As I ran through the grass after Mabel I began to think to myself. I wondered why, once again, during a summer vacation that should be all about leisure, recreation, and taking it easy this was happening. Yet, here he was, running wild after a shadow that my sister saw in someone's backyard.
"Come on Dipper, don't lose him!" Mabel said as she rounded the corner ahead of me. Moments later, as I too rounded the corner, I saw my Great Uncle Stanley Pines entering the yard and the shadow fast approaching him.
"Grunkle Stan watch out!" It took only a second for Mabel's cry to reach the older man. He turned in their direction, seeing the shadow rapid approaching him he threw up his arms in defense and let out a shout!
"Oh no, No, NOOO!" The shadow jumped up at Stan. For a moment it is as if the whole world pauses. I began to think back to how this all began. As I think I realize it must have all started a few days ago, back at home in Piedmont.
Piedmont, California, that was where Mabel and Dipper lived during the year. Their house was moderately sized, for what it is worth in Piedmont. As they arrived home from their last day of school, the twins were full of excitement as they approached the house. Waddles, the family pig, ran to Mabel as soon as she entered the yard, greeting her as he always does when they got home. Dipper just shook his head as he watched his sister and her pig cuddle in the yard as he opened the front door.
Walking in Dipper let his bag fall to the tile floor. Preparing to announce his and his sisters arrival he stopped short as he heard voices, loud voices, coming from the kitchen. "I'm just not comfortable with this idea as a whole." Dipper recognized the voice as that of his dad.
"Just keep an open mind about it son. Think of all the good it could do." Another man responded in a course northeastern accent.
"We understand, but this just isn't natural. You know how last year. . ." The door slamed behind Dipper, startling him. Mabel and Waddles stood beside him and, in a very Mabel way, announced their presence.
"Kids, is that you? Come say hi to your Grandpa" The Twin's mother called out.
"Grandpa Sherman?" Mabel ran to the kitchen to and saw that her parents had gathered around the kitchen table with Sherman sitting on the other end. Sherman got up to greet the kids as Mabel jumped into his arms, giving him a big hug.
"How's my little shooting star doing?" Sherman spun around with Mabel as they hugged. As Dipper entered Sherman put Mabel down and Dipper and Sherman gave each other a hug. "Hey Grandpa Sherman," Dipper smiled as he hugged his grandfather.
As they broke the hug Dipper gave a slightly confused look at his Grandfather, then his parents. "So what were you talking about?"
Sherman and Mr. and Mrs. Pines looked at each other for a moment, the silence between them was deafening. Sherman looked back at Dipper, as if gathering his courage and gave a quick reply. "Just stuff us grownups like to talk about from time to time. Eh, it doesn't really matter anyway. Either way, are you two excited to go back to Gravity Falls tomorrow?"
Dipper shifted uncomfortably. He knew this tactic, this is redirecting, something was up and they didn't want to talk about it. He almost started to push further; instincts built from last year telling him to find out more when Mabel chimed in.
"You bet we are! I can't wait to see everyone again like Candy and Grenda and Wendy and Grunkle Stan and Ford and . . ." Mabel said as she counted off the people on her fingers.
"I bet you're super excited to see Gideon too." Dipper quipped as he looked at his sister.
Mabel stopped counting and got a super serious look and in a deadpan voice replied "Nope"
The whole room filled with laughter at Mabel's reaction. As the laughter died down Sherman knelt on one knee and placed his hands on the Twins shoulders. "Alright you two, how about you go get changed and I'll take everyone out for dinner and a round of mini golf."
Mabel smiled from ear to ear. "YES!" She shouted and immediately turned around and ran back to the front door to get her things and head upstairs. Dipper turned to follow as Sherman returned to his seat at the table. As Dipper neared the stairs he stopped, hearing the conversations begin again in the other room, more quietly this time.
