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Jet-lagged and sleep deprived, dark bags are visible through the white fur surrounding his eyes. “Eliza,” he says, offering a slight wave as he walks by.\n\n“I didn’t expect you to be back today.” She lets out a small chuckle, and bundles together a stack of mail addressed directly to him. The man doesn’t stop, causing her to stumble out from behind the desk and follow him upstairs to his office. Two desks are positioned around the room, Elliot’s remaining in front of the large window while Joey’s is snug against the wall. Manufactured from a lighter maple tree, it has an adjustable top and leg inserts to grow alongside his assistant.\n\nElliot’s desk remains a mess of documents he had idealized to vanish during his absence. His ears flop across the edge as his face thumps against the desk in an exaggerated manner, adding a lengthy groan for effect. “What’ve you got for me now?” he asks, tilting his head back and drawing his hazel eyes up to her glasses.\n\n“Urgent,” Eliza replies, setting down the first of nine pieces of mail. “Crap.” She dumps the remainder on the pile of unopened letters in his inbox. “And we’ve had officer Parson popping by since last week looking for you. Every day.” Elliot sits upright and raises an eyebrow. “I told her you were on vacation, yet she insisted on checking your office.”\n\nPicking the letter marked urgent off the table and slicing along the side with a claw, he turns it to allow the contents to fall before him. Elliot’s features harden, the sealed document showing a lock of pitch-black fur from the end. “Get her here.” His jaw tenses, beginning to read through the document and shaking his head all the while. The mouse’s fine grey paw extends slowly, and she cocks her head to the side to assist in deciphering the flipped script. His fist cracks constantly as he rolls the knuckles, finishing with a loud crash as he slams it on the desk. “Now!”\n\nFinishing moments before the order and stunned by disbelief, Eliza jumps in place at the commanding shout. “That bitch!” she proclaims. Her paws clump together, and she stomps out of the office with a huff. The manufacturing floor has heard the commotion and watch frightfully, a rare sight to see the meek woman in a mood other than cheery. Nobody makes a peep as she strides by.\n\nWritten among the legal jargon is a summons to appear in court, inadvertently served by his receptionist. ‘[i]Your custody of Joey Allen… challenged by the named plaintiffs, Caroline and Beatrice Retti… unfit and extortionary...[/i]’ Elliot sits in silence as he reads the order again. And again. His shoulders slump, staring at the phone resting on his desk. The thought to flee with his assistant crosses his mind temporarily, discarded in knowing he’d never escape. Elliot draws his paws up to his face and begins massaging his forehead, patiently awaiting the inevitable escort drawing nearer by the second.\n\nHe can’t think of a shred of evidence to prove either claim, though its very nature as being presented by Joey’s biological family turns his stomach in knots. The town’s small size is a blessing and curse as the police are swift to arrive to a location, soon striding into his office is a female German Shepherd with a metal lapel with the name Parson engraved on it. “Mr. Mayor.” She offers a slight nod of respect and invites herself to take a seat. “I see you got the letter.”\n\n“You know it’s a load of shit, right?” Elliot replies, turning it over for the woman to examine herself.\n\n“I cannot say either way. When we conducted a search—”\n\n“You went into my house without my consent. Should I take that as your resignation?”\n\n“Sir, you were unreachable for ten days.”\n\n“I was on vacation, if you had asked Eliza to contact me there would have been no issue.”\n\n“Allow me to finish. Your accusers said, ‘we reasonably fear for the safety of our family’. And… given the circumstances-”\n\n“It doesn’t matter.” Elliot interrupts with a wave of his hand. “What was ‘unfit and extortionary’ about my home?”\n\nThe officer offers a slight, nervous shrug. “They took issue with the vacation, claiming you were using money that should be for their nephew. And… Your home only has a single bedroom, and it looks as though the lounge is being used for sleeping,” she explains.\n\nTapping his foot impatiently while continuing to shake his head and sigh, Elliot replies, “The first is dumb. The second is me sleeping on the couch because it folds out.”\n\n“That’s simply what they based the complaint on. It’s not up to me to decide, that’s for a judge and you know it.”\n\n“I should still have you fired for letting them in, but I don’t care. Nothing to hide,” he says and slumps into the soft padding on the back of his chair, relieved to be clear of any misgivings. “Do it against someone else and I will have to do it,” he warns.\n\n“I would never. I figured you would understand to move things along as swiftly as possible,” she replies, backing her chair away from the desk and standing tall. “And… Welcome home. You deserved your vacation after this year.”\n\nElliot gets to his feet and extends a hand across to the woman, who graciously accepts it with a firm shake. “Thank you. It’s not good to be back,” he laughs, sitting back down as the woman begins to leave, her tail wagging as she steps out the door. Beyond the window the spark of a flicked cigarette that lead to the death and destruction on display on the mountains. Charred remains of hundreds of acres, along with the rubble of a half-dozen homes lost to a fire at the beginning of the year. Despite emergency crew’s best efforts, two casualties were found trapped in the basement of their home after being cut-off from evacuation routes by fallen trees. A sight that makes his insides turn whenever he happens to glance across it. His eyelids droop as he rests against his shoulder, sobbing as the memories flood back. The lack of sleep finally catches up to him and he slumps forward, nestling his face against the soft cushions that are his ears. His fur soaks up the tears as he falls asleep, drained of all energy.\n\n****\n\nLife has returned to normal for Joey, the second day back at school since returning from vacation. Dressed in his navy-blue pants and white polo, he takes notes on history from the lecturing fox. There’s a crackle from the speakers outside and around the school, followed by the principal’s voice. “Joey Allen, please make your way to the office.”\n\nHis ears flit around as he looks at the confused faces staring back at him. “Someone’s in trouble,” a few of his peers remark jokingly.\n\nJoey collects his things and throws his backpack on before walking out the door. Taking out his phone and checking for a message, he finds no warning from his carer that he’s needed at work. He stops to pee first before continuing across the school grounds to the office, nudging his way into the building and approaching the glassy cubicle where administrations are. “Um, principal Roberts wanted me.” Joey’s voice cracks nervously.