Haha well, this is one of the side effects of going on vacation. I actually can't totally remember who Darlene's husband is! I think it is Malcolm Landgraab but I couldn't 100% remember when I was writing this up, so I kept it ambiguous, since so far he hasn't really played into the story anyway.
Part 3 - Finding Yourself Isn't EasyRooney's talk with Darlene happened just in the nick of time. When he returned home, he found his siblings waiting for him.
"We need to talk," Amanda said firmly.
Rooney nodded, feeling the heat flush up and down his body and the butterflies filling the pit that had just opened up in his stomach. He followed them to the living room and sat down on one of the soft, overstuffed couches. His cousins took a seat together on the couch across from his.
"Look, guys, before you say anything ... I know what this is about. I know I haven't been pulling my weight and have been acting immature. I promise, things are going to be different from now on. I'm really going to change, I swear!"
Amanda sighed. "Rooney, you keep on saying that but nothing has happened. How can we trust that what you're saying is true? We've been trying to give you some time to adjust, but the bills are piling up and you're an adult like us. We can't keep supporting you. You are our family and so we're giving you a little slack, but we can't keep it up for much longer. I know you didn't go to a job interview today. I saw you go into the library and they are not hiring."
"No, I know," he scrambled, desperately for something to make her believe him. "Look, I didn't tell you where I was really going because I was embarrassed. I didn't have a job interview, I met up with a counselor because I know I've been messing up and I need help. We met in the library to be incognito."
Okay it was another lie, but Darlene's words to him really HAD been like a counselor's. But if he told them the truth they wouldn't hear anything but that he had been out meeting women the day after a one night stand. Married women, at that. He needed them to understand that things really were different now.
Amanda looked at him skeptically, eyes narrowed, while L4z3r looked at him hopefully, wanting to believe what he heard. Amanda sighed again, too tired from work to interrogate him like he was one of her contacts.
"Fine," she said. "But we're not just taking your word for it this time. This is an ultimatum. We need to see some real change by the next time bills come around or else you just can't stay here. I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be, Rooney."
"That's fair," he replied. And it was. It was more than fair for someone like him. After they finished talking a little bit more, he went up to his room and started making a checklist for himself. First thing on the list was signing up for counseling for real. Next, investigating job opportunities. He also made a special note underneath that this was ALL he was to think about for the time being.
**********************
Meanwhile, L4z3r was feeling a lot more confident in his guitar playing abilities and was sure he had moved beyond the level of ordinary street busker. The next time he was at the symphony, he invited Victoria Andrews over for tea and said he would play for her.
After relaxing over cups of oolong tea and chatting about the latest goings on at the symphony and within the classical music world, L4z3r finally gave Victoria her private performance. He played, "A Love Since Forgotten." He had yet to experience the pain of lost romance, but instead he channeled his feelings on losing his father into this song. Even if it wasn't the same pain, it was a pain of the same depth and the guitar wailed mournfully under his skillful fingers.
When he was finished, he looked up expectantly. Mrs. Andrews stood silent and pale, a tear slowly trickling down one cheek. "Oh, Mr. Greythorn," she whispered, "That was beautiful." She had recently lost her husband to the Grim Reaper and the song had not only touched the grief in her, but also reminded her of she and Mr. Andrews' love for each other and the good times they had had together.
L4z3r quickly poured her another cup of tea and led her to a comfy chair so she could pull herself together. She smiled gratefully and breathed deeply as she sipped her tea. When she was composed again, she looked at L4z3R.
"You simply
must be doing something more than playing for tips in a street. Your talent is being wasted. I can't get you a position in the symphony. My pull is not that great and they simply don't have any slots. But I can get you a position
with the symphony. It's just an assistant position. You would basically be an errand boy for the crew and the musicians, but I happen to know they are in need of someone and my subscription status gives me enough influence to have my suggestion taken very seriously."
L4z3r was thrilled. "Mrs. Andrews, I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity. I won't let you down. I'll be the best errand boy they've ever seen. And maybe someday I'll be able to repay you by writing a piece just for you that you can see performed on the stage."
"Ooh I hope so, boy. You'd better work fast though, I'm no spring chicken."
She laughed as L4z3R cast around for a response, blustering and blushing. His politeness wasn't really a match for her bluntness. "Well, while you get yourself together, I really must be going. I may be old and I may be a widow, but I'm not dead yet. I have a dinner date! I'd say I'll see you at the next performance, but I think your audience days are over for a while! Good luck, young man."
And with that, she swept out of the room, leaving L4z3r mystified, but elated. He immediately got on the phone to call his mom and tell her the good news.
**********************
The next day, Rooney got up early and got started right away on his new life of responsibility. The first thing he did was sign up for actual counseling sessions at the free clinic. His next move was to find out how to make some money. As he flipped through the paper, he noticed that the city was having a Grill-A-Thon in the park. This was an event the mayor put on to bring the community together and to feed people who might not always have enough food. Local citizens would come and grill up five meals each and anyone who wanted a free lunch would come down and grab something. For the people who served as cooks, the city would provide a small stipend.
Rooney was good enough at making hot dogs, so he decided to try that out first, as a way to make some immediate cash, then follow up other leads. He made three hot dogs and two tofu dogs and collected his stipend, amazed to have actual money to bring home. He also grabbed a hamburger someone had made and got his own free lunch.
Of course he couldn't help getting up to some of his old tricks, as he met a cute girl in the park and before he could stop himself, he was caught up in a conversation with her. Her name was Blair and she was single, so he was starting out all right. He knew he wasn't supposed to be thinking about dating right now, but she was so cute and ... wait what was that?
