As Witnesses

8💕

Monday, September 15, 2008

~*~

If there would ever be a day either set of parents would have to completely ignore their children, it would be today. It is today.

This morning, the Valors and the Airlets have each had to call around six of their coworkers before they could call each other to discuss the current events. At their house, the Airlet parents are in their casual clothes, flipping through the two channels or so they have left on their TV. It's been like this for them throughout the month they have been left without their jobs or earnings.

"How are you both?" asks Odin.

Exa is quick to answer. "In a very precarious position. And yourselves?"

"Same here," Odin says, then questions, "Did you hear about Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy today?"

"Of course we did," Zeno responds matter-of-factly.

Athena expands on the topic. "Check the facts: can you believe this is one of the biggest bankruptcies to happen on Earth?"

"Over 600 billion dollars in assets, 25 thousand employees, and the fourth largest United States investment bank?" Exa fires back. "Now this is more like unbelievable."

"That sure is a lot to have just gone to waste," Odin observes. "This worldwide, universe-wide financial crisis has been far worse than many could have expected."

"It sure has," agrees Zeno. "We knew that some businesses were going to collapse and some people were going to be in trouble, but we never expected a company as big as Lehman to succumb to these economic difficulties."

"Not only that, but this will cause major setbacks to the housing market - and perhaps the economy as a whole - for years to come," adds Exa.

"To be honest, we didn't see this coming either," Odin states, then brings up another related topic: "Oh, and do you remember what the kids suggested back in May or so? About not investing as much? They were definitely on to something."

Exa recalls that conversation. "Yeah, maybe we should have listened to them."

"By the way, have either of you found out whether either of you are keeping your jobs at Pyrite yet?" inquires Athena.

"Not yet. They're still working on that part," Zeno reports. "How has Best Builders Inc. been doing?"

Odin answers that question. "In trouble. As predicted before, our orders have disappeared, and now we have nothing left to do or make any money off of."

"We've lost our source of income as well. It's been missing for a month. In our cases, we're very sorry to hear about what you've been going through," replies Zeno.

"We're very sorry to hear about your situation, too. But hey, at least we're all still together as friends," Athena does her best to sympathize.

"That is true," Exa observes. "And the kids have an even better way with this friendship thing."

The conversation goes on in a similar manner for around five more minutes until the Valors and Airlets have no more time, because they've been busy with files, paperwork, forms, and whatever work they still have left. And what was one of the other subjects that came up after friendship? That's right: how they would celebrate Midnight's birthday in six days, during such unstable conditions.

~*~

"Looks like all the basketball courts are taken. Oh well, I don't really feel like balling today anyway."

"Me neither."

Lil' Catty and Fuzzynerd observe their peers in grades 4 and 5 play around in various areas of the playground. Normally, they'd be playing basketball or some other sport they have in common. But for the past few weeks, both of them have completely lost motivation to play, because something else having to do with family has been haunting them to an unhealthy level...

Fuzzynerd scratches his chestnut brown hair. "Hey, I could help you with homework... but we don't have any today, right?"

"None," Lil' Catty confirms.

"What's with your hair today?" Fuzzynerd asks out of the blue. He gestures to the 'cat ears' implemented onto Lil' Catty's red copper hair. They don't look as well-kept as usual.

Lil' Catty doesn't have much of an answer. He isn't sure what to say. Maybe he was in a rush and forgot to brush it? That's all he remembers, anyway.

"Well, this morning was kind of a blur. All I remember is that I was in a rush and forgot to do my hair," Lil' Catty forms a response.

What Fuzzynerd says next surprises Lil' Catty in a way. "It's okay. This morning was kind of a blur for me, too. My parents were too preoccupied with something. Must have had to do with their – you know – business things. Which left Midnight and myself kind of on our own, which is why I'm sure I forgot at least one of my books today."

"Fuzzynerd Airlet, forgetting one of his books? What a shocker, for someone as great in school as you!"

Lil' Catty gives his honest reaction. "But hey, don't feel bad at all. The same thing happened to me and Ginny this morning."

Midnight and Ginny, who are both in different grade levels, aren't here to take part in this conversation.

Neither Lil' Catty nor Fuzzynerd can think of something to say without it being all despair-ish, in light of recent times. There have been too many news stories about banks and companies going out of business to count, people are losing their jobs, houses are losing their values – it's a whole crisis that they, their sisters, and their friends are all too young to understand much of. But it's been clear to even the youngest that this is a huge deal.

Then, out of the blue, Lil' Catty changes the subject to what both of them would much rather talk about: "Hey, the new season for our club basketball is starting. Do you think they'll put both of us on the A-team again?"

"I sure hope so," is all Fuzzynerd can say. "Last year was so awesome! Especially with us playing together, and how well pretty much everything went!"

"Yeah, I can't wait to start playing again! Shooting around, tournaments, everything! Maybe this season, we'll even win the championship!" Lil' Catty agrees and adds on.

Any of the adults involved in the crisis would perhaps be very impressed by these two, and how they managed to find good times coming ahead of them in the midst of all the bad times the whole world is going though...

The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch break. The moment it's heard, Fuzzynerd rushes over to the line near his classroom, followed by Lil' Catty. Maybe they'll find an opportunity to have a better time later.