Insides > Outsides

CHAPTER 1: Mrs. Tigra Teaches the Wrong Lesson

Theodore Tigra wasn’t the average little tiger. He wasn’t the captain of the basketball or debate team his father wanted and expected him to grow up to be. But Theodore's parents almost controlled the big decisions in his life. His father, Nigel Tigra, was never around because he spent all of his time working as the President of National University. Nigel was rich and powerful, and married a trophy wife. Everyone expected Theodore to grow up in his father’s footsteps. Although he was tall, intelligent, and strong for his age, he enjoyed more relaxed activities like reading books, watching old black and white films, and cooking in the kitchen with his grandmother.

“What do you think you’re doing in this kitchen?” his mother, Mitzie Tigra, lit a cigarette and somehow managed to remain dainty looking. Her fur and stripes were still vibrant and glossy. That was her job as a trophy wife to a humble, yet powerful, man. “A kitchen isn’t a place for a little tiger to be. You should be outside doing something boys your age like to do.”

Theodore’s grandmother, Winona, was nothing like Theodore's mom. She was a kind and patient woman who loved spending as much time as possible with her grandson.

“I think a boy should learn how to cook. Not that he’s going to be in the kitchen at all hours of the day. But what if he’s hungry and there isn’t anyone else around to make him a sandwich?” she said, stirring a pot of homemade vegetable soup. 

“Well, that’s what delivery is for,” Theodore's mother flicked her cigarette ashes into her empty mug of coffee. She never ate breakfast. In fact, she never ate at all. Most of her caloric intake came from sucking on cigarettes and endlessly drinking coffee with lots of cream and sugar. 

Even though Theodore's mom wasn’t what you would call healthy on the inside, she was gorgeous on the outside. She had long silky fur, perfect bone structure and high cheekbones, a perfect body, and wore expensive and elegant clothes. To her, a woman’s worth was in how she looked to the world. A woman had to have the perfect outfit and never wear the same thing twice a month. She needed to have a full face of make-up and beautifully manicured nails as well. For Mitzie, any woman that wasn’t flawless in her appearance wasn’t a woman at all.

“Mom, if you took better care of yourself all these years,” Mitzie took a look at her old mother and a long drag of her cigarette then exhaled smoke like a fire-breathing dragon. “You might not have to have spent so much time in the kitchen. Maybe a man would have married you again after dad died and took you out to eat every day. I mean, look at me. Nigel and I go out for dinner almost every day.”

“No, Nigel goes out for dinner,” Winona corrected her daughter. “You just sit there not eating a thing and smoking like a train.”

“I don’t want to be fat mom,” Mitzie dropped her cigarette into her coffee mug, stood up, and walked out of the kitchen. 

Winona stopped arguing with Mitzie and concentrated on checking the softness of the potatoes and carrots in the soup. Theodore couldn’t help but notice how different his mother and grandmother were. Not only did they look different because there were not the same age, but their attitude in life and what they considered important and beautiful were nowhere near the same.

Winona saved money by using everything she had. Water, food, clothing, and most importantly, time. She owned one pair of shoes, a few dresses, one bottle of shampoo, and one bar of soap at a time. Everything she bought, she bought in moderation and often taught Theodore not to be wasteful with anything because shopping was a waste of money and bad for the planet because of overconsumption.

“When I was a little girl, I was like your mother,” she told Theodore as she spooned two bowls of soup into two small white bowls. “I used to think that if I had lots of money and bought everything that I wanted, then I would be happy.”

“Buying stuff doesn’t make you happy, Grandma?”

“Well, if it’s a dress I love, then I might be happy to buy it for a while, but no matter how many pairs of shoes or shiny purses I bought, my happiness never lasted long. I realized that true happiness came from the inside. Things like learning languages, working hard on the hobbies that I love, and helping other people –like homeless people, was where I found my real joy.”

