Tom Nook VS. Crazy Redd
Part 1
"Last one to Uncle's shop is a rotten coon hunter!" Shouted Tommy as he and his brother were on the hill, ready to race down to Nookington's.
"1, 2 3, go!" Just like that, Tommy raced up to the shop.
"Oh yeah!" Timmy challenged. "Well... watch this Bro!" Timmy raced after him. The two raccoons were now neck to neck, each trying to out race the other. Timmy crossed the invisible line first.
"WHOO-HOO!" Timmy cheered. "And the crowd goes wild for the winner is Timmy! WHOO-HOO, yeah!" Tommy opened the door.
"Good job Bro." He congratulated. "But you were too slow to open the door!"
"I was getting to that."
"Sure you were!" The raccoons entered the shop.
"UNCLE, UNCLE!" They chanted, and then both of them gasped, and stopped dead in their tracks. For talking to their uncle was Tortimer; what was he doing here? Both the raccoons twins bent down behind the welcome sign to listen.
"I don't get it Tommy." Timmy said. "What the heck is the town mayor doing here for?"
"Shhh!" Tommy whispered. "Let's listen to find out okay?" The two peered out at the elderly tortoise and their uncle.
"What you mean this is my last week?" Tom Nook asked.
"You're losing all you customers." Tortimer explained. "No one has come in your shop for weeks. I'm afraid your store is not meeting the hype like it used to be."
"But there's must be a way out of this. I mean, this used to be the only store in town. Surely we could talk to the owner of the other store?"
"You can do what you want." The mayor made his way to the door, and opened it. "But in the next week, if you don't make any more bells, you will go out of business. Sorry this had to work out like this" He then left.
Tom Nook sighed. His nephews then came into view from behind the sign. Tom Nook noticed them.
"Ready to work boys?" He asked. "I'm afraid you won't make enough profit…again." He looked sad. The twins came up to him.
"Uncle?" Timmy asked. "Is what Tortimer said true? Is the store going out of business? Are we going to lose our jobs?" His brother then nudged him.
"OW!" Timmy yelped, nursing his hurt paw. "What did I do?"
"Don't tell Uncle we were eavesdropping on his conversation with the Mayor!" Tommy told his brother. "Uncle's in enough trouble as it is; he doesn't need to know we were peeping Toms!"
"But Tommy, maybe he did this to his uncle when he was our age. His name is in it after all." They looked at their sad uncle again.
"I just don't get it." He said. "This place used to be crawling with customers! Now, all we get is like maybe 30 customers a day. I'm going broke; what am I going to do? That Crazy Redd fellow is ruining me!"
"Who's Crazy Redd, Uncle?" Timmy asked.
"The manager of that new shop." He answered, looking at him. "The one that is overpowering me."
"Uncle," Tommy wanted to know. "why don't we go to new shop, and just talk to the guy? Learn why his store is so better then ours, and do what he's doing? Lower our prices if we have to." Tom Nook looked at his nephew.
"Tommy," He began. "That's a great plan! I'm so glad you're my nephew." Timmy felt insulted. The two raccoons went to the door.
"Hey, what about me?" Timmy wanted to know; following them. "I am your nephew too! Aren't you happy for me?" They closed shop behind them, and headed downhill.
"Yes." His uncle told him. "Very glad."
"Unfortunately bro," Tommy said. "I am much smarter and older then you are."
"Yeah; only about four minutes, big deal!"
"Kits, kits," Tom Nook said, trying to calm them down. "Please, you both make me glad okay?"
"Yeah!" Timmy said. "But I'm your favorite right?" Tommy looked at his brother.
"Shut up Timmy!"
Their uncle sighed as they all went onward, heading for their destination.
The shop was a little black tent. Animals were coming in, and coming out with plastic bags in their hands. They were about to go in when Scoot came out. The raccoons stopped.
"Hey Scoot." Tom Nook greeted. "What you get?"
