Beauvillage Chronicles
Episode 5: Beating the Blues
Chapter 1
It was a fine noon in Beauvillage. The early November weather had been getting a bit colder during the nights, but the days were still fairly warm, even dispite the fact that there was very little sunlight during the day lately.
However, the occasional showers and the ensuing fogs seemed to cast a dull and gloomy atmosphere over the small town. An atmosphere, that seem to be taking its toll on the Beauvillagers.
People were moodier and seemed to sulk, or simply be too bored or sleepy to do much properly. This mood lasted since Monday and by the time it was Thursday, even a great Detective like Frederick Wiseman could not overlook it any longer.
"Look, Professor... this weather is turning Beauvillage into a city of gloom! There MUST be something we can do about it...! Just tell me what to do, and me and my men will handle the rest."he said into the phone, seated behind his desk in the office.
Fed up with simply watching the problem, and unable to find a solution on his own, he decided to consult a specialist. Which is why he called the Local Weather Service.
"I´m sorry, Detective. But the forecasts indicate, that this weather will remain unchanged at least until the end of next week. Possibly even longer."came the reply over the phone.
Wiseman immediately jumped to his feet, holding on to the phone in horror.
"End of next week?! But Professor, this is an emergency! The situation is getting worse by the day! Even criminals seem to be too sad to work properly - absolutely nothing happened since Halloween!"he ranted, pacing from side to side, turning around several times.
"Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about the weather, Detective Wiseman. Other than wait for it to change. Maybe by the middle of next week it will, but personally I wouldn´t count on that."said the Professor in a polite, but definite voice.
"Okay then... thank you, Professor."thanked Wiseman defeatedly.
The Professor bade him goodbye and hung up. With a long sigh Wiseman wanted to do the same, but instantly found out that he couldn´t.
As he was pacing up and down during the call, he managed to tangle himself into the telephone´s cable.
Trying to distangle himself, he twitched, jumped and spun violently... but all it did was entagle him even more... and even tighter! So tightly that he was having trouble breathing.
With a mighty yank, he managed to free his throat, but in doing so pulled the cable around his legs thighter. Losing balance he panicked and the entire office shook as he fell to the floor, taking the entire table along with him.
"Detective, are you all right?"came an alarmed voice as soon as the door was opened.
Finally freeing himself, he jumped up from behind the turned table and saw one of his trusty young subordinates - Daniel Rogers.
"Yes, yes... Daniel. I am fine."he said hastily.
Daniel smiled at him and at once started to help him place the table back.
"So what happened...?"he asked, fighting back a smile.
Wiseman shook his head.
"Nothing. Just a little accident with the phone. We really should get someone to fix that."
Daniel at once smiled widely.
"A phonecall? A case at last?"
Wiseman sighed and shook his head.
"I´m afraid not, Daniel... I´ve just had some bad news about the coming weather."
Daniel frowned.
"Oh... well... what can one expect in autumn. Too bad though. There´s nothing going on right now. The men are bored stiff."
Wiseman grumbled as he sat back into his seat.
"Not just the men... EVERYONE in Beauvillage!"
Daniel nodded sadly and turned to leave.
"Well... if a case comes up... be sure to let us know."
Wiseman snorted and bent a bit more on his comfortable chair.
"A case... that´s a good one."
He grumbled a bit more before taking a picture he had carefully placed on his table. A picture of a blond girl, smiling radiantly.
"Well... at least Candy will brighten things up for me. Crime or no crime."he muttered, taking solace in the fact, that for the very first time... he had a girlfriend.
And not just any girlfriend - the prettiest girl in town, crowned as Miss Beauvillage.
He had to admit, that eventhough he was fairly new in this dating business, the experience was really pleasurable.
He was pretty sure, that Candy would think of something even in this accursed weather.
„Maybe I should leave the station early today. There is nothing to do around here anyway..."he muttered, watching her photo.
He glanced at the clock on his table and let out a dissapointed sigh. It was still noon and her classes would end in two hours.
„Well... it couldn´t hurt to come and wait her after school, I suppose..."he mused.
Now there was only one simple question.
„What the hell am I going to do here for two more hours?!"
Suddenly the telephone rang, breaking the silence rather unpleasantly.
He yelped and jumped in his seat.
In a single movement, he jumped and snatched up the phone, his chair moving behind him.
„Beauvillage Police Station, Detective Wiseman speaking! What is the problem?! Robbery?! Theft?! Jail-walking?! Murder?! No case is unsolvable by our team!"
He said it all so fast, that he was out of breath once he finished. A giggle could be heared trough the phone as he panted, before jumping and going beet-red in the face.
