Chapter 10
Tank enjoyed being his dragon.It was something that he never thought he’d be able to do until recently.Now he’d spend his entire days just lazing around the yard as his dragon, and he didn’t care who needed him.Expect that he knew he’d shift back to his other self if anyone were to need even the simplest of things from him.He couldn’t leave his family stranded if they needed him.
“I have two questions for you.”He told his brother that he was there for him.“Good.I wanted to know what you’ve been able to find out about the school board.I know we talked about it, but I’ve lost my notes somewhere, and I don’t have time to tear the house apart looking for them.”
“The school board is taking on new members.I think that Lisa is going to be on the team if she gets voted in.I have no idea why they’d not do that, but stranger things have happened.They’re taking on four new members, so that with the five that they have now, it will still be an odd number.I think that’s brilliant, by the way.What’s your second question?”He said he’d answered it about Lisa wanting to join the board.“I’m not sure she wants to do that.I think that she’s joining it simply because she has a son going there and wants to be updated on things that are going on.
“Whatever it takes to get her on board, I’m happy with the outcome.She’ll make a good person on the team because she can think outside the box all the time.And she’s not one to rush in on her answers.”He said that he loved those qualities about her.“I do as well.She’s brilliant but doesn’t let it go to her head.I love her.When do you think we’ll get our mates?”
The question came out of nowhere, but he was used to that from his brother.He could jump around in conversations like that and had done it all his life.He said that he didn’t know about finding a mate but was looking forward to it.
“I am as well.I don’t know what sort of person she’ll be, but I’m guessing she’ll be just like the other women and not at all hiding behind me when there’s trouble.I can see her being right out front of me and taking on the worst sort of people for me.”He said that he could see that as well.A kick ass sort of woman.“Yes, that’s it.Kick ass.However, I won’t be upset if she needs me on occasion.I need someone in my life other than you.I think we need to live in separate homes for a while.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing.I know that we have the money now to do that, but I don’t want to hurt the others’ feelings by telling them that we’re ready to move out on our own.Do you suppose they’ll be all right with that?”He said that he was sure that they would be.“Yes, I guess you’re right.They all have their homes now and seem to be happy.Not that they don’t get together every time they’re around.”
Tank thought about the last time they’d been together and how much fun he’d had.They’d get together when they could, and that was nearly weekly.He loved his cousins and was happy that they seemed to love him too.There was something so calming about them, even when they were arguing loudly about the refs on a game.Smiling, he thought of how he had won the last call that had been made and was happy for that.He didn’t know a great deal about football, but he was learning.
After closing the connection with his brother, he decided that he’d had enough of the sun for one day.Shifting back into his other self was disappointing, but he knew that if he was going to get anything done, he was going to have to be his human self.People wouldn’t be as happy to see him if he were his great dragon.
Heading into town, he was stopped by several people about the way things were going with the school board.He’d not realized it was such a big deal to have more members on the panel until then.As he was headed into the office where his brother was, he told him how he’d been stopped by so many people that he was surprised that they’d not increased the panel before now.
“Sometimes you just have to give a little push before things begin to happen, I guess.I’ve had several phone calls about that as well.”They talked about the grants they were getting in the form ofgetting the sidewalks finished up, and he was glad that they’d looked into it.It was nice having things going their way for a change.“I heard from some Trail supporters.They’re wondering what he’s doing, not running against me in the next election.I simply hung up on them.I’m not going to get into that with anyone right now when things are going as well as we can make them.I have a date tonight.I met her online.I know you don’t think that’s such a good idea, but I’m sort of sick of seeing you across the table from me nightly.You’re ugly if you want to know the truth.”
“Gee, thanks.You know you’re not as good-looking as you might think you are, either.I’d love to have a pretty woman sitting across from me, too.”They both laughed, and he changed the subject again.He loved his brother, but wasn’t going to be living with him forever.“I’m going house hunting in the morning.I need to have some space of my own.”
“I understand that completely.I’ll stay here since it’s provided for me by the city, but I’d love to be able to find something that I can stretch out in on my own.Yesterday I spent nearly three hours as my dragon just chilling in the snow.”
“I loved that I’ve been able to do the same thing.It’s been great not having to worry about anyone freaking out about me being my other self.”He thought about how they’d come to be dragons now when they’d not been before coming here.“I wish there was something that we could do for Lady Earth, but I’m sure she has everything that she’s ever wanted.Having as much magic as she has, it’s a small wonder that she doesn’t have everything that she needs right at her fingertips.I don’t know that I’d go that far, but I would make the town shine again if I could.”
