Of Father's and Son's
Of Father's and Son's By Roofles
"About your dad..." The question was posed with no clarification behind it. It was but a breath of air escaping from the opposum lips as he felt the cool plastic controller in his furless paws; weighing it with one hand before shifting it to the other unsure of which he would prefer to use it with. Even if it was clear it was not the controller he was having a conundrum over.
"What about him?" The skunk answered far more sharply than he would ever admit. He was staring at the screen far more intently now, absorbed by the flashing start button and running a coarse paw pad around the button several times, digging his nail into the plastic. "You ready or what?"
The opposum return his attention back to the screen but his mind was still focusing on the single question he had wanted to ask ever since the two met since the later had transfered to the school. The skunk stood out like a sore thumb even transfering in in the middle of the school year built like the semi truck he was. He came to school by himself and kept most of the first month that way as well. Alone. Not distancing himself nor avoiding others. Just doing his work and going about his business in a socially exceptable, if slightly antisocial matter.
If it wasn't for the raccoon coming in the doorway this second the two would've never really met or have become friends.
"You boys doing alright in here? I brought cookies." The raccoon said with a slightly sing song voice; his normal friendly upbeat attitude might as well have turned the light on in the dark, dank bedroom where the two sat. "Fudge butternut, cream~y moose center chocolate chip cookies!" He said woddling into the room with his belly shaking like a bowl full of jelly.
The infamous treats were the first time anyone had actual seen the younger skunk's father. At the school bake sale no less. In front of everyone. With his sing song voice, upbeat full of life attitude no one would've guessed he was the sourpus's own flesh and blood. Unlike his son the fur at the end of his tail was dyed like the ends of his hair and gloved paws and feet. A rainbow of colors that would put skittles to shame. The colors ran along his stripes changing as they went like the aurora borealis in a vivid display of colors.
He set the plate down on the small end table. "You boys need anything else before I return to the gang?" His paws were held together and he had a winning smile across his face as he beamed down at the two.
"We're good dad." Randy said not even looking at his father. He finally pressed start and had all but forgotten he or the sweets were there.. Austin, the opposum, was already helping himself to them though.
"Thanks Mr. Bandeet." He said around a mouthful of cookies and taking the glass of milk from the older raccoon who had seemed to pull it out of thin air.
"Now Austin. We've been over this." He said wagging a finger at him in good jest. "Call me Jason. Now then, if you kids are good I'm going to get back to the boys. Can't let them have all the fun. Or winnings." He laughed and headed out the door.
"Bye Mr. Bandeet," the opposum said with a bit of a flush thinking of the implication behind those words even knowing full well what they were doing.
"I told you they were fine." Ken, a beaver, said as the raccoon headed back into the garage that was slowly filling with smoke from the cigars. The beaver was still in his greasy, oiled stained work clothes.
The garage had been outfitted with a bar and remodeled into more of a den than anything else. Carpet had been placed over the cold concrete and the walls had been covered in a fine vanil. Pictures, drapes and several other things had been placed over this creating a sort of bar atmosphere that Jason had been going for.
"Just wanted to check. I made the cookies for them anyways." Jason replied loftly with a shrug taking his seat at the table. As he sat the opossum to his side shifted in his seats moving only a inch or so away from him. The gesture wasn't lost on the raccoon who still had a smile on his face. "I mean isn't that why we have the game at my house?" He said taking his cards dealt by the beagle from across the hall who joined them every Thursday night.
"Damn straight!" Alibaster, the rat on his other side said tossing one of the home made nacho chips into his muzzle; covered with three cheeses cooked onto it, dipping in cheese with the works of beef, sour cream and home made salsa covering every inch of it. He slurped at one finger then the other missing the comment that seemed to have made all the other males at the table (except the raccoon) stand up a little bit taller. "Your too sensative," he said wagging a saliva covered finger at him.
The comment made the opposum shift in his seat again looking quickly at the raccoon before looking anywhere else obviously uncomfortable about being here as it was. It was the first time he had been here. But he wasn't about to have his boy come alone to this kind of home...
