FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Lexter ran from the mansion, from the party, from his life. Tears streamed out of his eyes, as anger and embarrassment churned inside him. He ran for a good half hour before exhaustion forced him to slow down to a walk.

Breathing hard, he approached a convenience store and used a pay phone to call Jamie to let her know he was alright, and that he would make his way back to his apartment. He hung up before she could say anything. He felt complete disgust at Alexander. How could he do that to mom, he wondered. Why didn't she ever tell me? He just wanted to push the thoughts out of his mind.

He had a good seven mile trot back to his apartment, but made very good time jogging back. He felt betrayal from his biological father, lied to from his mother, and put on the spot in front of everyone. He just forced the situation and thoughts out of his head as he sped home.

When he finally approached his apartment complex, he felt tired out. His numbness gave his mind an uneasy sense of minor peace. As he entered the parking lot, he spotted his mother's car in front of his apartment unit, and could see her in the driver's seat. He hung his head and decided to get this over with, about the night. He walked to it and got into the passenger seat without saying a word.

Sara reached over and patted his knee. "I'm glad to see you, son."

Lexter chuckled at that reference. Son, he thought. That is the word that got me in trouble for the night, this whole episode. He looked at his mother, a bit upset. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" he quietly asked.

Sara looked at her son with a pained look. "I... I'm sorry, dear... I didn't know that Mr. Worthy and your father were the same. You have every right to be mad at me." After she hesitated with her words, she continued on. "I was going to tell you more about your father after you graduated college. I thought that you had enough on your plate, with college and work."

Lexter thought about that and nodded. "You're right. I'm... sorry." he humbly said to her. He felt like a rat for being upset at his mother. He grasped her paw and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry, mom. It wasn't your fault." Feeling a lot more calmed down, he said "If I knew that... that dog... Mr. Worthy was my father, I never would have... accepted the part..." his voice tapered off into silence as he thought about his angry display at the party.

Sara sighed. "I know, Lexter, I know." She breathed deep as she steeled herself. "Do you want to know about when we met?"

Lexter didn't care about Alexander, but just silently nodded.

Sara sighed. "Well, it was after a dance I performed in. Bilby was my co-star. We were at the post-dance party."

Lexter just stared straight forward as he imagined how it must have looked.

Sara motioned with her paws in front of her, in frustration. "Bilby was in royal arrogant form that night. He cornered me into a room, and he kept hounding me, saying that he had to have me."

Lexter grimaced. Seeing Bilby in action tonight, he could imagine how awful he was that night.

Sara said "I kept saying no, of course." She paused, as she thought about it. "Actually, I told you part of this story at 'The Den' that night."

Lexter nodded, and kept silent.

Sara continued on. "He had a hold of my paws and kept demanding that I should be with him, when..." She smiled, as he face lightened up. "...this wonderful husky grabbed Bilby, yanked him back, and smacked him so hard, he went down."

Lexter finally cracked a smile. "Nice..." he mumbled out.

Sara said with affection "I didn't know who he was, but he was... just so... handsome." She laughed a bit. "I was excited by his action. He held out his paw without saying a word, and I took it. We left in a hurry that night, and went out to have fun in the city."

Lexter nodded again.

Sara sighed. "Eventually, he told me his name was Alex, but he never told me his last name. For several months, we had a secret and passionate affair together. I... I thought he might be married, but I was afraid to ask."

Lexter glanced at his mother. "Why?"

Sara shrugged. "Because if he was, then our time together would end. Every time he showed up, we lived raw passion." She smiled warmly from the memories. "It was like out of a fairy tale. Full of magic."

Lexter nodded again, and remained silent.

She fidgeted about. "Then, I found out I was pregnant with you. I told him, and... and..." she sniffed. "...he left. Just like that."

Lexter jerked her head toward her, angry. "That monster!"

Sara shook her head. "Don't be that way. Yes, he left, but the short time we had was so wonderful. It was the best time I ever had until I met Gary." She patted Lexter's knee. "I spent a lot of time being angry, but I let it go and devoted myself to you."

Lexter breathed deep as he forced himself to calm down. "You're right mom. I'm sorry."

