||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 34: An Invite To Dinner||

Nicky took a walk through the neighbourhood, it was kind of early, had his breakfast and didn't wanna wake his mom, Dad and grandparents who were still adjusting.
So he walked around, seeing all the colourful houses and it was kind of nice, no one was our yet.

He stopped at the entrance of the woods, he saw the walls of the Theme Park but he also, saw something else.

This bugger of a bear trap!
It was pretty old, maybe it was stuck on the raccoon or maybe it got too rusted?
But he saw Otto-
"Hello. . .?"
He froze, dropping the trap and holding up his hands like he had just been caught, glancing behind him he wasn't met with a cop, Otto or other fellow members.
But a small boy with a light blue T-Shirt, brown eyes, hair and freckles.
"Uh. . . What are you doing?"
The man was wearing a very dark grey hood, pulled up, a black face mask, black worn jeans and hunting boots.
He cleared his throat, rubbing his hands together which were oddly covered as well,"Uhm, it's quite early for you to be out kid? I'm just doing some work for Otto, you know since he's been recovering from his recent hospital visit.", Nicky had heard about that,"Oh, is that why you're trying to get the raccoon out of. . .", he nods, pointing to it,"Yes, that's. That's what I'm doing.", Nicky nods,"It's kind of sad. . .", he nods,"Yeah. . .", the man then stopped, turned to Nicky and got a bit closer.
Nicky could tell he was a pretty tall guy, though with him a little closer he could see his eyes from the hood and strands of brown hair.
"You're new here, right? You look a little familiar to me."
"I'm Nicky."
"Ah; Might have seen you in town a few times."
Perhaps that's why the boy seems familiar to him.
His eye then caught a cult member, knifed raised and ready but he gently shook his head and turned to Nicky,"How about you head home? It is early and I'll just be doing this all morning.", as he stood up more properly, Nicky was caught of guard for how tall the guy was!
The man took Nicky's shoulder and walked him out of the woods,"Have a nice day, Nicky.", he smiled and began to walk home, his parents would ve awake soon,"Bye.", the man waved and returned to his job.

"You had the opportunity to kill the boy; Yet you decided not too."
He picked up the trap, having given up trying to get the raccoon out of the trap.
"I just think it's too soon."
He walked past the cult member.

=

Luanne walked over to Jay,"Was that Mrs Peterson?", Jay nods,"Yeah, she was wanting to know if we'd be interested in having dinner with her family.", Luanne nods, surprised by the invite.
"Really?"
"Yeah, we haven't had time to meet them, so they thought the opportunity over dinner would be a good time to get to know each other and the kids can play."
Luanne nods again.
"What's the date she suggested?"

~

"Dinner at the Petersons."
Jay nods, Ike pouring some coffee,"Sounds good, myself and Norman will be there mostly cause the kids and Mr Peterson consider us family.", Jay nods,"I can tell, you and Norman are very close to them.", Ike nods, leaning back,"Yeah, we've been with each other through thick and thin. Is there anything we might need to know or avoid talking about at dinner? We don't wanna strike any nerves or put anyone in a bad mood.", Jay seemed to think as Ike handed him a cup.
"Uhm. . . If you could, maybe don't ask about my wife's. . . Side of the family."
Ike looked at him.
"It's a long story."
"I'll let them know."