed for the better."
Everybody in the reef continued to be very delighted that they no longer have to deal with being terrorized by the sharks and has buried the hatchet with them, and they are now safe from them as well since Oscar has managed to save the reef by managing to make a truce with Don Lino that things must change for the better for the reef where fish and sharks can get along with each other.
Meanwhile, at the Whale Wash during the evening, the many employees are doing their own hard work of cleaning the customers and helping them take good care of their own personal hygiene. Also, Angie and Sabrina work together to make some phone calls and sign some paperwork at the receptionist office, Nelson and his fellow co-workers work together to clean the customers' teeth, and Oscar and his co-workers work together to remove slime off the customers' tongues.
Also, Oscar was really enjoying his job as a tongue scrubber and he didn't complain about it at all since it was the kind of job that he was really good at and he smiled at his job without even frowning and complaining about it at all since he eventually realized that he stills looks up to his father Earl's job as a tongue scrubber and actually wants to continue his legacy of his own job. He has eventually accepted himself for who he is and appreciates what he already had after he learned from his mistakes and saw the error of his ways. Just as he continued doing his job along with his co-workers, Ernie and Bernie suddenly arrive.
"Oh, hey, Ernie and Bernie. What's up?" Oscar greeted.
"There is something we wanna tell you, and it's really important." said Ernie. "Sykes wanna see you in your office right now."
"Also, he wanna talk to you about something that is very important too, and he has a surprise for you too." said Bernie.
"Well, alright then," said Oscar. He then turned to the other tongue scrubbers. "Hey, guys, Sykes needs to see in his office, and I'm gonna be right back."
The other tongue scrubbers nodded their heads in agreement while they continued doing their hard work, and Oscar then leaves the mouth of the customer and began heading back to Sykes' office since he wanted to have a conversation with him and have a surprise for him and Ernie and Bernie come along with him to Sykes' office. He soon arrives at the office where Sykes is making some phone calls and does some paperwork until he notices him and begins having a conversation with him and gives him his surprise, and Ernie and Bernie sit on the couch together and begin reading some magazines.
"Hey, Sykes." Oscar greeted. "So, what do you wanna talk to me about? And what surprise do you have for me?"
"Well, it's how much hard work you have been doing here at the Whale Wash." said Sykes. "You've done a really good job removing the slime from the tongues of the customers along with your fellow co-workers who have also done a very good job, even when you have lost everything right after you did the right thing and told everybody the truth. Oh, and I wanna inform you that you've managed to make up for the five grand that you owe me yesterday. Thank you very much."
"How I was able to cough up the money that I owe you for working overtime for the three weeks." said Oscar. "The last time when you expected me to pay you back, you wanted me to do it within 24 hours, but you've decided to give me three weeks and I've managed to do so with the help of Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina."
"Well, that's 'cause Don Lino isn't expecting me to pay him protection money so his mafia wouldn't wreck the Whale Wash." said Sykes. "That's 'cause he has made that truce with you and has agreed that things must change for the better, which is a good thing. Oh, and I have a surprise for you, and you're gonna love it so much. Since you've been working so hard, I would like to give you a promotion, and it's becoming the new co-manager of the Whale Wash and that's your surprise. I've been looking for somebody who could run the Whale Wash along with me, and it turns out that you're actually worthy. So, would you like to be the co-manager?"
Upon learning that his surprise will be earning a promotion to become the new co-manager of the Whale Wash since he has been working so hard a tongue scrubber along with his co-workers, Oscar thought about it for a moment, and then he quickly decides to do so and own the Whale Wash along with Sykes while he would continue his father's legacy.
"You know, Sykes, the answer is yes," said Oscar. "I'm really honored to be the new co-manager and own the Whale Wash alongside you, and I guess I am worthy after all since I've been working so hard here for so long."