\n“Go on Joey, it’s nothing big,” the woman replies and directs him down the hallway.\n\nA sigh of relief escapes as he follows the well-lit path and steps into the principal’s office. Two women sit across from the grizzled bear, thick brown fur with the occasional spot of grey showing through on his face and bare arms. “Sit.”\n\nJoey shakes his head defiantly and backs out of the room. [i]‘Nan and aunt here?’ ‘Sir?’ ‘Come here.’[/i]\n\nElliot idly scribbles designs on the pad resting in front of him, eyes flickering after another sleepless night, plagued with regret born of keeping secrets from Joey. His face thumps against the desk and he jolts up, looking at his watch to discover it’s not even midday. The phone unleashes a shrill ring moments before Elliot rests his head, immediately snatching the handset and barking, “Eliza what?”\n\n“Don’t Eliza what me, Joey messaged me saying to call you. Have you been sleeping?”\n\nThe man fumbles in his pocket to retrieve his phone, set to silent. “Shit, Eliza I’ve gotta go.” Elliot throws his blazer on and runs from his office.\n\n“Is he okay?”\n\n“Thirty minutes,” he replies, waving his finger in a panic while the rest of his body shakes.\n\n“Go.” Eliza shoos him from the foyer.\n\nThe tires scream as Elliot reverses and whips the car around in the parking lot, speeding through the quiet streets. Joey sits with his arms crossed, silently tapping his foot while the two women fake tears and plea to the man opposite them. “S-sir he’s.”\n\nElliot ignores the woman and storms into the office, met with sneers from the younger of the pair. “Get. Out.” Joey shrivels in the corner as his aunt stands to face off with the man.\n\nAlmost a spitting image of the teenager except with longer eye-lashes and brighter brown eyes, she replies, “You can’t tell me what to do.” She flinches as the hand latches around the front of her shirt, shredded by the man’s sharp claws.\n\n“Mr. Rochestor sit down,” the principal interrupts, directing him to the empty seat between Joey and his grandmother.\n\n“You saw that, he’s violent and shouldn’t—”\n\n“Shut your mouth.”\n\n“Sir… I’m sorry,” Joey apologizes, relaxing and reaching out to grasp his carer for comfort.\n\n“How dare you try and start this here, you’ve already got your little hearing,” Elliot scolds the women, shaking his head in disgust. “And you letting them even call him out of class.”\n\n“She is listed as an emergency contact,” the bear replies.\n\n“Remove her. And get them out of this office,” Elliot continues, his nose twitching as each second passes under their judgmental gaze is a struggle.\n\nReaching a trunk-size arm across the desk the principal offers in a sincere tone, “Is there any way I can mediate this?”\n\n“They’ve already gotten a court-date. I’ll let a judge do it,” Elliot says.\n\n“Miss Retti, is there anything you’d like to say?”\n\n“You should be with your family, not a stranger,” she claims.\n\nHaving heard the commotion from the office, the assistant called the police. Now entering the building and led to the principal’s sanctum, officer Parson pounds on the door three times before letting herself in. “Is everything—” she falls silent upon realizing the situation.\n\nElliot looks across and meets her with a content smile, eyes closed peacefully. “Officer Parson please escort…” He hesitates and reconsiders how the next words paint him. “Please escort my son and I out.” Elliot stands and picks Joey’s bag up from the floor, ushering his ward in front of him and proceeding out of the office. “Have his school-work sent to my office, he won’t be stepping foot back here until I am confident of his safety,” he instructs.\n\n“S-sir… what’s going on?” Joey asks, following the corridor out of the administration building and leading them out into the parking lot.\n\n“Didn’t tell him?”\n\n“Was hoping to avoid it until I had to,” Elliot answers the officer’s question before Joey’s. “Your aunt and grandmother are both bitches. They want custody.”\n\nThe woman taps him on the shoulder and offers a glare. “Careful with that word, Mayor. But wouldn’t he be better off with family though?”\n\nComing to the car, he opens the back door and tosses the backpack inside and rests his back against the shiny black finish of the car. “If they were from his father’s side, I’d agree. But his mother’s side are a pack of vultures,” he replies, draping an arm around the boy’s shoulder and stroking it. “Thank you for the escort.” Elliot opens the driver’s door and sits down, turning the ignition to life with a twist of the key. “I’ll be seeing you at the court, I presume,” he remarks and receives a nod in response before he pulls the door shut.\n\nJoey climbs in on the other side, buckling the belt and slumping forward. Wet fur surrounds his eyes as tears pour forth, sobbing and shaking frightfully. “I don’t want to go…”\n\nLeaning across the center console and drawing the cub into his arms, Elliot plants a reassuring kiss on his forehead. “Don’t worry buddy, they missed their shot.” His stomach grumbles signaling lunch time, the clock on the dashboard flashing midday in agreement. “Lunch, then work? Or you want to just get something delivered?” he asks, resting a paw on his ward’s lap.\n\n“Lunch first,” Joey replies, letting his fingers settle between Elliot’s. They stop in town at an Asian restaurant, the teenager jumping out to order and collect their food. Fried rice with beans, carrots and peas for the rabbit, while the kelpie gets beef and noodles. Joey skips back to the car, unburdened by the gnawing doubt from fifteen minutes before. He leans across the interior and offers his lips, Elliot glancing around before kissing the cub.\n\nBack in the office Elliot initials paperwork with his right hand while he scoops lunch to his mouth with the left. His forms are separated into business and mayoral, largely left with only the mayoral ones on his desk since gaining Joey as an assistant. The forms are further broken into different types of requests, such as funding or permissions for to host an event. Funding are mostly for road repairs or power-line maintenance, with the occasional tree-removal and the few requests outside of these are scratched through and marked with the letter ‘[i]N[/i]’.\n\nReaching the bottom of the funding requests he dumps the permissions in front of him, a much more tedious task requiring attention and consideration. He filters through them by the month in question; the next four individually while any future requests are piled to be sorted later. Next by venue in the upcoming month, where five different spaces are available for public and private events by request. It takes the remainder of the day to even arrange the first stacks by month.