Author 2.1

We settled into a routine pretty quickly, for a wedding present mom decided to redo the garage into a bedroom/bath for her. She was getting older and had trouble with the stairs at times, so we redid her old room for us to use. My old room became the gym, and Carlotta spent many hours working out.

I had decided I wanted to be an author so I set to work writing what ever ideas came to me. Some were good and some were horrible and got deleted right away. I got in touch with a publisher and wrote a few books, nothing great and the pay was horrible, but it was a start. My publisher informed me that if I could illustrate the books myself it would save me some money, so I decided to learn to draw as well. Mom was still working at the diner and almost to the top of her career, her dream was coming true.

One time I decided to make breakfast for everyone and it was quickly realized that I had absolutely no talent at cooking. I burned the waffles so bad even Rose wouldn't eat them.

Life went on, and after being married almost a year Carlotta and I decided to try for a baby. "Ryu, I have to tell you something" Carlotta interrupted me while I was writing "I'm pregnant" I was so engrossed in my current novel that I barely heard her. "that's nice....WHAT!?!" "Did you say pregnant!?!" I was shocked, we'd only been trying for a short time. "Yes Ryu, we're going to have a baby. I want to tell your mom when she gets home if you don't mind" I was ecstatic, I was going to be a father, I was nervous as well. Could I be a father?, I'd never had one, so I wasn't sure how I was supposed to do this. Seeing the look on my face, Carlotta smiled at me and said "You'll make a great father, you'll know exactly what to do"

When mom got home from work Carlotta told her the news, she was so happy, I don't think I'd ever seen her smile that big before.

We converted the gym into a nursery, using neutral colours since we wanted to be surprised as to the gender of the baby.

Carlotta came home from work one day in a horrible mood. "What's wrong" I asked. "They sent me home and told me not to come back till after I'd had the baby!" She shouted at me. " Well you are 8 1/2 months pregnant, and it would be good for you to take it easy for a while." I pointed out. "Take it easy!?! I can't afford to take it easy! I had a plan, I have to be able to go on the road with the team this fall. This stupid pregnancy has just set me back four months in training, well they won't stop me. I'll just work out here!" She was livid. I quickly snuck out the door and left her to her workout. Thirty minutes later I heard her scream, rushing up the stairs I found her doubled over holding her stomach. 

"what's going on!" I asked. "Can't you see my water just broke and I'm in labour, you idiot!" She shouted back through clenched teeth. I was in panic mode, I rushed her down the stairs, and to the hospital as fast as I could. After 14 hours of labour, we welcomed our beautiful Isabella into the world.

Author 2.0

Since mom and I made up after our fight, she was trying a bit too hard to show me she really was sorry for what she said and I'll admit that the thought occurred to me that maybe she was right, maybe I should wait to marry Carlotta, but I couldn't imagine my life without her. Graduation was here FINALLY! Don't get me wrong I was good at school, but that was also the problem. I was good at everything I tried, so no one thing struck me as something I wanted to spend my life doing. Anyway I was the valedictorian, and gave an awesome speech, everyone cheered, and I was voted most likely to get married. Carlotta wasn't as good at school as I was, but that didn't matter, since she was going to be a star soccer player, and she was great too. She was voted most likely to be a star athlete, and as soon as the ceremony was over she and I went for a walk, it was still early spring, and we'd had a late snow, so everything was still covered. 

Holding her hand and walking through this winter wonderland, I knew what I was about to do was the right thing. "Ryu, you're so quiet, what's wrong?" Carlotta pulled me from my thoughts. "What? Oh, nothing's wrong, in fact it's just right" I answered. " You're not making any sense, Ryu." I just looked at her and smiled, as I got down on one knee, she realized what I was doing."Ryu?!?" I pulled out the ring box and said " Carlotta, I have loved you since I was 12, when I first laid eyes on you I knew we would be married  someday, I hope you won't make a liar out of me" She looked lovingly at me and let out a little laugh, " With a proposal like that, how could I say no! " As I slipped the ring on her finger, I knew that this was right. We rushed right home to tell mom the good news, she congratulated us, but I could tell she was not so happy with us getting married so young. When we told Carlotta's parents, they were even more upset than my mom. They blamed me, since Carlotta was giving up a scholarship in order to stay here with me, and part of me agreed, but it was her decision, not theirs.