"Well, alright then, Oscar. From now on, we will be partners. We will own the Whale Wash together." said Sykes. "Oh, and by the way, you need to be ready for the grand opening and it's gonna be a celebration tomorrow."
"Alright, I'll be ready for it tomorrow, and I love celebrations so much." said Oscar. "Oh, and does anybody else know about this?"
"Well, of course, they do," said Sykes. "Everybody knows all about it, and I've already told them. Including Angie who is now your girlfriend and your two best friends Nelson and Sabrina."
"I can't wait for the big day tomorrow, and I am so excited about it as well." said Oscar.
"Me neither," said Sykes. "Oh, and by the way, the Whale Wash is gonna be also known as Sykes' and Oscar's Whale Wash from now on since you're now the new co-manager."
"Well, that's a great idea," said Oscar.
"So, remember, the grand opening is tomorrow, and you must be ready," said Sykes.
"Oh, I will." said Oscar.
"You can leave my office now. See ya later." said Sykes.
Oscar waved bye to Sykes, Ernie, and Bernie, and then he left the office. He arrives back at the mouth of the customer where he continues removing slime from his tongue along with his fellow co-workers, and he is very proud of himself for being promoted as the new co-manager since he has been working really hard lately and he is excited about the grand opening tomorrow. Also, he is very happy to notice that his co-workers as well as Sykes and his two henchmen are showing much more respect lately, even right after he finally did the right thing and told the truth.
He wanted to be a somebody and be respected by others by becoming rich and famous, but he eventually realized that he was a somebody by being his own person and he was already getting genuine respect that he yearns for by having best friends who would always be there for him and support him when he needed to. He just needed to listen to his heart instead of his head, and becoming rich and famous wasn't really the answer to becoming a somebody and getting respect from others after all.
Later on that day, it is now nighttime and it's now closing time at the Whale Wash, and the two romantic couples and everybody else has finished doing their hard work on cleaning up the customers, and they proceed to be heading back to their own homes which is the Seashell Plaza while the customers leave the Whale Wash as well right after getting themselves cleaned up and have their personal hygiene taken good care of, and the Whale Wash closes for the night just as the lights turned off.
While they do so, Sykes, his two henchmen and everybody else are very excited about tomorrow since Oscar has become the new co-manager, and how there will be a celebration of the grand opening of Oscar's promotion. Also, Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina are very excited about his promotion and the celebration tomorrow as much as everybody else were, and they were also very proud of him for managing to pay back Sykes with the 5000 clams and managed to get out of debt with him with their help by working overtime at the Whale Wash for the past three weeks in order to earn it.
Besides being very proud of Oscar for managing to get out of debt with Sykes by paying him back with the five grand with their help, they were very surprised to learn that he has impulsively betted the five grand on Lucky Day to win the seahorse race. However, even though he can be selfish and can make impulsive decisions, he is still a good person with a good heart no matter what, and he is the best friend that anybody could ask for since he is very friendly, compassionate, and helpful towards others. Also, they still care about him very much since they already know that he is willing to make things right again when he's in the wrong and is so willing to fix his own mistakes.
Soon, the two couples and most of their co-workers as well as Sykes and his two henchmen arrive back at the Seashell Plaza where they all head back to their own apartments. while they do so, Oscar and Nelson head back to their own apartment along with Angie and Sabrina so they could have a conversation about how everything has turned out so far three weeks ago, and Oscar is being praised by their co-workers for his promotion and he is very delighted to see how much they are showing much more respect for him. They arrive at the apartment where they begin having their conversation in the living room.
"Angie, Nelson, Sabrina, I've been working at the Whale Wash for so long, and I finally got a promotion which is becoming the new co-manager." said Oscar. "Honestly, I've always thought I would be promoted for all of my hard work, and I did. I really can't believe it, and it's one of the best things that have ever happened to me."
