1986- Terrabella MD
40-year-old Franklin Gates set down the final box on his living room, finally having moved all their belongings into their new house. Franklin was accompanied by his 38-year-old wife Christine, their 16-year-old son, Stanley and their 8-year-old daughter, Annabelle (or Annie for short). They were a family of Dobermanns who had just moved from the city into the rural town of Terrabella Maryland. it was a small farming town with a population of about 300. A real break from the city life the Gates were accustomed to.
You kids get your bedrooms unpacked?" Frankin called upstairs to the sounds of shuffling, the two voices of his kids saying they were just about done. Franklin was breaking down the empty cardboard boxes that once carried their belongings. upon flattening the boxes, he opened the door to their house carrying the cardboard to their trash bin, setting them beside the metal cylinder as he was unable to fi them in.
Franklin took a step back admiring his new house. much nicer than the apartment they previously had; and with Annabelle growing up, they needed more space. it was a four bed, two bath. with one of the bedrooms converted into Franklin's office and studio. He worked as an artist, designing album covers and movie covers and posters, which also covered the walls of the room along with a shelf of Vinyl Records and VHS tapes he had done artwork on. He would mostly just stay at home and work from his studio. Christine nailed a job as an elementary school teacher. It was a new chapter of their lives.
Franklin walked back inside, the house near clear of garage and actually looking like a home, looking at his kids. Stanley standing in the corner, cassette player attached to his hip and headphones on his head as his fumbled with the buttons. Annie plopped on the couch.
"Daddy, I said I wanted the bigger room" the young Dobermann huffed a bit, a bit sore as she got stuck with one of the smaller rooms. Christine looked at her, organizing the shelf of decorations.
"Now sweetie, your father and I get the big room with the bathroom, you and your brother get the two smaller rooms and share the bathroom in the hallway" she explained as Stanley chipped into the situation.
"You think I want to share a bathroom with my baby sister, you always leave the bottles scattered about and you never pick up your laundry". the two kept arguing as Franklin put himself in between the fighting kids, telling them to settle down.
"Since it's our first night in our new home and we've been unloading all day, how about instead of Mom cook something, we get a pizza instead" Franklin offered as this got the kids to settle down, before arguing over toppings. eventually they agreed to go with a standard pepperoni as Franklin remembered seeing a pizza place during the ride into town.
He would have called but he was new and did not have their number, so he agreed to take them out, leaving the house, closing and looking the door behind him. Once outside Franklin took a smell of that fresh air, much better than the stuffy atmosphere of the city. The Family walked to the family car, a green 70's station wagon with wood panel sides.
Franklin sat down, as Christine sat beside him in a passenger seat as the two kids sat in the back. placing the key in the ignition, turning as the car started up. Pulling out of the dirt road that led to actual street, he headed into town. The silence was also different from nonstop cars passing by him as Annie was bouncing,
"I Wanna listen to the Radio" The youngest of the Gates Family commented as Franklin looked back in the mirror, Stanley still having his Tape Player on. Franklin reached for the radio, fumbling with the dial, trying to get a station that wasn't fuzzy, the only stations he seemed to get were a Country station, a Local Talk Radio station and a Classic Rock Station.
Franklin settled on the Classic Rock Station, his car driving on the bumpy road into the actual populated area of the town. asking the kids to look around at the buildings, trying to find the Pizza Place he swore he saw when coming in.
"That's the Genral Goods Store, That's the Post office, that's a Diner, and that's a public park" the Kids listed off as Franklin eventually saw the building. a small brick structure with windows with a white sign of the side of the building reading the name of the business 'Ralph's Pizza and Italian' in red letters.
Franklin pulled his car into the parking lot of the restaurant, getting out with his family. the four approached the pizza place, clearly independent owned as the entered seeing a brown fox, who judging by his name tag was clearly Ralph the owner, wearing an apron stained with splash of tomato sauce. He simply smiled.
"Evening, what could I get for you folks" the fox asked wiping a glass with a rag as Franklin looked at the prices. telling Ralph, they wanted a large pepperoni pizza and four cans of cola, handing him a 5. Ralph nodded eyes focusing on the cooler in the building where the cans sat.
"Okay one pizza is three credits, and 2 cans for 1 credit, that comes to 5 even" Ralph responded as the kids made their way, getting their drinks.