\n\nJoey wanders to the desk and kneels on one of the seats across from the rabbit, turning himself around and bending over playfully. The boy pulls down the back of his pants and moons his carer while wagging his tail. “Sir~” he sings. Except for the two tucked away upstairs, the factory is empty.\n\n“JJ, come here.” Elliot scoots his chair back and pets his lap, quickly occupied by the black-furred boy.\n\nJoey works his hips around tauntingly, much more adept at teasing his boss after monitoring Everette for so long. “El?” he starts curiously, feeling no movement beyond the loving grip around his waist.\n\n“Court’s… tomorrow, hun,” Elliot says, beginning to run a paw beneath the cub’s shirt and trace hearts into the soft fur.\n\n“W-what?”\n\nHe squeezes tighter still. “Joey after this, I think I’m gonna take that house. Be closer to the other plant, help manage things there.”\n\n“That’s okay.” Joey smiles, shifting in place to look over his shoulder, tears tracking through the white fur. “Sir! They can’t take me, remember? I’m not about to leave.” The boy leans closer, placing a slew of small kisses on the man’s face.\n\nThe repeated questioning over his decision to adopt Joey gnawed at his sanity since first learning of the hearing. Elliot presses his face into the exposed fluff on the kelpie’s chest and wipes the tears away, emerging with a content smile. His arms trail up the cub’s spine, gripping tightly until he grows weak. “You’re right,” he sighs, tilting back. Setting his lips against Joey’s, neither breaking from the moment or pressing further.\n\n****\n\nDragging themselves out of bed at 5am for the lengthy drive out of their home jurisdiction, Elliot and Joey arrive at the court house just before it opens and grab breakfast from a nearby café. The sun is out but masked by the white clouds filtering over it. “I wish you didn’t come,” Elliot remarks, twirling the stirrer in his coffee between biting on a blueberry muffin.\n\n“I told you, I’m not about to leave.” Joey’s legs swing beneath the table, smiling contently as the clouds offer a bright sunbeam to bathe in.\n\nWatching the giant building become inhabited as the doors are unbolted from within, Elliot lets out a heavy sigh and glances at his watch. Due to be the first case heard he takes the briefcase from the ground in one hand while carrying his coffee in the other and proceeds up the steps and through the intimidating glass doors. Joey follows close behind as they weave through to the metal detectors. “Phones, shoes, belts, jackets, briefcase.” The security officer points to a plastic tub, both men obliging without a fuss as everyone else does the same.\n\nPassing through security and proceeding to the elevators, Elliot takes his phone and squints to read the fuzzy photograph of the document, written out are the words thirty-two. He enters the metal coffin and presses floor 32, an agonizing journey of constantly stopping on floors slightly above the ground until it reaches their floor. “Hi Joey!” The boy’s younger cousins run to greet him, throwing their arms around his waist while shooting daggers at the man beside him.\n\n“Josie, Brad, come here,” Caroline calls her children back.\n\nJoey freezes and looks at the carpeted floor, eyebrows pushed together in a mixture of contempt and sadness. “JJ?” Elliot rests a hand atop his assistant’s shoulder and rubs it gently, leading him forward into the courtroom. His ears flop forward as he bows to the judge upon entering and again once he’s finished walking.\n\n“This is a matter involving someone under 18, would those not related to the matter please leave,” the judge announces. A lion sits at the front of the room, strips of white through his shaggy brown mane as it flows onto his robe. Four mice leave into the hallway, dressed far less formally than any of the other occupants. Officer Parson remains seated with one leg crossed in the back of the room, breathing heavily as she draws the judge’s attention. “Ma’am?”\n\n“She’s the officer who conducted the search, a witness,” Caroline explains, signaling her closer.\n\nElliot looks over his shoulder at the woman and nods, waving for her to sit behind the plaintiffs. “Is this not a familial matter? It’s hardly a criminal hearing,” the lion scoffs.\n\n“But.”\n\n“This is my courtroom. I make the decisions not you, Miss Retti,” he warns as she starts to protest. “State your case, and only that.”\n\nShe chokes and snaps to her mother. “W-well we believe that the defendant is unfit and manipulating my nephew. It was. The officer here was witness to the unfitness. And records show that he recently vacationed out of the country, inflicting a loss to our relative’s inheritance.”\n\n“My daughter, his mother, died at the beginning of the year…” Beatrice’s voice shakes as she explains further, “Along with his father. In a fire that also claimed their home.” Tears begin to form, and the woman becomes desperate. “I want my grandson back.”\n\nIf it weren’t a show one might have pity for the woman, trembling and reaching across the isle to gingerly touch Joey’s arm. The boy begins to well up and grasps it firmly. “You don’t want me,” he sobs and swats her arm away, shaking his head as tears drip down.\n\n“That’s a lie, Joey. You belong with your family, not a stranger,” she pleads. “He’s filled your head with lies.”\n\nDrawing their attention with a bang of his gavel the judge interjects, “I am the one you need to convince, Mrs. Retti. If he is a stranger, why would he be given custody to begin with?”\n\n“He’s the Mayor of the town where my daughter and son-in-law lived,” she answers, “that’s why we were forced to bring the matter out here. As far from his taint as possible. He ruins everything he touches and will bleed my grandson dry.” Elliot taps his foot as the woman slanders him, rolling his eyes as she continues her tirade.\n\n“Mr. Rochestor, is there something you’d like to say?”\n\nWith a light shrug he replies, “Your honour, I wasn’t at that hearing. They were. It wasn’t until after his family refused that Joey called me and begged. Begged like she’s trying to do now.” Elliot points an accusatory finger at the false guardian. “He would’ve been left to the state, and neither of them cared.” He wets his lips and begins shaking his head in frustration. “His father was my supplier for years, and I offered Joey a job months before what happened…” his voice trails off, looking at the boy fearfully. “If I hadn’t, he’d be gone…”\n\n“Sir don’t cry. You did though,” Joey says reassuringly, resting his head against the man’s shoulder.\n\n“Officer, please. Offer your insights,” the lion calls her forward and she quickly takes position on the stand.\n\n“Your honour. The plaintiffs had me execute a search of the defendant’s home, believing their nephew to be at risk. We discovered only a single bedroom, and signs that the lounge was being slept on. Additionally, the child in question was given a substantial insurance payout upon the death of his family, including their home, and the loss of business,” she speaks quickly and remains exclusive to the details, falling silent upon making her testimony.