"We really can't believe that you've been promoted too." said Angie. "You've been working so hard on your job for a very long time, and we've always known that this kind of thing will happen and everybody has always known the same thing. It's really wonderful that you're now the new co-manager of the Whale Wash. Congratulations, Oscar. Oh, and your parents will be very proud of you as well."
"Thank you very much." said Oscar. "And that's right, my parents are gonna be so proud of me, and I'm gonna tell them all about it later on and they are now living in another apartment building right after I've moved out the apartment I used to live in with them before I became Nelson's roommate. Oh, and right after I began working at the Whale Wash again, I need to make up for the 5000 clams that I owed Sykes and I've managed to pay him back with your help...and I ended up betting on the last five grand on Lucky Day to win the race in order to make all of my dreams of being a somebody come true, and he has lost the race."
"Oscar, you were supposed to pay back Sykes with the 5000 clams by selling my grandmother's pearl at the Prawn Shop." said Angie. "But you ended up betting all of the money on one of the seahorses to win the race so you could win a million clams and make all of your dreams come true. And one of the seahorses of the racetrack you bet on with the money you owe Sykes has lost the race which made Sykes really angry since you've lost all of the money that you owed him."
"You know, I was such a sucker to make that bet and it was a dumb thing to do that kind of thing." said Oscar. "I was supposed to pay back Sykes, but I ended up being so distracted by my own dreams of becoming a somebody right after what I've been through during my childhood. Sorry that I've screwed up on paying back Sykes with the five grand so I could get out of debt with him and the situation I was in could be over."
"Well, at least you've managed to pay him back with our help," said Nelson. "Oscar, you can be selfish and make reckless decisions, and it was very reckless of you to make that bet at the seahorse race. Sometimes, you do end up making reckless decisions, and it's very exasperating. It really is."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm a bad person," said Oscar. "Everybody is not perfect and they have their own flaws. I really screwed up with the 5000 clams, but I've fixed my mistake by working overtime to earn back the five grand and managed to get out of ebt with him like I was supposed to with your help."
"It was a good thing that you've made up for your mistake with our help," said Sabrina. "It's very true that nobody is perfect and does have flaws, and some of those people who do have flaws are actually bad people, but some of those people are actually good people and you're one of them. You're still a good person no matter what even though you do have flaws, and you're so willing to make up for your own mistakes while you can be selfish and make such dumb decisions."
"Oh, and even though you did a foolish thing at the race, you still bought my grandmother's pearl back from the Prawn Shop." said Angie. "Since it really means a lot to me and has been a Christmas when I used to be a little kid, you returned it to me which is a good thing to do and I'm still very amazed that you've made it into a beautiful necklace, and thank you, Oscar. I appreciate it so much."
"Also, my parents have flaws of their own too." said Oscar. "Both of them can be selfish just like me and can make such dumb decisions just like I would end up doing sometimes. However, they are willing to fix their own mistakes, and they are both the greatest and they are the best parents ever. Oh, and it has been three weeks already when I made that truce with Don Lino and brought, and everything has changed for the better. Can't y'all believe it?"
"Yeah, we can't believe it, Oscar, and it's a good thing that fish and sharks are now getting along with each other." said Angie. "Right after you did the right thing and told everybody the truth, you saved the entire reef by agreeing with Don Lino that fish and sharks should bury the hatchet, and look how everything turned out three weeks ago."
"You know what, I am so glad that all of that happened." said Oscar. "From now on, nobody in the reef has to deal with being terrorized by the sharks and they are now safe to swim around the streets since they have made peace with them all thanks to me, and I'm so glad I've realized that I was a somebody the whole time to you guys and I was living the good life already. Oh, and most of all, I am so glad that I've decided to break up with Lola and I have no regrets in doing so."
"We're glad that you've realized those things and ended your relationship with Lola too." said Angie. "You just met her right after you made that bet at the racetrack, and she was only interested in you 'cause she thought that you're a millionaire which isn't true, and she quickly lost interest in you when she found that out."
