{{Okay. Not sure which one eventually becomes what were, or even if both father and daughter will eventually take the plunge and go furry, but I'll play along.—tmw.}}
Harold Jenkins and his daughter Melissa ate their dinner in relative silence. Both were lost in thought after the visit and startling announcement Town Chancellor Samantha Twist made.
We have a law that all families living in this town must have at least one member a were, said the talking house cat standing before them. You have one week to decide which were community you want to join. If you fail to do so, the decision will be made for you. And if you try to escape, the consequences will be serious.
As Melissa got up to clear the table, she said, "Father I–"
"I know what might be on your mind, but in truth, I don't want to hear it right now," he said. "The Town Chancellor's revelation was as much as a shock to me as it was to you." The pamphlets Samantha Twist left with them were right where he threw them down in disgust after her departure. "Were dogs, cats, wolves, mer, lions, tigers, bears... We haven't moved to a nice quiet small town to get a fresh start like I hoped. We're in the midst of a zoo!"
"And if one of us don't willingly agree to join within a week, they'll take the choice of who and what away from us," said Melissa.
"Don't remind me," said Harold, looking up at her from his seat. "When your mother passed, I was devastated. My life seemed to end with her gone. It took a while for me to gather my wits and try to get on with life. When I finally realized that just about everywhere I turned there were still reminders of her, some not as subtle as others, that's when I realized it would be best to start somewhere anew. But now..."
"I'm not blaming you dad. You didn't know. You heard Twist say they keep their secrets well," pointed out Melissa. "It's not like they're going to start advertising Come to Moon Lake! Home of the talking animals!"
"I know. Tomorrow, after I see you off to your first day of high school here, I'm going out to Moon Lake College and talk to Dean Myers. I may not officially start my new job until January, but—"
And that's when the Jenkins heard their front door bell ring.
"You want me to get it?" asked Melissa.
"No. You finish cleaning up. I'll answer it," said her father, as he rose from the table to answer the door.
Turning on the front porch light, Jenkins peered through the peep hole and saw a woman he didn't recognize standing on his porch. Curious, he opened the door and said, "Yes?"
"Oh. Hello. My name is Virginia McCoy. I live next door," said the lady.
Jenkins couldn't help staring at her. She appeared about his height and age, but the stunning red head with beautiful green eyes was worth a second look.
And a third...
And...
"Which group do you belong to?" Jenkins demanded to know.
"Excuse me?"
"Badger? Hippopotamus? Aardvark?"
"Oh. I see Samantha Twist has visited you. Since the cat's out of the bag, so to speak, I'm a weretigress," Virginia said proudly.
"Well goody for you," Jenkins said sarcastically.
"Look. I realize discovering what Moon Lake is comes as a shock to normal people, but we're all really quite nice once you get to know us."
"You mean after one of us joins, whether willingly or not."
"Well, there is that," conceded Virginia. "But in this case, the were- prefix in our names means we're more than human, and when you stop and think about it, while at times it might be enforced a little stronger than necessary, the law is practical. First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak."
"Martin Niemöller," said Jenkins, instantly realizing the source of the quote.*
"Yes. How?" wondered Virginia.
"Depending upon how things turn out now, I'll be resuming my professorship in history at Moon Lake College this January," he replied.
"Really? I teach history at Moon Lake High. I came home from a late day at school because it was my turn to monitor the detention room today, saw the 'For Sale/SOLD' sign gone and the lights on here, and thought I'd come over to at least say hello."
The man before her paused to collect himself and said, "Although you're correct that hearing the town's secret was quite a shock to both me and my daughter, I think we're getting off on the wrong foot here. Harold Jenkins," he said, holding out his hand.
"Virginia McCoy," she repeated, returning the handshake. "Any relation to Harry Jenkins, who's getting married this Saturday?"**
"Not that I'm presently aware of, but Jenkins isn't a common name, so I won't be surprised to hear otherwise. Tell you what, would you like to come in? Maybe you can give Melissa and I a different perspective on all of this," suggested Harold.
"I'd be glad to," said Virginia with a smile, before stepping inside.
Dad, you sly dog, thought his daughter Melissa, who had actually stayed in the kitchen doorway to watch the exchange without her father's knowledge. Then she realized that expression might actually have a deeper meaning than anyone expected, before formally joining the adults in the living room.
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*Concerning World War 2. More information can be found out here:
**Okay, it's currently Monday morning in the Moon Lake, Andersons thread, Tuesday evening at the moment here, and the Harper-Jenkins wedding is "this coming" Saturday.—tmw.