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Ernesto tucked in Jethro for his nap.
Things had turned out just fine. Just fine he told himself. That's when boots came clicking down the hall.
Ernesto gave Jethro one last kiss and stood, exiting the room. He was faced with his brother.
"Deputy Ernesto, why are you away from your work?" Darrell asked with a fake twang on his lips.
"Darrell you know that even if you are old enough to take care of yourself in Lord Boxmans absence, Jeth is not. Now keep it down he's napping." Ernesto coughed, he started walking away as he felt his fingers getting numb.
"Why's he napping any ways, isn't he getting to old for that?" Darrell barked. Ernesto snapped around, his hands tingling.
"Because he did a half school day and attended Physical Therapy today! He deserves a break!" Ernesto hissed quietly.
"Yeesh, don't you think your coddling him a bit?" Darrell snapped.
"He's a child, Darrell!" Ernesto shot as he felt his body starting to shake with his hands as they burned a bit. He stomped away.
"I'm still talking to you! Get back here Deputy Ernesto!" Darrell yelled, running after Ernesto. "I'm Daddy now so you have to listen to me!"
Ernesto turned suddenly and grabbed Darrell's shirt, lifting him in the air as his teeth clenched and his hands glowed.
"Oh you're the Daddy! Yes you have been doing everything Boxman did! Are you taking Ray to his practice and games! Shannon to her taekwondo! Jethro to school and Therapy! Have you been making all the meals and working a full time job! And have you been calling your brat little brother in sick from school everyday for months because he launched a coup on his father over wanting to have another kid!" Ernesto yelled.
"Put me down! Put me down!" Darrell yelled, he was squirming and kicking and starting to tear up. "'Nesto please!"
"FINE!" Ernesto threw Darrell to the floor, his energy for a fight suddenly feeling gone as Darrell grew more scared. "I'll have your reports in by 5."
Ernesto shoved his aching hands in his pockets and walked down the hallway, shaking his head as he heard a mute humming.
~~~~hi
Ernesto walked through the hallways towards Darrell's office. He opened the door and-
"ERNIE!"
Ernesto was entrapped in a tight hug.
"DAD!"
Ernesto threw his sales reports and wrapped his arms around the man.
"You're the last one who's come seen me! You're working far to hard young man!" Boxman called, preening a bit on Ernesto's suit and hair.
“I learnt it from somewhere.” Ernesto said as he had glasses plucked off his face and cleaned.
“Oh hush, I'm not that bad.” Boxman pushed Ernesto's glasses back on. “Now, it's just us, what do you need to talk about.”
“Has Darrell taken the hat off yet?” Ernesto asked.
“Yes that was one of the first things he did.” Boxman confirmed, the two started to pick up the sales report.
“I've held down the fort. Everyone is good on school, Raymond's MVP on three teams so far this season. Shannon is getting a new belt soon! Jethro has improved his walking by 5 steps on average.” Ernesto called.
“What about you?” Boxman asked. “Your siblings, well besides Jethro, already told me what's been happening.”
“It's been going fine, Boxman.” Ernesto said quietly.
“There is no one here but us, Ernie.” Boxman reminded.
“How do you do it, five kids, all of them stubborn, except Jethro.” Ernesto said quietly, starting to sort the papers in his hands at light speed.
“I've only had the best help I could've asked for.” Boxman handed the papers back to Ernesto, who started to shuffle them back in. “I'm sorry for how this all is happening, Ernie, I'm going to make it all okay again. And Darrell for sure is not getting any of the company in my will.” Boxman crossed his arms and say with a playful hiss.
Ernesto smiled at his father, and went to hand him the paperwork.
“Oh, Ernesto there is a new change happening around here.” Boxman said turning away the papers. Ernesto smiled wider. He could feel it coming. “I have a new partner, they will be handling all the menial paperwork and finacial stuff that a CFO would do.”
Ernesto felt his brain implode.
“What-”
“You remember Professor Venomous, right! Well he's now a shareholder in the company after buying out 75% of each of the board of investors stocks. And well, he's moving in.” Boxman nudged Ernesto. “I finally found me a keeper.”
Ernesto felt his word shattering around him, and his entire mind was buzzing with emotions.
“Oh!” Ernesto felt the papers in his hands poof away, maybe it was just his imagination at work. “Well isn't that great!” Ernesto walked out of the office.
Boxman looked at the dust from the paperwork, set ablaze by Ernesto's lightening.
“Oh Cob.”