Werewolf Ben Twist was in his bedroom finishing his homework for the night when his lupine ears picked up the distinctive sound of the whirlpool spa-tub being activated within his mothers' bathroom.
That motor isn't as noiseless as they think when it's first turned on, he mused.
A smile crossed his muzzle, for he knew what two of the three most important women in his life were planning.
Ben waited until he figured Samantha and Frances were nice and comfortable, soaking together in the warm water, before quietly sneaking through the house and out the front door.
He only planned to go as far as the front porch, but did want some privacy for what he wanted to do.
Outside, he sat down on the front step and removed the lanyard from around his furry neck.
Then Ben used one finger to push a button on the speed dial of his cellphone.
"Hello my werewolf," said a female voice a moment later, which made his tail start to happily wag.
"Hello Kenya," he said, addressing his girlfriend/woman #3 on the other end. "How are you this evening?"
"Other than missing you, fine," replied the werepanthress. "I would invite you over, or agree to meet you somewhere for awhile, but I do have a big test to study for tomorrow."
"That's okay. I just called to ask if you were free Thanksgiving morning. Frances finally agreed to let me play in the Hunter-Prey exhibition game."
"So, you won?"
"What do you mean?" asked Ben.
"The argument with your mother."
"I wouldn't call it winning. We just disagreed on an issue and Frances finally changed her mind."
"So you are not gloating, or any other male thing?" asked Kenya.
"Not that I am aware of. Other than thanking her and letting you know, I've been pretty quiet," he replied, for some reason not bothering to mention the text to Nate Anderson.
"Benjamin Twist. I remained quiet on the subject, but it pained me to see you and your mother at odds. While individual members may have differences of opinion at times, the family unit is very important."
"I totally agree. I barely have any memories of my natural parents. Frances and Samantha are the only real family I have left in this world. Although someday, I hope to include you."
"I would like that, my darling," replied Kenya, and Ben could swear to hear her purring over the phone. "My heart has said you are the one for quite a while now, but I must finish college while you have to finish high school and start college yourself."
"I will," he promised.
"And you are certain you will not be injured during this football game?" Kenya asked.
Ben could hear the concern in her voice. She's worrying like mom, he realized, before speaking. "It's just one game, and as safe as possible. But I promise you, and I will make the same promise to mom in the morning, that if there is any risk at all, I will remove myself from the game."
"All I ask for is your safety my love, for I hope to have a long and happy life with you," replied Kenya, while wiping a small tear away from her eye with one paw.
"That's all I truly want too," said Ben, wishing he was with her right now.
ELSEWHERE...
"And my parents said I can spend the weekend with you, provided one of your parents calls them to say it's okay," Eric Anderson told his fiance Julie Stovall over their Skype connection.
"I'll make sure they do," she promised, beaming a smile that Eric would swear could melt ice in outer space. "Just be sure to bring some extra clothing with you besides whatever you'll be wearing to school tomorrow and whatever you'll be going home in Sunday night."
"Why? The only place I want to be is with you," replied Eric with a mischievous smile.
"Well, for one thing, I don't think my folks would appreciate you being naked at the dinner table with them," said Julie. "That doesn't quite work for were-mers like it does members of the furry set."
"Oh. Okay," agreed Eric, as his face turned red in embarrassment. "But were you planning for us to go anywhere besides the pool, the cabana, and the main house?"
"You'll just have to wait and find out," answered Julie, giving him a sly smile.
MEANWHILE...
The combined Harper-Jenkins clan were still on the first floor of the Jenkins home.
Newlyweds Jenny and Harry were sitting on the living room sofa, going over the last of their homework from Moon Lake college classes.
Lisa Jenkins and Janice Harper were sitting in one corner, the matriarch of the family still teaching her young protege how to crochet, while John Harper was sitting across from Henry Jenkins, Senior; asking the older man if he knew anything about chess.
The fact that Jenny and Harry were werefoxes, who happened to be both dressed and furry at the same time, wasn't lost on the others, but no one commented on it.
Overall, it was basically just a normal Thursday night when the phone rang.
Being the closest, Jenny answered it.
She listened for a moment, and then said, "I'll be sure to tell him. You have a good night now," then hung up.
"Who was it dear?" asked her mother Lisa.
"Ginger O'Toole," she replied, which made everyone, especially John, look at her. "She said to tell you that her parents said okay to taking you on a walking tour of Moon Lake Saturday morning, and that she'll stop by on her way home from school tomorrow to work out the details."
Despite his internal confusion over not knowing for sure whether he was straight, gay, or bi, although his developing feelings towards the red haired weretigress were starting to eliminate outright gay from the mystery; John couldn't help but smile at the prospect of being alone with his (girl?)friend.
That was, until his younger sister Janice started singing ♫John's got a girlfriend—♫
John couldn't take it and immediately raced upstairs as everyone else stared and started admonishing Janice.
TO BE CONTINUED...