„M-Mama?!"he exclaimed, praying that none of his men on the other side of the door had heared him.
„Y-yes... Fine, I guess..."he muttered, still red-faced and once again pacing up and down as he spoke.
„No, I don´t plan on it – I´m staying in Beauvillage. Why do you ask?"
His mother´s answer instantly made a wide smile appear on his face.
„R-really?! I... I forgot... I... Mama... does this mean that I can have a...?"
The second, longer answer made the smile vanish as fast as it appeared.
„Yes. Yes, of course... No, don´t worry... its nothing, really..."
He blew a sigh as a question was asked.
„Mama, you know I´m not picky about these things... Yes, I´ll leave it up to you... Yes... Yes... Okay... Bye."
His office door opened, just as he placed the phone down. Daniel was back, along with five more collagues, bright expressions on their faces.
„Detective, was that a call...?"
„A case?!"
„We finally have a case, Detective Wiseman?"
„DETECTIVE!"roared all six of them, thistime in fear, as another mighty thud shook the office again.
His head hung, Wiseman had tried to sit down, not even looking that the chair behind him was way back. Missing the chair completely, he fell quite loudly on his backside.
Thistime however… he did not seem to mind… or care for that matter.
Sitting there with his head down, he heaved a long sigh – one that screamed of depression.
"Detective? What´s wrong?"asked Daniel delicately.
"Who was that call from, Detective?"asked another one.
"Something bad?"
Still not raising his head, Wiseman sighed again.
"Should´ve known…"he muttered.
The six policemen looked at eachother in confusion.
"Just like every…"Wiseman started, but suddenly he stiffened.
"Wait a minute!"he exclaimed, snapping his head up suddenly.
The policemen almost backed away, as their superior leapt to his feet and reached for the calendar, placed on the table.
They watched him look franticly at the calendar, flipping between this week´s page and the next. He tapped the next week´s page, right where the 10th November was.
"If I… and Beauvillage is no different… then that can only mean…"he muttered.
He placed the calendar back on the table and made his way towards his office door.
"Detective… what´s going on?"asked Daniel, as confused as the rest of them.
Wiseman turned, looking very serious.
"Don´t you know…?"
"NO!"all six of them answered at once, but it didn´t look as though the answer registered with him.
"Well, nevermind. Just keep an eye on things here. In the meantime, I will start making the preparations. I´m not letting him off so easily THISTIME."he exclaimed, balling his fist and turning.
As he turned, his head made a heavy collision with the door. Shaking his head, he opened them and positively ran out of the office, leaving his subordinates troughoutly confused.
"Well… at least we can never get bored with him around."muttered Daniel good-naturedly, much to the amused agreement of his collagues.
….
"Oh dear…"muttered Mom Tofu, watching the people on the street.
It was slightly foggy, which was something one could expect. The people on the market street were going about their business as usual, but they were going at it in a slow pace.
It was very apparent, that the gloomy weather has taken its toll.
"Luckily, that is definitely not the case around our household."she thought with a smile.
She was just getting back from Home-fix-it, where she brought lunch to her beloved husband. By the looks of it, the customers shared this gloomy mood and even Mr Workalot seemed to be quieter than usual.
"Violet…!"
She turned around and spotted Beth Hubbub heading towards her.
"Wait up. I´m on my way home myself."she said as she chaught up with her, two bags filled with groceries in her hands.
"You´re going home? Aren´t you busy around this time of the day?"asked Mom in surprise.
Beth shook her head with a sigh.
"Not so busy lately, Vi. There´s not much work at the moment, so I left the boys there to tend to things."she explained, referring to the two young men she had hired over a year ago.
"I don´t know… I suppose it's thanks to the weather, but we aren´t getting many customers into the Palace right now."
The two women were walking up the street towards their respective homes and they could see the somber mood of their fellow Beauvillagers as they went.
"You know… I did say, that we needed a small break after the Miss Beauvillage contest AND that Halloween stunt you Tofus had pulled, but things have really been getting dull around here."
Mom answered Beth´s thoughtfull musing with a confused look.
"Stunt…?"
Beth giggled, recalling the Halloween´s incident.
"Well… your Spirit of Pumpkins has stuck again."she said with a grin.
As for the past years on Halloween, The Tofu elders had conducted the "Green Sorcery" ritual from Balthazar Bunglewood´s book. Thistime however, they were joined by quite a few older citizens of Beauvillage, including Mayor Haveitall.
None of them knew, that the young ones have decided to throw a special Halloween costume party of their own in Beauvillage Park, and that The Brotherhood of the Wise would try to stop them.