"But she became interested in you again when you became the rich and famous Sharkslayer." said Nelson. "She only began having a relationship with you so she could use you to become rich and famous alongside you and show off to everybody that she's the Sharkslayer's girlfriend."
"We tried to tell you that she was just using you, but you wouldn't listen to us at all." said Sabrina. "You were being too blind to notice what she was really up to when she began dating you, and when you began dating her you should've looked back at what she said to you when she found out you weren't rich at the racetrack from before."
"She told you that she was superficial." said Angie. "And do you have any idea what that word means anyway?"
"Yeah. Superficial means shallow." said Oscar. "And shallow means that you judge something or somebody for what they have and how they look rather than caring about what they are and rather than caring about who they are. I shouldn't have begun dating her all of a sudden since I barely knew her and it was a mistake, and should've known sooner or later that she was just using me the whole time. I've eventually decided to break up with her right after I saw her for who she really is, and it was the right thing to do."
"She only saw you as a somebody 'cause you were rich and famous," said Angie. "Lola really thinks that the ones who live at the top of the reef makes them somebodies and the ones who live at the bottom of the reef makes them nobodies, but what she thinks isn't true, and she is way too shallow to notice the true meaning of being a somebody and what being a nobody is really about."
"Being a somebody is really about being yourself and having best friends who would support you and be there for you," said Oscar. "Being a nobody is really about not having anybody who would support you and be there for you. She's actually a nobody herself 'cause she's so shallow and selfish."
"That's absolutely correct." said Angie. "Lola is a nobody, and that's 'cause she's nothing but a vain and stuck-up person who is only interested in those who are rich and famous."
"Also, I've realized that she's nothing but a complete psychopath too." said Oscar. "She doesn't take rejection well, and she would get revenge on anybody who would break up with her by killing them and she has killed 40 guys already. She really thought that the end of our relationship was a mistake, but it wasn't a mistake at all and she was being so petty to accept being rejected by anybody."
"How many guys Lola has been dating for their money and fame before she began dating you?" asked Angie.
"I honestly don't know, but I guess it was dozens of them so she could become rich and famous alongside them," said Oscar. "I guess those guys who used to date her did the right thing to break up with her since she was only using them when they saw what she was really like just like I did. She wanted to have revenge on me for breaking up with her by having Don Lino almost eat you guys, and we're never gonna forgive her for what she did. We forgave Lino for what he did when I made a truce with him, but we can't forgive Lola at all 'cause what she did was unforgivable."
"Well, most of the time, we are willing to forgive others when they did something wrong," said Angie. "We forgave Lino right after he admitted his own mistakes with Lenny and Teresa just like you admitted your mistakes with us, and we're unable to forgive Lola when she put us in danger like that 'cause she couldn't accept anybody breaking up with her. We're unwilling to forgive Lola, and we'll never forgive her."
"Hopefully, we'll never have to see Lola again," said Oscar. "And if she still expects me to realize that the breakup was a mistake, there is no way I'm gonna do that 'cause it was the right thing to do. She never got the chance to find out the truth that the Sharkslayer was never even real in the first place, and she's gonna try to get back together with me so she could use me just like she did from before. Look, she can never know the truth, and if she did, then she's still gonna try to get revenge on me and we can't let that happen."
"You're absolutely right." said Angie. "Lola doesn't deserve to know the truth, and it's for the best that she never finds out so she wouldn't cause more trouble for us."
"Oh, and here's something else." said Oscar. "Since she almost had revenge, we're gonna get revenge on her by having her meet somebody that she wouldn't have a relationship with at all, and it's Crazy Joe. You see, right after I've lost everything, I sold the penthouse to Crazy Joe and he needed it way more than I do since he was homeless. He now lives at the top of the reef and he became a financial advisor of charity to help raise money for those who needed it very much, and that's how we're gonna get revenge on her 'cause she wouldn't date anybody who does charity besides anybody else who lives at the bottom of the reef."
