"Yeah, his hair. I'll say something about his stupid hair." Louise was sitting with Bob on the couch watching TV after a busy day at the restaurant. "Wait," she looked at her dad for advice, "haven't I already made fun of his hair a lot?"
Bob didn't bother looking away from the TV as he flipped channels. "You have been focusing lately on the hair. Maybe something about his face this time?" he said absentmindedly. Then he realized his mistake and turned and pointed a finger at his youngest daughter. "But you are not allowed to hit anyone inside the restaurant." Bob turned back to the TV. "Again…"
"Yeah, his face. Oooh. Oooh." Louise's face scrunched up in thought until she had something. She squealed with delight as she slapped her father's shoulder. "How about I say 'Congratulation on the Gold medal in the Ugly Olympics?'" Louise, 13 now, was proud of her pre-planned insult.
This made Bob laugh, "Yeah that's a good one. Make sure you remember that one tomorrow."
This was their typical Wednesday night. Any other night Bob Belcher and his youngest daughter would be the "Burn Unit." They would flip through channels poking fun at the ridiculous late night shows and infomercials that would come on. Wednesdays, though, were dedicated to something else. Bob didn't remember when it started, and he doubts Louise did either, but for as long as he can remember now Wednesdays were dedicated to Logan Berry Bush.
The Belchers all met Logan about 3 years ago when he stole Louise's bunny ears. The incident did not end well as it involved a biker gang, impromptu pregnancy, and a near battle royale in the restaurant. A few months after that Logan started coming to the restaurant. First it was just occasionally, but after a while he became a regular on Thursday after school. Usually he would be with his two best friends Jacob and Scotty, but sometimes he would be solo.
Several times, when Louise had the day off, she would go the restaurant and find Logan talking with one of her family members. She had scolded Tina and Gene multiple times and even threatened to have them disowned as siblings. One time she caught Logan at the counter talking with her dad, and they were both laughing. Louise pushed the door open so hard that it hit the wall and the sound echoed in the restaurant. Both Logan and Bob looked down at the angry bunny eared girl heaving in the door way. Bob knew he was in trouble. It was that day, Louise decided, that she could no longer trust her family to not betray her. She would need to work every Thursday.
Thursdays afternoons at the restaurant always seemed to go the same way. After school Logan would make his way to an empty seat. Shots would be fired immediately by either Louise or Logan, whoever was quicker on the draw. Yelling would ensue, but only from Louise as Logan usually kept his cool. The event would always end with Louise stomping back into the kitchen or to the register and hitting something while wearing a very angry scowl. She seemed to hate it every week, but every Thursday Louise Belcher was at work.
Nearly 3 years had passed since Bob's Burgers started hosting the weekly Logan vs. Louise match up, and since today was Wednesday Louise needed to be sure she was ready. As Bob continued to flip through the channels without really seeing what was on he looked down at his little girl. He tried to remember back to when Louise was younger. Wednesday nights would find her pacing in front of the TV smashing her fist into her palm. She would spit out crude and unintelligent insults that she planned on using the next day; an evil smile would cover her face. Now, 3 years later, the insults were crafted and smart. The main difference, however, was that she seemed happy and excited for the next day. Bob had seen this change gradually occur and, while it made him happy that she was not so mad, he was a little uneasy about his youngest daughter looking forward to seeing a boy. A boy that was about to graduate high school.
Thursday was upon the Belcher family and as usual Louise and her bunny ears were behind the counter. After 3 years she had lost the green dress everyday look and usually went with jeans and a t-shirt; the bunny ears, however, were still commonplace.
The bell on the door rang as it opened and Louise's eyes darted towards the door. "Welcome to Bob's Burgers," she welcomed the entering couple. Her voice seemed a little disappointed. Bob noticed the quick looks and the disappointed welcome. The bell sounded again and this time Bob did not hear a welcome. He knew who had entered.
Bob moved quickly from the kitchen to behind the counter, "Logan, Jacob, Scotty," he greeted the three usuals before Louise could ignite this Thursday's war. "You guys want the burger of the day? It's the "Can't get my Eggs off you burger," comes with a fried egg." Bob laughed at his own wittiness as he put a strong hand on his daughter's shoulder; he could feel her shaking under his hand. Louise Belcher was ready to explode.
Logan and his 2 friends nodded in agreement to each other. "Yeah, Mr. B. That sounds like a good last burger for a while," Logan answered back to the cook. He shot a quick look at Louise who's gnarled face looked a little confused.
"Last burger? Are you going somewhere?" Bob asked a little surprised. His hand still holding his daughter and her anger down.
"Yeah," Logan answered jovially. "After graduation next week me and mi amigos here are taking a 2 year journey to anywhere we want to go." The three boys all yelled out together and proceeded to hi-five each other. "Or at least until our money runs out." All three laughed at this knowing that exhausting their pooled funds would probably be what ended their journey.
