As they approached the front door of the Anderson house, Alex Ramsey turned to his boyfriend Nate Anderson and admitted, "I'm nervous. What if I blow it? What if, no matter what I do, they don't like me?"
"Will you stop worrying?" suggested Nate, while holding Alex's hand. "After that less than stellar introduction to your father I had, dinner at your place last night was great. Your folks are cool and so are mine. It'll be okay. Trust me," added Nate, as he opened the door. "Mom? Dad? We're home!"
"In the kitchen Nate," yelled his father in return, as he stepped out into the living room to meet his son and guest. "Hello, I'm William Anderson. Alex, right?" he asked, while holding out his hand.
"Y-yes, s-sir," replied the nervous guest, while shaking the hand of his boyfriend's father. "Ramsey. Alexander Ramsey."
"Welcome to our home Alex. I've just been helping out in the kitchen."
"No problem sir. I know my way around pots and pans myself," said Alex, trying not to sound like he was bragging.
Alex cooks? thought Nate, looking at his boyfriend in a new light.
"My wife Martha is putting the final touches on dinner, but I don't know where my youngest son Eric is at the moment."
"Not sure what held them up, but I saw Eric walking his girlfriend Julie home. He should be here anytime now. Alex and I went to the library to work on our homework before dinner," explained Nate. "I tried calling Mom's cell to let her know, but it went straight to voicemail, so I left a message."
"Really?" asked William, as he heard his wife coming out of the kitchen. Being a werecat, Martha just waved at Alex as she walked over to her purse, which she left on the end table near the staircase.
"Moon Lake has a few dead spots as far as coverage is concerned," revealed Alex.
"Well, I'm sorry I didn't return your call son," said his mother, after putting her cellphone back in her purse to confirm the situation. "Hello. I'm Martha Anderson, Nathaniel's mother," she said, coming up and introducing herself.
"Alex Ramsey, ma'am."
Martha took a step back and sized up Alex standing next to her son. He was a couple of inches taller and a bit toner. Having been a werewolf longer than Nate, Alex also had a slightly more noticeable tuft of chest hair sticking out of the top of his shirt. Otherwise, Alex Ramsey was a handsome young man.
Uncertain why she was staring at him, Alex asked, "Is there something wrong ma'am?"
"Other than that ma'am bit, because I'm not that old, no."
"My apologies. I was just trying to be polite," said Alex.
"No problem. Now then, you two are a bit tentative around each other, but that's relatively normal for most people in the start of a new relationship. Otherwise, I do think you two make a cute couple." Nate and Alex both started to blush at that comment as Martha asked her husband for his opinion.
"As long as Nate's happy and Alex never does anything to hurt our boy," said William, as there came a knock on the front door.
Knowing that Eric would have let himself in, and the Andersons were expecting no other company that night, William paused to sniff the air as he approached the door, but only smelled the presence of another werefox.
"Konichiwa," said the man on the front porch, as he bowed. "William Anderson?"
"Yes?" he asked, staring at the man through the front screen door and wondering what was going on.
"This is for you," said the man, holding out an envelope. "From Mrs. Tachibana."
"Oh," said William, opening the screen door and accepting the envelope. "Thank you."
"Sayonara," said the other man, before turning to walk away, passing Eric Anderson as he did.
"Hi Dad. Sorry I'm late," said Eric, as he approached.
"We'll talk about it later. Say hello to our guest and go wash up for dinner," replied his father, opening the message.
"What was it dear?" asked Martha, as William came back inside.
"A formal invitation to our official introduction and induction into the Skulk," revealed her husband.
"When?"
"This Friday night at 7," answered William.
"Do we all have to go?" asked Nate, as Eric came out of the downstairs bathroom.
"I think it'd be nice if we did," replied his father.
Nate turned to look at Alex and simply shrugged his shoulders, while Eric was momentarily unaware that he would not be seeing his girlfriend Friday night.
"Okay. Everyone go wash up and get ready to eat. I hope you like pot roast Alex," said Martha.
"As long as there's no mushrooms involved. For some reason, I've been allergic to those since birth," revealed Alex.
"I'll make a note of that," replied Mrs. Anderson, as William followed her to the kitchen to help serve dinner.