Vince laughed as he walked in the Nabootique. "You're in luck Howard!" he said.
"Quiet Vince, I'm busy," Howard said without looking at him. He was writing something on a memorandum pad.
"But Howard it's important," Vince pleaded.
"Shush! You're distracting!" Howard exclaimed. He grumbled something angry and scribbled out whatever he wrote.
"C'mon please, I have to tell you something real bad. What're you doing that's so important?" Vince asked.
"I'm trying to figure out why the till seems short. Alright now let's see… carry the one, that's forty-five plus thirty…"
"Howard there is such a thing called a calculator," Vince said.
"I don't need one. I'm smart enough as it is!" Howard frowned
"Doesn't seem like it," Vince slightly chuckled.
Howard smacked the pad. "Well maybe if I didn't have you buzzing around my face like an irritating little mosquito, maybe I'd be able to concentrate better!"
"Here, my cell phone has a calculator on it, it'll make it a whole lot simpler," Vince handed him his cell phone.
"Alright fine, how do you use this blasted thing?" Howard examined Vince's phone as if it was an ancient artifact.
"Dear God Howard, did they thaw you out yesterday after they dug you out of the ice?" Vince crinkled his eyebrows.
"I'm not very good at advanced technological tripe like this!" Howard cried out.
"You can't even get the microwave oven to work!" Vince clamped his hand over his mouth and snickered.
"Shut up!" Howard shouted.
"You almost set the kitchen on fire… burning popcorn!" Vince chuckled hard.
"Alright Vince I know!"
"You screamed like a little bitch! 'Ahhhhh! Somebody help me! I don't know to adjust the power level on my microwave'" Vince jumped around, mimicking Howard panicking.
"Ok fine just show me how to use your damn phone already!" Howard exclaimed.
"Ok, ok, push the butten on the left," Vince was still chuckling.
"Which one? There's too many!"
"The first one on the top. Good, go to menu, then tools. There you go Howard, you got it!" Vince teased.
"Fine, fine, whatever now let me see why it seems we're losing money," Howard rolled his eyes.
"And then can I tell you what I wanted to tell you earlier?" Vince asked.
"Whatever, fine Vince," Howard leafed through receipts and punched in numbers.
"Hey why doesn't Naboo just get a computer? That way you could put this all on spreadsheets. It'd make it way easier, plus you could save it all and not worry about losing anything. Plus we could advertise this place on a popular social networking site to increase business and then…"
"Vince please, I need to concentrate. It seems for some reason we're missing money and no matter how much I keep checking, we're still off. This is serious!"
"Oh well… uh Howard," Vince chuckled nervously. "Now that I remember, I went out with the guys the other day and… we didn't have enough money so I came back and I…" he tapped his fingertips together.
"You took money from the shop till? Vince!" Howard shouted.
Vince bit his bottom lip and made a crooked smile. "Um… sorry?"
"You can't do that Vince! Damnit if Naboo finds out, he'll probably turn us into cuttlefish or worse, have us both sacked! Oh Lordy Vince!" Howard covered his face and shook his head.
"Well did you want me to tell you what I wanted to say? It's good news at least," Vince said.
"I suppose…" Howard sighed.
"Boy do I have something in store for you! Alright, here it is," Vince laid out a newspaper. "I put a singles ad for you!"
"You what?" Howard nearly shrieked
"Oh Howard this is going to be so good for you! All these local girls are going to be ringing you sooner or later! Isn't it exciting? No need to thank me Howard, the only way you can repay me is with your happiness!" Vince grinned.
"Why Vince why? What were you thinking? Have you realized what you've done?" Howard cried out.
"Oh don't be silly, I made you sound good. Listen here, 'Local man with quaint charm seeking company. Likes jazz, theatre, poetry, and long walks. Contact anytime.' I thought I'd add that bit about walking that way you don't sound too dull."
"Vince… you ruined me. That description was two-dimensional and no one will answer to it. I'm just going to go to my room and hide under the covers to shield me from any other humiliation bound to come…"
"Don't worry Howard, someone's bound to!"