"Dad, I love you but you have to come to your senses on this. You can't imagine how this would affect the kids." Mr. Pines spoke quietly.
"After all, all of those horrible things that happened last year we barely even agreed to send them up this year." Mrs. Pines added.
"Look, at least give it the summer before everything is settled. You never know what might happen, right?" Sherman tried to console them.
"Fine, but Dad, this is the last time and we make no guarantees we will agree to this."
Sherman, looking slightly satisfied turned his head to see Dipper still in the living room. He gave him a little wink. Dipper realized that was queue to leave and turned to the stairs.
A lot like their attic room at the Shack, their room in their house was quaint and roomy. The twins each had a bed with a large night stand sitting in-between. As Dipper entered the room, he noticed a bunch of Mabel's sweaters thrown out of her closet all over the floor. She and Waddles seem to be frantically searching for something in the room.
"Dipper, have you seen my golf sweater?"
Dipper sighed lightly at Mabel's question. She always has to have the right sweater, doesn't she, he thinks. Before he can answer Waddles walked out of the closet holding the sweater in question.
"Why don't you ask Waddles, he seems to know a lot about where you keep your sweaters." Mabel stuck her head out of the pile of sweaters she was buried in and saw Waddles holding the sweater. She jumped out and grabbed Waddles, taking the sweater from him while giving him a big hug.
Dipper shook his head at the whole situation and turned to drop his things off at the foot of his bed. As he did, he noticed a package sitting on his bed. "Hey Mabel, do you know what this package is?"
"Pfff, how should I know? We just got up here, isn't that right Waddles?" Mabel said as she pulled the sweater over her head.
Dipper picked up the package, as he did a letter fell to the floor. Picking the letter up he looked it over. No address on the envelope and paper looked super old. Before he could open it though he heard a voice calling from downstairs. "Kids, are you ready yet?" Mrs. Pines shouted up. Dipper quickly replaced the package and the letter on his nightstand as the two of them scrambled to get ready.
Later than evening the twins returned to their bedroom. Mabel shouted excitedly, "Minigolf Champion!" as she pumped her arms up and down while Dipper looked at her with a tired look on his face. "Yea but Grandpa Sherman nearly beat you this time; I bet he was just holding back."
"No way, I won fair and square." Mabel pouted as Dipper let out a little laugh at his provocation working.
"Alright, alright, now get to bed. We have an early day tomorrow." Mabel realized the meaning behind Dippers words and jumps into bed. Waddles, who had been sleeping on her bed while waiting for Mabel gets startled by this, but calms down after a moment.
"Good Night Dipper."
"Good Night Mabel." Dipper responded as he turned off the light on the nightstand. A few moments passed before the lights suddenly come back on. "Aw man, I almost forgot!"
"Forgot what" Mabel asked sleepily.
"The letter and the box, I forgot about them!" Dipper reaches over, grabbing the letter.
"Well, what does it say?" Dipper started to open the letter. He took a deep breath as he began to read it.
"Dear Dipper, I hope this letter finds you well. I can't wait for you to return to Gravity Falls, I have much that I wish to talk to you about. In the box is a gift I prepared for you to use upon your return. I want to keep it a surprise so don't open it until you arrive back in town. Signed. . . Huh, that's weird."
"What is?"
"It's not signed"
"That's silly." Mabel got up from her bed and walked over to Dipper's. She took a look over the letter and realized it indeed isn't signed. "Huh, that's funny."
"I know. It sounds like something Grunkle Ford would write."
"He probably just forgot to sign it before he sent it. He is getting way old." As Mabel finished with the letter she looked over at the box. "Are you going to open it?"
Dipper chuckled a little. "You read the letter, not till we get back to Gravity Falls."
Mabel sulked at this, returning to her bed and pulling up her covers. "Aww. Well, goodnight then."
"Goodnight Mabel." As Dipper placed the letter on top of the package on the nightstand, he opened the drawer and pulled out the letter he received when they left Gravity Falls last year. As he ran his hand over a few of the signatures he murmurs to himself "I think this is going to be a good summer."