The beaver took another large puff on his cigar and took a long drink of beer that the beagle was more than happy to follow suit in. Jason didn't even seem to hear the comment at first as he laid down a pair of aces, king high and won the pot. Taking the chips, pushing the opposum's paw away that had been reaching out to take them before realizing he only had two aces and a jack. The oppossum's paw quickly retreated at the touch of the other male and an uneasy silence settled around them.
"Oh I know!" Jason waved his paw in front of his face with a giggil his voice and apperance never changing for a second. "I just worry is all. Isn't it a father's right to worry about his son?"
There was a bit of a mumble agreement around the table before their focus was turned back to the cards and began discussing the game that had been on tv only an hour ago. Austin's father, Bernard, glad for the change of subject and to talk about something that he could actually get into.
"I still can't believe Roger faked it at the end there-," The beaver said stabbing a stubby finger onto one of his chips and slid it to the center table; raising the pot by five dollars making the beagle fold.
"Then that hail mary pass there!" The dog whistled rocking back in his chair. "Go figure it took a cheetah to catch it," his racial profiling not a soul around the table seemed to have noticed except Jason although he held his tongue on the matter. "Damn cats can run like no other. Bred for it." He kept going. At least the rat next to him seemed to be bothered by the comment. Jason kept his ears folded back the whole time.
"It was a clumsy throw too." Alibaster added in sliding two black chips into the table making the raccoon fold.
"That's thanks to Kennidy!" The opposum was proud to say raising his head up a bit having been rooting for the other team. Even with their loss thanks to that desperate pass he still rooted for his team. Jason could respect him for that.
"That buck really is carrying his weight for a rookie." Jason nodded leaning against the table a bit.
The simple comment was picked apart by three of the others trying to anaylze and see if there was some kind of hidden meaning behind it but none of them came up with one, rather if they wanted to or not wasn't clear. So they agreed beginning to talk about him further.
"Wasn't he drafted right out of college?" The beagle inquired raising his floppy ears up as he asked.
"I heard they graduated him early so he could start this season." Alibaster said wagging his clawed finger again.
"Oh that's just a rumor going around. You know how big of sticklers they are for making sure their students graduate and all." Jason said tossing a few chips into the pot for the next round, his turn to ante up.
"Kid's doing rather damn well for himself though. So young too." Bernard pointed out every gear in his head turning as to make sure his information was correct.
"Chicks must be all over him after that play." The beaver said not even thinking anything further about it. "Heh, lucky bastard."
"Speaking of which. How's the misses." Alibaster teased with a throaty chuckle as he motioned for another plate of nachos.
Jason didn't even seem to mind as he took the plate and headed into the kitchen to fix up another batch. One thing the group always seemed to agree on about coming over to his place. He was a damn good host. Always a cold can of beer and stuffed mushrooms, cheesy nachos or some other dish was made. More than enough for the group with the endless appetite. By the end of the night only the pot belly rat seemed to be asking for more.
The thought ran through Ken's head as a cold fresh beer was placed in front of him as the other one was whisked away. Then again the fact that the raccoon insisted that they use coasters was something but the comment he made about how 'icky' water rings were on the poker table was a bit too far for the beaver.
"She's doing fine. Kids too." Ken grunted leaving the matter at that. The other's knew about the home problems and were kind enough not to pick at the issue further. Only Alibaster had any gut to do so and even he kept his tongue.
"Wives." The beagle grunted in a similar fasion as he licked his thumb to pick up his next set of cards. Mark just lost his pups in the divorce and wasn't taking it too well. Another fresh beer was set in front of him after the comment.
"Tell me about it." The beaver grunted back. The guys exchange was always amusing to watch for the raccoon who looked at the two and rolled his eyes. Shook his head and enjoyed the company nonetheless. They would grunt at each other like wilderbeasts. Never actually saying anything as they agreed with one another. A language of men, Jason supposed.
The night droned on slowly but quickly at the same time for the group. Severak times there were awkward silences. And at others heated debates about the recent election. Oddly enough it was the only time Jason excused himself from the table not wanting to hear their racial bias comments. A lot of beer was drank and more food was consumed and even worst dirty jokes were told. It all started with a mention of the wives which came up every week without fail. It led down a slippery slope that only got worst as it went before the guys were regailing each other with tales of their conquests of youth and days of old. Until the night finally came to the end and all but the oppossum was left argueing with his son at the doorway. His paw tightly gripped the younger boys arm who stood his ground firmly.
