They origins of Casinos and Diners

Cruiser and Quinsel

1919

Ashton sniffled as he watched his mom cough more and more.

"Ma, calm down please.... You gotta quit smoking." He tried to get her cigarettes away.

"I'm fine Ash." She tried to sit up but the machines on her didn't help.

"Ma, please I ask ya as a son." Ashton hated this.... Ever since last year he had to watch his mom die slowly... he couldn't take it.... his dad split on him so she was all he had left. Ashley, his mother, sighed and put out the cigarette.

"Fine fine... you better not smoke Ash." She growled.

"Trust me Ma, I'll never, cross my heart." He smiled brightly as his mom ruffled his hair.

"Good boy Ash."

"One day I'll become the worlds best scientist! I'll heal you, then buy you a house outside of the poor housing!" Ashton looked at his mom.

"I believe ya hun. Trust me, I believe ya." His mom shed a tear. "Listen, Ash, whatever happens. Take good care of yourself, and never change from the sweet boy you are. Got that?" His mom rubbed his cheek softly.

"I promise ma, but I really don't need to, you'll be fine. I feel it in my guts." A knock was heard from the front door, causing Ashton to beam. "Cruiser and Quinsel!! They had their baby earlier this year! Maybe they were finally able to take him home!" Ashton beamed.

"Poor thing, I couldn't imagine having to wait half a year to take you home." Ashley shook her head. "Well go have fun." She waved Ashton off, who quickly ran to the door opening it quickly.

"Hi Ashton!" Quinsel smiled as the boy hugged her. "I brought groceries so we can make something good for dinner. Cruiser is still at the Diner, cleaning up. Kingsley is with him too." Ashton looked up.

"He finally came home?!" Ashton bounced excitedly.

"Yup. You'll love him." She walked in. "How's your mother doing? I brought her her favorite brownies." She placed the groceries down.

"She's doing good right now." Ashton smiled.

"Good good. Oh I got you something too, I saw it and thought of you." She reached into the bags trying to look for the item. She took out a stuffed toy that looked like a Doberman. 

"It looks like Luke!" Ashton smiled more as she handed it to him.

"I know you've been devastated since you lost Luke, so I saw that little guy and thought you'd love it." She started putting groceries away.

"I do love it!" Ashton went over to Quinsel, watching her start to make food. He held his stuffed toy close and sighed. "Have you heard anything from the doctor about ma?" Quinsel didn't look at him as she nodded.

"I have to talk to her in a bit." It was all she could say... "Hey why don't you play me that song you've been working on, on that sax of yours?" She looked at him.

"I think you'll like it!" He ran to his room getting his sax ready to play.

Hours passed and Cruiser finally was there, accompanied by the little baby Ashton would soon adopt as a brother. 

"Hey Ashy my man." Cruiser laughed as he bent down. "Wanna hold him?" Ashton took a deep breath and nodded as he was handed the small baby. He felt his heart pound, and a feeling that him and Kingsley were meant for Greatness.

"I'll be like a big brother. I promise ya Kingsley. You'll never get hurt, and whatever you want you'll have." Ashton whispered as the baby tried grabbing his long nose. Ashton couldnt help but laugh as Kingsley tried to. "Bit small for a king isn't he?" Ashton joked.

"Oh trust me son, he'll someday unite us all. What we can't, he will. I feel it strongly." Cruiser smiled proudly. 

"I believe ya, he gives me a sense of he'll drag me along too." Ashton laughed.

"One thing though... I know our timing is bad... but you gotta give us your word on something." Cruiser stared at Ashton seriously.

"Of course."

"We are mixing the races... Quinsel's father is the Major of a town, he doesn't want his name ruined... He'll go as far as taking his own daughter out of the picture. Promise if something does happen, you'll raise Kingsley. Please." Cruiser exhaled after he had asked this favor. Ashton stepped back a bit, his breath hitching as tears roll down his face.

"No- no. You'll be fine! Ma will be fine!" Ashton shook his head. "It's all lies I know... ma will die soon, you guys aren't safe... I'll be alone... I'm 12, I cant raise a kid..." Ashton started to cry softly.

"I know son, but, you're the strongest guy I know. You can do it. It can happen, or it may never happen. We never know." 

Oh but never, never never happened....

2 years later.... 

792 words