\n\n“Mr. Rochestor?”\n\n“I am currently in the process of purchasing a new home that is large enough for the both of us. If Officer Parson had investigated further, she’d have learnt that the lounge folds into a bed and that Joey occupies the bedroom, not me,” Elliot answers, looking across at the women. “And your honour, if you truly think that they’re sincere about the money, then order it to a bank where none can access it until he’s of age. And watch them scatter like vermin.”\n\nIt’s difficult to discern whether their sneer is a response to being called vermin or their intentions being laid bare, Caroline again pleading, “Joey your grandfather’s sick, don’t you want to see him?”\n\nThe boy tenses and becomes visibly distressed, bursting into tears and then out of the room. “Your honour, this is a farce,” Elliot says. “May I go tend to my son while you think about this?”\n\nWith a nod and bang of the gavel the lion announces, “Ten-minute recess, I’ll have my decision when you all return.”\n\nElliot bows out of the courtroom and chases after Joey, pushing past the families waiting outside. He is tailed by the women attempting to find where the boy has hidden. ‘[i]BR[/i].’ His phone vibrates with the simple message and he enters the bathroom, the cub curled in the corner and sobbing. “JJ, sweetie,” Elliot repeats the words, embraces his ward and runs his fingers through the fine black fur, attempting to help him relax.\n\nCaroline and Beatrice stand in the doorway and shout, “Joey your grandfather misses you.”\n\n“Fuck off,” he shouts back and plugs his ears, burying his face beneath Elliot’s arm.\n\n“Please step away from the door,” Parson instructs, delicately pulling the women back and allowing the door to swing closed.\n\n“You were supposed to help us get my nephew back,” Caroline barks, prodding the woman’s busty chest.\n\nOn instinct the officer snatches her arm as it moves in for a second, immediately releasing before she causes any injuries. “My duty is to speak the truth and uphold the law,” she replies, stepping aside and returning to the courtroom.\n\nElliot checks his watch after a time spent quietly tending to his assistant. “Buddy, we’ve gotta go back in. He’s gonna have his decision,” he whispers, standing and helping the boy to his feet. The women are already back inside, offering glares as they return to the defense. Joey’s face is drenched from water splashed onto it to dilute the saltiness of his tears from stinging his eyes.\n\n“Mr. Allen, you are old enough to make certain decisions on your own in the eyes of the law, you may drive, you may work, and you may be in a relationship if you so choose,” the judge proclaims. “And this decision should be no different.”\n\nElliot shakes his head as the boy looks up to him for reassurance. “It’s up to you.”\n\n“Think about your grandfather, JJ,” the women make one final plea to his emotional response, one which causes him to again struggle and grind his teeth.\n\n“I… I said I wouldn’t leave, Sir.” Joey leans against his carer and nods, tears streaming down each of their faces. “And I’m not about to.”\n\n“[i]Retti vs Rochestor[/i] is now settled, defendant maintains custody. The trust will be formed, and money kept in a bank account of the child’s choosing, to be accessible only upon reaching 18 or in the event of emancipation,” he declares, pounding the gavel three more times in finality.\n\n“JJ…” Elliot kneels and runs a paw along the boy’s back, looking across at the boy’s devastated grandmother and annoyed aunt. “I… I’d like for JJ to see his grandfather,” he says. \n\nCaroline spits on the rabbit. “No.”\n\nBeatrice overturns her daughter’s refusal with a swift clap to the woman’s ear. “I… would like him to as well,” she replies.\n\n“Why let money ruin your family?” Elliot asks as he follows the much older woman outside, no need to clear security.\n\n“We hoped… to use it for his grandfather’s treatment,” she chokes up, the first genuine emotions showing on her narrow features throughout the day.\n\n“Are you stupid? You took… if you had asked, I’d do anything for Joey’s sake, without hesitation.”\n\n“Now who’s stupid? Not even your son and you want to throw away thousands of dollars,” she scoffs.\n\n“He is… I—I really want what’s best for him,” Elliot says, pulling the boy in close. Not even 10am and outside, they part ways with a date set in mind for Joey to see his grandfather, and a cheque written out for $5,000 to help pay for his treatment. Returning to work drained but triumphant. “Eliza, we need to talk,” he says, beckoning for her to follow. Stepping into the office, Elliot sits atop his desk and directs her to the chair behind him. “I’m done.”\n\n“What?” she asks, alarmed by the sudden decision.\n\n“I’m going to be taking over the new plant, and there’s nobody else I’d trust to run this place.”\n“Y-you can’t just leave,” Eliza stammers.\n\n“Council knows I’m resigning as mayor. This was all done before I had even left for my vacation, but I didn’t have anything set yet. Two weeks until it’s finalized, and I’m out of here.”\n\nThe woman begins to breathe heavily, removing her glasses and turning away to avoid crying in front of him. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”\n\n“I didn’t know if I could. This whole thing with his family though…” Elliot traces a paw up and down Joey’s arm. “We need a fresh start. My vacations will be spent back here though, don’t worry. I’m not leaving you permanently,” he forces a laugh and steps closer to the mouse, squeezing her tight. “If I’m the brain, you’re the heart of this place. You’ll do an amazing job, because you’ve learnt from the best. Right?”\n\n“Right…” Eliza nods and replaces her glasses, cracking a smile. “What would you do without me, right? Mr. Gallivanting to do deals all the time,” she replies, backing away and running a paw along his arm as she moves to take her new seat. “I’ll need to hire a receptionist. And an assistant!” she laughs loudly to mask the overwhelming sadness eating at her insides.\n\n“I’ll still be here until everything’s set if you need anything,” he says.\n\n“Even to not leave?” she asks.\n\n“You’ll be fine. And besides, you can always call me, any day, any time if you need help or someone to talk to.”\n\n“I’m the one who should be saying that to you,” Eliza replies and crosses her arms, laughing as she holds back more tears.\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "His vacation’s end coinciding with the school semester and a desire to comply with his parental duties, Elliot pushes open the factory door and slumps through the foyer. Jet-lagged and sleep deprived, dark bags are visible through the white fur surrounding his eyes. “Eliza,” he says, offering a slight wave as he walks by.