The next day the whole Pines family stood at the bus station, the bus's destination read as "GRAVITY FALLS" as the family gave each other hugs goodbye.
"Now you two stay out of trouble this year, you hear me. I don't want either of you to cause your Great Uncles any issues this time." Mr. Pines said as he hugged his children.
"Don't worry Dad, we won't do anything out of the ordinary." Mabel replied with a smile.
"I think that is what your father is worried about" Mrs. Pines said as she hugged her children. The group chuckled as Mabel turned to Sherman and Waddles.
"I'm sorry Waddles, they won't let you on again. I (sniffle) really bet everyone (sniffle) wanted to see you again." Waddles let out a saddened squeal as Mabel hugged him. Sherman knelt down and patted Mabel on the head.
"There, there Mabel. I'll make sure to keep Waddles company while you're gone. I'm sure you see him again before you know."
Mabel, holding back her tears replied, "Thanks Grandpa Sherman."
Sherman cleared the tears that have fallen from Mabel's eyes with his hand. "Now, you two best get on before the bus leaves without you."
As the twins boarded the bus and took their seats as the bus started on its way. The whole family waved goodbye, with Sherman assisting Waddles by waving his hoof for him.
As the hours rolled on the bus continued down the lonely stretches of highway to Oregon. The Twins started to doze off, eventually falling asleep somewhere around the California/Oregon border. As the bus pulled up to the town center the Twins woke up and got off.
They took a quick look around and see that the town is slowly changing, not quite the town they remember last year, but not different enough they don't feel welcome. They notice a few of the stores are different; there is even a moving van in front of the house across from the grocery store. The twins see their ride approaching and walk to meet it.
The Mystery Shack stood as it always had been, outside still full of signs advertising the mysteries within with a mysterious nature surrounding it. Working on the roof Old Man McGucket was hanging a cloth sign that says "Welcome back Pines" over the Mystery Shack sign. As the car pulled up the twins got out. Dipper stopped briefly as he got out to thank the driver. "Thanks for the ride Lazy Susan."
Susan looked down at Dipper and raised her lazy eyelid. "Anytime kids!"
As Susan's car faded into the distance the twins both looked back at her driving. "How does she drive with only one eye? Doesn't she need depth perception to do that?"
"I don't know," Mabel replied, "but she still drives better than Grunkle Stan."
The twins chuckled at the thought as they walked to the gift shop door. Dipper entered quickly but Mabel stopped a moment and looked up at the sign and shouted. "Hey McGucket, your sign is upside down!"
McGucket looked up from his handy work, taking of his hat for a moment. "Aw shucks, it is. Welp, third time's the charm." Mabel shook her head and entered the shack.
As the twins looked around they realize much has changed. Many of the old items that Grunkle Stan had were gone, replaced by what might actually be reputable merchandise. They briefly caught a glimpse of the top of Melody's head as she ducked in-between boxes but before they can call to her a booming voice echoes from what sounds like everywhere.
"Welcome one and all to the internationally acclaimed Mystery Shack. What wonders and mysteries will you find here, no one knows. Do you dare to brave the challenge of our museum of Wonder and Mystery or are you just looking for a little gift to give a loved one? And now I give you the man who will show you the secrets of the universe, the one, the only, MR. MYSTERY!"
A large blast of smoke bellowed out; the twins could make out the silhouette of an imposing figure standing in it. Moments later the figure began coughing. "(cough)(cough) Oh man, that worked out way better in the practice run. Sup dudes, long time no see." The smoke cleared, revealing Soos in his full Mr. Mystery attire standing in the center of the room.
Dipper looked at Soos with both a little bit of confusion and amazement. "Soos, what are you doing?"
