Chapter Seventeen

“The Long Goodbye" 

By

Furry Sith Lord

The limo pulled up in front of Ben’s home and Leggo put it in park before turning off the engine. Lyon sat next to him in the passenger seat up front Both wore chauffeur outfits so that they would seem to fit the roles

In the back Tyger glared at them while Ben looked around nervously. He was wondering what the neighbors were thinking with a limo suddenly dropping off a couple of rare white fur species.  

“The limo was a bad idea.” Benyamin remarked. Tyger reached out and grabbed his paw then gave it a squeeze. 

“No, the bad idea is sitting in the front seats.” Tyger said. 

“We’re not gonna embarrass you two, we just wanted to see what his family’s like.” Leggo said softly as he got out and went to open the door for them like a real chauffeur. He bowed his head gracefully while Lyon was hysterically laughing. Tyger wanted to reach out and slap his brother but he knew that would give them away. 

Tyger and Ben stepped out of the limo and Tyger was glad that his brother remained in the passenger seat. That was until Lyon stuck his head out the window and blew them a raspberry. Tyger glared but he was trying to suppress a smile. His brother was just too cute at times and had a way of making things better. 

“Behave yourselves.” Tyger ordered then he joined in with Ben as they unpacked their luggage. Leggo had protested but they were afraid he might start acting clumsy and ruining their stuff. Tyger turned and saw Ben’s parents standing by the door of their house. Ben turned and put down the luggage then took Tyger’s paw and led him to meet them.

“Mom, dad, I’d like you to meet Tyger.” Ben introduced bashfully. Tyger smiled and gave Ben’s paw a squeeze. Ben’s father approached and extended his paw for Tyger to shake. This forced Tyger to release Ben as he reached out to shake Ben’s father’s paw. 

“Pleasure to meet you.” Ben’s father said and Tyger repeated the greeting back. 

“So you’re a boy and your dating my son.” Ben’s mother asked.

“Mother!!!” Ben exclaimed angrily. 

“I’m just making sure I understand.” She remarked. 

“Things like this were unheard of in my day.” Ben’s father said. Tyger had a sinking feeling in his tummy that this was gonna be a long visit. 

“Boys might mount other boys but back then it was to show who was an alpha and who were the betas. It was never about love and relationships like between couples… males and females.” 

“So which one is the wife? Or the girlfriend? Or whatever you call it?” Ben’s mother asked. Tyger heard Ben groan under his breath. 

“Neither. Our relationship doesn’t have such terms or roles. We consider ourselves equal to each other.” Tyger replied

“Oh,” She replied with a tone of disapproval. 

“Here let me help.” Ben’s father said as he took the luggage from Tyger’s paws and he pointed at Ben to help him. “Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself, being our guest and all.” Tyger looked at Ben as he saw him rolling his eyes. Tyger grimaced because Ben’s father’s action made him feel like a weakling. Ben shrugged and his father began to give him orders about how they were going to bring the luggage inside and where to place it. 

Tyger could not hear much as Ben’s mother was dragging him into the house and talking to him about their home. He was brought into the living room where Ben’s siblings were seated on a couch dressed up in their most expensive clothes. 

Tyger glared as he saw Marrie seated with red ribbons in her hair. She glared back but seemed to be forcing herself to smile politely at him. She usually gave Ben and himself a hard time at school but her parents must have spoken to her about this occasion. Still neither wanted to be in the other’s presents. 

Tyger guessed that the parents were trying to get on his good side for whatever they had planned. He assumed that Ben was correct in that they wanted money so they needed to use everyone to try buttering him up. 

“Been awhile since we last…talked.” My father said to me after Tyger was led inside and we were alone outside. 

“Talked? When have we ever talked?” I asked bluntly. 

“Don’t be like that. We’re trying the best we can to make amends. You could attempt to try and meet us so we can come together.” 

“So everything is my fault as usual.” I shouted. He immediately yelled back at me trying to put me in my place. 

“If you’d settle down and listen for once you’d see that no one is placing all the blame on you. We’ve all made mistakes but we want to change that. The world is moving on and we want to go along with it. Rare white fur species are no longer hated! I know it’s been hard on you, it’s been hard on all of us. Dad tried to explain to me but I stopped him right there. I was not about to listen to these lies. 

