As the last bell rang for the day, Peter Brooks prepared to leave Moon Lake High School and head home. It had been a long day, with a couple of surprise pop quizzes and a lot of homework assignments in his immediate future.
Nothing he couldn't handle in the long run, but still...
There was also another matter he needed to take care of too.
As he started to leave the school, Peter reactivated his cellphone.
There were no voicemails, which disappointed him a bit, because he was hoping Karen Charleston would have called.
However there was one text, but not from who he thought it would be.
GO STRAIGHT HOME AND STAY AWAY FROM THE CHARLESTONS HOUSE! WILL EXPLAIN LATER. DAD.
Between liking his father and the fact the man was also a police officer, Peter did as he was told.
Walking home, he tried discretely looking around, but saw nothing amiss.
The Charlestons house looked like it did when he left for school that morning.
Wondering what was going on while hoping Karen and her family were okay, Peter went on to his house.
There, he got the mail and let himself in.
Neither parent was home, so he set himself up in the living room to do homework. He left the TV remote nearby so he could watch a music video channel while tackling his school work until the first parent came home.
But there was something more important to do first.
Peter went to the kitchen and grabbed a soda out of the fridge.
After a couple of sips, he picked up the kitchen wall phone and dialed a number.
He raided Mom's porcelain cookie jar on the counter while it rang, and was in the middle of a chocolate chip when someone on the other end answered.
"Talbot Restorations," the male voice said. "How can I help you?"
"I'd like to speak to Leon Talbot please," requested Peter. He had been thinking about and mentally rehearsing his conversation all day, and hoped everything went well now.
"Just a moment," replied the man. Peter thought he heard him say, "Brother, it's for you," but in any event, another man spoke now.
"This is Leon Talbot. Are you calling in regards to the ad for the '57 Mustang?"
"I wish I was sir, but I need to talk to you about another matter," answered Peter.
"Oh. What?"
"In regards to your... other duties," began Peter, being careful about what he specifically said. While no one was probably listening in on their conversation, the less you said about weres in the open public, the better the secret was kept.
"Who this is?" Leon asked.
"My name is Peter Brooks. I'm the son of Officer Daniel Brooks of the Moon Lake Police Department."
"I see, and what did you want to talk to me about Peter?"
"I have a friend who's new to Moon Lake and is more than willing to comply with the town ordinances to represent her family," he began, discretely referring to Moon Lake's Mandatory Were Law, where one member of a newly arrived family joined were society so that everyone would have a stake in protecting the town and its secrets.
"I see. And your friend wants to join my group?" asked Leon, in his capacity as the Were Lion King of Moon Lake.
"Kind of. She's already talked to all the other related organizations in your neighborhood, but still wants to talk to someone specifically in yours before she makes a final decision."
Peter hoped Talbot would understand what he was saying.
Leon Talbot thought about that for a moment and figured out that the lady in question had already talked to the other feline based weres. "So your friend likes cats?"
"Yes sir," replied Peter, "but she still would like to talk to one of your representatives before finalizing her choice."
"I see. May I ask why your friend isn't talking to me directly about this?"
This was the part Peter feared the most, and hoped what he was about to say didn't get anyone in trouble.
"Karen Charleston and her family moved to Moon Lake to escape an evil mob boss, but he's still on their trail so my dad and the rest of the police department are doing their best to protect them right now."
The silence was almost deafening until Leon spoke again.
"Your friend and her family have my condolences, and I hope everything works out for them. Whenever it's convenient, just call me back and I'll make sure... Karen, you said?"
"Yes sir. Karen Charleston," replied Peter.
"I'll make sure Karen talks to someone who can answer any questions she might have. You wouldn't happen to know what her preference is, would you?"
"I don't understand the question, sir."
"Male or female?"
"Oh!" replied Peter, as understanding dawned on him. "The last time I talked to her, she still wanted to finish her fact gathering before making her choice so conversation wise, female. You know, a woman to woman frank discussion about matters. If she does decide to join your group, male."
Or at least, that's what Peter hoped. They had never talked about that specific subject, but if Karen preferred her own gender, then that was something he'd have to accept when the time came.
"That's easy enough to arrange. Just let me know when and I'll take care of things on my end," promised Leon. "Anything else?"
"No sir. Thank you, and have a nice day," replied Peter, before they ended the conversation.
Whatever's going on, I hope Karen's all right, prayed Peter, before grabbing a couple of more cookies and heading to the living room to start his homework.