Sara blew out air. "Since I couldn't dance, the ballet company was gracious to give me a job, so I could take care of you while I worked. But I couldn't make ends meet. So, I became a stripper."

Lexter winced. "I'm sorry, mom." He felt guilt that he did that to his mother.

Sara patted Lexter's knee. "Don't be. A parent should always do what is right, to take care of their kid." She cocked her head to the side. "A few months after I started to strip, Alex showed up out of nowhere. I was so thrilled."

Lexter looked at her confused. "He did?"

Sara nodded. "My anger vanished in an instant, and I brought him to you, to hold you. When he held you, he seemed to glow."

Lexter felt mixed feelings toward Alex. "Uh-huh."

Sara lost her smile as she narrated. "He said that you would grow up to be a great football star. That angered me, but I didn't say anything back. I thought he would take care of us." She sighed. "But, the fairy tale ended. He handed you back to me, apologized to me, and said that he was married."

Lexter nodded again.

Sara balled her paws up to fists. "I was so furious at him. I told him to never see us ever again. I called him a few choice names, that I think hurt him."

Lexter chuckled. "He deserved it."

"And I never saw him again until tonight." Sara glanced at her son. "There is one thing he did that I never regretted." She raised Lexter's paw and gave it a kiss.

Lexter warmly smiled. "I love you very much, mom." He felt their special bond between them.

Sara straightened up. "Right then and there, I decided that you were going to be in my world. You would be a dancer, just like me. That's when I tried to go back to ballet dancing. But, as you know, they turned me down. So, I continued to strip." She turned to Lexter. "I was so pleased you took great interest in dancing when you were young. My son."

Lexter ducked his head in gratitude. "Always, mom."

Sara gave her son an approving look. "You know, you take after him in looks very much. Tall, handsome. When I see you, I see that Alexander I spent time with, and those memories I always treasure."

Lexter felt like the kid in front of his mother, who just gave him special praise. He smiled warmly at her. "Thanks mom."

Sara stared straight forward. "Tonight was the first time I even found out his last name." She glanced at Lexter. "Your name 'Lexter' is a derivation of 'Alexander'. I never told you that."

Lexter eyes went wide at that. "Wow."

Sara spoke on. "After you ran off, Alex started to apologize to me, but was very weak, so he was rushed to the hospital." She hesitated. "He's dying."

Lexter jerked his head to Sara. "He is? I thought he was just injured."

Sara shook her head. "No, dear. From what his assistant said to me, the doctors were amazed he lasted this long."

Lexter felt like a fur-ball for feeling hatred toward him. "Oh fur..."

Sara spoke up. "After he left, I spoke to Jonnie. She understands it all."

Lexter nodded again. He thought about the party, and how he behaved. "I guess... I should apologize to Jonnie."

Sara perked up. "Yes, you should. Very good." She wrote down a number and handed it to Lexter.

Lexter put the slip of paper away as he pondered the swill of information in his head. He thought of how Jamie and Gary perceived the dilemma... "Mom?" Sara glanced at Lexter. "Where are Jamie and Gary?"

Sara answered "Gary is at Jamie's place. I wanted to speak to you alone."

Lexter relaxed back in the car seat. "Oh." He rolled down the window.

Sara spoke up. "But, what gets me, is why?" She faced Lexter. "That night, so long ago, why did he punch Bilby, then run off with me?"

Lexter thought about motives of Alex, his father. Hell, I met him only twice, he thought to himself. And the first time was when... he said... Lexter laughed as things clicked in his head.

Sara looked at her son inquisitively. "Yes?"

Lexter clapped his paws together while he chuckled. "Because he's the wolf prince." He looked to her confused expression. "After I secured the audition, he visited me at 'The Den'. We had a private conversation, and he told me that sometimes he feels like the wolf prince." Lexter told Sara all about the conversation he had with Alexander at the Den, a few weeks ago.

After Lexter finished, Sara looked at her son confused. "And I'm... the princess canine?" Immediately, she burst out in laughter. Lexter joined in. After her laughing subsided, she stated "I guess that makes Bilby the prince of foxes." Again, they both laughed even harder. The two of them laughed for a good half minute, before they settled down. Lexter felt a lot better, with that release of energy.