“Oh please, how was it hard for you when you took Marrie side over mine every time? Why? Because my fur is white and she’s not! It’s not like I painted my fur this color on purpose to look this way. You’ve punished me my whole life for being born this way. Not like I had a choice in the matter! Not that I actually did something wrong. No, just because a fake book said my fur color is evil. You honestly expect me to take the blame for how you treated me?! You got some nerve.” I argued. My father sighed and shook his head as I unloaded, proving to me that he did not care about my feelings. 

“That’s not true! We spoke to her and punished her quite a bit. Both of you did not make it easy for us. We hoped you’d mature and grow out of it enough to become brother and sister.” Dad said. after a few minutes of silence. 

“So lets cut to the chase. Why did you want to meet Tyger? What are you hoping to get out of him?Money?!” I asked changing the subject because I was sick of him lying to me. I wanted to see if he could be honest for once. 

“You haven’t been home in a long time. All we see is that you want to live with your… boyfriend and his family. 

“His name is Tyger. He is not my boyfriend, he is my fiance.” I interupted. My dad flinched as the news startled him. He looked confused as if he was trying to think of what to say. This seemed like an admission that he was looking for a way to capitalize on this new tidbit of information. 

“We know nothing about him other than what your sister has told us. We knew he was a rare white fur species and that you two were dating but there is a lot you’ve been keeping secret. We were not told he was officially your fiance. When did he propose? Or was it you that proposed?” My father asked and I squinted as I tried seeing if there was some hidden meaning to the question. I had a feeling that I knew what he was getting at. 

“Let’s just say it was mutual. I went to his father to borrow money to buy a ring so I could propose. His father was overjoyed at the thought and he and his husband loaned us their rings so I could propose. After that he took us to the mall and bought us our own set. I offered to pay him back and his father refused to accept money from me.” I explained as I remembered the events. Everything seemed so unreal at the time that I can’t believe how it worked out. I was so afraid that Lou would say no but he wanted Tyger and me married even more than we did. 

“I wish you would have come to us. We have your grandparents rings and would have given them to you to use. We don’t want to lose you, we want to be a part of your life.” Dad replied.

“Are you kittying me? Don’t fool yourself! You lost me a long time ago when you proved that you didn’t love me. I found a new family, one that actually loves me.” I replied. 

“Are you kittying me? You can’t really believe that we don’t love you, Just because we punished you when YOU were bad, you think we’re the bad guys? Unbelievable. Maybe we’re not rich, like your little boyfriend’s family, but we did the best we could with what we had. We did more than others because we know that his… Tyger’s parents aren’t his birth parents. He was sold as a slave by his birth parents. Did we do that to you? NO but we’re the bad guys for keeping you. So that’s it, you’re gonna cut us off for not being rich and not throwing you away like others did to theirs.” My father said incredulously. I felt conflicted because what he was saying was like having his paw hit me. My mind refused to believe what he was saying as being anything but lies. I kept quiet as I thought about how I would reveal the plans that I had made with Tyger and his family. My family! 

“I guess now is as good a time as any. In a week my father in law is sending movers to clean out my room and move all my stuff to his mansion to keep while I attend senior year at Bearly Academy. After that I won’t be coming back. The only reason I’m here is to see what you wanted and to say our goodbyes.” I explained. My father stared at me with an unemotional expression. 

I looked around as I examined Ben’s room. It was my first time really getting to know him and seeing what he liked and what he was into. How he decorated his room at school was different than what he had here. It was like his school room was to keep other species happy while what he had here showed me more about him as a fur. 

I saw his toys and posters and remembered him telling me about how his parents never bought him anything. He claimed everything he had, he had to save up and buy himself. This made me reflect on my own life and about my stuff my parents bought.

I felt a little embarrassed because when my brother and I were adopted our father bought us a bunch of toys and games so we’d have stuff. After that we were given an allowance, a very generous allowance, and if we wanted something we either had to save up and buy it ourselves or earn it. Even though there were servants to clean the mansion we were encouraged to be clean and keep things clean. If we wanted a toy then by cleaning and doing extra chores we would get it. 

My parents took great pains to make sure we were not spoiled yet unlike Ben, we had money. Compared to him having to buy all his toys I felt as if I was spoiled though I never had felt this way before. 

My brother earned his toys by cubsitting our dad so that he stays out of the way of father while he’s working on one of his plans. 

“So after I told him we stopped talking altogether.” Ben said as he explained the confrontation with his dad. I then noticed him staring at me.

“What’s wrong?” He asked. 

“I can’t believe how different our world’s are. I never realized how spoiled I am.” 

“Oh stop, you’ve never been spoiled. You can be full of yourself but then so can your father… I mean our father… I mean my father-in-law.” Ben said as he stumbled trying to speak.