“I didn’t expect you to be back today.” She lets out a small chuckle, and bundles together a stack of mail addressed directly to him. The man doesn’t stop, causing her to stumble out from behind the desk and follow him upstairs to his office. Two desks are positioned around the room, Elliot’s remaining in front of the large window while Joey’s is snug against the wall. Manufactured from a lighter maple tree, it has an adjustable top and leg inserts to grow alongside his assistant.

Elliot’s desk remains a mess of documents he had idealized to vanish during his absence. His ears flop across the edge as his face thumps against the desk in an exaggerated manner, adding a lengthy groan for effect. “What’ve you got for me now?” he asks, tilting his head back and drawing his hazel eyes up to her glasses.

“Urgent,” Eliza replies, setting down the first of nine pieces of mail. “Crap.” She dumps the remainder on the pile of unopened letters in his inbox. “And we’ve had officer Parson popping by since last week looking for you. Every day.” Elliot sits upright and raises an eyebrow. “I told her you were on vacation, yet she insisted on checking your office.”

Picking the letter marked urgent off the table and slicing along the side with a claw, he turns it to allow the contents to fall before him. Elliot’s features harden, the sealed document showing a lock of pitch-black fur from the end. “Get her here.” His jaw tenses, beginning to read through the document and shaking his head all the while. The mouse’s fine grey paw extends slowly, and she cocks her head to the side to assist in deciphering the flipped script. His fist cracks constantly as he rolls the knuckles, finishing with a loud crash as he slams it on the desk. “Now!”

Finishing moments before the order and stunned by disbelief, Eliza jumps in place at the commanding shout. “That bitch!” she proclaims. Her paws clump together, and she stomps out of the office with a huff. The manufacturing floor has heard the commotion and watch frightfully, a rare sight to see the meek woman in a mood other than cheery. Nobody makes a peep as she strides by.

Written among the legal jargon is a summons to appear in court, inadvertently served by his receptionist. ‘Your custody of Joey Allen… challenged by the named plaintiffs, Caroline and Beatrice Retti… unfit and extortionary...’ Elliot sits in silence as he reads the order again. And again. His shoulders slump, staring at the phone resting on his desk. The thought to flee with his assistant crosses his mind temporarily, discarded in knowing he’d never escape. Elliot draws his paws up to his face and begins massaging his forehead, patiently awaiting the inevitable escort drawing nearer by the second.

He can’t think of a shred of evidence to prove either claim, though its very nature as being presented by Joey’s biological family turns his stomach in knots. The town’s small size is a blessing and curse as the police are swift to arrive to a location, soon striding into his office is a female German Shepherd with a metal lapel with the name Parson engraved on it. “Mr. Mayor.” She offers a slight nod of respect and invites herself to take a seat. “I see you got the letter.”

“You know it’s a load of shit, right?” Elliot replies, turning it over for the woman to examine herself.

“I cannot say either way. When we conducted a search—”

“You went into my house without my consent. Should I take that as your resignation?”

“Sir, you were unreachable for ten days.”

“I was on vacation, if you had asked Eliza to contact me there would have been no issue.”

“Allow me to finish. Your accusers said, ‘we reasonably fear for the safety of our family’. And… given the circumstances-”

“It doesn’t matter.” Elliot interrupts with a wave of his hand. “What was ‘unfit and extortionary’ about my home?”

The officer offers a slight, nervous shrug. “They took issue with the vacation, claiming you were using money that should be for their nephew. And… Your home only has a single bedroom, and it looks as though the lounge is being used for sleeping,” she explains.

Tapping his foot impatiently while continuing to shake his head and sigh, Elliot replies, “The first is dumb. The second is me sleeping on the couch because it folds out.”

“That’s simply what they based the complaint on. It’s not up to me to decide, that’s for a judge and you know it.”

“I should still have you fired for letting them in, but I don’t care. Nothing to hide,” he says and slumps into the soft padding on the back of his chair, relieved to be clear of any misgivings. “Do it against someone else and I will have to do it,” he warns.

“I would never. I figured you would understand to move things along as swiftly as possible,” she replies, backing her chair away from the desk and standing tall. “And… Welcome home. You deserved your vacation after this year.”

Elliot gets to his feet and extends a hand across to the woman, who graciously accepts it with a firm shake. “Thank you. It’s not good to be back,” he laughs, sitting back down as the woman begins to leave, her tail wagging as she steps out the door. Beyond the window the spark of a flicked cigarette that lead to the death and destruction on display on the mountains. Charred remains of hundreds of acres, along with the rubble of a half-dozen homes lost to a fire at the beginning of the year. Despite emergency crew’s best efforts, two casualties were found trapped in the basement of their home after being cut-off from evacuation routes by fallen trees. A sight that makes his insides turn whenever he happens to glance across it. His eyelids droop as he rests against his shoulder, sobbing as the memories flood back. The lack of sleep finally catches up to him and he slumps forward, nestling his face against the soft cushions that are his ears. His fur soaks up the tears as he falls asleep, drained of all energy.

****

Life has returned to normal for Joey, the second day back at school since returning from vacation. Dressed in his navy-blue pants and white polo, he takes notes on history from the lecturing fox. There’s a crackle from the speakers outside and around the school, followed by the principal’s voice. “Joey Allen, please make your way to the office.”

