Attaining Responsibilities

October 27, 1997

Funny anecdotes can give you really cool storyline ideas.
This is another fic based on a true life situation. Mine this time
. Anyways... Just another way to point out
that kids who say the darndest things maybe aren't so sweet
and cute in some situations...

Category: Not sure... Maybe a vignette? But definitely Humor
(I hope).
Rating: General Patronage ^_^
Archivers: I don't mind, really
Summary: Have you ever wondered how exactly Jonny got
Bandit?

Disclaimer: JQ characters are HB's. No money is made. Story is
mine. Similar real life situation... KEWL! Someone out there
thinks the same way I do (scary ain't it?).

BTW, I'm assuming the flashback timeline to the period
just before (maybe) Hadji joined the team and before the 1st
Classic JQ episode (Attack of the Lizard Men) happened...

Attaining Responsibilities (1/1)
by Ina-chan

It was one of those few quiet evenings in the Quest
Compound. No terrorist threats. No brainwashing. No
disastrous Questworld upgrades. Just a quiet evening with
everyone gathered in the family room enjoying each other's
company in relative silence. Dr. Quest buried in The Genetic
Engineering Journal, Race listening to his favourite country
music station, Hadji practicing his meditation in the corner,
Jonny surfing the net in a laptop, and Jessie doing some
advanced readings on her lessons while absently scratching
Bandit's tummy. That is until Jessie looked up and nonchalantly
asked a question...
"Say, Jonny," She began
Jonny looked up at her.
"I was just wondering, how long have you had Bandit?"
She asked
"Hmm..." Jonny hmmmed, "Around three years I guess,
right Dad?"
"Yes," Dr. Quest replied, "I believe you got him for your
eleventh birthday."
"For your eleventh birthday?" Jessie said with a raised
eyebrow, "How did you ever convince your Dad to let you have
such a big responsibility?"
Dr. Quest chuckled. Jonny snickered as he exchanged a
knowing look with Race.
"What?" Jessie sat up in curiosity
"Indeed, tell us what happened?" Hadji pitched in
Dr. Quest put down the journal he was reading on his
lap and leaned back, "Well..."

