Hearing the front door bell ring, Harold Jenkins made his way past all the unpacked boxes the movers left after putting his furniture in place, and discovered it was Alice Decrux on his porch.
Truthfully, he was a bit disappointed, because for some reason Harold was hoping it would be his next door neighbor Virginia McCoy, but then he remembered Virginia said she had bus rider duty at the high school this afternoon.
However, Harold Jenkins considered himself a gentleman, and so was polite to the lady.
"Good afternoon Miss Decrux. How are you today?" he asked.
"Fine, but it's Alice, remember?" prodded the woman.
"I'd invite you in... Alice, but the place is a mess right now. The movers finally brought the rest of our things," said Harold, indicating all the boxes behind him.
Alice did her best to hide her look of disgust. She was hoping to get the single normal alone and maybe talk him into becoming a were cougar like her. The sex between them in the process would certainly be fun. Yet the last thing she wanted to do is spend the rest of the afternoon unpacking boxes.
Especially since she was getting horny again and needed someone to scratch her itch.
"Since you're here though, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" asked Harold.
"Oh? What?" wondered Alice. Although she was in her human form at the moment, she'd be willing to jump Harold in an instant if he was a willing partner, because after what happened with Yvette Smith*...
"I'm curious. What can you tell me about these other Jenkins that people keep confusing Melissa and me with?" he wondered.
It wasn't a question she was hoping for, but it was definitely better than helping to unpack boxes.
"Well, I've never personally met them myself, but from what I hear they moved to Moon Lake long before you did. Their other son was too young to be eligible in the potential decision at the time. The parents decided to stay normal while their oldest son became the family were. Their youngest son had just entered college and was dating this nice girl named Jenny Harper when she accidentally became a werefox. That was when their Harold Jenkins decided he couldn't live without her, proposed, and voluntarily became a werefox too to be with her. They're scheduled to get married this Saturday," replied Alice, glossing over the more unpleasant parts concerning Smith*.
"This Saturday? Halloween?" asked Harold in disbelief.
"Well, like I said, they had already been dating since the start of the new college school year, and wanted to get hitched as soon as possible. One thing about the Skulk, as all the werefoxes and werevixens are commonly known, is that they have what is called a life/soul mate bond," said Alice. "Once one fox finds their ideal mate, they're together forever and like regular foxes, if one partner outlives the other, the survivor will eventually manage to go on with life, but will pine for their missing mate until the day they join them in whatever happens to be after this life," she added.
"Sounds romantic," commented Harold, thinking it over.
"Yes it does," agreed Alice, hoping this might be a good opening to get closer to him.
"Just like me and..." and then Harold grew silent.
OH DAMN! I got him thinking about his deceased wife again! realized Alice.
Harold Jenkins tried to compose himself, but knew that right now it was a losing battle.
"I'm sorry. Can you excuse me?" he asked.
"Sure," said Alice, having mixed feelings about the opening for leaving. "Are you going to be alright?"
"Yeah. I just need some time to myself."
"Well, I'll see you later then," replied Alice, before leaving.
Closing the door behind him, Harold Jenkins sat down on his sofa and tried to keep from crying.
I'm an old fool! he thought to himself. I move trying to start anew, wind up in a mess with this were business in the process, and never realized that no matter what happens, I'll never be completely over her.
How long he sat there, Harold couldn't say for sure. He wasn't wearing a wristwatch and the grandfather clock that had been in his wife's family for generations hadn't been properly set up yet.
The only thing he knew for sure was that it was still light outside when the doorbell rang again.
Melissa probably forgot her key, was his assumption as he got up to answer the door.
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*The rogue werevixen who changed William Anderson and Jennifer Harper into werefoxes against their will.