Chapter 4: DEUS ex coneja

Lin: KIKI KIIII?!?!

Ebony: Yes Lin this is the last box.

Ebony packed all her stuff and was finally moving out of her parents home. She felt a little sad about all of this. She loved it here.. but she knew he had to leave sometime.. she just didn’t think it be this hard. She sighed and look at the place once more .

Lin:[walks on the table and tugs at her sleeve] Kiki?

Ebony:[snaps out of it and looks at her] I’m fine..[wipes her eyes] Let’s go.

Lin:[hops in the box and points towards the door] KIKI KIIIIIIII!!

Ebony: Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Ebony picks up the box with her web-footed friend in it and walks out the door. She loads it up into her car as Lin hops out and climbs into her little car seat. She ki’s happily as Ebony ties her in. She gets in the driver’s seat and sees her dad walk towards the car. He walked rather well for a guy who needed a cane.. but she bet he was trying to catch her before she left.

Ebony:[rolls down the window] What’s up papi?

Ezequiel: Um nothing really.. just um.. seeing if you got everything.

Ebony: I did..[smiles] thank you.

Ezequiel:[rubs the back of his neck] Well um.. you need any help.. you know getting this stuff into your new place?

Ebony: [chuckles] No dad.. I got it.. however.. I thought we decided to do this while mom was away to avoid.. a BIG SCENE?

Ezequiel:[sweating] Uh.. no I’m not.. [looks down] sigh.. I’m going to miss having you around miha.

Ebony:[brushes her hair back] I’ll miss you too.. but it’s not like I’m leaving the planet.. I’ll still be seeing you and stuff.

Ezequiel: Yes, but I’ll miss having you around 24/7. [blushes and smiles] I’ll have to get used to not having to knock before entering the bathroom now.

Ebony: [face turns red] Well.. you didn’t seem to have the knack of it anyway.

Ezequiel:[looks down] Sorry.

Ebony: It’s okay papi.[both are silent] Um.. I’ll drop by this weekend.

Ezequiel: But your mom won’t be here.

Ebony: Exactly.[smiles and nods] I’ll see you later papi.[kisses him on the cheek] And to make you feel better….when you call to see how I am in a few minutes.. I’ll pretend to be annoyed.[chuckles as he smiles and laughs] Say good-bye to grandpa Lin.

Lin:[flaps her wings] KIKI ki!!!

Ebony smiles and waves as she drives off. Ezequiel, a man who has always been like a rock, fighting a war in a far off country, getting injured in the line of duty, dealing with the pain everyday, raising kids while his wife works .. finds himself fighting back tears. He makes his way inside the house and sits down in his chair and listens. He hears quiet and stillness.

Ezequiel: This place won’t be the same without you miha. [Ezequiel sighs and reclines in his chair and tries his best to sleep and drown out the unsettling quiet. ]

Ebony unloads her stuff and unpacks as Astral helps her get settled. Ebony tries her best to get all the unpacking done ASAP. She notices a bag, that she doesn’t remember packing. It sits in the living room on a small coffee table. Curious, she opens it to see what it is.

Azul:[watching TV and sitting on the couch] Oh just put those anywhere.

Ebony:[turns and sees Azul. Her eye twitches] WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!??!?

Astral:[walks in] Oh.. Azul is moving in too. She said you asked if I could let her move in too. How could I say no?

Ebony:[turns to Astral frantic] I asked no such thing!!!

Azul: No..[sits back on the couch] but it was nice of you to unpack for me.

Ebony: [snarls at Azul] Did you help me unpack?!?!?!

Azul: [brushes her bang back] I was going to.. but you seemed to be doing such a great job on your own.. and then Astral helped you.. so I felt you didn’t need me gumming up the works.

Ebony:[growls] God you have tons of excuses for not lifting a finger don’t you?!

Azul: Oh come on.. don’t be mean.. we’ll be living together from now on. You never seemed this spastic around me when we used to hang out before.

Ebony: [trembling as she tries to contain herself] One, I never hung out with you.. you always invited yourself to where ever I was going. And two, the idea of being around you 24/7 is MAKING me spastic!!