Theodore thought about what his grandmother said and wasn’t sure if he believed her. Theodore loved getting toys on his birthday and was ecstatic every time he got anything that had Super Tiger or Bat Rat on it. Those were his favorite superheroes in the whole world. 

“When you place your happiness in material things,” his grandmother said. “You’re only going to be as happy as the things you own. And the things you own end up owning you.”

Theodore didn’t really understand what his grandmother meant by the things you own end up owning you. But one thing he could see was how kind and happy his grandmother was and how miserably unsatisfied his mother was. She was the most beautiful woman in the neighborhood yet so miserable. He never understood how his father chose her as a wife.

CHAPTER 2: The “Perfect” Match

The years passed, and Theodore graduated from high school and then from law school. He was now a very successful working man in a law firm and even more successful than his father, Nigel. He made a lot of money, had a high position of power, and was very good-looking because Theodore had done everything everyone told him to do. He had a house, a car, an important job, friends, and lots of money. The only thing Theodore didn’t have was love, and everyone in his family pressured him to get married, especially his mother.

“Son,” she said, still smoking cigarettes. She still looked the same, not because she ate well, exercised, and slept eight hours a night, but because she had plastic surgery over the years to hide her age. “A good-looking, successful man like you should have a beautiful wife to come home to. Don’t you think it’s time you started thinking about settling down?”

“Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to settle down. It’s just I want to find a woman that I love and not just anyone. The woman that I marry is going to be the mother of my cubs and will share everything with me in life,” Theodore said. “I want to find the perfect woman.”

“Is there anyone that has caught your eye? Maybe a partner or some client?” Mitzi asked. “There’s got to be someone that you find attractive, right?”

Mitzie could see that her son looked like he had a lot to say but didn’t want to tell her anything. But Theodore did like somebody, and he did want to tell his mother about the lioness he was falling in love with.

“Come on, son,” Mitzie ran her long acrylic fingernail down her son’s furry orange and black striped cheek. “I’m your mother. You can tell me anything.”

“Well,” Theodore's face grew pink from embarrassment. “There is a new lioness secretary at work named Leah. She’s modest, you know. She dresses in long skirts and wears these silver glasses that look nice on her. She reminds me of how lovely grandma was. I like her, and I asked her out on a date-“

“Someone that reminds you of grandma?” Mitzie almost dropped her cigarette from her claw. She thought about how frumpy her mother looked when she was alive and would never allow Theodore to marry a poor ugly woman. “What in the world could you possibly want with a secretary? If you’re going to marry anybody that reminds you of anybody, it’s going to be someone that reminds you of me. That’s what they say, girls marry men like their fathers, and boys marry women like their mothers.”

Theodore was taken aback by his mother’s reaction to Leah. She hadn’t scolded him with the same tone in her voice like this since he was a kid cooking soup with his grandmother in her kitchen. Mitzie went on and on about how Theodore needed a woman that matched him. She told him that he had worked so hard and for so many years that he needed to be with someone at his own level, but he knew it wasn’t really about his status. It was more about what other people would think if Theodore married a girl that wasn’t traditionally beautiful.

“But she’s nice and kind,” Theodore tried to defend Leah. “She’s a beautiful person.”

“Beautiful person? Nice and kind? Ha!” Mitzie mocked Theodore. “Who cares? Do you think a nice and kind woman is going to help you get ahead in life? You need a tiger because you’re a tiger.”

Although Theodore disagreed with his mother, he wanted to make her happy, and he knew she would never shut up about him finding a sharp-looking woman until he married one. 

The next day at work, Theodore walked in the law firm and brought in a cup of coffee to Leah sitting behind the reception desk. He had to break off their relationship before it even started.

“I brought you your favorite drink because I don’t want you to hate me,” Theodore said, putting the paper cup with a black lid on the reception counter. “I have some bad news to tell you.”

“You found out about my other lawyer boyfriend, didn’t you,” Leah teased Theodore. Her hair was up in a bun, and she wasn’t wearing any make-up but still looked absolutely radiant. “Don’t worry, I only date him Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You can still have me the other four days of the week.”

