Reconciliation

Dennis Sr thought about the talk he'd had with his son. He knew that in reality, his father hadn't been a complete monster, just a product of his time. There were a few things he had done that were indeed shocking, but he knew that he himself was not an angel as a boy, quite far from it.

Dennis Jr also was thinking about his granddad. He saw him a fair bit, and got on okay with him, although probably better with his granny. He knew that his dad also got on better with his own mum, although clearly, she'd had her flaws also, as she'd also been rejoicing that her son was going to be out of the house. He also did wonder about his Auntie Bea. He knew his dad and her were pretty close, and apparently always had been. Maybe not quite as close as his mum and Auntie Vicky, but still pretty close. After, she had been the namesake for HIS little sister.

Sandra Menace was pleased to hear her husband and son had had such a sweet night. She was actually quite proud of the life her husband had had. Despite having been a somewhat aggressive young boy (just like her, really), he had quite quickly came to terms with his bisexuality, and managed to settle into their polyamorous relationship, and been a wonderful dad to Dennis JR, and made sure he was never ashamed to cry, and be a much gentler person. She was thinking of how to celebrate her birthday. She was going to have a little party, and invite her extended family, and possibly Dennis Sr's. She would also invite many friends. She was however worried about her father-in-law. He and his son could have quite a rocky relationship, with arguments. Although that was actually better than her relationship with her own father. He'd been a sexist pig, always expecting her to act like a "young lady", her and Vicky. No wonder they both didn't want him near Bea or Minnie. Sandra wondered sometimes why she'd changed her own name from Minnie to Sandra, and wondered if it might have been because she wasn't too keen on the memories of her childhood. Her mum had died 5 years before, and she knew her dad was blaming his daughters. Hmm…

Dennis Sr did remember a day his dad had tried to wake him up, and he couldn't, because Dennis did love a lie-in. Still, what had his dad done? He'd put him in the shower, and put the cold one on! He was lucky not to have gotten ill. He was also annoyed that his dad had then, once he himself had tampered with the shower so he couldn't do that again, used his wet dog Gnasher to give him a shower. Aw, Gnasher… he missed him a lot, but he knew the subsequent Gnashers had also been sweet and caring to him, and to his son.

Sandra knew that she would obviously invite her sister and niece, and her sister-in-law, and probably Dennis' cousin Wally. She would also invite Dennis Jr's young friends, Cameron "Pieface JR", Rubi and JJ, and obviously Kevin "Pieface SR". She was wondering whether her husband would appreciate his parents being invited. She would also let Minnie have a few friends over, including Toots, her best friend. Oh, and she would invite their good friends, Roger and Ivy over.

Vicky told Minnie about her Auntie Sandra's party. Minnie was excited. She looked forward to seeing her cousins, and her friends, and she also looked forward to seeing Auntie Sandra and Uncle Dennis. She was wondering what would be on offer.

Roger Dawson was pleased to have received an invitation to Sandra's birthday. He remembered his childhood memories with her and Dennis, and little Ivy and Bea, and Toots. He had lost contact with a couple of other friends of his, Colin and Pete (although he still heard from Pete occasionally), and he was glad to have kept up with those people, and his friend Dave too. Thankfully, he had also lost contact with his childhood enemy and bully, "Cruncher" Kerr.

Dennis Sr and Sandra discussed whether the former's parents should be at the party. Dennis was still thinking about the shower memory, which hadn't exactly pleased him. After all, that could have drowned him! Yes, he could be a little brat, but that was completely unnecessary, and especially just to wake him up. He was glad though to be seeing his friends and family.

Sandra realised Dennis was right. His father had not been a good parent, and if they were to sort things out, it would have to be a private get-together, not a party. She decided to have a night out with Toots, Bea Sr, Vicky, and Ivy, so they could discuss a few things.

