Faro returned to Ronda’s SouthBank apartment after a long day running errands in the bustling streets of Thundarr City. Unlocking the door with his spare key, he stepped inside and immediately noticed how quiet the apartment was. The faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen was the only sound accompanying his footsteps as he wandered through the living room.
“Ronda?” he called out, but there was no reply.
The apartment felt strangely empty, which struck him as odd since Aunt Rita was staying there as a guest. He glanced toward the guest room—empty. The door to Ronda’s bedroom was ajar, and a quick peek revealed that it, too, was vacant. A slight breeze brushed past him, carrying with it faint notes of opera music. It was then that Faro’s gaze shifted to the sliding glass doors leading to the apartment’s small terrace.
Stepping closer, Faro froze. Standing on the terrace, stark naked, was Aunt Rita. She stood tall and confident, with her hands resting on the metal railing, gazing out at the city skyline. Her long, wavy hair, partially tinged with green, swayed gently in the breeze as she hummed along to the opera playing on a small radio perched nearby.
“Rita!” Faro exclaimed, struggling to keep his eyes on her face. “What on Thundarr are you doing?”
Aunt Rita turned her head toward him, utterly unbothered by the situation. A bright smile spread across her face, and she gave a little wave as though greeting an old friend.
“Oh, Faro! I didn’t hear you come in,” she said cheerfully. “It was so hot inside the apartment, I thought I’d step out here to cool off a bit. The breeze is absolutely divine!”
Faro rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the heat rise to his face. “But… you’re not wearing anything!”
Rita shrugged, unfazed. “Clothes felt too stifling, darling. Sometimes, you just have to let yourself be free. Don’t be so uptight; it’s just the human body!”
Faro sighed, closing his eyes for a moment in exasperation. “Could you at least… I don’t know, put something on? What if Ronda or the neighbors saw you?”
Rita chuckled, her laughter carrying over the music. “Oh, don’t be such a prude, Faro. The neighbors should consider themselves lucky! And as for Ronda, I’m sure she’d understand.”
Faro quickly stepped back inside, muttering something about grabbing her a towel. When he returned, he handed a long white bed sheet cover which he got from Ronda’s bedroom and handed it to Rita without looking directly at her. She wrapped it around herself loosely, still grinning as if nothing unusual had happened.
“You’re such a good boy,” she said with a teasing wink. “Always looking out for me.”
Faro couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he turned off the opera music and shut the sliding door behind them. “You’re impossible, Rita,” he muttered, shaking his head.
Rita just laughed, her confidence and charm lighting up the room as she walked back into the apartment. “Oh, Faro, life is too short to worry about such silly things. Relax a little!”
Faro sighed, still unsure how he was supposed to relax with Aunt Rita around.