"I got a killer new stereo!" The duck replied. He bent down to the kids' level. "You'll like it in there kids; it's wicked!" Both kids looked happy, as they bounced up and down. Scoot stood back up.
"Well, later Nook!" He then left.
"Later Scoot!" Nook called back. He moved on with the kids. "Okay, come on kids. Let's see what the secret is, shell we?"
"Okay!" The kids said together. They went in.
"Cool!" The kids were breathless when they saw the stuff in the shop. "Wicked!" Tom Nook was speechless. A fox came up to them.
"Speechless?" He guessed, and then laughed. "Welcome to Crazy Redd's! I'm Crazy Redd, can I help you?"
"Yes." Tom Nook spoke, finding his voice. "Apparently, you're stealing all of my customers. If this keeps up; I'll be out of a job." Crazy Redd pretended to be shocked.
"Oh my, that's terrible!"
"Yes, so can you…" He was then interrupted by Timmy's excited shriek. They looked. The young raccoon was gazing at a toy motor boat.
"A motored powered motor boat; I got to have it!"
"No offence bro." Tommy told him. "It's just an ordinally boat toy; nothing special. How lame!" Timmy was about to complain when Redd went between them. He picked up the boat.
"Aw!" He said. "But this isn't your average toy boat. No suree!"
"Really?" Timmy asked, face brightened. "What can it do?"
"It can…it can…" Redd thought a wile. The raccoons looked at him. Timmy was about to ask again when the fox spoke again. "It can turn into a submarine, and fire missiles, it is also the fastest toy ever." Timmy immediately took it.
"Awesome! I'll take it!"
"Excellent!" Tommy was looking at a green streaked skateboard.
"Hey Redd," He said. "What can this skateboard do?" Crazy went to his side.
"Aw that! That's nothing!" Tommy sighed, and put his head down.
"Oh, just an ordinally skateboard right?"
"But if you want it, it can spread wings and fly. It can also transform into a surfboard, and you can go surfing on it." Tommy looked at him.
"Really? That's so cool! I'll buy it; how much?"
"Yeah!" Timmy added. "How much for the boat?"
"Well it's…"
"Kids." Tom Nook interrupted. "I thought you wanted this for Christmas."
"Awe!" Timmy pouted. "But Christmas is too far away! Can we have it now?"
Yeah," Tommy added. "Can we?"
"Well…I…." The kids both gave puppy dog looks. Tom Nook sighed.
"Fine!" The kids cheered. Tom looked at Crazy Redd. He took out his wallet. "How much?"
"400,000 bells total." Redd answered. Tom looked at the kids.
"Okay, come on kids." He said. "I don't have the money. Let's go."
"Awe!" The young raccoons whined. Timmy put the boat down.
"Bye, bye boat." He said. "I'll miss you."
As they all were about to leave, the fox spoke up.
"But since this is your first time here, and for the kids' sake; how about 20,000?" Tom Nook looked at him, then at the kid who gave pleading looks. He sighed, and gave the money to Crazy Redd.
"Here." He said. The kids cheered, and run to get their items.
"Uncle." Timmy told him. "You're the best uncle ever!"
"Yeah, thanks!" Tommy added. "You won't regret it uncle!" Tom Nook smiled.
"As long as you kids are happy," he said. I'm happy." They then said goodbye to Crazy Redd, and left the shop. Crazy Redd sneered to himself as he watched them go.
"What makes me happy," he snickered. "is money." He laughed. "A whole boatful of cash! Ca-ching, ca-ching!" He laughed and laughed.
That night, Timmy was taking a bath in his and Tommy's house. He decided to test out his new toy.
"Okay boat." He told it. "Turn into a submarine!" The boat stayed still. Timmy tried again.
"Okay, any second; now!" The boat still didn't move, or show any signs of changing. It just stayed put in the warm water.
"Come on boat!" He urged. "Change already!" Again nothing. Timmy sighed.
"Fine." He decided to move on. "But you're still the fastest toy ever, right? On your mark, get set," He touched the boat.