He laughed because she was funny, but his heart broke a little bit knowing he wasn’t going to be seeing Leah anymore. While he told her the bad news, Theodore's long-legged, supermodel-looking white panther partner Jessica walked in and gave him a delicious look. For some reason. Nobody in the office liked her. Not even the guys.

“Good morning Theo,” she winked and smiled at Theodore like a playful kitten.

“Oh, I see, Theo,” Leah said. “That’s the kind of girl you’re looking for.”

“No, it’s not like that,” Theodore tried to explain.

“I’m just a nobody that doesn’t spend three hundred dollars on a pair of shoes. I get it.” Leah said.  

“It’s my mom,” Theodore looked like he wanted to cry. “She wants me to marry, uh, someone at my level. And you know how when you marry someone the whole family is practically marrying another family-”

“I don’t even know what that means, but I don’t care, Theodore,” Leah lowered her voice because they were still in the office. “I took this job so that I could still have time to work on a non-profit organization that a few investors are dedicating to serving the homeless in the community, and I dress like this because I want people to like me for who I am on the inside and not for the shiny things I wear on the outside.”

“I do like you,” Theodore pleaded. “But this isn’t about me. I have to do what my mom says. She’s never going to stop complaining. You know how tiger moms are.”

“No problem. In fact, you’re setting me free to find someone who will love me for me. So, if you’re done wasting my time, I need to get back to work. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have unimportant work to do,” Leah took a stack of folders and walked away. 

Theodore had never seen Leah be so cold. She went from funny and cute to as hard as stone in a moment. He knew that he hurt her, and he deserved it. He tried not to think about it and chased Jessica down into her office and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Jessica said, signing documents for court.

Theodore walked in out of breath.

“Hey Jessica,” Theodore said, fixing his tie. “I know we’ve been partners for a while, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long, but would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

Jessica stopped what she was doing and set her ballpoint pen down on the expensive glass table in her office, “I thought you would never ask.”

CHAPTER 3: You Can’t Fool All of the People All of the Time

Theo called his mother on his cell phone and she answered.

“Mom, I asked Jessica out.”

“Your partner at the firm?”

“Yes.”

Mitzie had seen photos of Jessica Pantherson in the newspaper, and she approved. Jessica was a well-dressed and polished panther. Everything about her was perfect. She had perfect hair. Perfect teeth. Perfect clothes and make-up and a socially well networked family. Everyone knew the Panthersons. There wasn’t really anything about Jessica that Mitzie didn’t like.

“Where are you two going out for dinner?”

“To your place.”

“You’re bringing her here?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“So you can meet my future wife. Isn’t that what you wanted? For me to marry the perfect trophy wife?”

Mitzie was so happy to hear that Theo wanted to marry the perfect woman.

“But who’s going to cook?”

“You are, Mom. Dad’s always at the university. I’d invite him, but he’s always at work or in meetings.”

“But you know I don’t cook.”

“You’ll think of something.”

Theodore hung up the phone while Mitzie struggled to figure what she was going to do for dinner. Later that evening, the doorbell rang, and Mitzie opened the front door. In front of her stood her son and his beautiful date.

“It’s like I’m looking at myself 30 years ago,” Mitzie said, kissing Jessica on the cheek. “Do come in, my sweet girl.”

The three of them walked down the long hallway and into the dining room. The table was set with designer dishware, and there were serving dishes filled with grilled fish, braised eggplant and zucchinis, a garden mixed kale salad, a basket of fresh-baked sourdough bread, and a bottle of Chardonnay chilling in a bucket of ice.

“You did all of this?” Jessica asked Mitzie. “I wish I knew how to cook, but I don’t even know how to boil water.”

“Oh, don’t be silly, dear,” Mitzie laughed. “My husband leaves me his credit card, and I ordered this all from the city’s most hip catering company. I can’t make anything but a cup of coffee, and sometimes I even mess that up.”

The girls laughed.