"Oh Stanley, make mine a diet" Christine asked as the Teen grabbed a second can. Annie also grabbed another can, for her father, handing it back to him as he patted her head affectionately.
Ralph wrote down the order, looking at the four, asking if they were new in town or just visiting as he had never seen them before. Franklin explained they just bought a place and moved in. "Spent the day unloading so we're getting pizza to celebrate".
"So, you bought the Miller's old place shame to see them leave, they were nice people. and the kids, they're clearly yours" Ralph teased as Franklin chuckled. introducing himself, his wife and two kids. Ralph nodded, looking at the guy drizzling sauce on their pizza, and sprinkling the cheese on.
"Tell you want since it's your first time here, how about I comp the kid's drinks for free" Ralph offered, opening his register handing back a single credit as Franklin put it in his pocket. Waiting for his Pizza, looking over to Stanley who was playing the arcade cabinet. controlling the pixelated ship, blasting enemy ships. Annie claiming she was hungry. Christine assured they would get their pizza soon as the family waited as the girl simply watched her brother play the video game, Cristine looking at Stanley. "What did I tell you about spending money on arcade games".
"It's on Free Play" Stanley explained as Annie was jumping at the machine, going on about how she wanted a turn as Stanley huffed, moving from the cabinet so she could play, or try to quickly undoing Stanley's progress. Christine guided them to one of the tables, claiming that was enough video games for one day.
"Those things will rot your brains" Christine warned as they sat down. Annie messing with the cheese and pepper shakers, making them dance. Stanley simply rolled her eyes at his younger sister.
Eventually Ralph approached the pan where a large pepperoni pizza sat, cut into slices as he served the group with an "allow me", setting the plates in front of them as he turned to Franklin, asking what he did for occupation.
"Oh me, I design art for movies and albums" Franklin explained as Ralph took a step back impressed that he was an artist, asking if he had worked on anything he might have seen as the Dobermann pondered. eventually he brought up 'Candlewick Nightmares' a recent movie that he did the Poster and VHS cover art for.
"I heard of that, isn't that the one with the house lined up with candles, that was you?" Ralph replied impressed that there was local person in the movie business as he turned to Christine, asking if she had a job or was one of those stay-at-home types, as many women of the town were.
"Oh me, actually I just got my teaching license, I'm going to apply when summer ends" Christine explained, proud of her education position as Franklin nodded, proud of his wife. Ralph wiped his hands off with a rag, saying he should get back to the counter, saying he and some of the locals were going to get together to welcome the Gates to the town, asking when would be good for them.
after talking the two adult agreed that Saturday would be good as they watched Ralph leave, commenting on how friendly the brown fox was, before turning to the Pizza. Annie covered her slice with Parmesan Cheese and Red Pepper Flakes.
Stanley looked at his younger sister, hogging the shakers as he reached for the red peppers, lightly sprinkling his slice before picking it up, eating it. The family began eating the homemade pizza. Stanley opening his can of soda, taking a sip.
"This is actually really good" Stanley commented, complimenting Ralph on his pizza to which the fox added it was the sauce, which was a family recipe. Annie coughing from the excessive amount of peppers on her slice as Stanley simply chuckled at his sister, taking another bite, adding it served her right for hogging the flakes. He watched the younger sibling downing her soda, panting, her tongue on fire.
"Yeah, those are really hot" Stanley commented looking at the shaker, as Annie handed it over, fanning her mouth, calling for ice. Ralph seeing this approached the table holding a small bottle of milk from the cooler, handing it to the young girl.
"Here, drink this kiddo" Ralph suggested, having seen kids use too much pepper flakes before as the girl downed, feeling the cool relief on her tongue. she took a deep breath, feeling relived, Stanley unable to resist from laughing at his sister's caresses. her setting the half-eaten slice aside, grabbing a new one.
the rest of the meal was uneventful as they finished up the pizza between the four of them. when only the empty pan was left the four got up, looking over to the fox, thanking him again for having them as he smiled.
"Come again whenever you want, we also do by the slice, also it's the only pizza place in town" Ralph reminded in a joke watching the group leave. Stanley walked to his car, unlocking it as Christine and the kids got back in as he turned to them.
Alright first meal in our new home, thoughts?" Franklin asked as the kids were in agreement on how tasty the pizza was and would certainly come back as Franklin took one last look it the windows of the Pizza place, seeing Ralph pick up a telephone, saying something into it as the station wagon drove off.