Mom let her move in before the wedding, which was a small affair, just mom and us. We invited her family, but they didn't come, Carlotta was a bit upset, but she never said a word. We got married in the backyard, under a beautiful arch.

"Carlotta, I promise to love, honour, and cherish you from this day forward, till death parts us. Take this ring as a token of my love"

"Ryu, I promise to love you and cherish you all the days of my life, till death parts us. Take this ring as a token of my love"
                                       

We sealed our vows with a kiss and were now Ryu and Carlotta Laveau.

Chef 1.7

High school started and Pretty soon it was apparent that it was no challenge for Ryu, he would zip through his home work and go workout, or go jogging. He really wanted a weight bench, but I still couldn't afford to buy him one. I was advancing pretty well in my career, but still not quite there yet.

 One day Ryu came to me and said " Mom, I know you've worked hard to give me the things I want, but I want to get my own job and help out." I was speechless for a few minutes, then replied " If you really want to get a job, I don't mind, on two conditions: first, use the money you make for you, and second, you have to keep your grades up." "Thanks mom! I know just the job I want too."

Ryu ran right down to the book store and got a part-time job, with his first pay check he bought the weight bench he had his eye on, when he wasn't at school or work, he was either working out, or out with Carlotta, they seemed to be getting very serious, and I decided we needed to have a talk.

"Ryu" I started, "we need to have a chat about you and Carlotta" "MOM! we don't need to have that  talk again do we?" He was turning a bit red, "No, not that one. I just want you to be careful, I know you love her and want to marry her, but are you in any position to take care of a wife, or a family yet?" I could tell he was getting a bit mad. "What I do or don't do is my business, not yours. You can't tell me I'm too young to get serious, we graduate in a few months and I will be marrying the girl I love. You weren't much older than I am when you married my dad!" He shouted at me. "That's exactly why you need to wait, so you don't ruin your life like I did!" I shouted back, without thinking. "So I ruined your life, thanks mom." He stormed off upstairs and slammed the door. I just sat there, I couldn't believe I just said that.

Weeks past and Ryu barely said anything to me, when he did it was just one word answers. He was spending all hid free time with Carlotta, planning their future. With graduation fast approaching, I knew I needed to fix things with him, He wasn't going to college, as he had no clear path for what he wanted to do, I couldn't afford to pay for it, and he didn't get any scholarships, so he was going to stay here. "Ryu" I said as I walked into the kitchen where he was sitting. "I'm sorry for saying that you ruined my life, I was angry." "but you said it mom, so a part of you must feel that way." "well" I started."I guess it's just that I had my future planned, I did plan on having kids, but not until after I was well established in my career, and having you changed all that. But I do love you, and can't imagine my life without you. If you are serious about getting married, then you are welcome to live here till you can afford your own place" He stared at me for a moment, then gave be a big hug. " I love you so much mom, you have no idea how much this means to me."

 

Chef 1.6

Ryu came home from school one day with the biggest smile on his face. "why so happy today?" I casually asked him. " I met this girl at school today, and she's so cool!" he said with an even bigger smile. "Her name is Carlotta and she loves sports just like me, I invited her over this weekend to play if that's alright." "Yes Ryu, that's fine, although I do wish you would ask me before inviting friends over next time" I replied. "Sorry mom" he mumbled, as he sat down to do his homework.

That weekend when Carlotta came over, they played for hours, they looked like they were having so much fun. "Catch me Ryu! you'll have to run faster than that" Carlotta shouted. "Ha! I gotcha, now you're it" he shouted back. They spent the whole afternoon playing together, and too soon it was time for her to go home. 

