So, if you're reading this you're probably wondering why I look so familiar, or where it is you know me from. Here's a hint: "My Daddy works for your money." Yeah, I'm the girl from the Digital Aeon Investments commercials, Zophie Cummings. Once one of the largest money management groups and investment firms in America, now revealed as the third largest Ponzi scheme in history. My Dad scammed 4.2 billion (BILLION! With a B!) dollars from thousands of Demi-humans...uh, Beast... Zoanthropes across America to line his own pockets. And that's not even the worst part of it. Oh No! He was also a high-ranking member, and main funder of Humanity Rising the Anti-Zoe group that... Well, you've seen the news.
An alphabet soup of government agents dragged him, and my stepmom, and ME away about 3 weeks before my eighteenth birthday. Their timing was horrible. I had just started SnapFacing with my long-distance boyfriend! He got to watch me get handcuffed by a pair of German Shepherd Zoe agents. Poor Wayne. They quickly determined I didn't know anything and released me. Problem number one? I had nowhere to go. Everything had been seized! The house. The beach house. The vacation house. All my clothes! Even my phone! My PHONE! All I was left with was the clothes on my back. Problem number two? No one would take me in. Anyone in the family not already being fitted for an orange jumpsuit was lawyering up and/or skipping the country. All our supposed "friends" were setting new speed records trying to distance themselves from us. That left only one option... Mom.
I hadn't seen her in ten years, not since Dad kicked her out after he caught her with the Otter pool cleaner, and the Bear delivery driver, and the Rhino contractor, at the same time! One phone call though and I'm on a flight to Virginia with a government supplied chaperone to make sure I get there. And it's not even fun Virginia, like Beach Virginia or outside D.C. Virginia. It's Bell End, Virginia a city located in the mountains on the west side of the state, so in the middle of absolutely nowhere. It was so embarrassing when she met us at the airport. All kinds of screaming, and crying, and kissing me while people looked at us. Then to make things worse she introduced me to her new husband and three stepsons... All of them Ahuitzotl Zoes. They look like dark-furred Ottermen with white bellies and a long prehensile tail ending in a strong, dextrous hand. Small, round ears sit on a hyena-like head. The boys, all around my age, wear the fur on their heads in a spiked style. Thank goodness they just waved, I don't know what I would have done if they had tried to hug me.
I wasn't expecting much so imagine my surprise when we pulled into a private gated community in a nice section of town. They lived in a two-story house with full basement, 3 car garage, and in-ground pool! If it wasn't for the neighborhood being 80% Demi-... Zoe, it would be a great place to live. Mom took me to the room she had made up for me, in the basement. At first, I was mad, like, they don't want me in the upstairs part of the house? I'm banished to some underground cave like a troll? Before I could let them have it Kevin explained that the basement had its own bathroom, so I wouldn't have to share with anyone, and a den with a big TV and sectional sofa so I could watch whatever I wanted. Buster, the oldest of the triplets, pointed out the fridge and microwave so I could keep my own snacks and drinks if I wanted as well. Kevin explained how they knew this was all a big change for me, so they were letting me have the basement, so I could have the space and privacy to adjust to everything in my own time. I didn't know what to say, it was such a huma-... nice thing to do.
Mom then took me out to replace my wardrobe and catch up on lost time. She even replaced my phone. (I mean it's not as nice as my other one but, it'll do for now.) Then we picked out some stuff for my room, snack stuff, and other things to make the basement mine. Once we got back to her place she helped me fix everything up, then asked if I needed some time alone. I said, "Yes", and she went upstairs after reminding me if I wanted to talk she was always here. Once alone I felt everything catch up to me and cried for what seemed like forever.
I didn't just feel bad for myself. I felt bad for everyone my Dad (supposedly) ripped off. Everything I ever had was bought with someone else's work and trust. I hid out in the basement that night, unable to face my new... ugh... family and tried to figure out how to get rid of my guilt. I prayed for guidance from someone, (We've never been too religious.), then went to bed. I had the weirdest dream. I stood on a stage, naked, in front of an audience of male Beastmen. I was scared to death! I ran, and they chased me. Just as they caught me I woke up. I walked like a ghost through life for the next week, trying to accept my new life during the day, and having the same dream every night. I didn't know what to do!