"Oh that? One of the things that Mr. Pines would do when he saw we had important guests. He said it would always wow the money right out of their wallets. Figured I would give it a try since, you know, you guys are like the most important guests we have!"
"Aw thanks Soos." Mabel says as she walked up to give Soos a hug. He bent to one knee and they embraced. As they parted Soos kept on his knee. "Man, I really missed you guys. The town hasn't been as much fun since you guys left."
"We missed you too Soos. After all, with you not around there was no one to fix my brother"
As Soos and Mabel laughed as Dipper sighed and rolled his eyes. Dipper looked around the room. "You changed a lot in here."
"Yea dudes, apparently when you actually have licensed merchandise for something that is popular it sells well. Profits have, like, tripled since we made the change. I don't know why anyone would not have merch for something as popular as the Mystery Shack."
Dipper shrugged then turned to Soos. "Has Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford arrived yet?"
Soos brought his hand up to his chin, thinking for a moment. "Sorry dudes, Mr. Pines called just a while ago and said they won't make it till tomorrow. Something about Mr. Ford checking up on something."
Dipper sulked, which Soos immediately noticed and tried to cheer him up. "Don't worry dudes, I'm sure it's as just a little hiccup and the will be here tomorrow morning."
"Thanks Soos" Dipper nodded, realizing he would just have accept it.
"Anyhow, we got a big party planned for all of you tomorrow. The whole town's invited. I'm sure Mr. Pines and Mr. Ford will love what we've got in store."
Mabel perked up at the news. "Will there be punch and Smile Dip?"
"You bet, I got everything we needed yesterday so we're all good on that."
Dipper looked questioningly at Soos. "Are you sure you got everything. You don't need ANYTHING else?"
"Nope, I've got everything . . ." Soos turned to his side and whispered "probably."
A little while later, as Mabel was looking at the new model of the grappling hook on sale Dipper walked up to her and shook the pack on her back to grab her attention. "We should probably to unpack." Dipper turned back to Soos who was counting the register. "Are we still in the attic?"
"You bet dudes. I set it up exactly like last year! You'll feel like you never left. Once you guys unpack we can eat, I can already smell Abuelita making something good in the kitchen.
"Thanks Soos." Mabel looked at her brother "Ready?"
The twins walked to the back of the shack to head upstairs to their room. As they arrive it was, as promised, almost exactly as the left it. A few wooden panels have been replaced but otherwise unchanged in layout.
"Well, Soos was right; this is exactly how I remember it." Dipper noted as he dropped his pack at the foot of his bed. Mabel did the same at her bed and proceeded to jump up and down on her bed. She did this for a moment before looking up and screaming.
"AHHHH!"
"What is it Mabel?" As Dipper asked his sister what has her spooked, she points up the rafters. "It's Daryl, he's gone" Dipper looked up at the rafters, realizing they are completely new wood.
"Well it was bound to happen sometime. That wood had to be at least, what, 40 years old? Plus, we did turn this place into a giant robot last year." Mabel began to tear up, her thoughts to her lost companion. "Aw come on Mabel. Fine, how about we give Daryl a proper sendoff later?"
Mabel seemed to calm down, the tears holding back. "Thanks Dipper"
"Anything for my sister." He quickly walked over and gave her a quick hug.
As the twins unpacked their gear Dipper pulled out the package he received back in Piedmont. He examined it for a moment before walking over to his bed. Mabel, having noticed him stop also stops unpacking her sweaters.
"So, are you going to open it now?"
"Well the letter did say once we arrived."
As Dipper began to open the top of the package the bottom fell out and the contents fell to the floor. As the twins looked down, they see a book, face down, in good condition. Dipper picked it up and flipped it over. The cover had a pair of hand prints on it, overlapping. The bottom print is a six fingered hand, one they both recognized, the top one is less so, it is just a regular hand. The number 4 is written over the top hand.
"It's a journal. . . " Dipper whispered.
"What's inside?" Mabel asked.