His ears flit around as he looks at the confused faces staring back at him. “Someone’s in trouble,” a few of his peers remark jokingly.

Joey collects his things and throws his backpack on before walking out the door. Taking out his phone and checking for a message, he finds no warning from his carer that he’s needed at work. He stops to pee first before continuing across the school grounds to the office, nudging his way into the building and approaching the glassy cubicle where administrations are. “Um, principal Roberts wanted me.” Joey’s voice cracks nervously.
“Go on Joey, it’s nothing big,” the woman replies and directs him down the hallway.

A sigh of relief escapes as he follows the well-lit path and steps into the principal’s office. Two women sit across from the grizzled bear, thick brown fur with the occasional spot of grey showing through on his face and bare arms. “Sit.”

Joey shakes his head defiantly and backs out of the room. ‘Nan and aunt here?’ ‘Sir?’ ‘Come here.’

Elliot idly scribbles designs on the pad resting in front of him, eyes flickering after another sleepless night, plagued with regret born of keeping secrets from Joey. His face thumps against the desk and he jolts up, looking at his watch to discover it’s not even midday. The phone unleashes a shrill ring moments before Elliot rests his head, immediately snatching the handset and barking, “Eliza what?”

“Don’t Eliza what me, Joey messaged me saying to call you. Have you been sleeping?”

The man fumbles in his pocket to retrieve his phone, set to silent. “Shit, Eliza I’ve gotta go.” Elliot throws his blazer on and runs from his office.

“Is he okay?”

“Thirty minutes,” he replies, waving his finger in a panic while the rest of his body shakes.

“Go.” Eliza shoos him from the foyer.

The tires scream as Elliot reverses and whips the car around in the parking lot, speeding through the quiet streets. Joey sits with his arms crossed, silently tapping his foot while the two women fake tears and plea to the man opposite them. “S-sir he’s.”

Elliot ignores the woman and storms into the office, met with sneers from the younger of the pair. “Get. Out.” Joey shrivels in the corner as his aunt stands to face off with the man.

Almost a spitting image of the teenager except with longer eye-lashes and brighter brown eyes, she replies, “You can’t tell me what to do.” She flinches as the hand latches around the front of her shirt, shredded by the man’s sharp claws.

“Mr. Rochestor sit down,” the principal interrupts, directing him to the empty seat between Joey and his grandmother.

“You saw that, he’s violent and shouldn’t—”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Sir… I’m sorry,” Joey apologizes, relaxing and reaching out to grasp his carer for comfort.

“How dare you try and start this here, you’ve already got your little hearing,” Elliot scolds the women, shaking his head in disgust. “And you letting them even call him out of class.”

“She is listed as an emergency contact,” the bear replies.

“Remove her. And get them out of this office,” Elliot continues, his nose twitching as each second passes under their judgmental gaze is a struggle.

Reaching a trunk-size arm across the desk the principal offers in a sincere tone, “Is there any way I can mediate this?”

“They’ve already gotten a court-date. I’ll let a judge do it,” Elliot says.

“Miss Retti, is there anything you’d like to say?”

“You should be with your family, not a stranger,” she claims.

Having heard the commotion from the office, the assistant called the police. Now entering the building and led to the principal’s sanctum, officer Parson pounds on the door three times before letting herself in. “Is everything—” she falls silent upon realizing the situation.

Elliot looks across and meets her with a content smile, eyes closed peacefully. “Officer Parson please escort…” He hesitates and reconsiders how the next words paint him. “Please escort my son and I out.” Elliot stands and picks Joey’s bag up from the floor, ushering his ward in front of him and proceeding out of the office. “Have his school-work sent to my office, he won’t be stepping foot back here until I am confident of his safety,” he instructs.

“S-sir… what’s going on?” Joey asks, following the corridor out of the administration building and leading them out into the parking lot.

“Didn’t tell him?”

“Was hoping to avoid it until I had to,” Elliot answers the officer’s question before Joey’s. “Your aunt and grandmother are both bitches. They want custody.”

The woman taps him on the shoulder and offers a glare. “Careful with that word, Mayor. But wouldn’t he be better off with family though?”

Coming to the car, he opens the back door and tosses the backpack inside and rests his back against the shiny black finish of the car. “If they were from his father’s side, I’d agree. But his mother’s side are a pack of vultures,” he replies, draping an arm around the boy’s shoulder and stroking it. “Thank you for the escort.” Elliot opens the driver’s door and sits down, turning the ignition to life with a twist of the key. “I’ll be seeing you at the court, I presume,” he remarks and receives a nod in response before he pulls the door shut.

Joey climbs in on the other side, buckling the belt and slumping forward. Wet fur surrounds his eyes as tears pour forth, sobbing and shaking frightfully. “I don’t want to go…”

Leaning across the center console and drawing the cub into his arms, Elliot plants a reassuring kiss on his forehead. “Don’t worry buddy, they missed their shot.” His stomach grumbles signaling lunch time, the clock on the dashboard flashing midday in agreement. “Lunch, then work? Or you want to just get something delivered?” he asks, resting a paw on his ward’s lap.

“Lunch first,” Joey replies, letting his fingers settle between Elliot’s. They stop in town at an Asian restaurant, the teenager jumping out to order and collect their food. Fried rice with beans, carrots and peas for the rabbit, while the kelpie gets beef and noodles. Joey skips back to the car, unburdened by the gnawing doubt from fifteen minutes before. He leans across the interior and offers his lips, Elliot glancing around before kissing the cub.

Back in the office Elliot initials paperwork with his right hand while he scoops lunch to his mouth with the left. His forms are separated into business and mayoral, largely left with only the mayoral ones on his desk since gaining Joey as an assistant. The forms are further broken into different types of requests, such as funding or permissions for to host an event. Funding are mostly for road repairs or power-line maintenance, with the occasional tree-removal and the few requests outside of these are scratched through and marked with the letter ‘N’.

