Tailspin Anthology

Uncle Leopold's Visit

Christian's uncle comes for a visit.

"Leopold." Calvin greeted his older brother enthusiastically at the entrance of the family Manor.

Leopold looked grumpy with a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Calvin." He grunted out.

"Come on in and make yourself comfortable." Calvin gestured for him to enter. He complied.

"Not as goddy as I pictured this place would be."

"It was a fixture upper." Calvin said. "So we spruced it up, and Troy did a lot of repairs and refurbishing to make it more homey."

"Hm."

That's when they heard voices coming from behind them. "You have to admit that the surprising twist at the end of the movie was a shocker." Ashley told her siblings as they entered the foyer. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they spotted the tall brunette standing next to their father.

"Damn we are getting old." Leopold commented when he observed how grown up his nieces and nephews are.

"Uncle Leo!" Christian rushed to him in excitement.

"Uncle Leo?" Roger asked incredulously.

Christian stopped and bristled in fright when a dark aura surrounded Leopold. "How many times do I have to tell you, call me by my full name or just uncle?"

"But either makes you sound like a chess move or if you were related to the Mafia." Christian told him.

"The Mafia?"

"Yeah. Just picture yourself wearing a fedora and."

Christian was cut off by Jacob covering his mouth. "Would you stop pestering our uncle, so he can get himself situated?"

Leopold huffed and puffed his cigarette before glaring at a snickering Calvin. The red headed count cleared his throat and said, "Let me show you to your room. Troy!" The family caretaker entered and picked up Leopold's luggage before trudging up the stairs with the two brothers following him.

"I completely forgot that the jackass was coming today." Roger spoke.

"I guess we were hoping that he would change his mind about coming over." Sarah told everyone.

Jacob felt tapping on his arm to see Christian wiggling in his grip. "And what were you thinking talking to our uncle like that?" He reprimanded him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Mm." Christian muffled with his mouth still covered.

"Trust us. No one can ever be chummy with dad's brother. In fact, you're the chum and he's the shark."

"Mm. Mm."

"Promise us you won't overstep any boundaries." John said to Christian. "We would like for you to live long enough to be married." Christian narrowed his eyes before nodding his head. Feeling satisfied, Jacob released him, and Christian gasped for much needed air.

A couple days later, Leopold was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper outside when Christian cautiously approached him. "I've been wondering where you've been hiding." Leopold spoke without looking away from the paper.

"Sorry about that. The others said you would chew me up like shark chow."

A smile formed on Leopold's face. "Good to know that your siblings haven't changed their perspective of me."

"Wouldn't you like to show them that you're not as bad as they think?"

"And show them how vulnerable I am? I don't think so. You were lucky to have earned my trust enough to let you in."