The matter quickly got out of hand and a wacky chain of events followed. Everything ended up well, but it was certain that this year´s Halloween would be one, Beauvillagers would remember for a very long time.
"Well… no one can´t say that it wasn´t interesting. Sure beats this situation."said Beth, as another Beauvillager came past them.
Mom only nodded solemny, but suddenly a bright expression crossed her features.
"In that case… we should do something to brighten things up."
Beth looked both curious and skeptical.
"I´m not sure, if there is anything that can be done, Vi. Afterall, if its because of the weather… or… Do you Tofus actually know of some way to make the weather go better?"she finished looking incredulous.
Mom giggled.
"Of course not, Beth. There´s no such thing. BUT, we CAN do the next best thing?"
Beth raised an eyebrow.
"Which is what?"
Mom simply shrugged.
"I´m not sure yet. But if all of us sit down today and put our heads together, maybe we can find a solution."
Beth smiled, finding the optimism inviting.
"All right then. I´ll get Titus and come along in the afternoon."
Mom nodded happily.
"You´ll see – we´ll figure something out."
Beth giggled.
"We´d better. Before the kids think of something too…"
….
The atmosphere in the classroom of Beauvillage Elementary was very similar to that of the mood outside.
Having only one more class to go, the young ones couldn´t wish the end of school more heartedly.
Most were chatting with one another boredly, or simply sat behind their desks boredly.
There were exceptions though. Phil had left the classroom the moment the bell rang, eager to meet up with his new girlfriend. Emily, similary eagerly, was sitting and chatting with Archie, while Nick and Mia were going trough the homework Starchy had left them yesterday and were positively growling at eachother.
Oliver, Liam, Peter and Maurice were however looking confusedly to the back to the class, where Chloe was standing and was giggling at something.
Approoaching they saw that she was standing before Chichi´s desk, on which her diskman lay disassembled.
With a look of utter seriousness on his face, Chichi extended his left hand towards April, who was sitting beside him and giggling as well, while holding something like a pencase.
"Little screwdriver."he said in a stiff voice.
With another giggle, April pulled a tiny screwdriver out of the pencase and placed it into Chichi´s hand, the blonde at once applying it to the diskman.
"What´s going on here?"asked Oliver as he and the boys approached.
With a giant grin, Chloe made a shushing gesture.
"Shh. We shouldn´t disturb the machine-doctor, while he´s attempting to save my poor diskman."
Oliver rolled his eyes.
He was trying to cheer Chloe up since morning, when she came in and told him, that her precious diskman was busted. And though he tried many ways, including suggesting to buy her a new one, but to no avail. But it looked like she was more than cheerfull NOW!
"Think he´ll be able to fix something that´s completly busted?!"he asked, trying to mask his annoyance.
Chloe grinned as Chichi looked more closely at his work and reached out to April again.
"Handkerchief."
Instead of the pencase, April reached into her pocket and pulled out a pure-white handkerchief.
Chichi took it and placed one corner of it infront of his mouth and licked it. Gently, he applied it to some of the parts there, before turning it around and running them over with the dry part. Grabbing the tiny screwdriver again, he once more applied it to some places and reached to April again.
"Cover."
In a matter of moments, he put the disassembled diskman back together. Opening the cover, he placed the CD that was in it before he began. He pressed the "ON" button and pressed "PLAY".
At once, music started to play from the tiny speakers from the upper sides of the cover, which was one of the features of this particural model.
Chloe cheered in happiness as the melody played quietly.
"Well... that´s that. I am pleased to inform, that the operation was a success - it should play fine now."said Chichi happily.
With an excited wail, Chloe quickly threw her arms around Chichi´s neck.
"You´re awesome! Thanks, Doctor Chichi."
Oliver scrowled at the sight, while Chichi chuckled.
"You should thank Nurse April too."he said with a wink at April, who giggled blushingly.
"I told you - Chichi can fix anything."she said happily, thistime making Chichi blush.
Oliver scrowled again, but the other boys only fixed them a "Is that all" look.
Chloe embraced both her and Chichi as listened to the music playing from the CD.
Chichi´s face at once sported his infamous smile.
"Alex Complex? Only in movies?"
Chloe grinned happily.
"You guessed it."
"Cool."
The pair of them waited for the chorus and began singing along with their favoure band´s song.
April giggled. Though she was definitely no fan of the said band, or music, it was refreshing to see her two friends sing their favourite song so happily - much better than the dull mood lately.
