It's been about two weeks since the Toivonens settled into their new home in Minnesota and with all their stuff back in their possession, the two reindeer resumed their daily shenanigans. It was about 3:45 PM Central Daylight Time on a Monday afternoon and father and son were doing their own thing.

Erik was in his room, jamming on his guitar to Girvana, practicing his favourite songs. His posters from his favourite acts made it over in one piece, with a lot of them already placed around the master bedroom he now has, thanks to his dad's generosity. A big Finnish flag serves as a blind temporarily for his window facing the street. Blake is going to purchase the last remaining needs when his work slows down. A flag pole and an American flag has already been purchased, but have yet to be raised.

Earphones plugged into his amplifier and strumming away, Erik began to sing along to his idols. "Come... as you are..." he sang in his thick Finnish accent, as he started playing another song. His voice filled the room and beyond.

Blake, on the other hand, was on his computer in his office space downstairs, chatting away with his clients and doing business as usual. The 2014 FBA Draft was only a short while away and things were getting hasty for the reindeer man. All of his clients are in the draft pool and are anxious to see where their careers will take them. Three of his are in the Top 24, which is big. In one busy summer, he has established himself into the FBA market. If he gets to witness all of his Top 24 players drafted and more, he's certain to see his agent career skyrocket. But all in due time.

Excusing himself for a chat, Blake stood up and stretched, proceeding to the kitchen to make coffee. Soon enough, the coffeemaker was crackling and bubbling.

A dozen firm knocks on the door interrupted the silence. Blake was a bit surprised. He knew his neighbours work until 5 usually, so it couldn't have been them. With a confused look, he approached the door and opened it.

Outside was a pudgy female pig, wearing a colourful sundress over her big frame. Short curly hair covered her head. She looked rather displeased over something and Blake didn't know why. With his arms crossed over his chest, he confronted her.

"May I help you?" Blake asked as he stepped out of his townhouse.

"Just where the hell do ya think you live, Mister!?" the sow began to snarl at the confused reindeer. Blake stood there, flinching just a tiny bit.

"Uh... Minnesota?" he asked.

The sow kept going. "Yes, and in the United States of America! And that flag in your bedroom ain't the flag you're supposed to have!" she grunted in displeasure. Blake then remembered seeing the Finnish flag he brought from his home in Oulu draped Erik's window. The big reindeer shook his head.

"Listen, Missus, but we have an American flag waiting to be hung in our backyard. The flag pole is going up soon." he assured the angry pig at the front door.

"Ain't fuckin' good enough, pal! You're in America and I expect you to hang it up in your new home proudly and not let it wait until someone tells you to!" the sow snorted furiously.
Blake's defense began to shift into a more balanced approach. "You're telling me what to do on MY property!? What I do with MY home is none of YOUR business!"

"The hell it is, if you ain't proud of where you live!" the sow snarled at him without much thought.

"I am happy to be here, Missus. I've waited three years to come over and live and work! What else am I supposed to tell you?" Blake snapped back. He wasn't going to have any of it with this stranger, trespassing his property and telling him to raise the American flag, all because of showing a little Finnish pride in his son's room.

A police car came out from the trees as it slowed down and the driver looked at the scene with the sow snarling at the angry and confused reindeer. The car stopped at the side of the street and the door opened. Out came a boxer police officer, fit as a fiddle and wearing his uniform well. He climbed onto the sidewalk to approach the scene.

"Officer Cody Carridge. Is there a problem here, ma'am?" the boxer walked onto the property, staring at the two.

"This man does not show American pride like he's supposed to!" the sow snarled at the officer, but Carridge wasn't having any of it.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I don't know this lady and I don't know what she is trying to do here." Blake replied calmly, knowing he is in the right.

"You live here, right, sir?" Carridge attempted to confirm with the big reindeer who nodded.
"Yes, I just moved in here."

The officer nodded and began to take care of the grumpy middle-aged sow.

"Ma'am, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the property." the boxer ordered the sow who replied with a grunt.

"Fine then. But get this man to put his flag up!" she snapped back, but the officer barked back.

"Ma'am, if somebody is in trouble, that's you for trespassing property, now go on with your day before you are really in trouble!"

With a snarl, the sow wobbled off Blake's yard and went home. Carridge looked back to her as she left, then turned his attention to the property owner.

"I deeply apologize for this, sir. As somebody who has dealt with discrimination like this, I wish she had known better." he went on.

"No need to apologize, officer." Blake nodded. "Thank you for getting her off my case. I'm busy with work right now and certain things have to come later, like putting up the American flag. I'm leaving for Las Vegas this week."

"And that is fine, since that is your own property and I have no right to say otherwise." Carridge nodded. "What are you going to Vegas for, if you don't mind me asking?"

"The FBA Draft, officer. I have clients who are waiting to be selected." Blake smiled a little, not minding the thought of unveiling his plans to a trustworthy law enforcer.

"Oh, you're an agent. That's very cool. Hope you'll have a good time there, sir." the boxer nodded and made his way back to his car. "Have a nice evening."

"Same to you, officer." Blake nodded as he went back inside and closed the door. Carridge jumped back into his car and continued his commute.

As Blake walked back to the kitchen to finally pour himself a cup of coffee, Erik came down the stairs, looking out the kitchen window to watch the police car leave.

"(What was that all about, dad?)" Erik asked curiously.

"(Oh that? Someone thought she could convince us to put the American flag up, because apparently we're not proud enough.)" Blake chuckled, sipping his coffee. Erik poured himself one as well, adding milk to it.

"(Huh. Well, I just want to be happy here and be someone, like I was back in Oulu.)" Erik added, sighing as he sat down on the couch in the nearby living room. His father followed him and sat down beside him.

"(I'm sure you will, son. You have what it takes.)" Blake reassured his son. Erik smiled and nodded.

Both of them knew this won't be the last encounter with a foul stranger, but it was best to move on and get to know the real citizens of America. The proud, the friendly and the welcoming.