"Well... that looks like the last of it," Race commented with a
grin referring to the last 'bring home' package that Grampa Doug
was sending home with them
Dr. Quest chuckled, "Regretting we're taking the cross country
route back Race?"
"Nope. It's not everyday we drive through open spaces without
chasing a mad scientist. It'll be a good experience for the kid," Race
replied as the two men watched Jonny give his grandfather his
goodbye
Dr. Quest sighed.
"Speaking of which," Race continued, "Someone will
be having a birthday a week from now."
"Don't I know it?" Dr. Quest replied with a grin
"Has he been hinting any presents?"
"Funny you should ask. He hasn't mentioned a single word."
"Well, boys his age will usually ask for a dog."
"I'm not sure he's going to be ready for such a big
responsibility like that."
"Well... he's going to start somewhere."
Then the small ten-year-old skipped toward the two men
with his grandfather. After a few more minutes of farewells...
they were off to the Florida airport and back to their island home.
"Jonny, don't stick your head and your arm out the
window," Dr. Quest said automatically
"Aww Dad," Jonny moaned sulkily as he obeyed the order
"So how was your stay with Grampa?" Dr. Quest asked
Jonny brightened up, "It was so cool. Grampa let me feed
the cows. I saw a rodeo. Grampa promised that he'll teach me
how to lasso a cow when I'm older. And he taught me how to
tie knots. And Ruben taught me how to milk cows. Dad, did you
know the difference between a boy cow and a girl cow..."
"Ah... Well... That's nice Jonny," Dr. Quest stammered
"So kiddo, did you make any new friends?" Race came in
to the rescue
"Yeah. Lots. But I got to spend most of my time with Daniel.
Remember Ruben's kid? He got a new baby brother a few months
ago. He sure was loud for something that small," Jonny replied,
then he turned to the window and sat up excitedly, "Oh look! You
can see the river that runs through the ranch from here! Daniel and
I caught a lot of frogs..."
The two adults patiently listened to the little boy chatter
excitedly about his adventures until several hours later, the noise
subsided. Dr. Quest assumed that his son has finally talked himself
to exhaustion so he turned around to check on him, only to see a
pair of deep blue eyes looking at him seriously and thoughtfully,
"What is it son?"
"Dad," Jonny began solemnly, "I'm turning eleven soon..."
Dr. Quest glanced at his bodyguard who was smiling his
'Here-it-comes' smile.
Dr. Quest turned back to his son, "Well what do you have in
mind?"
"Since I'll be turning eleven, don't you think I'm ready to
have some responsibility?"
"I suppose..."
"Well... if you let me have what I want. I promise that I'll take
good care of him. I'll feed him and play with him everyday. Every
single day. And I'll even clean up after him."
"It sounds like your driving a hard bargain there," Dr. Quest
replied seriously, "Are you sure you're not going to back down on
your word. This is a big responsibility."
"I promise! Spit swear!"
"Spit swear! Then you must really want this bad."
"Yes Dad, I do. Please Dad? PLEASE?"
"Well... I'll think about it," Dr. Quest replied
"YAY!" Jonny cried excitedly, "Did you hear that Race? I might
get a baby brother!"
Dr. Quest choked and Race veered dangerously into incoming
traffic in surprise.
"You want a wha-?" Race sputtered
"----" Dr. Quest choked
"A baby brother! Daniel's mom showed us how change diapers
and stuff. Daniel and I played with him all the time. And he would
always crawl toward me..."
"--!!!" Dr. Quest continued to choke
"Dad, are you all right?" Jonny asked worriedly
"Jonny..." Race began, "It's... complicated... to get a baby
brother just like that?"
"Why?" Jonny wanted to know
"I-uhhh... well... Benton?" Race offered helpfully
"!!"
"I'm willing to wait. You don't have to get him for next week if
it's that hard," Jonny offered
"Well kid... it's not that..." Race continued uncertainly
"RACE STOP THE CAR RIGHT HERE!" Dr. Quest yelled as
he saw a sign
Race stopped the car as Dr. Quest turned to his son, pointing
at a sign, "Look Jonny. This farm is giving away puppies to people
who's willing to give them good homes."
Jonny's face lightened up, "COOL!"

"So that was how it happened!" Hadji said through
uncontrollable laughter
"Man Dad! I wish I did that. Maybe I could have gotten
a pony," Jessie teased
"Now don't you start..." Race warned
"You know what Dad?" Jonny began, his eyes twinkling
mischievously, "I never did get what I wanted for my
birthday, didn't I?"
Dr. Quest gave his son a stern look, "Now don't YOU start..."

The end. ^_^

Author's squawk:

I was seven. And in my case, I got an adorable tabby kitten
I named Ningning (after that character in Batibot- Phil. kid's show).
Of course... I also got a sister roughly a year later... and sometimes
I regret it. Sometimes. I guess the moral of the story that applies to
me is... "Be careful what you ask for..." Anyways. I really hope
you like this.
Sorry about "Confusing", for some weird reason, I can't get
myself to finish typing chapter 7. It's not writer's block or anything.
It almost seems like it doesn't want to be finished... . I just finished the main outline for chapter 2 and
chapter 3 of "Valley", for anyone who cares. So as soon as I figure
out what details to put inside the acts, Liz and I will be working on it
soon... Until then I gotta study for my test (which I should be doing
right now ;-P).

Ina-chan

Comments, criticisms, brick launchers to inachan2@ican.net

================================================================
Ina-chan's Fave Animated Scene for the Moment

The group held their breath as the Web Rider stood still before them
and slowly motioned to remove his head gear. Silence decended in the room
and the binomes cringed in horror, for the anticipation of seeing a
disfigured sprite's face before them. As the mask fell off, everyone gaped
in astonishment for there standing before them was the slightly degraded
familiar blue face of...
"BOB!" Matrix yelped excitedly as he motioned toward his friend just
like he did as a child
"WHOA!" Bob motioned stopping the larger man, "I think you're too big
for that now!"

-ReBoot, Season 3, "Storm of the Web Riders"

Ina-chan
inachan2@ican.net