Leslie looked tensely to his wife. This was not good. He had lost track of how much he had spent. It was for his family though!
"I.. I spent.. the money," He admitted.
"How much money?" Asked Mrs Gordon concerned.
"... all of it," He said barely a whisper.
"Everything?" her jaw dropped. "So- we have no money at all in the bank, is what you're telling me?!" Her voice became a shrill of shock. How could he do this!
"I'm sorry- I- I was trying... I just wanted..." He fell down onto the chair, drawing a deep breath. "I spent most of our money on a deposit. I had to get a loan to get all the equipment. Most don't believe a cure can be found- they don't even know where to begin. I had to cover the expenses myself. My reputation was enough to persuade them. But- with this accident, I'm not sure what the insurers will say- I- I-" He was at a loss for words. With his place of business in disarray, they wouldn't have an income now.
"Let's... try to keep this rational," Said Mrs Gordon with a steeled voice. "I can still find work-"
"I can't accept that. You're with child. Its my place to find a solution. I promise you, I will."
She sighed. "Would it be better then, if we pulled Billy out of that academy?" she asked.
"It... might be. If she doesn't want to go there, then... maybe we can just accept that?" He asked delicately. It was perhaps a way of turning lemons into lemonade. His daughter didn't like that school, there was no reason to encourage her to stick to it. The state schools were just as capable of teaching her. He himself had gone to one... and they would save the money, when right now they really needed to.
"I... don't know Les. She was happy there for a while, and she's only had two days. If we pull her out now, even on the basis of her own decision, she might regret it."
"She's old enough to make her own choices," said Leslie of handedly.
"No- she's not. She's lost that reasoning ability for now," She said sadly. Regression into childhood was... so difficult. Sometimes Lilly would appear mature enough, other times.. she was acting 'half' her apparent age.
"I'll review the finances. It depends on what's been damaged, what's salvageable... the insurance... I might be able to get a favour or two from other companies."
"The trial period lasts a week.. let's give Billy a little more time before we make a hasty decision for her."
"Boo!"
Lilly jumped startled. "Ah!" She screamed- then saw her brother Stacy.
"Sorry," he chuckled.
"You sca'ed me," Lilly said brushing down her fur. She must have fallen asleep on the couch. What time was it? Was her brother home early?
"I heard you weren't feeling well," He said his head raised like a mountain compared to Lilly's small body.
Lilly looked down shyly. Her little sister was now her big brother, and it only served to make her feel even more tiny.
The giant dinosaur-boy leaned into him, with his huge muzzle, a mouth that was almost half the size of the squirrel-girls body. He then drew in a sniff. The squirrel-girl felt the pull of her fur from the drawing of air by those huge lungs. "You've been crying," he said concerned.
"Um- yeah," she said embarrassed. "My... my friends... I um..." She wasn't sure how to explain it.
"If they hurt you, I can bite them for it," He grinned.
"No! No!" She said quickly. It sounded like he really would too.
"Or I can just nibble around them. they won't even see it coming, and they'll realise not to hurt you again," he chuckled.
"No- sis- er- brother- um-" She looked up at him, wondering. It did feel nice to still have her brothers protection. But... it just didn't work out well any more. "I- I want t'sort this al' out myself."
"What's the problem anyway?" he asked.
"I.. don't thin' I'm a good person to be aroun' them," she said softly. She wished so much that she could explain the full truth. That her friends had magic powers. Was there anyway she could just... explain it without out right saying it? She knew she had trouble hiding things from older people... "Um- they- um- that is... they think I'm a weakling."
"So are they," said Stacy confused. "Oh but don't forget, you all are compared to me," he winked.
It was Lilly's turn to smell something. "Is- is that meat?" she asked worried.
"Oh- um- yes. I had a snack."
"Raw?!" she asked a little worried. Since when was Stacy eating raw meat?
"I need the energy," he explained. "Don't worry, I bought it from the butchers." He chuckled again. Stacy found he did need to eat a lot of food now. He was probably more then capable of hunting with this body... but it was still easier to just buy the food from the market.
"You're so much cooler 'en me Stacy..." She said downcast.
"Aww..." The dinosaur rested her muzzle onto the squirrel-girls face. "I always thought that of you- when I was little," She said. "You took care of me... you always helped me out. I just wish I knew how to help you."
"How's thi'gs work out with Ashley?" She asked.
"Well, we are in different worlds now," He said with a shrug. "I've made new friends anyway, and things are fine."
"How do you do it?" she asked sadly. Maybe it was easier for a boy to make friends? That just seemed so reversed! She always thought that was more a 'girly' thing. Well- maybe it only worked for real girls. She was still a boy in her head. She just- wore a dress a few times cause her friends did- and there was nothing wrong with that! Stacy still probably had a girl-brain in there. Or was she just naturally better at it?
"I dunno," said Stacy. "I guess I'm considered popular. There's not that many dinosaurs," he chuckled though turned serious. "Look sis, what I'm trying to say is, anyone is lucky to be your friend. You're not lucky to be friends with Jenny, or anyone else. They are lucky to have you."
"It don't fell tha' way." If Stacy knew the truth of just what her friends were... but she couldn't say a word!
"But it's the truth. I don't care how cool they are, you're the coolest to me. I love you," he said nuzzling her with the side of his face. "If anyone ever makes you feel otherwise, I'll rip them apart. I mean that." He then made a growling sound- and for a moment, Lilly could almost believe, her brother would indeed stand up to anyone for her. Despite all the trouble it can cause.
"T-Thanks sis- I just wish-" She sniffled a bit. "I- I wish I was a boy again- an' that I was strong- an'-"
"You're stronger then you think sis... I know so," he said. "And.. I'm sorry. I pushed you with Jenny because.. I just wanted you to have friends. You seemed to get on well," he said still rather mystified. Her sister hasn't actually said what the issue was with them. But if Jenny really did make her little sister feel bad... he was having trouble holding back the rage of the dinosaur.- but he wanted her sister not to rely on him any more. As much as he wanted to, he had to let Lilly just work things out herself. It was encouraging that this seemed to be what she wanted to do...
"I- I liked Jenny," she whispered softly. "But I can't do the thin's they can-
"Why not?" Stacy asked trying to press on it.
Lilly swallowed. She wanted to tell her brother! The only one that was actually looking out for her... but... she couldn't. She was asked to keep a secret.. "Cause-" she hesitated "cause- I used to be a boy," she said in the end. It wasn't exactly the problem but there wasn't any other way to explain it. Children were such terrible liars.
"Then lose her, and find someone that will like you for who you are. That's what I think. She isn't worth this grief your going through," he said quite angrily.