All of a sudden, electricity shocked him up and down through his veins! He screamed. "CHARGEEEEE!"
When the shockings were all done, his fur puffed out like a fur ball. He looked at the boat; it was moving like the mayor; slowly.
"Darn!" He said.
"Okay Jessica," Tommy said to his girlfriend. They were at the shore. "Get ready to be amazed!"
"Uh Tommy," Jessica said. "You do know that's a skateboard right?" There's no way for it to turn into a surfboard; it's downright impossible."
"Relax Jess." Tommy assured the female raccoon. "The manager at the store said that this baby could fly, and turn into a surfboard when come to contact in water."
"Uh Tommy, just because the manager says so doesn't make it true. He could be lying; he's just in it for the money." Tommy ran into the ocean, carrying his skateboard. He put it in the water, and got on it.
"You'll see Jessica!" He promised. "You'll see the magic!" He stood up, and spread out his claws. "Cowabunga" He looked at his skateboard, it hasn't changed. He decided to try again.
"Any second now; cowabunga! Cowabunga!" He looked down. Come on; work! Cawabonga! Hmmm, maybe it needs to be further back." He went further back, and tried again. Still nothing.
"Hmmm, I wonder why it's not working."
Jessica sighed, and panicked. A huge wave was heading right towards Tommy!
"Tommy!" She called, frightened. "Look out! A wave is right behind you!" Tommy looked behind him, and screamed. He paddled to shore as fast as he could. Too late; the wave hit him. He and the skateboard went flying and fell into the sand. Jessica gasped, and ran to him.
"Tommy, are you alright?" She wanted to know. The raccoon spit out sand and seaweed.
"Hmmm," He said. "I wonder if it still flies."
"Tommy, no!" Too late, he stood up, and ran to the cliff on top of a little sandy hill near them. Jessica went near him, trying to make him stop.
"Tommy, this is just a normal everyday skateboard okay? It can't fly! Get back here before you get hurt." Tommy ignored her warning, laid down the skateboard, and got on it.
"Watch this Jessica; I can fly! Woo-hoo!" He drove the board down the cliff's side, and prepared to fly. Unfortunately, it didn't. Tommy looked down.
"Hey, what the?" He then fell in with a SPLASH! Then a bigger wave then before crash into him. He, along with the skateboard sailed into the sand. The water got Jessica soaking wet! Tommy looked at her.
"Jess," He started. "I-I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I guess I…" An angry Jess then hit Tommy with her tail.
"Ouch!" Tommy rubbed his cheek. "Jess?"
"I can't believe how stupid you were today Tommy!" She shouted. "It's just a skateboard and nothing else! I mean, how lame can you get?"
"Jessica, I'm sorry. I…"
"I don't want to ever see you again!" She huffed off.
Tommy stood up, shook himself off, sighed, and held his head in shame.
"Why did I foolishly believe that this skateboard was magic? I'm hopeless, utterly hopeless." He and the skateboard then left for his house.
"Hey Tommy." Timmy said to him that night when they were in their bedroom. "What's up with you? You barely touched your supper. What's the matter?"
"I don't want to talk about it." He answered, collapsing on his bed.
"Awe! Why not? Come on; you can tell me, your twin."
"No!"
"Come on; your flesh and blood!" Tommy threw a pillow at him.
"No Timmy! How many times do I have to say it? Leave me alone!"
"Please?" Timmy then gave his brother the puppy dog look. Tommy looked at him irritated, and sighed.
"My girlfriend broke up with me okay?" Timmy looked at him; then broke out laughing.
"That's classic!" He fell to the floor with laughter. "What did you do? Tell her your skateboard could fly, and turn into a surfboard?" He rolled on the floor, laughing his head off. Tommy ignored him, and went to sleep.
When Timmy was done, he shut off the light, climbed into bed, and did the same thing.
That night, both of the raccoons had nightmares about their purchases. They both tossed and turned for hours.