"I told you I'm staying the night."
"And I told you...we got... plans...tonight." His father, tried as he may, could not fool anyone in the room that he was lieing.
"You said it would be ok." Austin frowned his bare paws digging further into the ground.
"If I was here." Bernard shot back his eyes nearly bulging from his sockets. He caught the eyes of the skunk and raccoon who were behind the kid and let go of his sons arms. Coughed and straightened up a bit though his heart continued to race in his chest.
"And you were. Now you can go home because you can clearly see that its safe here. Like any of my other friends." Austin said pointing behind him.
"That's not the issue here!" He said a little louder than he meant and shirked back afterwards.
"Isn't it?" Austin nearly yelled back making Jason take a step back. His ears folded and his tail curled in on itself like a spring. "If this was Joe or Greg's place you would've been just fine with it. Even though his father is an alcoholic bastard that beats his son. Or that Greg's dad has kicked him out of the moving car not once, but twice. Face facts Dad! This place is safer than any of my other friends houses."
"You have homework." Bernard said flatly.
"Already done. Mr. Bandeet makes sure we do it before we play games. Because he's a good father." Austin said coldly.
"I don't want my son staying at a faggots house!" Bernard shouted at the remark. His eyes widened afterwards before he coughed several times. "Ok. Let's go Austin."
"No. Tomorrow is mom's week not yours!" The oppossum said coldly making his dad nearly freeze up. "It's twelve o'clock. I don't have to stay with you this week. And mum says its cool if I stay at Randy's place."
Bernard's eyes quickly shot over to the other two. The skunk had an eyebrow raised at the comment but otherwise appeared bored with the whole exchange. Jason was looking at the ground, rubbing his arm with folded ears and a curled tail.
"Austin." The older oppossum said sharply. His fur rose up and blood began to pump before he turned. "Fine. Just stay here then. I don't give a shit what you do during your mom's week." And with that the oppossum stomped down the sidewalk.
"Austin." Jason said walking over to the younger oppossum who looked like he was about to punch the wall and burst into tears at the same time. "You don't want to leave you dad on this note." The raccoon said from personal experience.
The oppossum didn't say anything so the raccoon sucked in his gut and headed out the door after his father.
"Mr. Pintail." Jason said catching up with him. Bernard was fumbling with his keys, fuming over the whole situation. It was clear it wasn't just about his son now though.
He dropped his keys and cursed, shoving the side of the car roughly.
Jason took another breath. "Bernard." He said slowly, carefully and calmly. The oppossum looked up at him slowly. A cold glare was on his face but his shoulders slacked. "I..."
"Don't." Bernard said flatly making Jason hold his tongue. "I don't care what he does."
"That's a lie." Jason said feeling his fur stand up. "You do. He's not choosing someone else. Your his dad. He knows that. He's just being a kid is all. A kid that wants to hang out with his friend."
Bernard looked down at the car but didn't say anything.
"I've only heard him speak highly of you. He's proud of his dad."
Bernard grunted. "Make sure he gets to school on time." With that he opened his door and drove off.
Jason watched him go feeling guilty about the whole thing before heading back inside. He smiled at the skunk who had been standing in the doorway the whole time. He only headed inside after his father was in, shutting and locking the door behind him.
"Let's go." Randy said to the oppossum as he headed back down the hall towards his room.
"Who wants caramel covered popcorn?" Jason asked clapping his paws together with a smile.
"Oh, I would love some Mr. Bandeet." Austin said waving his paw in the air as if a small child saying pick me, pick me.
"Go ahead and enjoy your game. I'll be in shortly. Afterwards I want both of you in bed though. Teeth brushed." He scolded, wagging his finger at him with a smile. Austin grinned and nodded before heading after the skunk who had already began playing again.
Jason smile faded as he headed into the kitchen and began making the food wishing Randy's father was here.