Free Mark My Words by Addison Kline

Brant, Luke and Marv were relaxing on the couch. Arthur rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms.
    That was the worst night of sleep, ever. I don’t even remember going to bed, Artie thought.
    “Good Morning, Sunshine…” said Marv with a beaming grin on his face.
    “Rough night?” asked Luke.
    “What time did I go to bed?” Artie asked.
    “Oh, about quarter of four…” Luke said.
    “Right after Mama Grizzly nearly claimed you as her supper…” Brant added
    “What the hell are you guys talking about? I don’t remember anything about last night. I remember I was playing chess with you… Did I lose again?”
    “Of course!”
    “You had a lot to drink… and let’s just say you tried to get extra friendly with a Grizzly bear and Luke here saved your tail,” Marv said.
    “Stop lying… There wasn’t a bear!”
    “There was… You even took the pictures to prove it!”
    “Let me see that!” Arthur said to Marv, motioning for his camera.
    Arthur scanned through the pictures on his camera and with each one, his eyes grew wider and wider. The first was a simple shot through the window. Each shot got closer and closer, until finally Mama Bear was standing on her back legs, snarling and drooling before the lens.
    Arthur needed to sit down. He damn near dropped the camera.
    “Here. Have some breakfast.”
    “I don’t think I can.”
    “We have a long day ahead of us.”
    “Why?”
    “We have to dig out….”
    “Dig out?!”
    “It showed eighteen inches last night.”
    “Aren’t we going ice fishing?” asked Arthur sounding disappointed.
    “We went already. While you were snoring.”
    Arthur looked out the window. Sure enough there was snow everywhere, with snow drifts piling over Luke’s tires.
    “Eat that,” said Luke pointing to the pancakes he put in front of Arthur. “Then we have to go.”
    ***
    Philomena soaked her sore toes into the foot spa as her manicurist painted her finger nails a vibrant shade of pink.
    “Just what I need. A day of relaxation and spoiling,” said Philomena as Sloane tried not to laugh.
    “You mean you weren’t spoiled enough last night?”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Holly, can you please remind my mother of her behavior last night?”
    “No, I think I’d like to hear it from you,” Philomena said with a confused look upon her face.
    “Well, Mother… Since you thought it would be fun to order a stripper and act a hot ass mess, we decided to take pictures. Look.”
    Suddenly, the events of last night came back to Philomena as a mortified look came across her face. She flicked through the photos on Holly cell phone rapidly, becoming redder by the second. Finally, she passed the phone back and gave an apologetic smile.
    “What can I say, love? I have an animal magnetism.”
    ***
    As Marv and Brant dug out Luke’s truck, Arthur caught a moment alone with his future son-in-law.
    “You really saved my life?” asked Arthur with a bewildered look on his face.
    “Of course I did. I wasn’t going to let you get mauled by a bear.”
    “Even after I’ve been such a jerk to you and Sloane?”
    “You’re her father.”
    “I’ve really been an asshole, though…”
    Luke shrugged as he looked at Arthur, unsure of what he should say.
    “What do your parents say on the whole matter of this?”
    “I couldn’t tell you…”
    “I’m sorry?”
    “My mother passed when I was a boy, and I don’t know my father. My grandmother heard the news, and she is pleased. She likes Sloane a lot.”
    “I’m sorry, son. I didn’t know.”
    “It’s fine.”
    “You know… I’ve been thinking a lot about this. You seem like you have good intentions and you have a good head on your shoulders. I just want the best for my Sloane…”
    “I’m not perfect. But we’re good together.”
    “This is not to leave this room, but if marrying you will make her happy…” said Arthur sheepishly. “Then I am happy to give you my blessing to marry my