“I learned how to cook,” Theodore said. “My grandma taught me when I was a kid.”

Mitzie and Jessica ignored Theodore and kept chatting up a storm like two long-lost sisters. Although he thought about Leah more than he wanted to admit, he was happy that his mother approved of Jessica. They soon sat down, and Theodore served his mother and girlfriend. He sat through their conversation, not getting a word into any of it. It was as if he wasn’t there. 

“You know how hard it is to balance work and a beauty regimen,” Jessica said, nodding for Theodore to pour her another glass of wine. “I wanted it all, you know? ever since I was a kid, I wanted to marry a successful man and still be the most beautiful woman in any room. My family will be pleased to hear Theo and I are now together.”

“Well, my new daughter, it seems you are about to have it all,” Mitzie giggled like a little girl. 

Theodore almost felt embarrassed for his mother, but there was nothing he could do. He almost regretted bringing Jessica to the house. By the end of the evening, Mitzie and Jessica talked about the size of the wedding ring Theo was going to buy.

“Oh, honey,” Jessica wrapped her arms around Theodore on the drive home. “Now that we’re going to get married, I’m going to need to get my nails and hair done. We’re going to have to start looking for our new house and pick baby names for our cubs. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. First things first, I’ll need a new dress and jewelry, of course.”

“Anything you need, pumpkin,” Theo wondered if his father said the same careless things to his mother. 

“I’ll need your credit card, of course,” Jessica batted her long, curly eyelashes at her new fiancé. “We have to have to get to a jewelry store as soon as possible, so we can get sized for our rings.”

Jessica told Theodore she was going to move into his house that night. He drove Jessica to her place and helped her pack six suitcases of dresses, jackets, sweaters, shoes, make-up, shampoo, hair conditioner, lotions, massage oils, perfumes, jewelry, and purses. The luggage barely fit in his car.  

What have I done? Theodore thought. I miss Leah. 

CHAPTER 4: Well, That Escalated Quickly

It didn’t take long for the entire office to learn about Theodore and Jessica’s engagement. Theodore's boss Mr. Johnston gave him a bottle of expensive champagne and a job promotion as a wedding gift. 

“Theodore,” Mr. Johnston said, pouring two glasses of whiskey into two crystal glasses. “It’s not every day that a man finds a remarkable trophy woman to marry.”

The only remarkable thing about Jessica is how much money she spends on her vanity, Theodore thought to himself. But it was too late, they were getting married in two weeks.

“I’m passing the controversial vaccination case, you know the one where we’ll be using the pharmaceutical company for injecting people with an untested and unsafe drug,” Mr. Johnston handed Theodore a glass of whiskey and held the other one up for a toast. “By the time we settle in court, you’ll be a multi-millionaire and the most famous lawyer in Midland.”

Theodore couldn’t believe it. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Congratulations on your wedding, my friend, cheers,” Mr. Johnston clinked glasses with Theo and drank the whiskey down in one big gulp.

The rest of the day, people gave Theodore bottles of imported whisky and envelopes filled with money as gifts. To Theodore’s surprise, Jessica had turned in her two-week notice by lunchtime.

“You’re quitting the firm?” Theodore asked in a local café while the two of them ate sandwiches and drank coffee for lunch.

“With the court case you’re taking and me getting pregnant, I’ll want to be a stay-at-home wife,” Jessica said.

Theodore spit coffee out of his nose, “What! You’re pregnant?” 

“No, silly,” Jessica played with the fur on top of Theodore's head. “But I will be soon enough.”

It didn’t take long for Jessica to make herself as comfortable as a cucumber and start planning to spend Theodore's money like it was growing off trees.  

“Enjoy your day at work, hubby,” she said the next morning, kissing Theodore on the cheek. 

“I will,” Theodore put on his overcoat and was heading out the door. “And what are you going to do today?”