Reaching the bottom of the funding requests he dumps the permissions in front of him, a much more tedious task requiring attention and consideration. He filters through them by the month in question; the next four individually while any future requests are piled to be sorted later. Next by venue in the upcoming month, where five different spaces are available for public and private events by request. It takes the remainder of the day to even arrange the first stacks by month.

Joey wanders to the desk and kneels on one of the seats across from the rabbit, turning himself around and bending over playfully. The boy pulls down the back of his pants and moons his carer while wagging his tail. “Sir~” he sings. Except for the two tucked away upstairs, the factory is empty.

“JJ, come here.” Elliot scoots his chair back and pets his lap, quickly occupied by the black-furred boy.

Joey works his hips around tauntingly, much more adept at teasing his boss after monitoring Everette for so long. “El?” he starts curiously, feeling no movement beyond the loving grip around his waist.

“Court’s… tomorrow, hun,” Elliot says, beginning to run a paw beneath the cub’s shirt and trace hearts into the soft fur.

“W-what?”

He squeezes tighter still. “Joey after this, I think I’m gonna take that house. Be closer to the other plant, help manage things there.”

“That’s okay.” Joey smiles, shifting in place to look over his shoulder, tears tracking through the white fur. “Sir! They can’t take me, remember? I’m not about to leave.” The boy leans closer, placing a slew of small kisses on the man’s face.

The repeated questioning over his decision to adopt Joey gnawed at his sanity since first learning of the hearing. Elliot presses his face into the exposed fluff on the kelpie’s chest and wipes the tears away, emerging with a content smile. His arms trail up the cub’s spine, gripping tightly until he grows weak. “You’re right,” he sighs, tilting back. Setting his lips against Joey’s, neither breaking from the moment or pressing further.

****

Dragging themselves out of bed at 5am for the lengthy drive out of their home jurisdiction, Elliot and Joey arrive at the court house just before it opens and grab breakfast from a nearby café. The sun is out but masked by the white clouds filtering over it. “I wish you didn’t come,” Elliot remarks, twirling the stirrer in his coffee between biting on a blueberry muffin.

“I told you, I’m not about to leave.” Joey’s legs swing beneath the table, smiling contently as the clouds offer a bright sunbeam to bathe in.

Watching the giant building become inhabited as the doors are unbolted from within, Elliot lets out a heavy sigh and glances at his watch. Due to be the first case heard he takes the briefcase from the ground in one hand while carrying his coffee in the other and proceeds up the steps and through the intimidating glass doors. Joey follows close behind as they weave through to the metal detectors. “Phones, shoes, belts, jackets, briefcase.” The security officer points to a plastic tub, both men obliging without a fuss as everyone else does the same.

Passing through security and proceeding to the elevators, Elliot takes his phone and squints to read the fuzzy photograph of the document, written out are the words thirty-two. He enters the metal coffin and presses floor 32, an agonizing journey of constantly stopping on floors slightly above the ground until it reaches their floor. “Hi Joey!” The boy’s younger cousins run to greet him, throwing their arms around his waist while shooting daggers at the man beside him.

“Josie, Brad, come here,” Caroline calls her children back.

Joey freezes and looks at the carpeted floor, eyebrows pushed together in a mixture of contempt and sadness. “JJ?” Elliot rests a hand atop his assistant’s shoulder and rubs it gently, leading him forward into the courtroom. His ears flop forward as he bows to the judge upon entering and again once he’s finished walking.

“This is a matter involving someone under 18, would those not related to the matter please leave,” the judge announces. A lion sits at the front of the room, strips of white through his shaggy brown mane as it flows onto his robe. Four mice leave into the hallway, dressed far less formally than any of the other occupants. Officer Parson remains seated with one leg crossed in the back of the room, breathing heavily as she draws the judge’s attention. “Ma’am?”

“She’s the officer who conducted the search, a witness,” Caroline explains, signaling her closer.

Elliot looks over his shoulder at the woman and nods, waving for her to sit behind the plaintiffs. “Is this not a familial matter? It’s hardly a criminal hearing,” the lion scoffs.

“But.”

“This is my courtroom. I make the decisions not you, Miss Retti,” he warns as she starts to protest. “State your case, and only that.”

She chokes and snaps to her mother. “W-well we believe that the defendant is unfit and manipulating my nephew. It was. The officer here was witness to the unfitness. And records show that he recently vacationed out of the country, inflicting a loss to our relative’s inheritance.”

“My daughter, his mother, died at the beginning of the year…” Beatrice’s voice shakes as she explains further, “Along with his father. In a fire that also claimed their home.” Tears begin to form, and the woman becomes desperate. “I want my grandson back.”

If it weren’t a show one might have pity for the woman, trembling and reaching across the isle to gingerly touch Joey’s arm. The boy begins to well up and grasps it firmly. “You don’t want me,” he sobs and swats her arm away, shaking his head as tears drip down.

“That’s a lie, Joey. You belong with your family, not a stranger,” she pleads. “He’s filled your head with lies.”

Drawing their attention with a bang of his gavel the judge interjects, “I am the one you need to convince, Mrs. Retti. If he is a stranger, why would he be given custody to begin with?”

“He’s the Mayor of the town where my daughter and son-in-law lived,” she answers, “that’s why we were forced to bring the matter out here. As far from his taint as possible. He ruins everything he touches and will bleed my grandson dry.” Elliot taps his foot as the woman slanders him, rolling his eyes as she continues her tirade.

“Mr. Rochestor, is there something you’d like to say?”

With a light shrug he replies, “Your honour, I wasn’t at that hearing. They were. It wasn’t until after his family refused that Joey called me and begged. Begged like she’s trying to do now.” Elliot points an accusatory finger at the false guardian. “He would’ve been left to the state, and neither of them cared.” He wets his lips and begins shaking his head in frustration. “His father was my supplier for years, and I offered Joey a job months before what happened…” his voice trails off, looking at the boy fearfully. “If I hadn’t, he’d be gone…”

“Sir don’t cry. You did though,” Joey says reassuringly, resting his head against the man’s shoulder.