Astral watches the two girls go at each other and sighs. Then she chuckles and smiles. Her house was now filled with noise of people living here with her. And even if it wasn’t happy noises, it was full of life and vigor.

Ebony: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! SHE BITE ME!!![has her fist in Azul’s mouth]

Azul: DOMP PONT AP ME GIRG!!<Don’t point at me girl>[gnaws on her fist]

Astral: [places her hand on her chest] Oh my, these two will certainly make life interesting.[giggles to herself. As she goes and tries to separate the two.

Later after Ebony’s fist was pried from the jaws of Azul, Ebony sits in the tub relaxing. She looks at her hand with has a few patches of fur missing here and there. Ebony consoles herself that it will grow back. She lays back and sighs.

Ebony:[thinking to herself] Okay so I got a rocky start, but the fact of the matter is I’m out of the house and making it on my own. Tomorrow will be better as I’ll be at work and Azul will not..I hope. [wrings out a wet cloth] Still it feels kinda odd and sad being away from home. [places the towel on her forehead] Got so used to that place.. how I haven’t a friggen clue, but somehow I did. Crazy, but well it was home. I can try to get used to Azul, I mean I got used to 34 big bothers making my life a living hell, one Azul is nothing like them… again I hope. It’s just gonna take some time to get used.[takes the towel off and speaks out loud] Some things MORE THAN OTHERS!!!

Azul:[siting on the toilet with her wet suit around her ankles. Looks up from the magazine she’s reading] HEY, you don’t own this bathroom!! Besides your surface food really backs me up big time.. so you’ll just have to wait it out like me.[sticks her tongue out and goes back to reading]

Ebony:[covers up her chest and sighs] I take it back.. I’d trade my big brothers for her any day.

The following morning…….

Miguel: [looks at the reader] Something’s up isn’t it?[looks over at Ebony who is working feverishly at her desk.] Only time she gets this way is when something is bothering her.. BIG TIME!! I’d ask but I tried before and she nearly snapped my head off.

Ebony:[her pen snaps and so does she] MIGUEL!!!

Miguel: [looks at her a bit frightened] Yes?

Ebony: It’s time!!![walks over to him cracking her knuckles]

There a horrid sound of smashing and crashing heard for a few minutes. Then Ebony walks back in and flops down back in her chair. She sighs and slicks her hair back.

Ebony: Thanks Miguel, [swallows hard] I needed that.

Miguel: [laying on the floor with his desk and chair broken over him] Live to serve you.[pulls himself out from under the rubble] Now may I ask what’s bothering you?

Ebony:[trembles and grinds her teeth] Azul.

Miguel: [eyes open wide] Oooooooooh! I see .[tries to see if he can salvage his chair]

Ebony:[looks at the reader] Amazing how one word can explain so much huh? Sigh.

Miguel:[puts his hands in his pockets and looks at Ebony] Um so how did your dad take losing his baby girl?

Ebony:[lowers her head a sighs] I’m more than sure he broke down after I left. He wanted to help me move but I told him no.

Miguel: [frowns] You should have.. it would have given you more time together and it would have lessened the blow. Bet your mom laid into him too.. she’s probably still crying, your poor dad up to his knees in tears. Haven’t you two women put that man through enough?

Ebony: [turns and looks at him] Like what?!

Miguel: Like that time your mom was out of town and she made your dad take you to the mall and…

Ebony:[grinds her teeth and covers her ears] DON’T SAY IT MIGUEL!!!

Miguel: And buy you a training bra. [Ebony slams her head down on the table] poor man.. I remember.. he was twitching and shaking like mad. NO MAN should have to go through that. [laughs] Boy am I glad I’m as unsightly as a baboon’s butt, that’ll make sure I never get married and have kids.

Ebony: [snaps at him] Do you think it was easy for me?!?! Shoot if it were up to me I’d never have gotten a bra?[Miguel turns pale] YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!! I really hated being a girl growing up.

Miguel:[ a look of concern comes over him] What?

