Ch. 7, Part 2: The Racket Ceases Fourfold

(Continued from Part 1.)

 Death is always a sad thing, no matter how many times you experience it in your lifetime.

When I played a role in resurrecting the Rackets many years ago, I knew that they would die again at some point. I knew it was going to affect me, given I helped bring them back.

There was something else I knew, as well: It was going to hit Shark hard.

He knew that the time had almost come for four of his relatives. Two of them hadn't even died before. The fact that they all lived this long, could only be considered a miracle.

Shark made it his goal to visit his relatives before their time came. It still didn't make the process any easier, and he sure as hell wasn't ready to say goodbye. Though, I suppose no one ever is.

Ch.5, Part 1: Growing Up Sucks

(Note: This is a long chapter under the cut.)

You know how they say 'with age comes wisdom', or...one of those supposedly philosophical quotes that everyone spews out one time or another? Most don't really know the true meaning of that phrase.

It's like they expect to coast through life knowing nothing, then when they hit the age that's considered 'old', suddenly they're these all-knowing beings.

Whenever I heard someone say that phrase, I just wanted to go over and clock them in the jaw.

I mean, look at me. I'm old enough to be the grandpa to a bunch of people in town, and I still can't remember what time the paperboy comes in the morning.

What they mean by that quote is, "as you age, you learn more from your mistakes", actually. I suppose. And there's no way to stay the same age forever as you learn.

It's not as simple as, say, waving a magic wand. You're going to age, like it or not. And it's not just you, it's everyone around you, as well.

Your children are going to grow up, and learn what they want to do in life. They'll become independent, they won't need you anymore.

Before you know it, your little baby birds are grown, spreading their wings, and leaving the nest.

Sometimes I wonder if Shark knew that when we adopted our kids. I'm sure he did, but he never said anything about it.

Ch. 2, Part 3: Sparkling Ice

(Continued from Part 2.)

After I gave my "two weeks notice" at the abandoned warehouse, by which I mean I shouted "Up yours, I'm quitting forever" to the current boss and gave them the finger, I was out looking for a job.

You'd be amazed at how many people were willing to employ an ex-criminal. It was like they didn't seem to care that I'd probably ruined something important to them at some point in time. But the problem wasn't who was willing to hire. It was what I was good at, which...to be honest, wasn't a whole lot.

Then Shark brought up something one morning. Actually, he just asked, "What's for breakfast?" I shrugged, because I didn't know. We'd basically been living off of leftovers and takeout for...well, way too long.

I myself felt like, if I have to eat anymore cold pizza, I'm going to shriek. That, or barf, one of the two, maybe both.

(His hair grew fast.)

So I went out and got a package of bacon, fried that up, and we had that. Wasn't exactly gourmet, but it was better than nothing.

Shark seemed to like it. The moment he took a bite, he just had that surprised look on his face. Then he looked up at me and told me if I ever thought about working at the diner.

Well, I was after he mentioned it. So that day, I applied at the diner, and sure enough, I was working towards my first paycheck. Of course, I had to endure teasing from the other workers. It was mostly harmless stuff, though, so I could deal with it.

I kept saving up paychecks, and stashed them away for safekeeping. Shark asked me why I was doing this. I told him, in case we had something to fall back on if he somehow lost his fortune.

It was sort of the truth, since you never know when an emergency pops up. But of course, I had another reason for saving money.

Ch.1 Part 2: Blood is thicker?

(Continued from part 1.)

Some time after the execution was done that day, Shark popped up back at the mansion, they said.

He told me, he was so confused at what happened. He said, a few hours before, the place was loud and full of bickering relatives. And when he got back for the day the place was...silent. He said that was never a good thing at his house.

Given what transpired, I have to take his word for it, because in this case, he was right.

Ch.1, Part 1: Shark not in the Water

(Note: a lot of the screenshots of Elder Sinbad will probably be repeated throughout the story, for the sake of being less of a hassle. I will try to use different pictures, though, to keep it creative and such.)

As I've said before, all I know about Shark's past personally is what he's told me. Of course, anyone with a brain cell, working pulse, or basic knowledge of this town would know what family he was from back then.

Know his last name? Before it became Rotter after marrying me?

Yup. He was Shark Racket, heir to the most notorious family in Twinbrook. I might've worked for his grandma at some point.

Still, no one knew what happened that day. And I'm pretty sure Shark didn't know, either.