Part 116

Once they were all gathered at the theater, Ishin and Lakshmi volunteered to look after the kids while the grownups talked.

Glenn sat quietly in one of the theater chairs. He looked at Ash and Tyler. "Your dad took down one of them, right? What happened to the other jackass?" He asked.

Rosita was about to scold his language but thought better of it. He wasn't her son and he was hurting.

"He was arrested," Tyler assured him. "I'm sorry about your family. That's horrible."

He nodded. "At least they won't get away with it. But now… I don't know what to do." The German shepherd looked at his hands. "I can't go back there… we have no home… I have no job. They'll take Airlia away from me."

"We have the job taken care of and Johnny has the keys to your new apartment," Eddie said as he offered Glenn a small stack of papers. "75,000 a year plus a bonus for each composition. And the apartment including utilities are at no cost, or rather part of your compensation. Social services won't have any reason to take her away."

Gunter nodded. "Absolutely none…." He smiled.

The dog read through everything. "Thank you. This is a big help."

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In his luxury suite at the Calatonia Santa Francesca Marriott, the pig sat in his bed, drinking a cup of hot coffee. He had wanted to go find his brother and niece right away but he was exhausted from his flight. And he was nervous about showing up unannounced. To be fair, he tried to tell his brother that he was coming but he was refusing to speak to him. So he had no choice but to surprise him. He just needed to do it. He just needed to go to this theater and hope that he was there.

He remembered when the policemen came to inform him of his sister's death. His heart had broken even more then when their parents both died. He was willing to take the child but his sister had named their brother as the one she wanted. She had never forgiven him for his part in driving him away. He could still hear the last time he'd spoken to her.

"I don't understand! Why couldn't you keep your big mouth shut!"

"Gertrude, you don't understand. I had to tell Father."

"No! No, you didn't! It was none of your business. Now our brother is gone and we may never see him again!"

"Gertrude! Please, listen to me! You don't know the whole story."

"The whole story? You mean the one where you're so afraid of our Father's disapproval that you were willing to sell out our brother!"

"No, please…."

"I hope it was worth it, Gerhardt! Because until our brother comes home, I never want to see you again…"

She had kept her promise. She had not said one word to him in the last fifteen years. Thankfully, she didn't deny him a relationship with his niece but she had nothing to say to him. He closed his eyes against the pain. He hoped his father's methods were worth the cost because he had been alone for so long. And he was tired of being alone.

He took a deep breath. He just needed to do it. He just needed to find his brother. To try and make amends. He only hoped he could do it without breaking his promise to their father.

———————

Glenn read over the offer paperwork and eagerly signed everything. He was stunned by their kindness. "This is just so much. So much more then I could ask for."

Eddie smiled. "It's our pleasure to help in any way that we can." They looked up at the office door as Marcus came in with Mack.

"Well, social services is inspecting the proposed home as we speak," the rhino said. "Marcus, I'm impressed with how quickly you've sorted this out."

The gorilla nodded. "When a crisis pops up, this family comes together. We stand by each other and support one another." He fixed Glenn with a look. "And once you're a part of this family, that's it. There is nothing that we won't do."

Mack chuckled. "I noticed how they all stood up for you at your hearing. Mr. Coleman, are you sure you're up to caring for your sister on your own? You're still very young and you've had a horrible shock."

Glenn nodded. "I know it'll be hard but I'm the only one who can care for her the way she deserves. She's been in too many foster homes. We need each other."

Mack nodded. "I can understand that."

Marcus nodded. "They're going to stay with us until they've had a chance to heal a little bit. My daughter wouldn't forgive me if they didn't." He chuckled. "What do we know about the…"

"That's not my job, I'm just here at your request, Marcus. My investigator days are behind me," he said. "Though Vice tells me they think this was gang related. It was initiation night last night for many gangs. There were many arrests."

Marcus shook his head. "The bastard needs to be counting his blessings that I never got my hands on him. Thanks for telling me."

Mack said his farewells to the Moons and left. Glenn looked at Marcus. "We'll be okay, sir. I don't want to impose."

"You're not imposing at all," Marcus assured him. "Porsha would insist on it. Stay with us for a few days and give yourselves a chance to see straight again."