Ebony:[lowers her head] Do you know.. what it’s like growing up the only girl in a house full of boys. Being brought up with other boys.. by my FATHER.. who has NO idea how to raise a girl. he raised me just like his other boys. Shoot growing up.. I thought I was a boy.. I acted like one. I had to learn to be like them just to survive. Growing up was hard.. and it got worse.. when I hit puberty. I was going through changes.. and I had no clue.

Miguel: Your bothers made it worse didn’t they?

Ebony: [sobbing] I had pretty much all my life shared a bathroom with all of them.. but when I started changing.. and thing got hard. I…….I for the first time in my life was embarrassed to be around them They used to make comments.. snap my bra….walk in on me while I changed and such. It got so bad. Luis, that bastard… he ran my training bra up the flag pole for all to see. They.. got worse when I started developing. It got so bad.. I used to wake up early and get dressed…. just so I could go to Astral’s house so I could use the bathroom and shower in peace.

Miguel:[feels rather bad after hearing all of that] Ebony? I’m sorry.. I had no idea.

Ebony:[her head on the table sobbing] I took it for so long. It’s no wonder I have issues.

Miguel:[ not really knowing what to do places his hands on her shoulders] I’m sorry.

Ebony: [picks her head up] It’s okay.. I’m fine. Sides you and Tobais always watched out for me. You really blew my mind cause you were friends with my brothers and you treated me nice.

Miguel: Um I was friends with Tobais, I was your others brothers punching bag if you recall.

Ebony:[laughs] I remember.

Miguel:[grumbles] I hate you for finding humor in that.

Ebony: [gets up and hugs him] Sorry. [pulls back and gives him her best smile as she changes the subject]Hey do you remember the first you hugged me?

Miguel: [winces] You socked me in the head and knocked me out cold.

Ebony: Eh heh well.. um it was the first hug a boy ever gave me. I thought you were up to something.

Miguel: Right. [looks away then looks back] Ebony.. I’m sorry you went through all..

Ebony: [shakes her head] It’s okay.. nothing could be done about it. I never told my dad.. and well I couldn’t tell my mom.. she was never around.

Miguel: Well I can relate. As you recall my dad was always working, as was my mom. You got to see things from her side. Your dad got hurt and someone had to provide for you all; having 35 kids isn’t easy to provide for. You mom went to work and just got a bit caught up in her success. It happens.

Ebony: I guess.. but still the way she acts, I’m kinda glad she wasn’t around.

Miguel:[raises an eyebrow] Ebony!!

Ebony:[chuckles] Kidding…[looks away smiling]well maybe.

Miguel: Hey you turned out one strong gal I’ll tell you that. You got that from being raised by your dad and growing up with boys. If you can survive with those guys at you, can survive anything.

Ebony: Never saw it that way. Guess you’re right. Still, I’d love to have gotten back at my brothers for the time they took that pic of me in the shower.[makes a mean face and looks away]

Miguel: Someone stole it.[sticks his tongue out]

Ebony: [eyes open wide] MIGUEL!!!??

Miguel: They were going to get some guy to put it in your yearbook. I had to.

Ebony rather shocked at first, blushes, then starts to crack up. Then suddenly explodes into laughter. She leans on Miguel who looks a bit shocked.

Ebony: Well thanks. [eyes him] You still go it don’t you?

Miguel:[nods] Rather cute pic.. the shocked look on your face, the sheer vulnerability of it..OW!!

Ebony:[has him by the ear] You better give it back to me or tear it up.. you got that!!!

Miguel: OW!! See.. you’re strong and very OW!!!

Ebony:[grins wickedly as she twists his ear now] No kissing my ass!!

Miguel: Why not I’ve already seen it… OWWWWWW!!

Ebony: Wanna see how strong living with my big brothers had REALLY made me!!!??

Miguel: Okay okay!!

Ebony:[lets go] You’re such a wuss. [smiles at him wickedly] I should have my brothers move in with you.

Miguel: I’d kill them all.. you know that.

Ebony: That’s why I said that. [laughs]

Ebony smiles at Miguel who is rubbing his ear. He smiles back. She nods her head and blinks both eye at him in a cute fashion. Then she sits back in her chair and goes back to work.

Later, Azul is sitting in front of the TV as Ebony walks in the door. Ebony gives Azul a mean look then walks over to her.

Ebony: Missed you at work today?