As Dipper began to open the book he is interrupted by a voice from doorway. "You dudes ready? Food is getting cold!"
The twins looked up to see Soos standing in the doorway. "I guess we can just look at it later." Dipper and Mabel looked to each other for a moment and Dipper placed the book, open, on his bed. The two walked out with Soos.
As the twins walked away a breeze flowed through the attic, flipping the pages of the new journal before stopping on the spine of the book. Each page had a right-handed hand print on it of similar but different size. The breeze blew again and the pages turned to the end of the book.
The next morning as sleep slowly left him, Dipper began to wonder where he was. As he took stock of his surroundings, he realized he is in his room in the shack. "But why is everything upside down?" he wondered. Then he slipped out of bed, literally. "Oww." He groaned to himself as he stood up, rubbing his head. He realize he must have fallen asleep wrong and nearly rolled of his bed. Turning back to look at where he was sleeping he noticed he had left the new journal open. "I remember working in it most of then the night then. . ." He is cut off by muffled yelling from downstairs. It sounded like the Grunkles have arrived.
"Mabel, get up" Dipper yelled over to Mabel as he started to gather his things on the bed together. Mabel began to stur, turning over and reaching for something she couldn't quite find. As she sits up Dipper saw that she had started to frown. "What's wrong Mabel?"
"I miss Waddles. This is the first time in almost a year that I have woken up and he wasn't here with me."
Dipper walked over to his sister's bed and hopped up. He pulled her in close to him. "I know Mabel, I miss him too, but he's with Grandpa Sherman for the summer." Mabel began to sulk, almost cry. "Don't cry. Look, today you're going to see everyone again and it'll be awesome. So, cheer up, nobody wants to see a sad Mabel.
Mabel forced a smile as Dipper hopped off the bed. "That's my sister! Now come on, I think Grunkle Ford and Grunkle Stan are here." Dipper offered his hand to Mabel. She took it and both make their way downstairs.
In the family room is the familiar sight of Stan and Ford in their most common interaction, fighting. Both seemed to be fairly heated at each other as Ford spoke up. "Stanley, I'm just not sure this was a good idea. I'm worried about what happened out there. Anomalies don't just disappear on their own."
"Look you said it yourself; it could have been a glitch." Stanley sighed at his brother before continuing. "We're back here now so why don't you just enjoy the summer and when it's over we can go back out there and check it again." Ford seemed to become incensed at this.
"I think you are underestimating how important it is that these anomalies are taken care of. We cannot give any way for Bill to come back if erasing him last year didn't work!"
Stan's face changed from annoyed to one of pure anger as he crossed his arms. "Bill this, Bill that. This Bill guy was the only one you ever talked about while we were out there." Stan collected himself. "Don't you think it is time to put that aside, for the sake of the kids? I know Dipper was really excited to see you again. I'm sure everything is going to be fine, just . . . relax a little."
Ford started to calm down as he took the statement into consideration. "You're right, we need to be here for them." He paused for a moment and began to think. "I still don't trust it though. I am going down to my lab and set up some monitoring equipment just in case."
Stan threw his arms up in the air. "Fine, then will you enjoy yourself?"
As he started to leave for the gift shop Ford turned back. "Yes, yes. I'm sure this will be an exciting summer as you say."
As the vending machine slammed shut Stan hears the pitter patter of two pairs of little legs on the stairs behind him. He turned to see Dipper and Mabel having just come down from their room. "Kids! How are you doing?" Mabel ran over and gave Stan big hug, happy to see her Favorite Grunkle again. Dipper held for a minute, as if expecting something. "Grunkle Stan, where is Grunkle Ford?"
Told you, Stan thought to himself as he put Mabel down. He walked over to Dipper and gave him a big pat on the head, messing up. . . well he guessed you can't really mess up bed head any more than it already was. "What, no love for me?"
