Chapter 8: A Very Difficult Goodbye

The next day, Lola, Celica, and I were sleeping peacefully in the living room, still having our clothes we had on from last night. The red panda was sleeping on top of me and damn, his tail felt warm. I never wanted to get up.

"Hello, Sthleepyheadsth!" Daffy yelled, waking us up with a start. I nearly fell out of the couch as Lola grabbed my tail just in time.

"Hey, Daffy." Lola greeted back. "What's up?"

"I justht recthieved a phone call for Ztheon. It'sth mustht be you're brother."

"My brother?" I asked with happiness in my heart. Daffy nodded. I frantically released myself from Lola's grip as I ran to the phone and picked it up quite awkwardly.

"Kelvin? Is that you?" I asked in the phone.

"Hey, lil' bro." He greeted back to me. He has the same country accent as my dad. "It's been a while since ma kick ya out. Where are ya?"

"I'm at Warner Bros. Studios. Bugs and the others saw me as a good friend and I found me a girlfriend."

"A girlfriend? Is she sexy like ya dreamed of?"

"Hell yeah. We even made love every now and then. Her name's Celica Wolfpack and she's as short as me."

"Dat's cool, lil' bro. When are ya comin' home?"

"I'll come home after I get Lola's animal shelter ID back online. Is dad there?"

"Yeah. Hold on." It was quiet on the phone for a minute. Lola, Bugs, Daffy, and Sylvester looked at me with sad looks on their faces, having Lola's covered in tears.

"You're leaving?" She asked me in a whimper. I tried to suck it in, but it was too much. Lola was an excellent friend to me and I really didn't wanna leave myself.

"Yeah. I really like every one of ya'll, but my family misses me. I have to go." I replied calmly.

"Zeon?" My dad replied. That almost startled me.

"Hey, dad." I replied back. "Where's mom?"

"She's sittin' right beside me. Are ya gonna settle the score wit 'er?"

"Yeah. After I get Lola's animal shelter ID back… and after I say goodbye to my friends."

"Well, we'll be waitin' fo' ya. Good luck, son."

"Thanks. Bye!" I hung up and turned around to face Bugs and the others, They were all in tears now… and so was Jerami and I. I walked up to them and they gave me a group hug. Lola was the tightest embrace. She really didn't want me to leave.

"We're really gonna miss ya, doc." Bugs pleaded to me. I patted Lola on the back as I replied.

"Me, too. Lola, you were a good friend to me. I'll miss you most of all." I squeezed her hard. She did, too.

"Oh, Zeon." She whispered. "You were a good friend to me, too. I hope you can remember me." Sylvester sat up for a second.

"There isth. I'll be right back." He said as he ran off. Lola, Bugs, Daffy, and I looked puzzled. After 5 minutes, he came back with a Playstation game in his hand and handed it to me.

"Thisth isth Looney Tunesth Racthing. It hasth Lola on it. You'll remember her from thisth. Trustht me." He explained. I took the game and looked at it with a smile.

"Thanks, Sly." I said to him as I wiped my tears. "Can you take us to the animal shelter to settle this issue with the boss?"

"Sure, Ztheon. Lola, you're coming with usth." He walked to the garage. I looked at Lola with a tearful smile as she picked me up and cuddled me in her arms like a baby. She patted me on the head as she followed Sylvester.

"I'm gonna let ya'll do the talkin'." I told her. She nodded in response as she leaned down and kissed me on my right cheek lovingly. I blushed a deep red as I saw Celica run in after us.

"I'm coming with you." She said as she hopped in before us.

Later…

Sylvester, Lola, Celica, and I were on our way to the ACME Animal Santuary in Sylvester's shiny, green, and massive Ford F-250. Sylvester was driving while Lola was in the passenger seat and Celica and I were in the back seat. We were quiet throughout the whole ride. Nobody saying a word until we got there. When we did, we all walked in, hand-in-hand, with determined looks on our faces. As we approached the counter, Lola propped me up on top of it and the cashier looked familiar. He trembled with fear as he spoke.

"Oh, God!" He exclaimed. "You're dat dog that nearly murdered me!"

"Yeah, that's me alright." I said sarcastically. "I'll murder you completely if you don't let us see the boss." I shook a fist of fury at him. That made him nervous as he opened the counter entrance and allowed us in as he escorted us to the boss' office. His name was Carl Shoko. He was sitting in his chair behind his desk as he was smoking a cigar. He turned around cooly and looked furiously at us.

"What da hell do ya'll want?" He asked us in an angry tone. I kept my mouth shut as I allowed Lola, Sylvester, and Celica to do the talking.

"We're here to get my ID back." Lola replied. Carl sat back in his chair.

"And exactly how are ya gonna get it back, huh?"

"We're gonna have a small talk. Now, earlier this month, we had a meeting about how much we should charge for the pets here. I suggested at least 5 dollars for mammals and birds, 10 dollars for fish, and 15 dollars for amphibians and reptiles. Not 500 dollars a pet!" She yelled the last part at the top of her lungs. She slammed him like a professional wrestler like hell. For a Looney Tune, she sure can plant some fatal bullshit on somebody's ass. Sylvester spoke next.