“Oh, you know, just a little bit of shopping,” Jessica said. “I need to start looking for a wedding dress, and I’ll be meeting with the wedding planner in the afternoon to start making arrangements for the big day. Cake, seating arrangements, flowers, the banquet hall, the honeymoon. It’s going to be a lot of planning and cost a pretty penny. Thank god, you can afford it.”

Theodore was silent but he could feel himself getting upset. He tried not to think about how stressed out he was feeling when he went off to work to prepare for his big case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the region. Although he was anxious, he was excited he had a reason to talk to Leah and ask her to take depositions from key witnesses and file preliminary paperwork down at the courthouse.

“Leah, it’s great to see you,” Theodore was genuinely happy to see Leah plainly dressed and her hair up in a bun behind the reception desk. Her tame clothes and simple smile made him feel like he was coming home. It was only after seeing her that he realized how peaceful and happy she made him feel.

“I heard you’re getting married to Jessica,” Leah said, handing him a folder full of signed documents. “I can’t say I’m not a bit jealous because I am. But I have never been one to wish anyone bad luck over love.”

“Leah,” when Theodore took the envelope from her hand, he held onto it. “I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

Leah did her best to ignore what Theodore said, “The depositions have been signed and notarized. I have to get back to work.”

She turned and walked away from Theodore when his cellphone dinged and received a text message from Jessica:

 I have a surprise at 1215 Olive Drive, meet me at our new house! It’s the most expensive building on the block! I’m with an interior decorator, and I’m picking out paintings from Devon Lars to hang in the living room and in all the bedrooms! The most famous painter in the nation! He’s only charging us 20,000 NXD a piece! 

The phone dinged again:

I just pre-ordered two his and her matching electric Tesland cars? They have silver and blue. What color car do you want? We’re going to be the most famous couple in the city, babe. I’m so excited to marry you!

You would think Theodore would have gone crazy reading what Jessica had written, but he didn’t feel crazy. He didn’t feel anything but sad about Leah. 

“How’s the vaccine case coming along, champ?” Mr. Johnston play punched Theodore in the arm while he passed him in the arm.

“Ronaldo,” Theodore never called Mr. Johnston by his first name. “I’m going to need the rest of the day off. I have a lot going on-”

“Is it wedding jitters?” Mr. Johnston put his hand on Theodore's shoulder and firmly squeezed it. “Don’t worry, son, every man gets them. It’s normal to get cold feet, but the important thing is to remember how perfect she is. Take the week off. We’re still waiting on data from the hospital and research facility anyway. It’ll do you good to take a short break before the most important project of your life and getting married too.”

Theodore fake laughed at the joke and packed up his briefcase as fast as he could. Five minutes later, he was on the road driving home, not to his new house, but to his old place.

CHAPTER 5: A Strange, but Honest, Dream

Theodore's phone rang and rang call after call and dinged message after message. He didn’t answer or respond to any of them. When Theo got home, his house was empty. In one day, Jessica had managed to pack up the dishes, his clothes, computers, books, furniture, and the family photographs that meant more to Theodore than anything he owned. The house he had lived in for the past five years was now as bare as a skeleton. 

In a way, Theodore was grateful. With the absence of all the clutter in his life, he felt peace. The quiet was something he was grateful for as he laid down on the wooden floor and fell asleep still wearing his three-piece suit. The doorbell rang and rang, and there were many knocks on the door, but Theodore ignored all of it. Although the ground was hard and cold, he slept like a baby and dreamed about his grandmother. They were walking in a park full of flying carrots and potatoes. As bizarre as the dream was, Theodore was so humbled to see his grandma.

“You were right grandma, it’s the little things that make us happy,” Theodore hugged her as a carrot flapped its wings above. “I’m getting married to a terrible woman. All she cares about is spending money and looking perfect. She’s exactly like Mom.”

“Theodore,” Winona squeezed Theodore's paw. He could feel how warm and soft it was, and even though potatoes were rolling next to him like tire wheels, she was so real. “Money and appearances will never make you happy from the outside. If I ever taught you anything while I was alive, it is that real beauty and happiness come from the inside, and that will always be true.”