Sara held her son's paw. "Dear? Did you want to come home tonight? Spend the night at home?"

Lexter held her mom's paw. "Naw. I'll be OK. I'm OK." He opened the car door, got out, closed the door and went around to her side. "Go ahead home mom. I'm alright."

Sara kissed Lexter goodbye, and drove off.

Lexter felt a bit better inside, but knew it would be a while before his emotional turmoil would settle down. He entered his apartment and immediately called Jonnie. She answered at once, and he humbly apologized for creating such a scene. She told him to not worry about it, considering all that happened.

The next day, Lexter focused on his homework. He didn't want to think about anything else. Late in the day, he received a phone call from his mother.

"Lexter, Alex died today." There wasn't much sadness in her voice, but she was solemn.

Lexter paused before he spoke. "Oh." He didn't want to feel sorrow for Alexander.

Sara spoke on. "I just received a phone call from his assistant Detreck. He... he asked that the two of us come to the funeral so he can talk to us."

Lexter didn't want to go, but he didn't want to defy his mother. "Why?"

Sara answered. "I don't know. I'm not sure what this is about."

Lexter considered saying no, but decided to do it. "I guess I'll be there." he answered.

Two days later, Sara, Gary, Lexter and Jamie stood outside of the cemetery where Alexander Worthy was being buried. The weather was overcast, and was definitely progressing toward rain. Since they weren't officially family members, the four of them gathered with the others who congregated outside. Apparently, Alexander Worthy was a former famous football star, and had a few sports fans.

As the four of them waited, no one spoke. A tall Doberman approached the group. Lexter recognized him as Detreck, the assistant who pushed Alexander's wheelchair.

Detreck approached them and formally said "Thank you for coming today. I appreciate it."

Sara spoke up. "I'm sorry for your loss, Detreck."

Detreck gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you, ma'am. The loss is hard on me, but I'm OK. Alexander hired me ten years ago as his personal assistant when I got injured in football. We played together back then." He smiled as he relived good memories. "Good times."

Lexter blandly spoke up. "So, why are we here? I mean, I hardly knew him." He shrugged with indifference.

Sara shot him an angry look, but Detreck nodded and smiled, not the least offended. "Alexander gave me this, under the condition that I give half to you. That way, the Worthy family won't find out about you." He said that part to Sara, as he handed her an envelope.

Sara took the envelope and opened it, while the others crowded around her. She opened it to a letter. Inside the letter was a very large check. Enough to buy a house. Sara gasped at the amount on the check.

The letter read:

Dear Sara Alley,

I wanted to tell you that I am sorry for what I did to you. I am sorry I messed up your life, and I am sorry I didn't take responsibility for our son, and I am sorry for not telling you who I was. But, I did what you asked. I stayed away.

When I got injured and found out that ballet company was doing 'The Princess Canine', of course I thought of you. Our magical time we had, I always treasured. Then, I found out our son Lexter was gonna dance the part of the wolf prince, and felt so much joy. I just had to talk to him. I guess I was selfish and went against your wishes. Sorry.

This money won't make up for what I did, but at least I can do that for you. Buy something nice for yourself. Buy something good for your husband. He's a lucky fur. And buy something for our son. After all, he's the wolf prince, just like me.

Alexander

After they read the letter, Sara held the check and looked at it with disgust. She handed it to Lexter. "Take it. I want nothing from him."

Lexter held up his paws as he stepped back. "I don't want it. Not after what he did to you."

After a pause, Jamie spoke up. "Just take it. There are no strings attached."

Sara began to laugh. The others joined in, including Detreck.

Once they settled down, Sara glanced at the check, smiled and turned to her husband Gary. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. "What do you say we take half of this money and put a huge down payment on a good house for us?" Both Gary and Sara rented an apartment.

Gary hugged back and smiled. "I would love that, my dear."

Sara turned to Lexter with a smile and said "And, you can take half of the money and pay for school. OK?"

Lexter smiled. "I will, mom."

The overcast sky began to drizzle as the funeral progressed. Slowly, the crowd outside the cemetery dispersed, and went home.

Sara said her goodbyes to a forgotten fur, and they all left for home in better spirits.