"Err I. . ." Stan gave out a hearty laugh at Dipper's reaction. "Don't worry Dipper, my brother's just in the basement right now doing some nerd stuff. He'll be back up in a while. I'll bet he has lots to talk to you about." Mabel walked over to stand next to her brother, excitement in her voice. "Ooh, ooh, Grunkle Stan did you two have fun at sea?"
"Seven months trapped with your brother who you barely know anymore, at sea, with no place to go and no one else to talk to you mean?" Stan replied in a serious tone. Mabel began to shirk like she said something wrong. Uh oh, better fix this, Stan thought. "Oh, don't give me that look. It was actually fine. We bonded. . . I think. I never know with him anymore." Stan tried to make the hand movements of Ford's science equipment. "We did all of his science gobbledygook and came back here to be with you guys."
"So when did you have time to write a new journal about Gravity Falls?" Dipper asked. Stan gave him a confused look. Dipper handed Stan the new journal and he flipped through it briefly.
"Funny, I don't remember Ford working on this. He did keep a journal with him so he could note down the stuff we encountered by it fell overboard a few days ago. I gotta say, I don't remember any of these things out there." Stan closed the journal and handed it back to Dipper. "I'm sure he can tell you all about it when he's done in our room."
"Your room?" Mabel asked.
"Yea, Soos didn't have any more rooms to loan in the shack so he converted the first basement lab into a bedroom. It's a little cramped but it's just for the summer so we'll be fine. Plus Ford has all of his equipment down there so it will keep him busy."
As Stan finished Soos yelled from where he was outside. "Put the tables over to your left Mr. McGucket. No, to your other left."
Stan put his palm over his face. Yup, just like old times, he thought. "Oh boy, come on you two, sounds like Soos needs some help setting up for the party." Mabel and Dipper nodded and followed their Grunkle outside.
After a few hours of working on setting up everything Soos stood in the middle and checked off his list as Stan, Dipper, Mabel, and Mr. McGucket worked on setting up for the party. "Tables: Check. Chairs: Check. Smile Dip:" Soos looked over at the crate of Smile Dip he came across, "Double Check. Punch:" Soos looked around the site again. A worried look came over him Stan passed by. "Uh, oh. That's not good."
"What's not good?" Stan asked, having overheard him. Soos offered the list to Stan to see. Stan saw that everything is checked off except one item.
"Mr. Pines, I think I forgot to pick up the punch from the store. I can't leave the shack right now, could you do me, like, a big favor and go pick it up for me?
"Well, err . . ." Stan gave off a weak response as he searched for an excuse. His gaze roamed around looking for something. Dipper, no that won't work, he thought. As his gaze reached Mabel he watched her slowly putting out the candy, her motions unenthusiastic. Stan sighed to himself, resigned that there was nothing he could give. "Alright Soos, I'll go get it."
Stan cupped his hands over his mouth to shout. "Dipper, Mabel, you two are coming with me. We're going to run into town and get something for Soos." Dipper shrugged and ran over to the car, Mabel slowly shuffled in the same direction.
As the STNLYMBL pulled into the parking lot of the store Stan overshoot the spot, landing firmly in-between two spots, nearly overrunning the parking block in the process. Stan and Dipper got out of the car and started to walk to the store. As Mabel got out she sighed to herself before shutting the door. She won't admit it but she knew she is down. Dipper was right, nobody wanted to see her this way and she knows if she does stay this way she might go mad. As she started to walk to the store she heard the squeal of pig.
"Wait, what?" She said out loud as she turned around to find the source of the sound. She scanned the houses behind her. The only thing she saw is a moving truck in front of one of them with the drivers getting in the vehicle and starting it up. Not seeing anything else she waited for a moment before she turned and ran into the store.
As she gets in Dipper and Stan are standing at the checkout counter. Dipper was holding large container with the words "PUNCH" in the middle, above and below in smaller print the words "Not," and "S&P approved," cover the box. Stan is holding two additional containers of the same liquid.
