Part 124

Sarah clapped as the choir finished their short three-song set. "That was great, Onkel Gunter." She praised the conductor who playfully bowed. "Wow, Caspar, your solo was really good!"

The piglet smiled. "Thanks." He went backstage and took his jacket off of the hook. Eddie had gotten all of them jackets in their favorite colors with their names on the back for Christmas. Underneath his name was a crescent moon logo and embroidered text reading NEW MOON THEATER CHILDREN'S CHOIR in Comic Sans.

Gunter came back and called. "Alright, everyone. It's time to go. Raquelle, Lancey, your mom is waiting." The porcupettes ran out. Come on, kids. Your mom said she made spaghetti and we are starving." He smiled as they went screaming out to the lobby and out to his convertible.

Eddie looked at Gunter. "Jerry told me that Rosita invited your brother for dinner." He said with an unsure tone. "Do you think you'll be able to handle it? We can always say we're too tired and get Croc's on the way home."

Gunter shook his head. "No. Rosita will ask too many questions. I'll get through it." They headed out into the lobby.

Next to Nana's statue, a figure knelt, placing a bouquet of pink roses at its foot. When they got closer, Eddie's mouth dropped.

"Dad?" He asked, the word toppling unbidden from his mouth.

Frederick Noodleman stood up, his expression unreadable. "I'm sorry… I meant to be gone before you came out." He explained. "I just wanted to visit my mother's… her grave, I suppose."

Eddie shook his head. "How did you find out?" He asked softly.

The older sheep sighed. "Your friend, Miss Green. She told me. You weren't going to tell me…"

"She asked very specifically that we not tell you," he explained. "But it's too late now. I'm sorry…"

"Don't be angry at her, I made it hard for her to refuse." He explained. "I understand. I know why. Doesn't make it hurt any less. I heard your little practice. Your choir is very talented…"

"Thank you," Eddie replied shortly. "We're doing a special show for Mother's Day." He didn't know how he felt about his dad anymore. He was still angry but he missed Nana too. And he could see the sheep had really come down in the world.

The sheep looked over his son, watching how the hog drew closer, almost protectively. "I know I can never make up for what I did to you. There's no words I could say or anything I could do… but, I'm going to try. I'm sorry. For Mr. Moon, for that phony Duke, for all of it. I wish I could take it all back… but I can't." He looked up at the likeness of his mother. "I'm glad that you have found a family that can love you the way you deserve. I'll go now… I won't bother you again. I'm sorry."

Eddie watched the man leave. He looked up at his lover. "Okay, now I feel bad." He said softly.

Gunter hugged him. "Don't. You were only doing what Nana wanted. Don't let him manipulate you again." He whispered. "I won't let him hurt you again."

Eddie nodded, watching what direction he went. "You're right. It's just more manipulation. I can't fall for it again." He bit his lip. "But he looked cold… Hey, we better get these kids home before dinner gets cold." He laughed at his own joke.

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Suki was just trying to decide what to cook for dinner when Porsha came into the kitchen. "Big Mama, can you teach me how to cook? I want to be able to make dinner for Glenn."

The Saluki smiled. "Well, I'm just learning myself but I can teach you what I know." She grabbed a couple cans of tuna. "We'll start with tuna casserole. Can you get the two-quart sauce pot? We start by boiling some water for the noodles. And while we wait, we drain the water off of two cans of tuna…"

"Mr. Green, really, I appreciate everything you've done for us," Glenn was heard coming up the stairs with Marcus. "But really, Airlia and I will be alright."

"Glenn, I know you will be but let us help you out until you've had a chance to heal," Marcus insisted.

Porsha turned as she turned on the burner. "Please, Glenn… At least stay a few days."

The please from his girlfriend was what did it. Glenn sighed. "I guess… it couldn't hurt if we stayed a few days."

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"And dinner is served," Rosita announced as she opened the crockpot full of spaghetti with homemade meatballs.

Norman helped her to serve their piglets around the table while commenting, "Rosita, honey, this looks fantastic."

Gerhardt nodded. "Ja! And it smells so good. Gunter, you didn't say she cooks as well as our old cook growing up."

The younger hog forced himself to maintain his civility, thinking of things that made him happy. "Because you never asked." He lied. "Rosita, you did not tell me you asked my brother for dinner."

She dished him up a heaping helping of the meal. "I hope it's alright? It's just that he's your brother and we wanted to get to know him better."

The dancer smiled. "I'm grateful to you for looking after him this afternoon. I feel terrible that I haven't been able to hang out. We've been just so busy lately."

Gerhardt's blue eyes shimmered and he grinned. "It's no problem, little brother. You've fulfilled your boyhood dreams. Father would be so proud of you. Mother and dear Gertrude would be over the moon."

Gunter looked away, becoming aware of Eddie taking his hand and squeezing. "That's funny. I remember Vater saying my dreams were childish and silly."

"He was just worried. So many try to climb the entertainment ladder and even the best aren't sure to make it," Gerhardt argued. "But you did it anyway. And I am proud."

The two pigs locked eyes. Gunter only lasted a few moments before he had to return to his dinner. "Thanks for dinner, Rosita. You outdid yourself."

Eddie nodded. "He's right, Mama. This is the best spaghetti and meatballs in the world."

Gerhardt became quizzical. "You call her Mama? How old are you?" He asked in a genuinely curious tone.

"I'm almost 42 and yes, I know it's odd but she and Norman are my adopted parents," Eddie explained. "It's complicated…" he played with his food while Gunter rolled his eyes. His brother was tactless as always. "You see… my birth parents were… well, monsters. Rosita and Norman helped my grandmother get me away from them and got me into therapy."