Dennis Sr was again looking after his kids as a result. He had invited Pieface Sr, Pieface Jr and Roger around, as he felt it would be good for Dennis Jr and Bea to see their honorary uncles and cousin. Dennis JR and Cameron were good friends anyway. They were playing in the jungle, or at least, pretending to. Dennis Sr and Kevin remembered the day that they, along with Curly, had pretended to be cavemen. Roger obviously couldn't remember that, but he thought it sounded funny. Dennis thought it was funny some of the games he had played with Kevin and Curly, and they'd all been very comfortable with each other, but somehow, he and Curly had later had a relationship, whereas Kevin seemed to only have had girlfriends. Well, a girlfriend, anyway, Matilda- surprisingly, an ex-girlfriend of Walter Brown! But she'd been much nicer once she'd split from him. He also thought it was an interesting subversion of stereotypes how he himself had turned out to be bisexual, while Walter, whom he'd admitted, he partly had given a hard time due to his perceived campiness in the homophobia of their childhood, as well as Walter always being an arrogant numpty… anyway, it was funny how it seemed that Walter had also purely been into women.

Toots and Ivy happened to get on reasonably well with their respective parents, so they had never experienced estrangements from them. But Vicky obviously had the same difficulties as Sandra did, while Bea, although getting on better with her parents than Dennis, still thought they could be hard work, again, especially their dad. They decided to set a date just before the party, just for the family.

When the two Piefaces and Roger left, Dennis Sr went to put his kids to bed. Dennis Jr noticed his dad was repulsed by some squirrels on the tree near his window. He asked his dad why. "Well, you see, we were infested by them once, and they messed up my and Gnasher's treehouse." "Gnash!" barked Gnasher 6 from downstairs. "No, not you, boy, your father," replied Dennis. "Anyway, I used water from a hose to get rid of them, but these were smart squirrels, and they moved the hose into my sock, and I was feeling weird then, and then I saw what they'd done, before it blew my shoe and sock off-" "But I thought you liked to take your shoes and socks off randomly, Dad?" asked Dennis Jr. "Yes, but not like this, son. And that's when it's my own decision, this wasn't. Anyway, the shoe blew up, and hit me in the face. But we managed eventually to move them to Walter's house!" Dennis Sr thoughtfully pulled his shoes and socks off briefly. "Yeah, you're right, I always did like to do this from time to time. I will admit, sometimes, because I was so naughty, I liked to stink places out." He looked ashamed when he said this. "I also remember, another time doing a Beano competition in bare feet- no real reason, just the head I suppose- it was comfortable enough." He then pulled his socks back on, and kissed his son goodnight.

On the day before the party, the 3 Dennises, Granny Menace, Sandra, Vicky, Minnie, the two Beas, and an old lady who the younger people didn't recognise met in a park. She was introduced as Grandad Menace's cousin Denise. They noticed a mischievous glint in her eye. She told them how she had been quite a boxer in her childhood. They all were somewhat nervous towards her then. She also reminisced about a time she and her cousin had been made to dance against their generation's Walter and his friend Winifred, and how the two Menaces had used some bugs to get rid of the other competitors! It sounded like, from the way she talked about THAT Walter's dad, that every generation of Walter Brown was a pest.

The kids played in the play area, while the adults talked. Dennis Sr talked to his dad about the shower incident. His dad looked uncomfortable, and said how he had been joking, and frustrated by how he wouldn't wake up. His son pointed out he could have given him a serious cold. The old man agreed. He also reminded his dad about how the slipper had often been used. Dennis Sr Sr then talked about how the slipper had been used on him as a child, and how he had often used water to make his sore bottom feel better. Dennis Sr Jr stated how his dad clearly hadn't worked out how to break the cycle the way he did. He knew his relationship with his dad would never be like his son and daughter's were with him, but he thought some reconciliation was happening.

The following day, the party started. They had arranged some buffet food, along with the birthday cake, and they had arranged a bouncy castle, a trampoline, a paddling pool, some karaoke, and a dance floor. It was noted how the pool seemed to be enjoyed by the young men at least as much as the children, while the karaoke was enjoyed by the young women. Dennis stared at his feet. He remembered how Curly had obviously found his feet attractive, which he was somewhat surprised by, but hey ho- if that was part of the attraction of him, he was glad. He had loved Curly very much, and their relationship, along with Sandra, had changed him for the better.

That night, everyone went home happy. They'd even had some foot-drawn comics done!

The End