"We already know that you sold the penthouse to Crazy Joe and he became a financial advisor of charity," said Angie. "And it's a good idea to get revenge on Lola for what she almost tried to do by having her meet somebody who she wouldn't want to date at all since she's too shallow."
"When Crazy Joe meets Lola at the penthouse, he's gonna have her admit her crimes," said Oscar. "He is helping us to get our revenge on her, and he will be wearing a wire on his shell to make sure that the police will hear her confess to everything. I already sent some evidence to them which are the newspapers I found the other night that shows her with many other fish who are rich and famous, and Crazy Joe is gonna teach her a harsh lesson of what being a somebody and being a nobody really means.
"It's a good thing that Crazy Joe will help us out with getting revenge on her," said Sabrina. "Also, the police really needed to know that she was responsible for killing those 40 fish who she used to be dating, and we guess those crimes has been unsolved for so long while the crimes the sharks' has been committing has always been solved since they've been terrorizing the reef until you brought peace to the reef."
"Lola really deserves to go to prison for what she did," said Nelson. "The police have been attempting to imprison the sharks for their own crimes for years, but they're unable to do so since they were all too afraid, and they decided not to imprison them since you saved the reef and everybody has buried the hatchet with them. Most people who live in this reef have been arrested for committing crimes like the sharks would, and Lola should be one of them."
"We're never gonna see Lola again, and let's never speak of her ever again," said Oscar. "Guys, I'm still very happy that I got my old life back, and I've eventually learned that everybody is a somebody by being themselves 'cause everybody is special in their own way. I'm gonna continue working at the Whale Wash as the new co-manager and continue my dad's legacy after he has retired."
"Oscar, we're very proud that you've learned to appreciate what you already had," said Angie.
"How you've listened to your heart." said Nelson.
"And you've realized that everybody is a somebody." said Sabrina.
"I'm really happy with the life that I am in right now," said Oscar. "And to be with you guys since we've been best friends since we used to be little kids and becoming best friends with you was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Also, becoming your boyfriend is one of the best things that has ever happened to me too and you've always been the right girl for me the whole time."
"I'm very happy to become your girlfriend too, Oscar." said Angie. "I've always been in love with you right after you helped me out with making a new art project for my art class at Pisces Elementary School right after my old one got ruined, and becoming your girlfriend is one of the best things that has ever happened to me too."
"Oh, I'm very happy to become Nelson's girlfriend and I'm very grateful for all of those gifts that he has been sending me lately." said Sabrina.
"And I'm very happy to become Sabrina's boyfriend," said Nelson. "And I've always been in love with her since she would defend us from bullies at Pisces Elementary School when in need." said Nelson.
"I love you, Angie." said Oscar.
"I love you too, Oscar." said Angie.
"I love you, Sabrina." said Nelson.
"I love you too, Nelson." said Sabrina.
"Now, let's continue to be ready for the big day tomorrow, guys." said Oscar. "And the big day is the grand opening of the Whale Wash of the new co-manager, and we still can't wait for tomorrow. We just can't. Honestly, I really thought that being rich and famous was my lifelong dream so I could become a somebody and get respect from others, but having a job at the Whale Wash just like my dad Earl did was my true dream after all since I've always looked up to him. Even though I did get bullied by my classmates for looking up to his job, I shouldn't let it get to me at all 'cause I'm my own person and everybody is their own person."
Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina nodded their heads in agreement just as they were very happy about what Oscar just informed them, and then the conversation is now over. The two romantic couples are very happy that everything has changed for the better three weeks ago, and Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina are still very proud of Oscar telling everybody the truth as well as saving the reef by making a truce with Don Lino, managed to pay back Sykes with the 5000 clams like he was supposed to right after he has screwed up with them at the racetrack from before, has ended his relationship with Lola which was the right thing to do and will have her arrested by the dolphin police with the help of Crazy Joe who is now living at the top of the reef, and his promotion as the new co-manager while Oscar is proud of himself for the same thing.