The boys however had a much different opinion of the situation. Peter, Maurice and Liam only rolled their eyes and went back to their desks grumbling, while Oliver´s scrowl became even more promounced.
"You know, you should turn that thing off."he said in distaste.
Chloe looked at him confusedly.
"Why? Its our favourite song."
Oliver shook his head, frowning.
"Yeah, but you don´t have to sing around in here, like you´re at a concert."
Thistime Chichi fixed him an incredulous look.
"Come on, dude - what´s wrong with a little singing?"
Oliver shot him a glare.
"Nothing."he muttered, though his tone of voice suggested the complete opposite.
Chloe however glared him back.
"Well excuse me for being happy about my diskman being repaired and for enjoying a song I like with someone who likes it too."
Oliver shook his head.
"Chloe, that´s not what I..."
But she cut him off, glaring him coldly as she stood up.
"Oh, I know exactly, what you meant!"
She swept to the front schooldesk, which she occupied with Oliver since morning and gathered her belongings, before going back towards Chichi´s desk. Passing Oliver, she humphed and proceeded to sit at the desk that was right before Chichi´s.
Oliver looked as though he was just slapped, but Chloe took no note of it and turned to Chichi.
"So Chichi... did you hear about the upcoming Jumpers album?"she asked, paying absolutely no attention to her best friend.
Chichi looked a bit uncomfortable, but answered regardless.
"Yeah... I did as a matter of fact. Actually, Roger and Melanie are to send me the CD once its out of production next week."
The information made her gasp excitedly.
"You mean, its already ready?"
Chichi grinned at her.
"You betcha. They finished the last song just yesterday."
"Wow... COOL!"she exclaimed happily.
Oliver growled at the eager chatter, turned and left back to the front of the class. April and Chichi watched him, sharing an uneasy look before looking at Chloe.
"You know... that was a bit mean..."said April.
Chloe however shook her head.
"No, April - it wasn´t. He´s been moaning and grumping since morning. Like almost everyone around."
April and Chichi nodded, knowing well what she meant.
April was about to say something, but right at that moment Phil sprinted into the classroom, as though running for dear life.
"Phil! What´s...?"started Chloe, but Phil quickly shook his head and sat down right beside her.
"Get your Geography stuff out! Starchy is coming and she´s in a very bad mood."
He didn´t have to say anymore for the other three to know what that meant - big trouble.
A moment later, the dreaded deputy-principal, AKA The Terror of Beauvillage Elementary walked into the classroom, at once barking at Nick and Mia, who were still arguing.
"Jeez Phil... that was an understatement - she´s on a warpath."whispered Chloe, loud enough for April and Chichi to hear.
Chichi moaned and lowered his head.
"Great... And its Geography..."
It was common knowledge, that Chichi was not exactly friends with the subject. Though he had pretty decent marks in it, it was simply the giant weakpoint of the Beavillage´s boy-genius.
April placed a consoling hand on his shoulder.
"There there, Chichi honey-bun... I´ll help you with it."she whispered soothingly.
"Thanks, April."he whispered back with a grateful smile.
Turning back to see, that Starchy was still too busy ranting about something, he chanced whispering to April again.
"When are you going to stop calling me that?"
April stiffled a giggle and fixed him a mischievous look.
"Never."she whispered happily, winking at him.
The lesson all in itself was a troughoutly unpleasant ordeal. Mildred Starchy also seemed to be affected by the gloomy weather, and it seemed to have made her even more unpleasant than she already was.
So unpleasant, that the moment she had left the classroom, many students did not hesitate to leave either, her lesson being the final lesson of the day.
"Sheesh... we really need to do something - this weather is driving everyone nuts."said Chloe, placing her notebook into her backpack.
"You can say that again. But what...?"nodded April.
Phil, Chloe and April looked at Chichi, who had his arms folded. He shot them an apologetic grin.
"I´m drawing a blank too, sorry."
The three of them goaned in dissapointment, being sure that the boy-genius would have something up his sleeve.
"But... I think we should get together with Lola, Lily, Billy and Miles. This maybe too much just for us, but if we all put our heads together... we just might find some way to snap Beauvillage from the autumn-blues."
The three nodded happily, knowing that he was right.
...
A/N: Hi... well its been a long time, so I´ve returned to the Chronicles. As promised last time, thistime around I will try to keep the episode to a shorter one. I will also try to add chapters in a reasonable pace, though since I´m also working on two other stories at the moment, it still might take some time, so bear with me. I hope that you will find this one as funny, entertaining and cool as the previous ones. As always, any comments are greatly appretiated and welcome. So without further ado, let´s go for another Beauvillage ride. :)
HK07