32•Truth be told [2]

(AN:Sorry if this chapter seems short. Busy week. Anyways the part 3(finale) coming Sunday. Moving is awful especially when you want to save a couple of bucks for not paying the moving guys)

Right before Claire arrived in her house and While Alex was still in her junior Congress about to end. Gloria and Manny just arrived in their house with Jay coming up to them holding a newspaper and taking his glasses off as he looked at manny

Jay:"Manny? Manny,come here a second, pal.I got some bad news, buddy."

Manny:"What is it?"

Jay:"Well, there's no easy way to say this.Shel Turtlestein is dead."

Shocked and horrified, Manny didn't believe it as Jay started to talk to them while walking up the stairs

Manny:"What? How?"

Jay:"I was down here reading the paper,and I heard

this commotion up in your room.So- So naturally,I go running up there.And this mangy raccoon had busted through your screen.He must have scampered up to where Shel was."

They arrived in front of manny room as Jay opened the door for Manny to see his room in a mess with gravel and footprints

Jay:"By the time I walked in,he had-the little bastard by the neck and shaking him.Gravel was flying everywhere. He didn't even flinch.He just stared at me with that smug look...and then bolted.If only I'd have got here earlier."

Manny looked around and saw a part of his window missing, he also saw that his turtle wasn't in the tank. He looked solemn with Gloria looking sad for him as he stroked his hair

Manny:"May I see the body?"

Gloria:"Baby, are you sure that's a good idea?"

Manny:"It's something I have to do."

Jay grabbed the wooden box that he stored the turtle in and showed its lifeless, eletricfied corpse. But Manny didn't know that. He nodded as he saw the turtle that found treasure when Will gave him a toy like pirate ship.

Jay:"Sorry, pal"

Manny:"It just doesn't make any sense."

Jay:"Yep. Only the good die young."

Manny:"But in school, we learn raccoons are nocturnal.They sleep during the day."

Jay:"They sure do,and this one must've got up for a midnight snack."

Gloria nodded and looked at Jay suspiciously from behind Manny. Her Colombian sense were tingling.

Jay:"You know,we've all done that."

Manny:"Yeah…"

Jay:"It all adds up."

Manny:"I don't think I can be in here right now. Too many memories. Guess I'll have to tell Will that Shel doesn't need a pirate hat and a little red bow tie…."

Leaving the room, Gloria and Jay hummed and nodded as they saw Manny going downstairs. Gloria quickly turned around to face Jay.

Jay:"He'll be okay."

Gloria:"You lie!"

Jay:"What?"

Gloria:"I'm Colombian.I know a fake crime scene when I see one."

Flabbergasted, Jay stuttered a few times and gave up as he knew he was a horrible lier in front of his wife

Jay:"I was hanging up the new poster and it fell on top of him.It was an accident."

Gloria:"You have to tell him."

Jay:"No.I've been through this before.When Mitchell was nine,I was supposed to take care of his bird.It got out and flew into a fan. It was like a bloody pillow fight."

Gloria:"My God. How many pets have you killed?"

Jay:"Just the two….and a half"

Gloria:"What?!"

Jay:"Look the little girl didn't have a leash on it, it just ran onto the street and pretty soon all I felt was a bump"

Gloria:"You killed a dog!"

Jay:"What? No,no,no,no,no,no…no?, look all I know that it may have looked like a squirrel, might've been a bunny but who walks a bunny?!"

Gloria:"Can't believe"

Jay:"Look we're getting off topic. I took the heat on the bird.It was a big mistake.To this day, Mitchell looks at me,I see him thinking,"That's the guy who killed Fliza Minnelli.""

Gloria:"And what if he finds out? Then what? You'll be the guy that killed his pet and lied to him."

Jay:"He's not gonna find out because I covered my tracks….and got a little bit of help."

Gloria:"What! You involved a stranger!"

Jay:"No! It was my trusty pal Will…"

Jay quickly shut his mouth with his hands as Gloria looked shocked and scoffed.

Gloria:"Oh okay! I will talk to him very carefully-"

Jay:"Oh come on, the kid barely knew what he helped me in. All I said was how to make it look like a animal broke in"

Gloria:"Oh yeah? What he say?"

Jay:"YouTube"

Gloria:"Okay. Still, he better be here for the funeral"

Jay:"What funeral?"

Gloria:"The pet that you killed!"

She turned around and started to exit out with Jay behind her and shaking his head. Gloria got curious and mildly turned around

Gloria:"Fliza Minnelli?"

Jay:"How did I not know that kid was gay?"

While heading downstairs Jay and Gloria looked around and saw Manny just hanging up the phone as they looked confused

Gloria:"Who were you talking to bebe?"

Manny:"Oh Will, told him I needed his support on the funeral I'm about to held"

With that, he walked off with Gloria giving Jay the eyes of "I told you so".

Gloria:"Okay, I'm going to get my black head piece!"

Jay:"This is ridiculous"

He muttered out and went to another room area that had a pool table. He huffed out as he arranged the balls and got his stick ready. Playing by himself and practicing his skills, he was interrupted by Manny who came behind him, starling him a bit that he missed the ball

Many:"Raccoons have five toes."

Jay:"What's that?"

Manny:"I don't mean to bother you.It's just confusing.The footprints in my room only have four toes."

Jay:"You know, I bet I know what happened.I'll bet he lost those toes in a fight.And that guy looked like he'd been in a brawl or two."

Gloria came from the kitchen and looked shocked as she scoffed lightly and couldn't believe another lie Jay told Manny.