Nodding, Glenn looked around at everyone. "Thank you, Mr. Moon and Mr. Moon…"

"Just call us Eddie and Gunter," Gunter corrected him. "No need to be formal with us. Let's go downstairs. It's almost time for us to take the kids for practicing. Everybody else must leave or the surprise will be ruined. Does Airlia like to sing? She could join our choir. We're doing a big surprise show for all of the mothers in our group for Mother's Day."

The dog thought about it. "I'll ask her but it might be a bit soon to be thinking about Mother's Day."

Eddie blushed as he remembered. "You're right. We're not being very sensitive. Sorry, pal. Look, we don't want you to worry about the show in Redshore right now. We can handle that music. You focus on you and your sister right now. Trust me. We understand what you're going through." He stopped when he saw Gunter looking out their single window in the main office. "What is it?" There was a taxicab had just driven up.

"I don't know…. We don't have a show tonight, right? Why would…" His mouth fell when he saw who got out. "What is he doing here?"

Eddie looked at the newcomer. A large pig wearing obvious vacation clothing and smiling a bright smile that instantly told the sheep to whom he was related. Even from here, he could see a characteristic twinkle in his eye. "Your brother?"

Gunter nodded, visibly unhappy. "Yeah. That is my betrayer."

Sarah went running out of the theater. "Onkel Gerhardt!" She leaped into his arms. "Ich wusste nicht, dass du kommst? Warum hast du es mir nicht gesagt?"

He laughed boisterously. "Und vermissen Sie Ihren Gesichtsausdruck, meine liebe Nichte? Wo ist dein Onkel? Wo ist mein Bruder?"

Sarah answered excitedly. "Er und Onkel Eddie haben oben im Büro mit einem Notfall zu kämpfen. Durch dieses Fenster können Sie das Büro sehen." She pointed up at the window and her face brightened. "Oh, Onkel Günter! Schauen Sie, wer hier ist!"

Eddie looked at Gunter. "What do you want to do? I'm guessing Sarah doesn't know that you do not care to see him?"

He shook his head. "She wouldn't understand… She is only a child. What happened between us was before her time." He sighed. "I guess we have no choice."

"At least we have an excuse to get rid of him quickly," Eddie consoled him.

By the time they got outside, Sarah was introducing Gerhardt to the rest of the cast. "And Tante Rosita."

Rosita extended her hand to the other much larger pig. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Gunter didn't tell us you were coming."

"He did not know. Sarah has told me so much about all of you. She make it sound almost like heaven," he smiled at her. "Und I am all alone now so, I am thinking to myself, there is nothing to keep me in Germany. Now here I am." He looked at the door. "Mein bruder. How I have missed you!" Gerhardt opened his arms and rushed Gunter with a tight hug.

Gunter forced a smile. "Gerhardt, I am surprised to see you. You didn't tell me you were coming."

He laughed. "To be fair, I did try to tell you. You wouldn't talk to me. So, surprise! Look at you. You are looking so well. Und who is this?" He looked at Eddie.

Sarah smiled. "This is Onkel Eddie."

Eddie chuckled. "Eddie Moon-Suarez. Gunter's told me about you. But it is time for the kids to rehearse for Monday. I'll bring them home when we're done, Mama."

Rosita smiled. "If they try and misbehave, you tell them that I'll make broccoli for dinner. Only broccoli." She teased. "You and Gunter should stay for supper tonight. It was nice meeting you, Gerhardt. Glenn, if there's anything or anyway that I can help, please don't hesitate to ask. Porsha has my number. Airlia, that goes for you too."

Everyone left, leaving just the kids' choir and Gerhardt. "Oh then it is true. Sarah told me you had become a showman, as you always dreamed."

Gunter nodded sharply. "Ja! And we have rehearsal to get to. It was good to see you again. Have a good day. You can take Sarah to the park if she wants. Johnny and Ryan were talking about taking Neo. René will be there too," he told the girl.

"Oh yes, Onkel. Come on, Onkel Gerhardt, let's go to the park," she pleaded.

"Oh but don't you want to rehearse?" He asked. "I would like to watch you."

She shook her head. "I don't sing. I don't like it. But I like watching all of my friends and Onkel Gunter on show nights. Let's go to the park. How long will you be here?" She led the older pig away though he obviously wanted to stay.

AN: We won't see much of Gerhardt at the start. I'm more just introducing him for now. Sorry I have taken so long. I'm still sick with Covid. Please review.