Life progressed in much the same manner for the next few years, I was working my way up the ladder at work, Ryu was happy, and before too long childhood was over and Ryu's 16th birthday was here. We had a small party, just a few of his friends, and Carlotta of course. Her birthday was just a few days after Ryu's so they had a joint party.

He is growing up into quite the handsome young man, although he does have a bit of his father in him. He wasn't too happy with his weight, but I told him he looked just fine, but to make him feel better, for his birthday present I got him a pull up bar, which he loved, and he and Carlotta are getting a bit too close for my liking.

Chef 1.5

Being a single mom was much harder than I thought. I went back to work, and it killed me every time I had to leave Ryu. I didn't make much, most months I struggled to just pay the basic bills, but knowing that Ryu could grow up safe and happy here was all that mattered. I spent the time I had off teaching Ryu all that I could, how to walk, and talk.

Soon though, too soon, it was time for Ryu's birthday, it was just the two of us, I splurged and bought him a chocolate cake, as I held him up to blow out the candles, I couldn't help but think just how fast time had gone.

In the blink of an eye, my little boy had  grown up into a little man. Although I was happy for his birthday, I couldn't help but to be a little sad, gone was my little baby, and before me was my little man.

It was time for Ryu to start school, we were lucky and our house was right across the street, so he didn't have far to walk. We didn't get to see much of each other once school started, he got home right as I was leaving for work, but I did what I could, and always made sure he had a nice meal waiting for him, he would wait up for me to come home, so I could read him a bedtime story, which I was only too happy to do so.

When Leisure day came, I went all out, I made sure it was a day Ryu would never forget. "Ryu, are you ready to go to the park?" "yea mom! can I  bring rose? pretty please?" he begged me as we were headed out the door. "Only if you promise to keep her on her leash." And so the three of us headed out for the park.

 "Look at me, mom! Watch how high I can go!" he was having such fun on the swings, soon though I heard the words that had become second  nature to Ryu "I'm hungry, mom" "Alright let's take Rose home, then we'll go get something to eat"

So off to the diner we went, I treated Ryu and we had such  a good time.

 We spent the afternoon playing catch with the football Ryu got for his birthday, I wasn't very good at all, but Ryu didn't mind at all. Since he didn't have a father, I had to try my best to make sure he learned some guy stuff too.

That evening for dinner, we had hot dogs, mine were beef, but Ryu insisted he was a vegetarian, so his were veggie dogs.

 Once It got dark I gave Ryu the surprise I had for him. "Oh wow mom! Sparklers! this is so cool, you're the best!"

 Exhausted after a long day of fun, I read Ryu his bedtime story, and he fell asleep in my bed, so I just climbed in beside him and fell fast asleep.

Chef 1.4

"why are you so stupid Marie! All I ask was for you to keep the kid silent when I'm home, but you can't even do that!" Bao yelled at me. "I'm sorry Bao, he's teething, so he's a  bit cranky. Please don't be angry" I tried pleading with him, but it was no use. "Please don't yell Bao, you're scaring Ryu" "I don't care, I never even wanted a kid, it's your fault  you got pregnant to begin with" He hollered back. "You don't really mean that" I answered "Don't tell me what I mean, if I say it, then I mean it!" He yelled as he slapped me, throwing me back. As I fell to the ground, stunned, I watched as he walked out the door yet again.
                                     
                                      
 Hours past, and I just sat huddled in the corner sobbing and wondering how it came to this. All I ever wanted was to be loved, this was not how it was supposed to be. I had no choice, I had to do something for Ryu, this was not the life he deserved.

 So I gathered myself together, picked up my son, and made a call. "Hello, I'd like to buy a ticket out of here. Anywhere is fine, as long as it's far away from here. Riverview? Never heard of it, that will be perfect. Thank you"

So I loaded up my son, and what few belongings I had and we left Bridgeport and Bao for good. It's time for a fresh start, a real start, just the two of us.