"I'm working at the police department, just entry level right now but I think I'm getting close to a promotion. I'll get a partner and everything."
That was like ten cold showers at once. Amanda also worked at the police department.
"Oh hey, my sister works there. Amanda Greythorn, do you know her?"
"Amanda? Of course! I mean, we haven't really worked together yet or anything but she seems really great at the job. I'm actually really hoping we'll get to be partners since we're pretty much at the same level. I think we would work great together."
Yeah, that killed it. He could not have Amanda hearing that he was flirting with this girl when he was supposed to be out finding jobs!
"Awesome," he said. "Maybe all of us could hang out sometime then ... as friends. We're all kind of on our own for the first time so it would be cool to make some friends our age. Anyway ... I actually have a job prospect to follow up on, so as much as I'd like to hang out with you some more, I've really gotta run."
"Oh yeah, actually, I'd better get back to work. Lunch break doesn't last forever!"
Phew, bullet dodged. Time to get back on track.
******************************************
While talking with his mom, L4z3r realized he had something else he wanted to talk to her about, but he felt more like talking to her about it in person. So when she told him that Ruby had some new pieces in the local art gallery, he asked her if she wanted to meet up there and take a look.
They looked at her latest pieces, which made L4z3R feel that maybe her life was more settled these days. They were less dark and dramatic and more light and airy. It made him smile and he could see that other patrons were smiling too as they looked at them.
"So," said her mom. "What's this all about? We never do stuff like this."
He laughed. "Well, maybe I want to start doing more stuff like this. I really did want to see Ruby's stuff. And yes, there is something I'd like to talk to you about. In person."
"Oh god are you pregnant?!"
"WHAT?! Oh ... yeah, I guess that happens around here sometimes. NO, geez, mom! It's just ... I wanted to ask you. What was it like when you met dad?"
"Oh!" she cried, giving him an interested look. "It's like that, is it? Well, I can tell you that when I met your dad it wasn't anything like normal, so it's probably not a good idea for you to measure yourself by that. But I can tell you that when you do meet someone special, it's pretty easy to tell that they're special."
"Heh, yeah, that's for sure. Well, okay ... I met a girl. She's not an alien, she's human. Her name is Toni and she's definitely special. We've been dating a little and I have officially asked her to be my girlfriend. And she said yes! We're taking it slow and getting to know each other, but I know she's looking for something serious. She wants to become a wife and mom, so I wouldn't be dating her if I didn't think that was a possibility somewhere down the line."
"Wow!" said V, "My little guy is really growing up! She doesn't have any pesky exes does she? Remember what happened with Ruby and Nick ..."
"Yeah, I know. It's not going to be like that with her. Although she does have a pesky ex, just not in the same way."
"Oh yeah? Well what way is it, then?"
"This guy Erich, he's just a jerk. He's really rich and he and Toni basically dated because their parents kind of pushed them into it. He expected that they would get married to bring their funds together and then he would basically do whatever he wanted while she played the part of the good wife. He's gross, mom."
"Ew, yeah, he sounds vile."
"Yeah, he is. Anyway, he treated her really badly, even when they were just dating, because he thought she would just give in to everyone's pressure to be with him. But ... Toni may be really sweet and gentle, but she's got a secret strength and she was never going to accept that kind of thing. So she broke up with him. Her mom was really angry but her dad had seen some of how Erich treated her when he thought no one was looking and he supported his daughter. So I'm not worried about a Ruby/Nick situation -- she would never go back to him -- but he does still harass her whenever he can. The main thing I'm worried about is that I'm going to get in trouble because I just want to kick the guy's butt so much."
"Well, look ... I would stay away from him as much as you can but remember, we have some powers that aren't as obvious as a punch in the face. If you need to defend yourself or your girlfriend, I think you can be creative and find a way."
"Hey ... you're right, thanks mom! I'm gonna try to have nothing to do with him, but if he does anything to Toni ..."
"Well, just let me know when the wedding is!" She winked.
"Hahaha don't get ahead of yourself, mom. I want things to be a certain way in my life before I bring someone that special into it all the way. But maybe someday. I'll keep you updated."
*******************************
Meanwhile Rooney was following on a real job lead. In high school, he had worked part time at the cemetery, but had foolishly and impulsively quit his job when he became an adult. Now he headed back, tail between his legs, to beg for his old job back. Sadly, the caretaker had already hired a new high school student to take his place and there was just nothing else available.
Dejected, Rooney turned to leave when he caught sight of the mausoleum, looming over the rest of the graveyard, dark and forbidding. When he was in high school kids had always dared each other to go in there. According to rumor, there was a whole maze of tunnels underneath, mysteriously long and winding for a space that should be only small. And according rumor, you could find treasure in there -- if you were brave enough.
Well, he had nothing to lose, anyway. Steeling himself, he made his way in. He found that the rumors seemed to be true. He quickly got lost within dank, dark, winding, cobweb-filled tunnels and chambers. He heard strange noises and was chased by incomprehensible creatures. But he finally stumbled out, clutching something hard and pointed in his hands. Breathing hard, he finally dared to look at what he had taken. A diamond! This ... this was it. This was what he could do. It had been dangerous, but it had also been exciting and fun. And it had been most rewarding. The money he could make from the sale of the diamond, combined with his money from the Grill-a-thon would be at least as much as his cousins made today, if not more.
He made his way home, excited about his new revelations. He couldn't wait to tell his cousins. But when he walked through the door, he couldn't get a word in edgewise between all the laughter.