Azul: Yeah I know.[doesn’t move her eyes from the TV] I’d just go over there and do nothing like I always do, I figured I could do that here and save myself the trip.

Ebony: [sighs] Yeah I guess. Listen I’m going to the can.. STAY HERE!! Don’t knock on the door don’t even speak in my general direction got that.. I WANT PEACE!!

Azul:[watches her leave] I’ll remember this if the house catches fire.[goes back to watching TV]

Astral: [pops her head in from the kitchen] That you Ebony?

Ebony: Yeah it’s me.[takes a phone line from a nearby phone] I’m gonna borrow this for a bit okay?

Astral: Okay.. we still got the other line anyway. I don’t think anyone will call the store after hours anyway.[sees Ebony take the phone line into the bathroom] Maybe I should have a phone installed in the restroom for her?

Azul: [from the sofa] Make MY life a lot easier.

Astral: [eye twitches] No, better not, it’s hard enough to get Azul out of the bathroom as it is.

Ebony, sitting on the toilet, logs on-line. As her account is uploaded, she takes her specs off and places them on the floor. She rubs her eyes and sits back and bit and sighs. On her laptop screen a small penguin comes out of a little house and walks to the middle of the screen.

Penguin:[holds up a letter] You have post.

Ebony: Hey.. I got mail. [Ebony squints her eyes as she goes into her in-box and opens up an e-mail.] Wonder who it’s from?

Ebony reads the author and a big smile comes across her face. It was from her best friend Gwen Nightglider. Ebony hadn’t heard from her in a while. She happily read it.. best she could anyway. She needed her specs, but being pig headed she tried anyway.

E-mail: Dear Ebony, Hey bunnygirl what’s up? Still check you e-mail while on the can?

Ebony:[makes a face] So? [goes back to reading]

E-mail: How’ve you been? Great I hope. Listen, enough with the idle chitchat. I’m going to be at a con up north; you think you can make it? I’ll make it worth you’re while. We’ll go out to dinner.. I’ll even pay this time. =Þ. Joking. You’ll pay your own meal you deadbeat!! Anyway, I hope you can make it. It be cool to chat again and talk about old times. I’m kinda getting bored with my newfound fame. Everyone asks, oh your series is great, can I do a fanfic, oh can I help you write. I swear I’d cuss them out, but then I’d lose fans so I wait till I’m alone to do so. Anyway below is the addy to where you can register for the con. Come on bunnygirl.. it’ll be fun. Smell ya later. Gwen. P.S. Don’t forget to wash your hand young lady!!

Ebony: [makes a face] Funny.. very funny. Sigh.. maybe I should go.[looks at the addy] Hey.. this is that con Astral said I should go to. If Gwen’s gonna be there.. then it be worth it to go. Mind’s made up.. I’m am so there.

Ebony clicks on the addy and goes to the con’s website. There she fills out the registration form and sends it off. Then she hears a tiny PING and a IM window pops up.

Mikado13_2000: Should I even ask what you’re doing while on-line?

Ebony: [glares at her screen and types] Does everyone know?! Geez!! What’s up Miguel?

Mikado13_2000: Got an e-mail from Gwen?

Ebony:[types back] So did I?

Mikado13_2000: Really: yours started with Dear Dickweed?

Ebony:[laughs] Yup.. vintage Gwen.[types] No, mine was much nicer.. she likes me better ya know? =(~.^)=

Mikado13_2000: Yeah whatever, listen I’m off. I’m suddenly getting IMed like no one’s business. Later bunny girl, and hey how about a courtesy flush hmm? =Þ

Ebony:[half smile she types] Good night Mr. Tigre.

Azul: [poking her head in the door and looking at Ebony] God you get on line on the toilet?!?! And you call me a slob!!!

Ebony looks up blinking as she sees Azul looking at her. There’s a loud scream and an even louder crash. Later, the girls are sitting down at dinner. Astral looks a bit worried.

Astral: You do know you just wrecked a 1000 dollar laptop?

Ebony: [eating as she glares at Azul who has a huge lump on her head] Yeah but it was worth every penny.[smiles and continues eating.

End Of Chapter 4