When Theodore woke up, a wave of calmness and a feeling that everything would be okay washed over him. He got up, washed his face, and picked up his phone. There were 42 missed calls, and his inbox was filled with too many messages to read. Theo drove to 1215 Olive Drive to confront Jessica.

CHAPTER 6: The Roar Heard Around the World

When Theodore pulled up to the estate, it was gated and had a long driveway. It looked like some famous movie director lived in. The driveway was full of expensive parked cars. People were walking in with marble tables, large screen televisions, porcelain statues, dry cleaned clothes, oversized leather couches, fancy chairs, crystal chandeliers, skis, and even a man wearing a butler suit was serving cocktails off a silver tray to the workers.

“What’s going on?” Theodore got out of his car and walked up the long sidewalk to the front door.

“Excuse me,” a weasel wearing a gray uniform said, quickly walking up the sidewalk behind Theodore. “I don’t want to be late. I hear the Misses of the house is a real tiger.”

“Um, hello, I’m the owner of the house,” Theodore was having a hard time understanding what the man was doing there. “Can I help you with something?”

“I’m here to build a swimming pool and install a jacuzzi,” the weasel said and rushed into the backyard. 

What is going on here? Theodore walked into the house and was stunned to see how high the ceilings were. A man was on a 5M tall ladder drilling a hole in the wall to install one of the many crystal chandeliers.

“Theodore! My lovely boy!” Mitzie was holding a long golden cigarette holder with her long, red-painted fingernails. “Look at what your future wife is making.”

She swung her arm around in a half-circle to show off the glamour of the house.

“Mom,” Theodore felt the blood in his veins start to pump hotter and faster. “We need to talk.”

“Oh, not now, Theodore,” Mitzie took a hard drag off her cigarette holder. “I have to help choose the color of the swimming pool tiles and the lights we are going to install. By the time Jessica and I are done with the house, you’ll be the most adored man in the entire city.”

The veins in Theodore’s head were about to explode. His eyes grew vicious and he roared so loud it put fear into the heart of anyone that heard, “EVERYONE, GET OUT!”

The movers froze, Jessica walked into the foyer and froze, and even the fierce Mitzie froze. Nobody said a word as Theodore pointed to the door, and one by one, the movers set the furniture and overpriced housing accessories on the group and walked out of the house. Even the swimming pool weasel and butler left.

The look on Theodore's face changed. He was no longer the soft, weak little boy that once stood in front of his mother full of fear when he spoke. For the first time, he was a full-grown tiger and nobody was going to tell him what to do. 

Theodore's voice was eerily calm. “Jacuzzis, chandeliers, matching electric cars, porcelain statues, a trophy wife, nothing.”

“Nothing?” Mitzie’s face showed the first wrinkles Theodore had ever seen.

“I lost someone very important to me because ever since I was little, you convinced me that a person’s worth was found in the car he drove, the money he had in the bank, the job he had, and the outside appearance of the woman he married,” Theodore spoke as if he was cursing his mother. “I believed you. And today, I found out you were wrong.”

“But I-“Jessica tried to speak.

“Shhhh!” Theodore cut her off. “Jessica, I don’t love you. I’m not going to marry you.”

“What!” Jessica’s face grew red with anger. “You’re not going to marry me? I quit my job for you! I even booked three plastic surgeries for you! My father is going to kill you!”

Theodore cringed at the thought of Jessica cutting up her body, thinking it would make her prettier when he just realized she was the ugliest woman he’d ever met. “Nobody asked you to give up your life’s dream and hard work,” Theo said firmly. “And please don’t cut up your body for me and tell your father whatever you want. I’d like to speak to him about the kind of woman you are.”

“You don’t love Jessica?” Mitzie was shocked at Theodore's change in behavior.

“How could I?” Theodore said. “She’s empty on the inside, just like you. All she cares about is money and buying fancy things so that people will like her, just like you. And guess what, it didn’t work, Mom. If I took away your clothes and make-up, all that would be left is how incredibly ugly the both of you are.”

