#rrl01

Gen One, Day Eighty-Five

It had been a long time coming, paying bills for a building that was going unused. But Johnny was finally ready to open his Landscaping storefront. He’d filed all the paperwork, posting for job openings and with Charlie’s help, managed to get the store into a place where they could run through appointment only before they opened for store hours. 

The first appointment was a woman with eclectic taste. Robyn agreed to go with Johnny to meet her at the office and be his assistant while he took notes and got her all set with a consult at her home so he could take a look at the yard she wanted to landscape. She wanted a koi pond with a small walkway surrounded by flowers. He knew he could do it. Knew that it was going to be a good cash grab, too. Koi ponds weren’t cheap, but his goal had been to allow his prices to be affordable, but not run him out of business either. 

Gen One, Day Seventy-Four

As the routine starting growing to a close, Eris quickly excused herself from Geoffrey to go get all three of them something to drink. She was beaming with pride and it was made even greater when she got to the bar and overhead the conversation about her Dad. 

“This guy’s great, isn’t he?” 

“He’s gonna win for sure. Haven’t heard the crowd laugh this hard all night.” 

Eris grinned ear to ear, ordered her drink and stood there with her lips twisted like she was trying to hold back what she wanted to say. After a moment, she couldn’t anymore. “That’s my Dad up there,” she told the crowd at the bar and they all perked up, telling her how great he was, what a good job he was doing, where did he get his material, etc. She tried to entertain the questions as much as she could, getting a few laughs herself and it felt good, making comedians laugh. 

Skill Up: Comedy Level 2 (Eris)

Gen One, Day Seventy-Six

As they got up to head back to the bus stop, Eris couldn’t resist anymore. She stopped in front of him, turning and he could only get out a quiet, “Wha-...” before she went in for the kiss. 

It surprised her, stomach dropping, when he dodged out of the way. His hands came up to hold her arms back and she stood there, feeling the flush cross her face and not in the good type of way. She took a step back immediately. “I’m so sorry,” she breathed out, embarrassed. 

“No, no,” Allan shook his head, looking down at his feet with a heavy sigh. “Please, don’t...” he shook his head again, like he was struggling with what to say. “Please don’t feel bad, or like you did something wrong. Or that I haven’t been feeling the same way.” The words confused her, having her look up at him and his face was understanding, yet mournful. “I’ve been fighting the urge to do that all day.” 

Confused, she shook her head. “Then, why...-” 

“Because we’re moving,” he cut her off. “At the end of the school year. To Strangerville. I, uh...I found out last week. Terrible timing, I guess.” 

“Strangerville’s not that far,” she tried meekly. 

Gen One, Day Fifty-Two

“You going to Doug’s retirement party?” 

“Oh, you bet,” Robyn nodded, grinning over at Tim as they enjoyed some quiet time between classes in the teacher’s lounge. Doug, one of the senior most teachers at the elementary school had announced his retirement a few weeks ago and the school had been all abuzz with the news. Not only had he been one of the most beloved teachers at the school, he’d also been the second grade Department Head on the school board’s committee and tiger team list. He’d instituted a lot of great change within the school and he was going to be sorely missed. 

Although, his departure also meant there was an opening for someone to take over that position as second grade Department Head. Robyn had considered it, but wasn’t certain if she was right for the position. 

Not until Tim told her, “Maybe he can give you some pointers on getting elected for his old role with the board.” 

Robyn chuckled, shaking her head. “I...don’t know...” 

“Yes, you do,” Tim coaxed. “You’re perfect for the job.” 

She sighed, still after all these years flabbergasted with how Tim had turned around so completely on her from the loud, demeaning and angry co-worker to one of her closest friends. “You think so?” 

“I do.” 

Gen One, Day Eighty-Four

The family spent the night talking at the kitchen table. Robyn made them some tea and cookies and they talked about how Charlie had known. Talked about why Johnny had said he wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t planned on telling them about Josef, but they were so supportive of him that the topic came up. He left out some of the more...adult details of the whole ordeal, but when they found out what had happened, Johnny looked like he wanted to go beat up the other kid, while his Mom praised him for keeping such a level head during it all. 

It felt good to get those things off his chest. Felt good to know that his parents were behind him 100%. He wasn’t naive enough to think that everyone’s parents would be like this. Maybe that’s why Josef hadn’t come out, or had even done some of the things he’d done. But Charlie still couldn’t find it in himself to forgive him. Forget, yes. But the hurt would always be there. Would taint every relationship he had moving forward and for that, he’d never forgive Josef. 

As he and his Mom cleaned up after they were done talking, Charlie looked around at the dogs, his Mom and Dad, and thought of Eris off at college. Man, he had a great family. That’s all he could think of tonight. How wonderful and supportive they were of each other. He wished this kind of family connections on the whole world. Everyone should experience something like this, he decided. 

Gen One, Day Seventy-Six

It was late and Charlie didn’t want to stay at practice, but he didn’t want to go home either. His mind was racing, heart beating loud in his chest. He felt like crying and he almost did as he walked to the park behind the school gym. He sat there for a long time, just thinking, legs curled up onto the bench with him as he hugged them to his chest, chin resting on his knees. 

The world sucked. He couldn’t believe he was so stupid as to think that Josef liked him. He’d just used him, hadn’t he? Used him and then expected him to keep quiet about it because that’s what a decent person would do and he knew Charlie was decent. What if he didn’t have to be? What if he went around and told everyone what Josef had done? 

The thought was out of his mind in a heartbeat, because there was cruelty and then there was ruining someone’s life. An eye for an eye was not the way Charlie did things and he closed his eyes, thinking back on his karate days. He hadn’t really kept up with it, even though his parents had been willing.

He wonder what karate would have him do about this? Probably meditate, think on it, and then get his emotions and energy out in a healthy way. He’d move on, prove himself worthy or not letting this define who he was or the way he thought about relationships and romance. One bad egg, that’s all this one. One bad experience. While the thought may help in the long run, it didn’t make it any less painful now. And he spent much longer than he meant to just sitting in the park, thinking it all over in his head. 

Gen One, Day Thirty-Four

Things happened quickly after that. Johnny’s phone line went dead and they both looked at Toph for assurance, which he readily gave, still on the comms with his own crew. 

Five minutes. Five minutes from the time Johnny had received the call to the time a man in a black hoodie with ripped jeans and looking like any other punk in the area, walked onto the pier holding Eris in her hands. Robyn and Johnny went running to them when they first caught sight of her, Robyn unable to keep herself from crying at the sight of Eris, healthy and unharmed, in the arms of this stranger; one of Toph’s “guys.” 

“Mommy!” Eris squealed, reaching out to be picked up and Robyn obliged readily, squeezing Eris to her chest and sobbing as she finally had her arms back around her daughter. She turned, so Johnny could pull them both in and they could hug her together. “Where were you? You left and you didn’t say goodbye,” Eris demanded. 

“I’m sorry,” Robyn cried, smoothing down Eris’ errant stray hair that had gotten ruffled in all the hugs and love she was receiving. “I’m so sorry, honey.” 

“Alien disguise,” the dark clad man explained. “Make themselves look like anyone. Mommy,” he did air quotes, “Brought her here to play hide and seek and then left.” It was his way of explaining to Robyn and Johnny what had happened, so when Eris was old enough to understand, they could help her through it, should the need arise.

Johnny accepted a hug from Eris as well and then turned to look at the Toph and his guy. “Thank you,” he told them in earnest. 

The dark clad man nodded, giving a smirk before giving Toph a farewell pat on the shoulder and hurrying back along the pier to help the others. It left Toph to watch over the family as they welcomed Eris back into their lives.