A million thoughts ran through Louise's bunny ears. 'Logan was leaving. He wouldn't be back for 2 years. She would be free from him. But Logan was leaving. She wouldn't see him for 2 years!' Louise's palms slammed down on the counter, "YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE!"
Louise had yelled so loud that all eyes were on her. It wasn't just her dad and Logan, but his friends, and all the other customers were looking at only her. Louise looked around confused at her own outburst. 'Why did she say that? Wasn't she happy he would be out of her life?' Her thoughts seemed to be opposite of the rising feeling in her stomach. Her eyes hit the counter before the sound of Logan's voice broke through the restaurant's awkward silence.
"Ahh, is Four Ears gonna miss me when I'm gone," Logan said in a sing-song voice. Louise didn't know what to do with her face. "Don't worry," Logan continued, "you can't get rid of me that easily. I'll be back," his voice sounded a little happy. Louise's eyes moved from the counter to Logan, he couldn't tell what that look meant. She seemed to be on the brink of crying. "I promise you," he said a little softer than he intended.
Louise didn't know what to do. She was standing behind the counter with everyone looking at her. And she was about to cry! Why was she about to cry? Her archenemy was leaving and she was sad about it? Rather than stand there looking stupid she ran. She ran out of the back door and down the alley. She ran until she couldn't see the back of the restaurant anymore. Louise sat down beside a dumpster and held her knees against her chest. She cried for no reason.
Louise had regained her composure long ago but waited until the restaurant hours were over. If anyone asked she would tell them she just punched a lot of walls in the back alley. She walked back to the restaurant ready to apologize to her father for abandoning him. When she walked through the door her father was scraping the grill. He was the only one in the restaurant. Louise stopped in front of him and looked down at the floor.
"Everything okay now, Louise?" Bob looked down at his daughter. Louise was not much for crying but he could always tell on the rare occasion it happened. He also knew she wouldn't want him asking about it or pointing it out. "Go clean the tables then," he ordered looking back to the grill.
Louise understood. She looked up at her dad and smiled. He knew she didn't want to talk about it and he didn't ask. Louise Belcher loved her father for all the simple things he did for her. She quietly grabbed a towel and spray bottle and started cleaning the tables for the last time that night. Starting at the end of the restaurant she finally made her way to the table Logan and his friends were sitting. She tried to ignore her previous feelings and sprayed the table. As she proceeded to wipe the table her hand came across something that would not wipe off. Louise slid into the booth that Logan had occupied. On the table in front of where Logan had sat was a picture. The picture was super glued to the table.
Louise stared down at the picture of Logan Berry Bush wearing her bunny ears and a ridiculously large smile on his face. Despite any other weird feeling she had felt earlier she was now in a complete rage. She started smashing the picture with her fists and tearing away at its corners, but it would not come off. She sprayed and wiped, sprayed and wiped, but nothing. The picture would not come off.
Wednesday night came and went with Louise locked in her room. Bob knew better than to ask his daughter why their usual Wednesday night was different, but he could already tell. Logan wasn't going to be back for a while. Bob sat there on the couch flipping through channels trying to think of things Louise could say to an absent Logan the next day.
Thursday was here and Bob could not take his eyes off his daughter. Despite the time of day, every time the bell would ring Louise's eyes would shoot to the door. A disappointed look filled her eyes whenever this happened. After a while Bob started to think that this might be good for his little girl. But after seeing her face time and time again drop into a depressed look he thought he might be wrong. Even her bunny ears seemed sad.
The dinner rush was almost over and Bob was proud of his little girl. Despite the internal feelings she was trying to hide she had greeted customers with smile and was very polite. He did notice, however, that any time she had a free moment she would look towards the clock and then stare at the door. Logan was never this late.
Bob peeked out from the kitchen. All of the customers had food and he had no pending orders. He could handle the restaurant on his own for the time being. "Louise," he yelled out from the kitchen. This woke her from staring at the door. "I can handle things if you have something…" Bob couldn't help but let out a little cough, "more important to do right now."
"DAD!" Louise stared back at her dad with a vacant expression. That expression quickly turned into a smile as she understood her amazing father. She ran around the counter and out of the restaurant. She had to see Logan. 'That picture was an insult. He meant for me to look at it for 2 years until he came back. I need to tell him that I will not miss him, that I will treasure the time we spend apart.' Louise's head raced as she ran to Logan's normal hang out.
Louise reached the steps where she had first met Logan Bush, but no one was there. She walked to the center of the area and sat on the first step. 'He'll be here' she thought. She waited and the sky had grown dark. She tried to tell herself that he would be there but after a few hours of waiting alone she had to admit he wouldn't show up. 'Why did I even want him to show up?' she questioned herself. Louise walked back to the restaurant alone.