“First off you were right previously. He is our father, he belongs to both of us even if we are one day getting our paws tied. Secondly… oh really?! Full of myself?!” I replied with the last part being sarcastic. Ben chuckled softly and he grabbed me and pulled me closer holding my paws. 

“You’re one of the sweetest, nicest, cubs I’ve ever known. The only time you change is when you’re around your father. You two become volatile like shaking up a vial of nitroglycerin. 

“He does it on purpose. He has big plans for me and uses the arguments as a way to test me to make sure I can stand my ground in the face of adversity.He knows I will not be respected because I’m a rare white fur species so he tries to toughen me up. We do love each other very much even though we’re always fighting.

The truth be told he loves Lyon more than me but his hooves are tied with him. You know that Lyon’s parents used to abuse him? Well he’s been scared to death of our father because of that. Lyon has always been scared that our father will become like his birth parent and start abusing him.”

“But your father would never do that!” Ben interupted. 

“Lyon has trouble understanding that. Father loves him and wants to help him but is afraid if he gets too close he’ll push Lyon too far and will become like his birth parent. That’s why our dad is so close to him. He has a gentle cal;ming way to show that Lyon is loved. Lyon formed a bond with him and that's why the two of them are as alike as my father and I are.” I explained.

“Have you guys ever told Lyon all this?” Ben asked.

“No. He used to cry himself to sleep every night when my brother was fighting back against him over my father using Dash in his plan to save the humans. Father let him get away with it because he was again afraid of pushing him too far. He’d never do that with me but I tend to be a bit stronger in a way. Remember when he saw his parent and he lost his shit over it? 

Remember when I told you about how Lyon used to wet the bed when he was a cub? The reason was that he was having nightmares that father would sell one of us and we’d be separated and never see each other again. They were more like night terrors now that I think about it. We know that would never happen but Lyon didn’t know better. 

Father would run around and personally clean up the mess. He would lie and claim that he wanted it done properly and there were no servants to do it. The truth was that he wanted Lyon in our dad’s paws so he could help calm him. Because of the bond they had. 

Father used it to show that he loved my brother but he also did not want to scare him even more so he would have dad take Lyon to our room and hug him and sing him to sleep.” I said and Ben stared at me. 

“Wow,” He replied. “That makes sense. However, I think it’s time Lyon gets told all this. He’ll never heal if he’s never given the chance to know how much he’s loved.” Ben said firmly. 

Lou walked into the World Congress conference room and stepped up to a table and chair set up on a dais in the center of the room. He moved aside a microphone as he placed his briefcase on the table and opened it to prepare his notes. 

A line of tables encircled the dais each had chairs and microphones set up for the congressional members that were going to question him. Behind them were rows of stadium seating for the rest of the World Congress members so they could observe the proceedings. Directly in front of the table Lou was going to be sitting at was a special table for the congressional speaker that would be prosiding over the meeting. Various species entered and took their places as they waited for the meeting to begin. 

“This meeting will come to order.” The Speaker said as he addressed the room by speaking into his microphone. “This meeting of the Subsidiary Judicial Committee is called to order on the Human consideration proposal. Philanthropist and friend to us all has stepped in to speak on behalf of the humans. The floor is your Lou Cervidae-D.” The Speaker said. He was an adult male Gazelle and Lou felt a pang of jealousy as he still had his antlers yet Lou‘s had not fully regrown yet. 

“Thank you Speaker, it is a pleasure to address you all on behalf of the humans. I understand the apprehension many of you feel towards them.” Lou said and there were several murmurs from the audience. “However, what you fail to realize is that the humans are not as intelligent as we are. 

While we have evolved as we struggled to rebuild society because of the Great War. Everyone thought that the humans were extinct but little did any of us know that they lay hidden in the jungle. We first learned of their existence when a certain fur exited the jungle with one of them prisoner. 

He ventured in and was kept as one of their pets because the hairless apes have no concept that keeping a species as a pet is evil.” Lou explained. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Cervidae-D but even if it is wrong to keep a species as a pet, do we not condone slavery?! If owning a pet is wrong then is not owning a slave wrong as well?” A female raven asks as she sat behind one of the tables surrounding the dais. Her comment brought angry murmurs from the audience. 

“Order, order! I will remind my colleagues not to speak during opening statements.” The Speaker said firmly. 

“My apologies,” She replied. All eyes turned and focussed on Lou as he cleared his throat before continuing. 