"You haven't been listhtening, have you?" He asked cooly. Carl laughed nervously.

"Heh, heh. I guess not… but, who the hell cares? I'm the boss and I make the rules." He replied. Lola got out of her seat.

"Well, I'm the supporting supervisior for the shelter and what I say goes, bastard!" She yelled with determination. I whistled sexually after that. She was really hitting him hard. Celica was thinking the same thing.

"Ya know, Zeon," She whispered to me. "Lola can really tell a boss who's boss." I nodded in agreement as Carl showed a look of disappointment.

"I guess, if you say so. I'll reduce the prices and get your ID remade by tomorrow." He replied calmly as he shook her hand. "Sorry I misjudged you."

"Apology accepted." Lola replied as she released his hand and walked out. We followed after her and got in the truck. As we drove off, Celica and I busted out laughing in the back seat.

"Damn, Lola!" I exclaimed. "You really showed his ass!"

"Thanks." She blushed. "I usually let my bubbles burst when it comes to something like this."

"Ya better believe it!" Sylvester agreed. "Stho, onward to your housthe?"

"Yeah. You know where it is?"

"Yep. I'll get ya there in no time."

A few minutes later…

"We're here!" Sylvester sang out as he parked in the driveway of my house. I looked out the window of the truck with a determined look on my face. I was ready to show my mom how it feels to be rejected by a close member of the family. Lola looked concerned as she followed me inside along with Sylvester and Celica. As we went inside, I saw my dad, mom, and younger brother, Tony, who smiled along with my dad as we closed the door.

"Zeon!" Kelvin yelled. "You're back! We missed ya, lil' bro."

"I missed ya'll too." I agreed. My dad stayed in his seat as I walked up to my mother, who showed a look of anger.

"Well, well, well," She started with her arms crossed. "Look who came back."

"Mom, I'm here to settle this once and for all." I started before I jumped up on the circular table and continued. "Back then, you didn't give a damn about me all because I was short. You always blamed me or Jerami for any type of mistake we've never done and not Tony. I'm wonderin' why?" My mom was about to speak, but I interrupted her. "Don't answer that! I'm just asking you so you can test me. How dumb do you think I am? Huh? Do you think I'm as dumb as a donkey or as dumb as a blue footed booby? I'll answer that for you! I'm neither of them. The only person that's dumber-than-dumb is YOU!" Everybody applauded after that big speech I just spoke. Lola was impressed at my determination. She stood up for me as well as Sylvester and Tony. My dad just sat there clapping. Mother looked furious.

"How dare you yell at me like that, boy?" She furiously asked me. I ignored her.

"I can, Mother. I'm 22 years old! Not 13!" I yelled back. She huffed at that reply.

"Well! I guess you'll be just fine without me, right?" My eyelids narrowed.

"My thoughts exactly." I replied cooly. Tony and Celica whistled after that remark. Mother was pissed off now. She didn't say another word. All she did was stand up, stomp to her bedroom, pack up, and leave, slamming the door behind her. That made me feel good… and tired. I collasped on the table top as Lola picked me up and hugged me with passion.

"Oh, Zeon!" She pleaded to me. "You were so brave! You really showed you mom not to mess with you."

"Well… " I started exhaustedly. "… ya know what they say. Revenge is a package of your anger and you'll never unwrap it until you let it out. I learned that from my grandfather."

"Well, he taught ya well, doc." Bugs called from outta nowhere. We all turned around to see him and all the other Looney Tunes. I smiled as I regained myself.

"So, Zeon," Bugs started as he walked up to Lola, who was still holding me in her arms. "Dis is it, huh?"

"Yeah." I replied, bowing my head. "It's been great bein' wit ya'll. And thanks to Lola, I would've never gotten a better revival of my life. Thanks, baby." Lola smiled with tears in her eyes.

"Zeon, that's so sweet." She replied, holding me close. "Always remember me, okay?"

"I will." She settled me down as she slowly pulled out the Space Jam DVD.

"Here. You can have this to remember me by." She told me. "You do have a Playstation, right?"

"Actually, I have a Playstation 2, but I can still play Looney Tunes Racing. I'll use you all the time."

"Thanks, Z." She leaned foreward and kissed me on the forehead. I just smiled as I saw her beautiful, but sparkling eyes swell up with tears as she walked away with Bugs and the others. Celica, Jerami, Midnight, the cubs, Father, and Kelvin were all in tears as they saw me run out after her, still holding the video game and DVD in my hand. When I came outside, Lola had already slammed the car door shut. She looked out the window with sadness as she blew a kiss at me before Sylvester finally drove off. I watched the green truck leave and as it turned the corner, I began to leak tears and sniffle softly. Celica walked out behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. She escorted me back inside and as she did, I was talking to myself in my head:

'Lola, you were an outstanding friend to me. You made my life better and cheered me up within days. With this game and this movie, I should slways remember you, no matter what happens to me. Hopefully, we'll see each other again someday and hope for a newer lifestyle ahead for both of us. Thank you for everything.'

The end