A Series of Unfortunate Events

(I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the products mentioned in this fic. Just so you know, I don't get paid for this so suing me isn't going to get much other than maybe a beat up station wagon and three cats that eat a lot and make as big a mess.)

Chapter 1

Chicken Bones (Duke's Day)

Duke sat at his desk, staring at a blank screen. He didn't know what to write in response to the email he received from his bank. His father told him earlier that week that he's now responsible for all the bills and that he's moving back to America to save his marriage. Duke was at a standstill.

Sure that his business was successful and the once steaming cup of coffee and hot plate of chicken wings had long since grown cold. He had lost his appetite and was feeling the adrenaline pump from the email once he had read it.

He would start to type something, then stop himself to read it aloud, but the letters that he started didn't' sound professional or mature enough for the ones that would read it. He stood up from his desk and paced the room. His long, thick black locks seemed to have a mind of their own and would stay in place for him. That was the start of his bad day.

Duke thought about random things that lead up to this event. The first thing was his hair. No matter how hard he tried, his hair would not behave so he pulled it all under a yellow and red beanie that he once wore when he was a freshman in high school in San Francisco.

When he tried to make breakfast this morning, his toaster caught fire from the piece of bread that got wedged in the fins and wouldn't come out. To top off his morning, his favorite shirt ripped when he bumped into an exposed nail when he rushed out his back door with the enflamed appliance to put out the fire with a water hose which caused his socks to get wet.

The icing on the lopsided cake was when he went to fetch his mail from this afternoon's delivery, he stepped in an anthill and was bitten to where his foot swelled up from the tiny bites which called him to itch.

He finally got his courage together to compose the letter that the bank needed in response. He turned his emotions inward and sat back behind his desk to complete his task.

After thirty minutes, his words flowed. He didn't let what bothered him from the course of the day get him down, but he wasn't happy that he had to do this task alone. He really wished that his father was here to help him, but then again, he smirked to himself. 'Dad doesn't have to hold my hand. I can do this.'

Satisfied with his letter to the bank, he moved the mouse to click on the send button on the screen and sat back with a sigh. 'At least I did something today that I feel is worth while. I just hope that the bank sees that too. I really need this loan to expand my shop.'

Later on that evening, he was watching TV to relax from his hectic day of small mishaps and a near miss with a truck while he was driving to the store. He thanked his lucky stars that he had quick reflexes.

Even though his day didn't start out well, he was grateful that he was able to accomplish the one task that gave him the most disconcerting thoughts; the letter to the bank. He was also thankful that nothing seriously went wrong through the course of the day that caused irreparable damage.

With a sigh, he turned off the TV and fell asleep on the couch.