As Lance and Lila talked in the kitchen gathering what they could for snacks; Anton and Esmeralda were busy regaling Rick Carpenter all the embarrassing stories they could dish out on their son Lance. Telling him of the time Lance thought running around naked while still four would help him get his first transformation, after seeing his older brother Benton as a were –panther; plus many others. Rick was doubled over with laughter as the man that is seeing his older sister was a bit of a goof when younger.
“Yah,” Anton the black furred were-panther with streaks of grey throughout chuckling as Esmeralda did most of the talking; “Lance was more of a dreamer when growing up. Not as stiff and pompous as Benton was and still is.”
“Lance told me when we first met,” Rick speaking; “that he was kind of the black sheep of the family.”
“According to Benton maybe,” Anton snorting; “if you think of it, Benton is the black sheep. Esmeralda and myself are more down to earth than Benton.”
“We weren’t always wealthy,” Esmeralda sighing; “we started out dirt poor, barely making ends meet.”
“So your success,” Rick asking.
“Hard work and grit,” Anton answering; “traits Benton admired and not much else. I started the company Benton now runs with a friend,” Anton sighing; “thanks to Benton, that friendship was soured when he kicked Joseph Crawford out and re-branded Crawford and Knight as Knight Industries.”
“My brother has always been greedy,” Lance returning to the living room gathering with a tray of cheese and crackers, while Lila put down a bowl of pretzels and chocolate covered peanuts.
“I don’t often entertain,” Lance sighing; “in fact I mostly eat out. A lot.”
“A situation that will soon change,” Lila snickering; “we got grocery shopping to do tomorrow.”
“I have to head to the gazette tomorrow,” Lance blanching; “two days of elder council business, and I know I’ll have a mountain of tasks to perform, emails to read and a paper that need to be put to bed.”
“What about the other holdings,” Anton asking; “what of the rest of Knight Media?”
“Most of it runs itself smoothly,” Lance answering; “but with having to do a little house cleaning at KPXX-“
“Lance asked me to do a financial audit of the station and the rest of Knight Media,” Lila answering.
“So you finally get to flex those CPA* credentials now,” Rick answering; “have you told your boss the comptroller that you are leaving the town hall?”
“Not yet,” Lila answering; “Marcus knows I volunteer at the council building, so I bet he has tons of ledgers for me to review, spreadsheets in need of balancing.”
“He’ll be hurting when you let him know you’re resigning,” Rick smirking; “the big Samoan wer-mer couldn’t balance a cheque book.”
“Oh he’ll manage,” Lila answering; “he just hates having to work late.”
“I could take a look at the books if you want Lance,” Anton asking.
“It’s all right dad,” Lance answering; “you’re supposed to be retired.”
“Well this was fun,” Rick getting up; “but I have to get back. Ester might be forming a search party for me right now.”
“I’ll walk you out brother,” Lila chuckling; “give my love to Cindy, Yogi and Jasper.”
“Tell them yourself,” Rick smiling; “I’ll drop them off here around five in the afternoon tomorrow.”
As Lila escorted her brother out the door; Lance looked at his parents as they look back at him. Displaying poker faces from there were-panther muzzles that would make the most professional players frustrated.
“So what’s this house cleaning you mentioned at KPXX,” Anton finally breaking the silence.
“I had to fire a DJ for mentioning Statue 1A** charges while on-air,” Lance answering; “plus I caught the station director screwing with his secretary after talking to human resources about a few issues. Issues that the station director failed to inform me about in his weekly emails.”
“Okay,” Anton answering; “and these discrepancies?”
“They are the reason why I asked Lila to do an audit;“ Lance answering; “before I caught the station director nearly knotted with the secretary, I had a suspicion that there was some budget skimming and he was the suspect. After mentioning the project for Lila,” Lance grabbing a few pretzels to snack on; “Lila suggested a full audit of the entire Knight Media holdings.”
“Smart,” Anton answering.
“Well that was fun,” Lila re-entering the home; “Rick had a surprising good time.”
“That’s nice,” Lance answering; “the were-tiger is finally warming up to me?”
“We talked you up,” Esmeralda grinning; “lots of stories about you.”
“Oh mom,” Lance putting a paw to his muzzle; “you didn’t”
“She did,” Anton laughing as he gets up; “but I guess its late and time to turn in.”
Lance a black furred were-panther standing up along with his were-tigress girl friend Lila carpenter, lead Anton and Esmeralda to the spare room. Anton a black furred were-panther with streaks of grey and Esmeralda a silver furred were-panthress both wish Lance and Lila a good night. Lance smiling as he knows he is about to. His only concern is which couple will be rutting loader then the other.
* CPA is short for Certified Professional Accountant
** Statue 1A is a crime in which a were does without consent and/or with malice of forethought, force to attempt to change a normal against their will to the attacking were’s species. Regardless if they are successful of not, the penalty upon conviction is minimum mandatory fifty year sentence.