1 Home

Lardo watched as his neighbor, and close friend who he had known for the longest time pack his bags, and prepared to leave. The man had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, looked roughly around the age of forty, and was kneeling outside of his house packing his belongings into a satchel one by one.

"You really have to leave, Will?" Lardo asked. Though his face didn't show it, his voice showed a trace of unwillingness.

Will gave his cigarette one last puff before he put it out in the dirt, zipped up his satchel, and sighed dejectedly. He got up, slung his satchel across his chest, and reluctantly looked at Lardo.

"Lardo. You know I don't really want to leave. But... This place isn't what it used to be." Will paused as he turned his head to face his wooden house. "You know, I got a daughter. She's turning five this year. I got to do what is best for her. I'm sure you understand." He walked over and lightly patted Lardo on the shoulder. "If you're smart, you should come with us. There ain't no future staying here." He added while looking at Lardo's reaction.

Lardo stood there silently, expressionless, unsure of what to think. 'Is there really no future staying here? This place, that has been my home for as long as I can remember?'

'This mule-headed bastard! I'm almost thirty tears older than you! Is it really that hard to take my advice!?'

Will looked at the unmoving Lardo, and fought the urge to smack him across the back of his head as usual as this could very possibly be their last meeting before letting out another sigh. This had been the reaction he was expecting, but still, it was worth a shot. Perhaps, this would have been one of those times where he would have actually listened.

For the past thirteen years since they met, the number of times where Lardo had actually taken his advice could be easily counted on one hand. Often or not, it would result in disastrous endings whenever Lardo refused to listen. At least this time, he wouldn't have to clean up the mess after him, Will thought to himself while shaking his head.

'Click!'

The door of the wooden house opened. Will's wife came out with her luggage in one hand, and a small girl with long-brown hair and big eyes holding her other hand. "UNCLE LARDOOO!" The small girl shouted excitedly when she saw him, and ran off towards Lardo, letting go of her mother's hand.

Lardo couldn't help, but smile and embrace her in a big hug when he saw her cute little face, "Hi, Juno!"

"Uncle Lardo, are you coming with us?" Juno asked bashfully, her cheeks rosy.

"Sorry, sweetie! Uncle Lardo has work here, and can't come with us." Will cut in.

"Oh."

Seeing the cute little dimples on Juno's face fade, Will quickly added. "But he'll be sure to write you a letter whenever he can!"

"You know, Will," Lardo interjected. "I given a lot of thought about what you said. And..."

Will looked as if he saw a ghost. 'Is this mule-headed bastard really going to take his advice?!'

"And... I really don't think I can leave. Sorry." Lardo continued. "But, I'll be certain to write Juno a letter whenever I can!" Lardo finished with a big goofy grin on his face resulting in Juno bursting out with high pitch laughter.

'WHAM!!!'

Will smacked Lardo across the back of his head hard. "Ouch! What was that for!!" Lardo cried as he looked at Will while rubbing the temple of his head.

"That was for being an idiot. This-" Will raised his fist threateningly once again, but instead opened his hand revealing a copper key within his palm. "-is the key to the house." Will looked emotionally at Lardo as he placed the key in his hands, and patted his back one last time. "I know you live in the Wreck. In fact, I knew for years."

Lardo looked slightly embarrassed, but was mostly shocked.

"Now that I have no used for it, and I won't be around anymore to help you, hopefully, this will be of help to you in my stead. Take care." Will took one final look at Lardo's pale face before he took his wife, and Juno's hand, heading off into the distance.

'Drip, drip.'

Lardo couldn't stop the tears from coming as they left, as he listened to the footsteps of Will and his family leaving.

"UNCLE LARDOOO!! YOU WILL VISIT ME, RIGHT!!!" Juno's squeaky voice echoed out from afar.

"I WILLLLLL!" Lardo yelled while he choked on his own tears."

"Papa! I think Uncle Lardo is crying?" Juno tugged on her father's arm, and quietly asked Will.

"Sweetie, men don't cry."

"Oh," Juno acknowledged as she looked at her father. "Papa, what's that water running down your face?" She asked slightly confused.

"Sweetie, that's just sweat. I get sweaty underneath my eyes."

"Oh."

'Smack!'

"Diana!!!"

Will's wife hit him flat on the back of his head. "Lying to a child. Tsk-tsk. How did I end up falling in love with such a man." Diana grumbled to herself.