Then, the two couples smiled at each other for what just happened three weeks ago, and Oscar and Angie are very delighted that they've both become a romantic couple right after they confess their love for each other and Nelson and Sabrina are very delighted that they've both become a romantic couple right after they confess their love for each other as well.
Soon, Oscar, Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina heard a knocking sound on the front door, and they went to it to see who it was. Oscar opens the door, and he, Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina quickly discover that it was Sykes and he arrives at the apartment along with Ernie and Bernie, much to their surprise.
"Oh, Sykes, what's up?" Oscar greeted.
"We're here to tell you guys something," said Sykes. "Well, since the celebration of the grand opening tomorrow and you're now the co-manager, we're gonna work together to come up with some new ideas and the new changes for the Whale Wash. So...what do you have in mind, Oscar?"
Then, Oscar begins thinking of some new ideas for the grand opening of the Whale Wash and some ideas for the new changes for the Whale Wash tomorrow for a moment, and he quickly gets some new ideas just as he smiles.
Meanwhile, at the RMS Titanic during nighttime, Luca, Yvette, and the members of the mafia have gathered at the restaurant for dinnertime. Also, besides eating the foods while they are meatless and desserts that they would eat when they don't have any fish and other sea creatures to eat such as pizza, calzones, submarine sandwiches, meatballs, sausages, spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, garlic bread, cannoli, zeppole, gelato, cassata, sfogliatelle, and flan caramels, they are now eating vegetarian foods and desserts such as salads, vegetable soups, vegetable stews, vegetable sandwiches, vegetable casseroles for dinnertime as well as fruit salads, fruit cream cakes, fruit pies, fruit tarts, fruit puddings, and fruit frozen yogurts for dessert as well.
The whole reason why they are now eating vegetarian foods and desserts beside eating the foods and desserts they would usually eat is because it was all Lenny and Teresa's idea since they have change their ways for the better and made peace with the citizens of the reef along with the other mafias of the Five Families, and they are really enjoying them already and they can buy some foods and desserts from the restaurants and bodega whenever they want to since it was also the two siblings idea as well.
Also, Lenny finally confesses to Don Lino about being a vegetarian and how it is also one of the reasons of his refusal to kill and eat fish and other sea creatures which will make him sick if he tastes them as well as how he has been keeping it a secret and shared his secret to Teresa since she has always been accepting him for who he is, and Don Lino quickly understands that he has been secretly a vegetarian for so long without his knowledge right after he has finally accepted him for who he is and understands that he is his own person since everybody is their own person while is enjoying the vegetarian dinner as much as everybody else are.
"Lenny, Teresa, it has been three weeks already when my mafia has buried the hatchet with the reef." said Don Lino. "It was a good thing to do so, and our family has changed for the better already just like I've promised."
"Well, it was a good idea to agree with Oscar that fish and sharks should get along with each other," said Teresa. "Fish have been afraid of sharks for so long and sharks have been terrorizing fish for so long, and it's time that things must change for the better right after Oscar told the truth."
"Also, one of those changes for our family is changing what they would usually eat." said Lenny. "They would usually fish and other sea creatures, and when they don't have them to eat, they would usually eat anything else such as pizza, calzone, spaghetti, ravioli, and lasagna since they taste like meat and look like meat while they are actually meatless, but they would no longer do anything to eat anybody since they have decided to change their ways for the better and made peace with the reef, and they are now eating foods and desserts that are vegetarian while they would still eat foods that are meatless and the other desserts. Oh, and it was our idea too, and the family is enjoying the idea already."
