Just Gold

Chapter 2

      The room emptied in a matter of minutes, leaving the man alone on stage with nothing but a shattered dream, and a golden bear. He walked to the edge of the stage, and sat down, the microphone falling to the floor next to him. He ran a hand through his brown hair, and stared into the empty room.

      "Hello! Welcome to Fredbear's Pizzeria! A place to gather with friends, and family! A place to have fun, party, and make memories! Please enjoy your stay!" Golden Freddy called out behind the man.

      He turned, and glared at the animatronic. It couldn't sense his anger, frustration, or hurt. He removed his shoe, as it was the only thing within reach, and threw it at the bear's head. It bounced off, and hit the stage with a soft thump.

      The bear's mouth closed, and stared into the empty room. It seemed to be thinking of what it's next task was. The technology of 1978 was slow progress, but it was there. Maybe Golden Freddy wasn't the fastest thing on earth, especially with his system being updated to function for a pizzeria other than a diner, but he was something that many people had loved.

      Nathan stood, and grabbed his shoe, slipping it back on. He stared at the bear, and placed a hand on its shoulder, though he knew it had no emotions. "Sorry Golden Freddy... I'm just overwhelmed with feelings right now."

      It was hard to go from being a CEO of a diner than people had loved, to a man who could hardly open a pizzeria a year after his diner closed, as his only product of success conjured memories people had longed to forget.

      He stepped around the bear, and opened a small panel on the bear's back. He pressed a button, and watched as the bear's hand fell to its side, and the head drooped forward, its artificial eyes losing the light within them.

      "I have to try something new. I just don't know what." He said, as he closed the panel, and stepped around to the front of the bear. He placed a hand on the bear's shoulder, and frowned. "But I'm not counting you out yet. If you're not alone, then maybe people will be more open to being around you." He said. "This place is not yet closing. Let me get you some friends, and we'll be well on our way."

~~~

      Nathan hung a sign that read "Temporary Closed Until Further Notice". It wasn't a sign of regret this time, but a sign to give him time to gather his bearings. Ideas formed in his mind, of what to include to make Fredbear's Pizzeria a place families could visit without remembering the death of a young boy.

      He also left a "Help Wanted" sign, with his cellphone and office numbers. He walked away, and climbed into his car. Though his business was closed for a while, he could still interview people and place them in various jobs. He knew he'd have to call his former employees. He could only hope they'd still be willing to work for him.

      He then set off towards his home, to put his new ideas into action. He pulled into the driveway, and stepped out of his car. However, instead of taking the path to the house, he turned down another path, and to a building.

      He pushed the door open, revealing a workshop-like building. He knew this was where he'd be spending much of his time, as he approached the table in the center. He picked up a book, and some sketching pencils laying to the side, and flipped it open. The first page he came to was his beginning sketches of Golden Freddy, before he opened his family diner in 1973.

      He flipped to a fresh page, and pulled up a stool. It was time he began designing, so he could begin making new faces to share the fame with Golden Freddy, and take the burden of guilt and sadness off of his shoulders.