“Officer, please. Offer your insights,” the lion calls her forward and she quickly takes position on the stand.

“Your honour. The plaintiffs had me execute a search of the defendant’s home, believing their nephew to be at risk. We discovered only a single bedroom, and signs that the lounge was being slept on. Additionally, the child in question was given a substantial insurance payout upon the death of his family, including their home, and the loss of business,” she speaks quickly and remains exclusive to the details, falling silent upon making her testimony.

“Mr. Rochestor?”

“I am currently in the process of purchasing a new home that is large enough for the both of us. If Officer Parson had investigated further, she’d have learnt that the lounge folds into a bed and that Joey occupies the bedroom, not me,” Elliot answers, looking across at the women. “And your honour, if you truly think that they’re sincere about the money, then order it to a bank where none can access it until he’s of age. And watch them scatter like vermin.”

It’s difficult to discern whether their sneer is a response to being called vermin or their intentions being laid bare, Caroline again pleading, “Joey your grandfather’s sick, don’t you want to see him?”

The boy tenses and becomes visibly distressed, bursting into tears and then out of the room. “Your honour, this is a farce,” Elliot says. “May I go tend to my son while you think about this?”

With a nod and bang of the gavel the lion announces, “Ten-minute recess, I’ll have my decision when you all return.”

Elliot bows out of the courtroom and chases after Joey, pushing past the families waiting outside. He is tailed by the women attempting to find where the boy has hidden. ‘BR.’ His phone vibrates with the simple message and he enters the bathroom, the cub curled in the corner and sobbing. “JJ, sweetie,” Elliot repeats the words, embraces his ward and runs his fingers through the fine black fur, attempting to help him relax.

Caroline and Beatrice stand in the doorway and shout, “Joey your grandfather misses you.”

“Fuck off,” he shouts back and plugs his ears, burying his face beneath Elliot’s arm.

“Please step away from the door,” Parson instructs, delicately pulling the women back and allowing the door to swing closed.

“You were supposed to help us get my nephew back,” Caroline barks, prodding the woman’s busty chest.

On instinct the officer snatches her arm as it moves in for a second, immediately releasing before she causes any injuries. “My duty is to speak the truth and uphold the law,” she replies, stepping aside and returning to the courtroom.

Elliot checks his watch after a time spent quietly tending to his assistant. “Buddy, we’ve gotta go back in. He’s gonna have his decision,” he whispers, standing and helping the boy to his feet. The women are already back inside, offering glares as they return to the defense. Joey’s face is drenched from water splashed onto it to dilute the saltiness of his tears from stinging his eyes.

“Mr. Allen, you are old enough to make certain decisions on your own in the eyes of the law, you may drive, you may work, and you may be in a relationship if you so choose,” the judge proclaims. “And this decision should be no different.”

Elliot shakes his head as the boy looks up to him for reassurance. “It’s up to you.”

“Think about your grandfather, JJ,” the women make one final plea to his emotional response, one which causes him to again struggle and grind his teeth.

“I… I said I wouldn’t leave, Sir.” Joey leans against his carer and nods, tears streaming down each of their faces. “And I’m not about to.”

“Retti vs Rochestor is now settled, defendant maintains custody. The trust will be formed, and money kept in a bank account of the child’s choosing, to be accessible only upon reaching 18 or in the event of emancipation,” he declares, pounding the gavel three more times in finality.

“JJ…” Elliot kneels and runs a paw along the boy’s back, looking across at the boy’s devastated grandmother and annoyed aunt. “I… I’d like for JJ to see his grandfather,” he says.

Caroline spits on the rabbit. “No.”

Beatrice overturns her daughter’s refusal with a swift clap to the woman’s ear. “I… would like him to as well,” she replies.

“Why let money ruin your family?” Elliot asks as he follows the much older woman outside, no need to clear security.

“We hoped… to use it for his grandfather’s treatment,” she chokes up, the first genuine emotions showing on her narrow features throughout the day.

“Are you stupid? You took… if you had asked, I’d do anything for Joey’s sake, without hesitation.”

“Now who’s stupid? Not even your son and you want to throw away thousands of dollars,” she scoffs.

“He is… I—I really want what’s best for him,” Elliot says, pulling the boy in close. Not even 10am and outside, they part ways with a date set in mind for Joey to see his grandfather, and a cheque written out for $5,000 to help pay for his treatment. Returning to work drained but triumphant. “Eliza, we need to talk,” he says, beckoning for her to follow. Stepping into the office, Elliot sits atop his desk and directs her to the chair behind him. “I’m done.”

“What?” she asks, alarmed by the sudden decision.

“I’m going to be taking over the new plant, and there’s nobody else I’d trust to run this place.”
“Y-you can’t just leave,” Eliza stammers.

“Council knows I’m resigning as mayor. This was all done before I had even left for my vacation, but I didn’t have anything set yet. Two weeks until it’s finalized, and I’m out of here.”

The woman begins to breathe heavily, removing her glasses and turning away to avoid crying in front of him. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I didn’t know if I could. This whole thing with his family though…” Elliot traces a paw up and down Joey’s arm. “We need a fresh start. My vacations will be spent back here though, don’t worry. I’m not leaving you permanently,” he forces a laugh and steps closer to the mouse, squeezing her tight. “If I’m the brain, you’re the heart of this place. You’ll do an amazing job, because you’ve learnt from the best. Right?”

“Right…” Eliza nods and replaces her glasses, cracking a smile. “What would you do without me, right? Mr. Gallivanting to do deals all the time,” she replies, backing away and running a paw along his arm as she moves to take her new seat. “I’ll need to hire a receptionist. And an assistant!” she laughs loudly to mask the overwhelming sadness eating at her insides.

“I’ll still be here until everything’s set if you need anything,” he says.

“Even to not leave?” she asks.

“You’ll be fine. And besides, you can always call me, any day, any time if you need help or someone to talk to.”

“I’m the one who should be saying that to you,” Eliza replies and crosses her arms, laughing as she holds back more tears.
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