As Mabel ran up to Dipper she nearly bull rushes him in excitement. Dipper was just barely able to hold himself from falling backwards as his sister approached. "Jeez Mabel, what is it now?"
Mabel jumppd up and down in excitement. "I heard him Dipper! I heard Waddles! He was out there!"
Stan reached over and Dipper handed him the last punch container. "Mabel, you know that isn't possible. Waddles is with Grandpa Sherman for the summer." Dipper looked up to Stan for a moment. "Grunkle Stan, are there any other pigs in Gravity Falls?"
Stan looked back at Dipper with a look of disgust. "Ugh, no. After that fair last year I had them ship all of those pigs away. Nobody owns a pig in Gravity Falls but you two." Stan stopped to think for a moment. "Woodpecker maybe, I think there was someone who married one a while back, but definitely no pigs." Stan finished as he picked up the three containers and headed for the door.
As Dipper and Mabel started to follow him Dipper stopped and looked back to his sister. "Look Mabel, I know you miss him but you're just going to have to live without him for the summer."
Mabel sulked a little again. "But I feel like I'm going crazy without him Dipper."
"I know how you feel but some things we just have to accept."
Mabel sighed as her brother turned to leave. As they reached the car Stan began loading the containers in the back as the twins moved to enter the vehicle. Dipper and Mabel both opened their respective doors and looked at each other through the opening. Mabel started to climb up when she heard the squealing again.
"There it is again. Maybe I am just going crazy!" She looked up to see surprise on Dippers face.
"No Mabel, I hear it too." He shakes his head.
The twins jumped out of the car and started looking around. After a few seconds the squealing happened again and Mabel homed in on the house that was obscured by the truck earlier. She saw a shadow just behind the fence around the house.
"DIPPER THERE!" Mabel shouted as she began running in that direction. Dipper started running after her seconds later. Having heard the commotion Stan comes up from the trunk, bumping his head on the lid.
"Oww. Hey, where are you kids going? Get back here!"
As I run after my sister she jumps the fence of the house. I didn't even know she could do that! I open the gate and keep running after her. "Come on Dipper, don't lose him!" Mabel yells as she rounds the corner behind the house. I'm keeping up but just barely. As I round the corner I see her round the next. I rush forward and as I pass the final corner I hear Mabel cry out again, "Grunkle Stan watch out!" A second later Grunkle Stan puts up his guard, shouting out "Oh no, No, NOOO!" The shadow jumps on to Grunkle Stan causing him to fall over backwards. Mabel jumps on the shadow seconds later.
As I finally reach them and start catching my breath I can't believe what I am seeing. Stan is lying on the ground with Mabel cuddling with Waddles on his chest. "WADDLES!" Mabel shouts. He oinks back with glee, at least I assume its glee.
"I can't believe it, it's really Waddles. But that doesn't make any sense, Waddles is with. . ."As my voice trails off Mabel looks at me. They say twins will often times have the same thoughts and I think this was one of those times.
We both get up and start to walk to the door. My mind is still racing with how all of this fits, how all of this is possible. I hear Stan grunt up behind us as we reach the door. Mabel beats me to it and rings the doorbell. A moment later the door opens and everything in my world shatters.
"But. . . but" I say as Mabel squeals with glee.
"What? Who is it?" Grunkle Stan asks confused. The figure laughs a hearty north-easterner laugh.
"Come on Stanley." He pauses for a second, "It is Stanley right?" I watch as the figure counts Grunkle Stan's fingers, satisfied he continues, "It's not like you can't recognize your own brother?"
"Shermie?" Stan says in disbelief. Grandpa Sherman gets a big smile on his face as he comes out and gives Grunkle Stan a hug.
So that's it. That is how I got here again, back in Gravity Fall for another summer. This time though, we have an extra Pines member. Who knows, I think to myself, maybe this will be the start of another epic summer adventure.