“What we fail to realize is that the humans are too primitive to understand right and wrong. We have spent years developing an objective morality for all species but if what you call their morality is merely subjective to them. For this reason, I feel that if we want to bring humans into civilization then we need to educate them. 

By placing them in schools and teaching them morality, ethics, science and literature we can unleash their untapped potential. Already as primitive as they are they have shown an amazing resilience that can better all species if properly directed. Where our society may seem stagnant and add a new light to bring about a newer understanding that can advance us farther than we have already gone.” He finished by saying Thank You to the Congress while he waited for rebutting arguments to his opening. 

“The chair recognizes Senitor Zen.” The speaker said as he opened the panel for discussion. A large somewhat overweight gray donkey was the first to address Lou.

“Thank you speaker and all those in attendance today. I believe I speak for everyone when I say that although your opening was very moving, it fails to address the problems at hoof. Though they are very primitive in nature, the humans have committed horrible crimes; crimes that simply cannot be ignored.” He said into his microphone. The room erupted as numerous species began to murmur to each other in almost complete solidarity with only a few rejecting what was said. 

“Order!” The speaker shouted and he banged his gavel in order to try and silence the room to give Lou a chance to respond. 

“That’s the last of it.” A badger said as he finished loading up the moving truck with all of Ben’s belongings. The only items not loaded were the clothes and equipment that Ben and Tyger needed for school. 

Benyamin’s parents stood off to the side watching patiently though Tyger saw them whispering to each other when they thought they were not being watched. Tyger watched Ben carefully observing his emotions because he saw how hard this was for all of them.

“You sure you want to do this?” Tyger asked and Ben shrugged then muttered something that Tyger could not hear. 

Tyger picked up the last of their bags and loaded it into Ben’s car. It was an old beat up thing that Ben had saved up for and bought himself. He rarely used it since Tyger’s father had been shuttling them around. Tyger could drive but he never really needed to and Ben suspected that he did not like driving. 

“Well see ya,” Ben said to his parents and his father’s face turned bright red from anger. His mother was busy wiping tears from her eyes. 

“Is that all you have to say to us? See ya?!” His father shouted. Tyger flinched because this was the most he had heard out of the man since he arrived. When Ben told his father that he was disowning the family, they had immediately kept their distance from them. 

“What?! You suddenly want to talk? Well this is a first. Fine, let’s talk.” Benyamin replied. 

“If you want to leave for your new rich… family. Fine, I can understand you wanting to be with them. But don’t act like we’ve been the bad furs all your life. We never cast you aside even though all of society thought we should have. Life has never been easy for use because you were a rare white fur species. Unlike others,” Ben's father said then he glared at Tyger. “That sold their kids, we never did because you are family. Well, we thought we were family. Sure we’re not rich and living in a run down shack. I was overlooked for promotions because my job did not want to associate themselves with me because of my son. 

Yeah, we’re the bad furs because we loved you. We never abandoned you but you have no problem abandoning us. The real fur that you have a problem with… is in the mirror.” Ben’s father said. He pushed away his wife’s paws as she tried to hold him and he stormed inside and slammed the door behind him. 

“Well we wish you the best in your new life. If you ever need anything we’ll be here in this old, broken, falling down old house.” Ben’s mother said then she waved timidity before she turned and went inside. 

“Time to go.” Ben grunted and he tried to walk but he was pulled back as Tyger stood his ground as he held his paw. Ben looked at their paws then at Tyger. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you sure you want things to end this way?” Tyger asked. Ben shrugged but Tyger stayed firm.

“You’ve seen what it’s like here. You heard them begging for money! They don’t care about me, they only care that you’re going away with me… from them.” Ben exclaimed.

“I… disagree. I don’t think you’re being entirely fair here. I’m saying everything was great but they are trying. You have a family that is trying to reach out to you and that’s more than some of us have.” Tyger countered.

“You don’t see that they are trying to manipulate you? Hasn’t your father taught you to be wary of species like them?” Ben replied angrily. Tyger released Ben’s paw and folded his arms across his chest. 

“I’ll let that one slide because you’re angry and I love you, but you’re pushing it.” Tyger said as he narrowed his eyes. Ben sighed then shook his head as he tried to collect his thoughts. 

“You’re right, I’ve been a jerk. I’m sorry.” Ben said.

“Maybe… I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. Maybe instead you should join your family in building bridges.” Tyger replied.

“Then let me know when they actually begin and I’ll consider joining in.” 

To Be Continued…