Chapter 33

The Mableton theater is quite famous not only for its size and modern architecture, but also by its talented artists and fascinating shows. It has shows that fit everyone's tastes. Hilarious, dramatic, action-packed and most shows are to be enjoyed with family. Today for example, they were showing the musical 'a family of ten and a half'.

The show was about three or rather four families brought together by a mutual beloved's death. The first one, a family of two brothers and a sister who tried to survive after their parents' death. They were originally from a wealthy family, and their parents often traveled for business, having little to no time to spend together as each one had his own life to live.

After their parents passed away, all their money was confiscated by debt collectors and they were thrown out to live a completely different life as commoners. They scraped the remainder of their money and traveled to the suburbs to live with their father's friends as they had no other family.

At the huge ranch they moved into, there were no servants to cater to their needs, and they had to learn to live independently with not only each other, but six other people and a dog. Those people were three of their parents' friends, each with their own family.

Carter, Martin, and Johnson were all Mr. And Mrs. Drew's friends, but they couldn't get along at all. Martin was a successful teacher and had two kids, from his first wife, and a daughter from his second wife. He was a kind romantic guy, but he had no idea how to take care of children as a nanny had always done so. He seemed to believe that a curse had befallen him, that every woman he fell in love with and married passed away soon after, from an unfortunate accident.

Carter never seemed to have any luck with the ladies as he worked in the farm and took care of barn animals all day long with his dog, Jimbo. He didn't seem to mind as he loved doing so, and as he always said, 'Jimbo understands me better.' For a loud person, he sure did hate any sort of human communication after his parents' death.

As for Johnson, he just filed a divorce after his wife cheated on him and ran away with her 'true love', stealing all their savings and leaving him alone with nothing but a short letter and a daughter to take care of. So he decided to leave his busy life in the city and move to the countryside to take care of his daughter and his deceased friend's children, in hopes of a fresh start.

The four families join together in the ranch and try to cope with their new lives in the countryside. They face multiple difficulties trying to live with each other, as the three adults find a way to take care of the children and work their differences especially after the nanny quit, the kids went missing, and they are at risk of losing the ranch.

At the end of the show, Carter got married to the sweet girl next door who helped them save the ranch. Martin found a job in town to support the large family, and the children learned to get along with each other. Johnson got stuck with domestic chores and caring for the children, but he managed to make it work.

After many action-packed events that had the audience tear up sometimes but mostly laugh their hearts out, and a bunch of lyrical songs with catchy tunes, the show came to an end with the whole family gathered for dinner. And everyone learned that a family didn't need to have a mother, father, and children, it was enough for a group of people to love and care for each other, even if they feel like they can't stand them at times.

After the musical ended, Andrew and Amourora went for a second lunch as all the laughing and crying made them hungry. On the way, they took a detour to get to a specific restaurant at the other side of the capital faster, but happened to bump into a crowd.

"what's going on?" Amourora asked curiously.

"ah," a passerby who stood to watch sighed. "that little girl is stealing again, and this time she even has an accomplice. Where are these childrens parents, eh?"

Amourora elbowed her way into the center of the crowd before Andrew could say anything. In the middle was a stand owner beating up a kid, and a girl was trying to stop him.

Isn't that... That's... Wait...she couldn't get a clear view of the girl because of her disguise. The boy also in shabby clothes and cape, was receiving most of the hits, trying to protect the girl, held some resemblance to a familiar face. But where did she see it?...

" Stop it! We didn't steal anything! "she pulled the man's strong arms stubbornly." we paid for it! You have no evidence we stole your goods. "

" you say that shit each time, you even made me chase you across the city! "the man beat the child ruthlessly, violently shoving the girl off his arms." if your parents didn't educate you, I will teach you a lesson today! "

"her wrists should be broken, she steals so often, at this point we wouldn't have enough money for food either!" A crowd member shouted. "things have gone too far!"

" right, we are poor too, why are you stealing from us?" someone from the crowd yelled. "will your **** mother pay for it?"

"that's right, we have families to feed at home." another joined. "we forgive her every time, you give her an inch she takes four miles! That *********ing *****. "

" sir! "Amourora ran in front of the man and stood resolute, showing him two silver tales." I will pay for them, please let them go. "

Even if she doesn't know them, she still could not stand to see an adult beating a child so fiercely. She didn't want to give him a lot of money, because the more she gives, the more he will greedily demand.

The man ripped the girl off his arm and threw her to the ground, then snatched the money out of Amourora's hands and inspected it closely, before he left he spat one more curse word," Daughter of a sleazy *****! ",and kicked her, which she luckily evaded.

Amourora helped the girl up, but shockingly, she got fiercely glared at and slapped away in response. The girl then took the little boy and ran away. Rude.

*****

I shouldn't have come out. Good thing I thought ahead and wore a veil and cape, or else even the nobles in the capital will know her dark secrets. What will happen if her father knew she actually grew up with the beggars of the capital instead of the countryside. What would happen if he got to know her mother quit being a village daughter and came to the capital for a better life but ended up working as a dancer in a theater?

Then, her life would truly be ruined with no chance of ever improving. All her mother's efforts would be washed down the drain. Not that she cared about that *****, it's that ****'s fault she had to struggle in a tough life.