The adventures of Red

Chapter 9: The truth

"Ok, so this story goes back to before I was even born. My parents were both wolves. But at the time I was born we were the only family around here. My dad did a lot of traveling which when I was younger. I thought it was for work but he was actually looking for others like us. I think I was around four when he bought that hood home. I'm not really sure where he got it, all I know was I could actually go outside and play with the other kids.
The summer before I started school, daddy found a family. He brought the Fredericks back with him. I remember being so excited because they had a little girl. Not only was she my age but she was like me. That's when I met Franny or as you would know her Francis Frederick.
"My Grandmother?" Zeke asked.
"Yes, your grandmother Zeke." Granny continues. "We were the best of friends, but Franny didn't go to school with me her parents chose to homeschool. So anytime they left the house they dress like the Amish. That was for two reasons first reason was to hide the wolf. Second reason was it made it easier for them to explain why Franny was not in school.
Knock, knock, someone pounded on the door startling everyone.
"OK, that sounds like our pasta is here. You two go set the table, I will get the pasta. Set an extra seat please?" Granny says opening the door as as Zeke and Red enter the kitchen.
As granny enters the kitchen, she looks at the kids, and says make that two extra seats please."
"Mother? What are you doing here?" Zeke asks.
"Well if you are hearing the pack's backstory I think it's only fitting that all the remaining originals be here." Penny explains "Don't worry it's just us and Walter."
"Mom! I hope I'm not late for dinner." Grace shouts from the living room.
"That smells amazing,"Grace says entering the kitchen.
"Hey babe, grab a plate, and join us. We are just sitting down." Granny said to Grace.
"Hey Penn," Grace says.
"Hey." Penny responds.
" I think this is the most I've seen you since we were pregnant with the kid." Grace says.
"I know, crazy huh." Penny says.
"Should we wait on Walter?" Granny asked.
"Nope, Walter says entering the kitchen. I appreciate the thought but I'm already here. How you been Kat?"
"I'm doing pretty well considering. What about you Walt?" Granny asked.
"Just a grumpy old man." Walter says with a deep laugh.
"Ok, well let us hear it Granny. I know personally I'm done with all the secrets. I want the truth." Red says.
"Ok sassy pants, Granny says. So I was going to public school and Franny was being homeschooled. Franny started to get really jealous that I was making friends and Fran was not. So Charlie Fran's daddy, started going out looking with my dad on their very first trip out together they brought back the Elliot's. Do you want to tell your own story Walt?" Granny asked
"Nah, I'll tell them later." Walter says with a wink.
By the time our dads got back with the Elliot's it was summer break for Fran and I. We were back together. We did everything together, we were all living here. Things were definitely starting to get crowded, but thankfully Mr. Elliot was a great Carpenter. Mr. Elliot, and daddy went the next several weeks building little cottages in the woods for additional families. By the end of summer they had built five houses in the woods. The Elliot's and the Fredericks moved into their own houses out in the woods. Us three kids were thick as thieves. Then school started again, the Elliott's decided to homeschool Walter too. So as you would expect I got jealous and let me tell you, jealousy is not a color I look good in. I started making more friends at school. That's when I met Alfred, we hit it off right from the start instant best friends. I was still feeling left out by Fran and Walt so I started spending more more time without. But I had to hide that I was a wolf. He was human I couldn't tell him. So around the summer of second grade I had talked mom and daddy into letting me quit school and start home school with Walt and Franny. That worked out really well for a while at least until the Grangers came to town.
"Wait, your dad didn't bring my family to town?" Zeke asked.
"Nope, they found us, Granny says. They had heard rumors of a new pack forming here. Of course they had two sons Roy and baby Henry. They weren't really sure where to look for the pack so they settled in across the street completely unknowingly. They had their own magic with them they. They had weird old rings, and before you ask Zeke, Yes that was Roy's." Granny continued. So Roy and Alfred we're living next-door to each other. That is when their friendship started they were out riding their bikes around the neighborhood. I was working in the front flower bed they rode their bikes right up into the yard that was a big no-no to my parents so mom open the kitchen window to yell at them to get out of The yard. Roy seen Mom's ears. He went home and told his dad by the end of the night Richard and Mary with their boys In tow knocked on the door. When Mom open the door Roy said, "that's her father. I remember just like it was yesterday, My mom nearly fainted, daddy caught her before she fell."
"I remember this part just like it was yesterday," Granny says. Daddy asked Mrs. Granger if there was something he could help them with. Mrs. Granger looked at his wife and nodded. She pulled off her head covering to show him her ears. Daddy told me to go get the others as he let them in. So that's what I did all four families congregated in our house. Us kids of course were sent to bed while the adults took seats at the table. By morning they were still sitting at the table talking over the little details, and that my dears is how the pack was formed. Right here at this table.
"Well it doesn't really pertain to this story, but how was Grandpa still in wolf form when the accident happened. They already had mom." Zeke asked.
"Well, actually I can answer that one," Penny said. Your grandparents did not get married until I was pregnant with you." Penny explained.
"Ok, guys can we call it a night, and reconvene at a later time? I need to go process all of this," Red said getting up from the table.
"Of course Red," Granny says.
"Why don't you head home and get some rest," Grace said.
" I think I will," Red said. "Zeke want to walk me home?"
"Yeah of course," Zeke said.