Don Lino nodded his head. "Of course, and thank you very much for giving our family the idea, and from now on, these kinds of foods and desserts are gonna be served at the traditional Sunday dinners of the Five Families along with the meatless foods and other desserts. The other crime bosses already told me that they and their mafias are enjoying this as much as we are. Lenny, may I ask you something? Is it true that you've always been a vegetarian the whole time behind my back and the only one who knew that was Teresa since she has always been on your side?"
"Actually, Pop, it's true," said Lenny. "I am a vegetarian, and I've been keeping my lifestyle a secret from you and everybody else in our family while the only one who knew all about it was Teresa since she has always accepted me for who I am, and I've been eating fruits and vegetables without you noticing it while I've been eating the meatless foods in order to hide it from you and the family. I'm so sorry that I've been keeping it all a secret for all of these years."
"You really don't have to apologize to me for that." said Don Lino. "'Cause I understand that you're a vegetarian already. Even right after I've realized that it was a huge mistake to expect you to be just like Frankie since it has always been one of the sharks' traditions to be killers. I really want what's best for you and Teresa as well as Frankie since you are my kids, but I now understand that you are your own person since everybody is their own person. I completely understand that you are a vegetarian since I've realized that you're just yourself, and I shouldn't make the mistake of always wanting you to be just like Frankie without even noticing that you're already perfect just the way you are."
"Thank you for finally understanding those things, and I appreciate it very much." said Lenny.
"I've really learned the hard way that I should accept you for who you are rather than questioning you for who you are." said Don Lino. "And I shouldn't question Teresa why she would always take your side as well. After Frankie has been killed, I thought the Sharkslayer was responsible for his death and I wanna get revenge on him, but I eventually learned that he was a fake the whole time and never actually killed Frankie, and when I found out the truth as well as that most sharks in the ocean are actually gentle like you two, what your best friend Oscar just explained to was absolutely right."
"Of course Oscar was right, Daddy." said Teresa. "It's a good thing that you've learned from your own mistakes just like Oscar did, and how you now understand that everybody loves Lenny just the way he is and you should do the same. You always wanted him to be like Frankie and always expected me to encourage him to be like Frankie, but you've realized that he's just himself and it's so great that you did so."
"Also, I already know that Lola has left and has decided to break off the deal we made," said Don Lino. "And I decided to fire her and she's no longer a member of my mafia. Making a deal with her is one of the most regrettable things in my life since she wanted to get revenge on Oscar for breaking up with her, and she was being so petty for being unable to accept the breakup."
"It was a good idea to call off the deal you made with Lola, and it's very true that it's so ridiculous," said Lenny. "Oscar did the right thing to break up with her, and having a relationship with her was a huge mistake 'cause she doesn't know her that much and it doesn't make any sense for anybody to date somebody else without getting to know them better."
"Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina were absolutely right about Oscar's relationship with Lola while they were absolutely right when he became a complete fake." said Teresa. "That's 'cause he just met her, and Lenny and I hope that we'll never see her ever again and we'll never forgive her for what she tried to do to Oscar, Angie, Nelson, and Sabrina."
"Alright, Lenny and Teresa, and I hope for the same thing and I'm glad for what I did too." said Don Lino. "Well, it has always been a tradition for sharks to be killers, but I've learned that not all of them are like that when I found out the truth about the Sharkslayer as well as realized that I've been making the mistake of always wanting you to be a killer, Lenny. You're perfect just the way you are, you and your sister are the masters of your own fates. You two are getting older and you can make your own decisions, and it's up to you two if you really wanna take over my mafia when I retire. If you really don't want to, I'll understand that. Honestly, I have no plans to retire right now and I'll be the Don for a few more years until I decide to retire someday, and let me know when you made your decision."
"Okay, Pop. We'll let you know." said Lenny. "Also, we still miss Frankie so much, and even though he has died right after the anchor crushed him, he will always be with us no matter what."
"We love Frankie so much, and he will be missed," said Teresa. "His death was just an accident, and if the Sharkslayer was even real and was responsible for his death, getting revenge on him isn't gonna bring him back at all and it's the truth."
