Children of a gayer breed

Six

Weeks passed and we still lived with Gackt and Chacha. KIss it Chacha! Dad took me to work everyday. I got a job at a cute little Cafe called Express-Oh! It was a few blocks away from home so then I could walk home if Dad had a gig. It was saturday and I was working the night shift today. Dad was doing a show tonight and my boss was letting me watch in while I worked.

“Rita? What are you doing here so late?” An old man asked in an innocent tone.

“I’m working overtime tonight, Mr. Laking,” I said with a smile. I asked sweetly, “Espresso with extra cream and caramel?”

“You know me so well Rita,” Mr. Laking chuckled.

Mr. Laking visited my every night to "make sure I'm okay" and drink the last of my espresso pot. He was always very nice and seemed to enjoy my company. He was the first person who didn't freak out when I said my dad was Gackt. He truly felt like the grandpa I never had.

"Rita," Mr. Laking asked with a look I have never seen, "how old are you, sugar?"

"I'm 17 Mr. Laking," I answered with confused tone.

"Ah! 17.... 17." He looked very troubled and it was bothering me. I didn't want my grandpa worrying.

"Everything okay, Mr. Laking?" I asked genuinely worried.

“No Rita,” Mr. Laking said with a sad face. I grew worried as he said, “You walk home alone everyday, you’re a beautiful young lady, and you don’t have any way to protect yourself. What time does this cafe close, Rita?”

“Nine o’clock Mr. Laking,” I said with a soft smile.

“I am walking you home,” He held up his hands to say, “I don’t wish to enter your home, speak to your family, or any of that bullshit. I just want to make sure you make it home alright.”

“Mr. Laking! You are so sweet,” I smiled as I cleaned up the cafe. It was closing time and I hadn’t hear a thing from dad. He usually called me between songs, but today he didn’t.

It was a chilly night and I was terrified that grandpa Laking was going to catch a cold. He seemed fine and looked around happily. He looked everywhere like he truly was my bodyguard. It was so cute to watching him.

I shivered as a cold breeze blew by and tossed my hair into the breeze. Mr. Laking made a gasping noise, which made me turn to him, and he took something from his pocket. I looked at him and asked, “Mr. Laking? What is that?”

“Well, Rita, you know that my wife, Alma, and I have no children of our own. Being an old women Alma wanted to make something for one special to her.” He came close to me and wrapped a rainbow knit scarf around my neck, “She knitted you this last night. She said you were the closest thing to family for her. So I had to ask to walk you home. I would have embarrassed you if I gave it to you at work. I just tho-”

I quickly hugged him as tears filled my eyes. I choked back tears and said, “Thank you! Thank you Grandpa Laking!!”

“Rita?” I looked up to see dad looking at me. Since we were walking and talking we were just a few feet away from the house.

“Dad?” I wiped away my tears and kissed grandpa Laking’s cheek, “Goodnight Grandpa.”

“Goodnight sweetheart. Have a nice night.” He made no attempt to talk to my father or made a big deal about him being Gackt. He simply waved to Gackt and went on his way home.

“Rita, who was that man?” Dad asked as he brought me inside.

“A guy that comes to the cafe everyday,” I said while rubbing tears away. “Him and his wife have no family. So they adopted me as a grand-daughter. Alma, his wife, knitted me this scarf. Isn’t it cute? He was worried about my safety and walked me home after clean up.”

“How sweet of him. I was just on my way to go get you,” He said with a hug. “They guys are staying over tonight. I’m afraid Jenna has pulled my band into another ‘fashion show’ extravaganza.”

“You know that means she is going to out a tiara on Chirolyn again,” I chuckled.

Both dad and I laughed till we couldn’t breath when we heard Chirolyn yell, “You’re just jealous Rita!!! I wear it better!!” We watched as three of the band came out in extremely puffy and sparkly dresses.  You was in an overly sparkly, overly puffy, pale purple prom dress with matched handbag, tiara, and sloppy lipstick. Juni-ji was dressed similar but he was decked out in green to complement his orange hair. Chirolyn was, by far, the best dressed of the group. He wore an elegant green dress with more ruffles then I had ever seen, a cropped top to make chirolyn have a nice rack, and a green and pink feather boa.  He fitted his tiara and asked, “Does this dress make me look fat?”

“Oh no,” I giggled, “That color really brings out your eyes.”