Manny:"One toe from each foot?"

Jay:"Maybe.You know, Manny, I think the only thing...that's gonna get you to stop asking all these questions...is for you to have a little closure."

Manny:"Your right. I guess I just have to move on."

Jay:"Yeah see?"

He looked over Manny who had his head down at Gloria as she smacked her lips together and nodded while having her arms crossed

Jay:"It'll be good for all of us.That way we get our grief out,and then we never have to talk about this ever, ever again."

Manny nodded solidly and looked up at Jay.

Manny:"Your right. I'm going to get the presentation ready"

Jay:"There's a presentation….?"

Jay looked at Manny back as he was going away. He let out a deep breath as Gloria walked away with a mocking laugh. A couple of minutes went by as Jay was waiting in the living room with Manny bringing down many things.

A projection, a sheet, shel, a big board to show his presentation, a computer. Jay just shook his head and got up once hearing the doorbell ring.

Jay:"I'll go see who it is!"

Walking to the door and opening it up, Will stood there wearing a plain black t shirt with some white pants and white shoes as his hair was parted to the sides with him shaking it up a bit.This scene was happening the exact same time Claire and Phil were going over Denise visit to their house.

He smiled as Jay opened it up but that smile went down once he saw Gloria behind him, shaking her head.

Will:"Oh…."

Turning around and ready to walk back to his car, he was stopped by his shoulder suddenly having an hand.

His pupils looked to the side and saw purple nails and knew it was Gloria. How'd she get here so fast, was what Will was thinking. She turned him around and had that face where she scrunched up her face and was glaring at him.

Will:"Hi?"

Gloria:"Hey Will. Jay. Would you mind telling your accomplice what you did?"

Jay:"This isn't easy words to put in but….Will, you killed Manny"

Will:"WHAT!?"

Gloria:"Jay!"

Jay:"All right fine, you killed his pet"

Will:"Huh come again?"

Gloria:"Jay!"

Jay:"Alright fine! We both killed shel"

Will:"No I didn't"

Gloria:"What?"

Gloria was in front of Jay as he started to make faces while signaling to Will to not tell. He was sliding his hands across from his neck as Gloria turned around but Jay only smiled and scratched his head

Will:"Jay called me because he wanted to show me something"

Gloria:"Jay"

Jay:"Yes honey?"

Gloria:"You said you had help"

Jay:"Well…."

Gloria gave him the look as Jay just shook his head and took a breath

Jay:"Fine!, I didn't need Will help as I thought of everything….just wanted someone to go down with me…."

Will:"Wow….I'm grateful you thought of me"

Jay could've sworn he saw a glimmer in Will eye as he looked confused.

Gloria:"Weird….anyways. Come in Will, I'm sorry I was about to kill you"

She chuckled as Will entered nervously with Jay behind him as they came to the living room with Manny standing right in front of the presentation, holding a sheet of paper and thanking Will for coming.

Manny:"Thank you all for coming.Mom,Jay,Will. Today were honoring the best Turtle,reptile,pet. He...Shel Turtlestein was many things."

He exhaled as he looked at the projection of his pet, shaking his head and folding the paper, Manny looked down and then back up

Manny."I don't think I can do this without crying.Maybe we should just get to the cold cuts."

Will:"Come on Manny, it's gonna be okay. We want to hear how amazing Shel was to you"

Gloria:"Yeah.Jay, why don't you read it?You were with him at the end.Remember?"

Getting up and taking the paper from Manny, he put on his glasses and cleared his throat.

Jay:"Shel Turtlestein was many things,but above all, he was my friend.When I didn't get a date with Fiona Gunderson,Will and Shel was there.When I didn't get to play the part of Tevye, Shel was there.And when a raccoon broke into my room,unfortunately, Shel was there.I said a lot of things to my friend,but the one thing I never got to say was good-bye."

Jay was re reading the sheet Manny had written when Manny back was being patted by Will who was sitting beside him. Jay scoffed lightly when seeing Will exaggerate.

Tears, real tears were falling down his cheeks as they side hugged. But Manny toughened up and stood up with Will wiping his tears away and coughing.

Gloria looked at Will who only shrugged and smiled.

Manny:"Stop. I know what really happened."

Jay:"You do?"

Manny:"I left a bag of chips near my bed.The raccoon must have smelled it.It's my fault he's dead.Sorry, Shel."

Tearfully saying that, Manny went to hug his mom as Gloria patted his head while looking at Jay

Gloria:"Jay, you don't have anything to say to Manny?"

Jay:"Yeah.Manny.Shel forgives you."

Gloria:"Ay…"

Will:"Well, all we can do now is give him a proper burial…do.we.bury him?"

Jay:"I say we preserve him and sell him off to some fishers that I know."

Gloria:"Jay!, We do not sell family to fishers…anymore. Back in Colombia-"

Manny:"Are we really talking about this?"

Will:"You should be glad this turtle wasn't murderd by a couple of raging kids below 12 that would repeatedly throw him at the ground….I'll shut up"

Manny left with Gloria glaring at the two guys as she followed behind him. Jay and Will blew raspberry's as they looked at each other

Jay:"Way to give support"

Will:"Hey, at least I didn't kill his pet."

Jay:"Accident!"

Throwing his hands up and leaving while shaking his and mumbling, Will was left there all alone, looking around.

Will:"So I'm just gonna go! Um, Tell Manny that he could call me through Gloria phone!"

Quickly getting out of that situation, he headed inside his car as Jay had a confused face saw him took off.

Jay:"Why through her phone?"