“I don’t need to stand here and listen to this,” Jessica walked into the enormous kitchen, grabbed her purse and car keys, and started walking out the front door.

“Don’t take the new car. It isn’t yours. It’s mine,” Theodore said. “Everything you bought with my credit card is mine.”

Jessica threw the car keys on the ground, and they skidded across the marble floor. 

“I hate you, Theo,” Jessica said.

“No, you don’t, Jessica,” Theodore had pity in his eyes for Jessica. “When I was in college, I read an article in a psychology magazine that said people with low self-esteem are usually shopaholics to compensate for the lack of approval and validation from their peers, family, and society overall. You might want to think about that because one day your beauty will fade, and all you’re going to be left with is a bunch of stuff that you wasted money on and the person you are -which isn’t very attractive, by the way.”

“Whatever!” Jessica put her hand on the doorknob and was about to leave. “Good luck finding someone better than me!”

Theodore laughed, “I already have. Her name is Leah.”

Jessica slammed the door.

“Son,” Mitzie tried to apologize. “Maybe I was wrong for not teaching you the right lessons in life.”

“It’s okay,” Theodore said. “Because Grandma did.”

Theodore called the realtor and told them that the house was purchased without his consent. 

“You sure you don’t want to keep the house or anything in it?” Mitzie asked Theodore as he called the credit card company to cancel his credit cards. 

“No,” Theodore said. “The things you own end up owning you, and I want to be free.”

Mitzie nodded her head and didn’t argue with Theodore about anything anymore. She was proud to see her cub had finally grown up to be a tiger.

“What about that nice girl Leah,” she asked, trying to change her ways and be more accepting of Theodore's choices in life. “Are you going to ask her out?”

Theodore exhaled as he hung up the telephone, “I’m afraid I ruined my chances with her.”

“I’m sure she’d give you another chance if you told her about everything that happened.”

Theodore smiled as best as he could.

CHAPTER 7: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

A month later, all the drama had died down in Theodore's life. Jessica got a new job at a different law firm, and Theodore got all of his money back on the house, the electric cars, and everything else Jessica had splurged on. On Monday morning, he met Leah outside of the courtroom.

“You’re all set,” Leah straightened Theodore's tie. “The case is going to be huge, so be prepared for newspaper reporters and television crews to swarm you as soon as the hearing is over. This is going to change policy across the nation on the lockdowns for the virus. And the pharmaceutical companies aren’t going to go down without a fight. It’s a trillion-dollar loss if the vaccines get recalled.”

“I don’t deserve your kindness after how I treated you, Leah,” Theodore said. 

“It’s okay. I’m just nice because it’s my last day at work,” Leah stepped back and smiled. “My grant got approved, and I meet my partners on Monday. I’m taking the next few days to get my proposals ready, so we can start setting up community outreach as soon as possible.”

Just then, a homeless dog wearing rags with dirt in his fur walked past them.

“Hold on,” Theodore approached the dirty dog and spoke to him for a moment. Theo pulled out his wallet and gave him a 10 NXD bill. He jogged back to Leah. “I never got to thank you for making me realize how our true character shows in our actions and not in the things we buy. I could buy the whole everything I ever wanted and still be miserable. My grandma taught me that, and I’m trying to be more beautiful.”

Leah laughed.

“On the inside, I mean,” Theodore laughed too.

“You didn’t just give that homeless dog money to try and impress me, did you?”

“No. I’ve been giving a little bit of money or any food that I have away every day. Yesterday, I bought a loaf of bread but gave it away to homeless cat. I figured I could buy some more on my way home. And to be honest, I feel really good about it.”

“Thank you, sir,” the dog called out to Theo before walking away. “You made my day.”

“Seems like you’re turning a new leaf,” Leah said. “And I never thought I’d ask this, especially after what happened between us already, but would you like to go out with me?”

Theodore's heart fell to his feet, “There is nothing in the world that could make me happier.”