We're Only Animals: Book 2 - Part 1: Building the Tower

Chapter 31 - Grit Your Teeth and Bear It: Part 1

Just like any Saturday night, Gosha was relaxing on his easy chair enjoying some TV after his volunteer work at the daycare. He was having a much better time than last week, when his thoughts were constantly with his grandson and his at the time ex-fiance. He was certain that if the two of them hadn't gotten back together his lifespan would have shortened at least a decade.

Suddenly, there was a hard knock at his door.

"Now, who could that be?" Gosha wondered aloud. He groaned as he stood up, exhausted from playing with kids all afternoon. He walked to the door and looked out the peephole, revealing...

The lizard wracked his brain. He knew the animals standing out there, but from where? He scanned his memory, moving back week by week, only to discover he had met them when Legosi and Louis had moved in. They were their friends. But what were they doing here? He opened the door.

"Hi, Gosha-san~" The pretty dall sheep waved.

Bill had a nervous look on his face. "Sup."

Gosha nodded politely to them. "Gentleman. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Parents kicked us out, and we don't wanna go back to Cherryton where we'll get separated. Can we stay here tonight? We'll be gone tomorrow night," Pina promised.

Bill nodded. "Y-yeah..."

"Oh, well friends of Legosi and Louis are welcome, for sure! Just a bit short notice, so the place might not be the cleanest." Gosha chuckled, nervously. "I'm not going to get into trouble with you two here, right?"

"Not at all. Both our parents probably want nothing to do with us." Pina stepped in, his heavy boots falling loudly on the linoleum.

The tiger followed after. "Sorry about this."

"Not at all, not at all." The kind lizard stepped back to give them room. "Some animals just aren't fit to be parents. I do hope they come around, though."

"We'll see," the herbivore muttered, working to untie his laces.

Bill sighed, removing his shoes and looking around. "This is a nice place you have."

Gosha put his hands on his hips and looked around. "It is. This is where Legosi grew up."

"Oh..." Pina glanced around and noted the distinct lack of any other animals in the house.

His boyfriend did the same. "I heard that Louis came to stay with you when he got out of the hospital. Are you guys close?"

Gosha's face lit up ever so slightly. "Oh, of course. I see that boy as my own grandson! Such a sharp and pleasant animal."

The tiger nudged Pina. "You're not the only one that thinks so."

"Yes, Bill, I see Louis as my grandson, too." Pina shoved him back.

"You know what I meant!" His partner teased.

Gosha wasn't sure what was going on, so he walked into the apartment more. "You can stay in the first room on the right down that hall. The bed might be a bit small but Legosi and Louis slept on it with no trouble."

"We can make it work," Bill shrugged. He looked at Pina. "We should put our bags in there."

The two entered Legosi's childhood bedroom and put their stuff down. It was pretty much everything they would have expected from Legosi, with all the insect paraphernalia around.

"I swear if any of those models come to life..." Pina sighed, and sat heavily on the bed, bouncing a bit as he landed.

Bill smiled at him. "Don't worry. I'm right here. Sorry I got us kicked out, though. I can't believe their ideals are more important than you are..."