This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Chapter 8
” Ok.
Why don't you two hop on those tables so I can change you.”
After
Stacy had just got Stans diaper off she heard phone ringing at the reception.
” Stay
here. I'll be right back.”
Stacy
almost ran from the room to answer the phone. Stan and Abby were left there
just lying and waiting. They watched as minutes passed but Stacy hadn't yet
come back.
” Hey
Abby. You mind finishing this? I don't want to pee all over the place.”
Without
saying a word Abby hopped down from her table and went on changing her brother.
After Stan got his new diaper on, he got down and waved Abby to get up so he
could return the favor. While he was changing her Stacy had come back and even
waved Richard and others to see what was going on. As Abby sat up on the table,
she could see what kind of show they had just put on. She frantically poked Stan
and told him to turn around.
” Oh.
Sorry Stacy. I just didn't want to pee all over and asked Abby to help me out
and...”
” No
need to explain you two. I saw everything from the reception desk and rest of
these people came to witness the final. Good work you two.”
Stacy
turned towards Richard.
” Oh, by
the way Richard. I got call from 6 of our contestants and they aren't able to
participate. Some had some family or health issues that prevented them from
arriving and I think one had some real problems with her flight.”
” Well
we have had good show with these two. I think we don't have much of a
competition anymore.”
As the
entire group including Stan and Abby were wandering slowly back to the lobby,
they saw two people standing there who probably were the other two contestants
looking sad and broken as they could have been.
” There
is no more competition? Does it mean we need to leave now?”
Boy
spoke with barely loud enough voice that it could be heard. He wrapped his arms
around the girl who was on verge of tears and slowly began escorting her away.
Stan couldn't believe what he did next.
” Hey.
Stop. There is still a competition.”
His
sister looked at him in disbelief.
” Stan?
What are you doing?”
” Abby.
Look at them. They have obviously been through a lot. I certainly don't feel
like accepting any kind of victory without there being actual competition to
see who deserves it most. Even if it would mean giving up diapers for the rest of
my life, if I knew that I let people with lot worse luck in life than us to be
kicked out on the street. As far as I'm concerned. They get to win this.”
All of
the people. From Richard to the two down on their luck participants looked at
Stan in awe.
” You
know what Stan. You're right. We forfeit.”
Now everyone’s
eyes were on both of them. Stan and Abby just hugged and held each other.
Knowing they were doing the right moral decision.
” Well.
Let's not get hasty here.”
Richard
spoke up, breaking the long silence.
” What are your names?”
” This
is my sister Susan and my name is Andy.”
” I can
see that you two haven't had very easy life. What happened?”
” Well
yeah we haven't had easy time. Our mom was mentally ill and dad was a drunk. He
pretty much beat anyone who was in his way when he was drunk. Usually that
meant our mom or me. He tried to beat Susan couple of times too and probably
got to her when I was either knocked out or just somewhere else for few
minutes. I rather took those hits to protect my baby sister if I could. Well
after mom died, we were bounced around from relative to relative. We ended up
staying at our uncle’s place but he was pretty much same as our dad. So, we
sent that application and took off on our own right after that.”
Everyone
was looking at the two their mouths open from shock. Only Stacy was going
through the applications before speaking up.
” But honey.
You sent the application 6 months ago. Are you telling me you two have been
homeless ever since?”
” Well
if it says that we sent the application 6 months ago then yes. I guess I am
telling you that.”
” How
did you two survive?”
Richard
interjected.
”
Sometimes we got food from strangers. Sometimes we begged for money. Slept
under the bridge. But that was better than being a punching bag.”
”
Brother is being too modest. He did all the heavy lifting and yet he always
gave me everything and almost refused to eat himself. Always keeping eye on me
and keeping me safe.”
Now
everyone was staring at the blonde girl who had been quiet during the whole
conversation. Her voice was almost impossible to hear. She had obviously been
though a lot and seemed very afraid.
” Well.
We did already kind of pick the models for our new line. But we can't throw
these nice people out there in the cold. I'm sure we can come up with some sort
of solution to give Susan and Andy work and home.”
Richard
said after pondering what to do for a while.
” Stacy.
Don't we have that container house somewhere still. You know the one we use as
camper while out promoting?”
” Yeah.
We do. But it's quite small and not in too good condition. Besides where would
we put that. We can't exactly keep it here on this lot and house people in it.”
Stan and
Abby had been quietly debating while the officials threw around ideas what to
do with Susan and Andy’s living arrangements.
” You
can drop it on our backyard.”
Abby
spoke up after she was finished debating Stan.
” Your
backyard?”
Richard
looked puzzled.
” Yeah.
I mean mom has been talking how we should redo our backyard. So, I guess if
Pampers is willing to cover the cost of redoing our backyard and necessities to
Susan and Andy then I guess she could say yes and we all could get one step
ahead with getting their life on track.”
” That’s
an interesting idea. What do you think? You two wouldn't mind living at someone
else's backyard.”
” I
think I can speak on behalf both me and my sister that we would be forever
grateful if we would just have some place to sleep and eat and to have a roof
over our heads.”
Andy
said timidly, almost apologizing of how much they were asking.
” Well
I'll give mom a call and ask if she is ok with it.”
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