"Yes, it's very true," said Don Lino. "We still can't wait until Mildred comes home soon right after she has successfully recovered from leukemia in the hospital of the RMS Titanic. She's still gonna be home soon, and it's gonna be next week. I still owe her the same apology I already gave you two, and I already told her on the phone that everything has changed for the better for our family and she was very delighted to hear all about it. Lenny, I love you so much, and I'm so proud to have you as my son."
"I love you too, Pop, and it's very true that I am my own person and I'm so proud to have you as my dad." said Lenny.
"And I love you too, Teresa, and you've always been my little sweetie pie." said Don Lino. "You were absolutely right that most sharks in the ocean are friendly just like you and your brother, and I'm so proud to have you as my daughter and you will always be Daddy's little girl."
"I love you too, Daddy, and you've always called me your little sweetie pie ever since I was a little kid." said Teresa. "Of course that I was right that most sharks are compassionate, and I'm very proud to have you as my father."
Then, Lenny and Teresa began smiling at Don Lino for how everything has changed for the better for the mafia as well as the other mafias of the Five Families and they made peace with Southside Reef right after Don Lino learned from his own mistakes and saw the error of his ways and made a truce with Oscar three weeks ago, and Don Lino smiled at Lenny and Teresa for finally understanding that Lenny is already perfect just the way he is and finding out that most sharks in the ocean are actually gentle just like them after he realized that the Sharkslayer was a fraud the whole time and wasn't the one who killed Frankie.
The Lino family began expressing their love for each other, and Lenny and Teresa both quickly decide that one of the changes for the mafia as well as the other mafias of the Five Families is that they become the new customers at the Whale Wash tomorrow right after Nelson has checked on their teeth the other night as well as they dressed up as dolphins for their own disguises.
"Hey, Pop, we got an idea," said Lenny. "We think that we should become the new customers of the Whale Wash, and the other mafias can become new customers there too. We think so 'cause of how Teresa and I dressed up as dolphins. And how one of Oscar's best friends Nelson checked on our teeth."
"Pop, it's a really good idea that the Five Families become the new customers of the Whale Wash." said Teresa. "They can dress up as anything they like there, and they can have their teeth taken good care of there as well."
"What do you say about the idea?" asked Lenny.
Don Lino began thinking about the idea of his great white shark mafia as well as the leopard shark mafia, the hammerhead shark mafia, the killer whale mafia, and the swordfish mafia should become the new customers of the Whale Wash so they could dress up whatever they like to and have their teeth taken good care of there which could be part of the changes of the Lino crime family right after they have changed their ways for the better and made peace with the citizens of Southside Reef for a moment, and he quickly decides that his mafia as well as the other mafias of the Five Families should become the new customers.
"Lenny, Teresa, I say it's a good idea," said Don Lino. "My mafia and the other mafias of the Five Families will become the new customers of the Whale Wash, and it's gonna be tomorrow. It's such a wonderful idea and we should do it. Now let's continue having dinner, you two."
Lenny, Teresa, and Don Lino continued having dinner together along with everybody else, and Don Lino is having some vegetarian casserole for dinner and he's enjoying it so much just like everybody else is enjoying the vegetarian dishes so much while Lenny is enjoying some salad for dinner and Teresa is enjoying some vegetable soup for dinner, and the two siblings are very delighted that Don Lino has agreed that the mafia as well as the other mafias should become the new customers of the Whale Wash right after they have changed their ways for the better while Don Lino is very delighted to agree on the idea as well.
End Of Chapter 16: A Whole New Start
Disclaimer: I hope you've enjoyed Chapter 16: A Whole New Start and if you did enjoy it, please share your thoughts and opinions on it, and please review and you can follow and/or favor if you want to. Oh, and by the way, Chapter 17: Living An Honest Life will be up next soon. See ya later, and stay tuned for Chapter 17: Living An Honest Life :)