The pig nodded. "And you're dating my brother? Is that right?" He looked at Gunter.

"Yes, I love Gunter," Eddie said, wondering what the older male was thinking.

Gerhardt nodded. "My brother is a great guy. I am… very happy that he found someone so special." He glanced back at his brother. He wasn't sure about Gunter being with someone so damaged but… he couldn't say anything. He resolved to talk with the sheep alone at the earliest possible convenience. "How was rehearsal?"

"It went well," the sheep looked at the children. "They're all so excited. They take after their mother. Especially Caspar. He has one of the purest voices I've heard since Meena. As clear as a bell."

The youngest piglet blushed at the praise while Rosita smiled at him. "That's sweet, Eddie."

Gerhardt chuckled. "You know, Sarah has a lovely voice as well. You should include her in your choir."

Gunter shook his head. "She doesn't want to be in the choir. We've offered and encouraged her but she does not want to," he explained.

Sarah looked at her plate, trying not to draw attention to herself but to no avail. Her uncle's eyes met hers and he asked. "Why not, Sarah? You used to be in the choir in your school. You love to sing."

She shook her head. "I don't like singing anymore. I don't want to be in the choir." She protested. Gunter's hand touched hers.

"It's okay, Sarah. It doesn't matter why. If you ever decide you want to be in the choir, there will always be a spot for you, but that is completely your choice," he reassured her. He looked up at Gerhardt. "Do not try pressuring her. She said no, that is the end of it."

The older pig sighed. "It's just so sad to me. I just want to know. Why, Sarah? Why don't you like singing anymore?" He continued to prod.

"Because Mommy and I used to sing together!" She shouted. They stared in shock while Gunter glared at his brother. She ran from the table.

"I told you not to pressure her!" The younger male yelled. "You just had to stick your nose in where it wasn't wanted! As usual!" He stood up. "I'm going to go find her and then… I am most sorry, Rosita… Rosita?" He noticed that she wasn't there. Neither was Eddie. "Eddie?"

Norman pointed in the direction of the bedrooms. "SuperMom is on the case and Eddie almost beat her to it." He directed his own disapproving gaze at Gerhardt. He wasn't a fool. Gunter hadn't told them about his brother for a reason.

Gunter hurried to find Sarah in Caspar's room, crying bitterly. Rosita was hugging her but the moment the child saw Gunter, she broke free and ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back. Eddie stood behind them, patting the hog's back consolingly.

"Mommy and I used to sing together… and when I sing, I think about her," Sarah said. "And when I think about her… I…" she sobbed even harder. "I don't want to sing anymore…"

"Oh, Sarah, it is alright. It is alright to cry when you think about her. But it is also alright to not want to do something that you know will make you feel sad," he assured her. "But if you do decide you want to sing again, then you are very welcome to." He pulled her close. "But you know, it is alright to think about her. It can hurt at first but… all any of us really have is our rememberings of the ones we love. And as long as you remember her, she is never really gone." He wept with his niece, thinking of his favorite sibling.

"I miss Mommy. I would cry in the choir. I cannot sing in the choir," she pleaded.

"You don't have to. We would never make you join the choir," he promised. "Onkel Eddie and I will never force you into doing something you do not want to do."

She nodded but continued to cry, thinking of her lost mother. He could only hold her. "Rosita, I think we should take her home."

"No," Sarah said. "I don't want to go. I want to stay." She wiped her eyes. "I'm okay."

Gunter looked up at Rosita who nodded. "Alright then. We will just ignore stupid Onkel Gerhardt then. He isn't knowing when to be shutting up."

Sarah nodded and she joined them in going back to the table. She sat down without looking at Gerhardt.

"Are you okay, Sarah?" Caspar asked with concern.

She nodded. "I was just sad for a few minutes. I miss my mommy."

He got up off his chair and walked over to give her a hug.

Gunter glared back at Gerhardt. "No more pressuring her. Or you won't be allowed to see her anymore." He said before he returned to his meal.

Jerry watched the saddened hog as he nodded. He wasn't sure what to think. In some ways, this guy seemed very nice but he had just made his niece cry.

Rosita nodded. "We respect boundaries in this family," she elaborated. "When Sarah said no, the first time, you needed to back off and accept it."

He nodded again. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I didn't mean to make you sad." He forced himself to eat his meal.

The rest of the meal passed in awkward quiet. Eddie finally spoke up. "We saw Mr. Noodleman today… When we were leaving…"

Rosita gasped. "Oh my goodness. Are you alright? Why didn't you call me immediately?"

The sheep shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal… He just wanted to put flowers on Nana's statue. Porsha told him."

"And he didn't hurt you? In any way?" She asked.

Eddie shook his head. "No. He just… he apologized for everything. His clothes were torn and he looked like and smelled like he hadn't had a bath in weeks." He said softly.

Norman nodded. "You sound like you might be worried."

"He is my birth father. I can't help it," the polled sheep explained. "But Gunter is right. He was probably just trying to manipulate me again. And I cannot do it again. I can't let him fool me again."

The pig listened. "What if… What if Rosita and I tried to find him for you? We could see what's going on."

Eating a meatball, Eddie smiled. "I'd appreciate that, Papa. I really think Gunter's right but… I'd appreciate confirmation." He admitted.

Norman nodded. "Don't worry about it, Eddie. Whatever's going on with him, we'll take care of it." Eddie's father had proven to be pretty worthless but Eddie still somehow grew up to be a kindhearted person. If he was concerned, then Norman would do anything to alleviate that concern.

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AN: Think this has taken long enough. Working on bringing Eddie's story with his father to completion or at least for this book at least. Please leave a comment.