They talked about the contracts that Brenin had gone over for them.The next time they were meeting with the city council was in two weeks, and they were prepared.While Tank wasn’t the mayor of their town like his brother was, he assisted him as much as he could.It was fun for him too.Just knowing that he was making a difference in people’s lives every day was fun for him.
Tank went to his office in the big building and worked on some of the projects that he’d been putting off in favor of being at home.He didn’t have a mate as yet, but he was going to be prepared when she came along.All he had to do was look out for her and be on his toes, and he’d be happy.Taking his cues from the others who had mates, he was happy to know that he was going to be happy with her when she came along.
After working on the paperwork for the new additions to the school board, he started looking for grants or low-interest loans he could get for the new stadium.It was in need of a complete overhaul, and he started looking for donors who wished to have their name on the field.The town would have to vote on it, of course, there would be a slight raise in taxes, but he didn’t think they’d care all that much for having better seating at the games.They’d been able to get a new building put up for the concession stands, and he was quite proud of that.It was not only better, but it was bigger too.And with the donations that were coming in from some of the sponsors that were helping with it, he thought that they’d never have to purchase water bottles again for game nights.It would save them a great deal of money on that alone.
Usually, he didn’t get involved with things like fundraisers, but there was one that was near to his heart.It was one for the grade school playground.He had a lot of fond memories of being by himself with Ace on the playground when he’d been a child and wanted the best for the kids.
There were all kinds of loans that he could apply for, and he decided that he was going to do just that.They’d have to build it themselves, but the money they’d save on having the materials purchased was going to go a long way in getting things done.He’d have the others helping him if no one else showed up.And with their extra strength, they’d have it built in no time at all.
It took him nearly four hours to get the application filled out.He had to keep going back over the instructions when it got to a new page.Tank wondered if many people got about halfway through the application and decided it was too much.But he was determined to get it done, and there wasn’t any way that he was going to give up.
When he was finally finished, he printed off the paperwork and put it in the playground file with the other paperwork.It said that it would take six to eight weeks to hear back from them, so hewasn’t worried about having enough time to get it put in before it could be used again.He figured that he’d hear from them about Thanksgiving and was looking forward to knowing that it was going to be taken care of.
After having lunch with his brother, he told him about the application for new playground equipment, and they worked on the things that were coming up in the following weeks.There were three luncheons that Ace needed to attend, as well as the meeting with the water board.They wanted to upgrade their system in reading meters, and they were both all for that.As it was now, someone had to walk to each of the houses to read the meters, and that was a long process.
Tank contacted one of the people that he’d been talking to about it and was getting information from him about getting things upgraded.It sounded just like something that they needed to invest in.The water company would be able to help with the costs, and that made it worth his while to get rolling on what needed to be done next.
They talked about the trip to Florida and decided they were going to go even if no one else in the family went.He had all the information from Lisa about what resort they were staying in, as well as the dates to go.Making the reservations right then, he was surprised to hear that others had done the same thing and gone ahead and booked their reservations too.
“Like I told the other Savages that have booked, we can get you all on the same floor, but we might not be able to get you rooms close together.That’s the best we can do for right now.I hope you understand.”He said he was just happy to be going and being on the same floor as the others.“Good.We’ll do the best we can to accommodate you all together, but we’re busy that week as there are a lot of schools out on Spring Break and wanting to come here to enjoy the lovely weather.I’m to understand that you guys have a lot of snow your way.”
“Yes, we had about nine inches just the other day, and they’re predicting more than that over the next week.I’m ready for summer.”She said she’d never lived anywhere but Florida and didn’t get snow where she lived.“That sounds heavenly.I would love warm weather all the time.My feet are freezing all the time.”
After getting off the phone with the woman, he told Ace that they were booked.It was still far away yet, but it was something to look forward to when the time got closer.As soon as he was ready to call it for the day, Ace told him that he was ready to go home as well.They were still unpacking things that they’d gotten from the other house and were pitching out most of what had come to them.It was nice having a furnished house for work, but he couldn’t wait until he had his own place.
Looking through the houses for sale in their area, Tank was able to find two that he thought would work.He set up a time to go and see them over the next couple of days and was surprised that the realtor was able to show them.She said that the roads would be cleared by then, and she was looking forward to working with him.He said that he was glad that he was going to be able to buy a house right now.After hanging up the phone, he felt good about what he was doing.Ace would be next in finding himself a house, and he was going to be there for him as well.
Now all he needed to do was find a mate, and he’d be set for life.He wondered how easy it was going to be and decided that he didn’t care if it took forever.He was going to enjoy looking for her as much as he was finding her.She was going to be his everything.