The next morning, Timmy went over to Tommy's bed. Tommy awoke, looked at him.
"Tommy?" Timmy asked. "I had a bad dream that my toy motor boat came to life, and chased me. Did you have one where your skateboard chased after you?" Tommy nodded, fear in his eyes. He looked at his twin.
"Think we should warn Uncle?" Tommy nodded, and shot out of bed. The two did their morning routines before heading to their Uncle's shop.
"Boys, you're early!" Tom Nook greeted them as they came in with their stuff.
"Uncle," Timmy told him. "Can we go back to Crazy Redd's?" Tom Nook looked at him.
"Well sure, but why?"
"Because these were total rip-offs! That fox lied! He's nothing but a jerky fibber! My boat isn't fast, or turned into a sub. Tommy's skateboard didn't fly, or turn into a surfboard in water either. We were totally set up." Tom Nook looked at Tommy.
"Is this true Tommy? Tommy? Why isn't he speaking?"
"Oh!" Timmy explained. "He's upset because his girlfriend dumped him yesterday." Tom Nook looked at Tommy again.
"Oh Tommy, I'm so sorry. That must be hard; you must be devastated."
"Tell me about it." Tommy spoke. Timmy looked hopeful at his uncle again.
"So, can we go back to Crazy Redd's, and get our money back?" He asked again.
"We'll try." Nook said.
"Yes!" Timmy whispered loudly. He and his brother followed their uncle out the door. Nook locked it, and they were all on their way.
When they reached Crazy Redd's, they saw the police, and other residents. A yellow 'do not cross' was all over the tent. They heard and saw Bunnie crying on a nearby rock. They went over to see what was wrong.
"Bunnie?" Nook questioned her. "What's wrong?"
"I brought new nail polish," Bunnie answered. "Hot Pink. Redd told me if I pit it on; I'll be so beautiful that no boy will resist me!"
"So what happened?" Timmy wanted to know.
"When I put it on, it…it broke my nails! It broke my nails! My sweet, sweet nails!" She cried and cried. The raccoons felt sorry for her.
They then saw Tank being handcuffed by Booker. They went to them.
"What seems to be the problem here officers?" Nook wanted to know.
"I got arrested from purchasing a barbeque here." Tank replied.
"Yeah, yeah!" Copper said. "Tell it to the judge!" They took him away.
"So, how long is he in for?" Nook asked.
"Two years." Booker answered. "I think. It's been a pretty busy week for us. We arrested animals from left to right. Blathers for buying s stolen painting, Phyllis for buying a stolen marble vase, well, mostly they were arrested for purchasing stolen goods…I think." They then left with Tank.
"This is crazy!" Tommy concluded. "Everybody's being arrested left and right with crimes against them that they didn't even commit."
"Well, they were stolen." Tom Nook told him.
"Well yeah, but they shouldn't get the blame; they didn't steal those stuff."
"I agree, but until they know the real culprit, they're not taking any chances."
"That's stupid!"
"Yeah it is, but there's nothing to be done right now." They then saw Midge
"Midge!" Nook said. "What's up?" Midge looked at them, and then at their equipment. She looked back at them.
"You didn't buy those from Crazy Redd's? She wanted to know.
"Yes we did." Tommy answered. "And we shouldn't have!"
"They were real rip-offs!" Timmy added.
"Yeah." Midge agreed. "I agree. Redd's been fooling everyone. Why just this morning, Joey and Rosie got arrested. Joey for a pool, Rosie, a cell phone."
"Not sweet Rosie!" Timmy wailed.
Yeah, sweet Rosie. Redd has been selling fake and stolen items. He's in it for only the money. It's really a black market he operates. If I were you; I would get my money back, and never come back." She then left.
"Don't worry," Nook said to the kids. "We will." They all went in the shop.
"So that is why we want our money back." Nook told the fox after they explained what happened.
"You better believe it!" Timmy said in his face, "We were cheated and lied to. My brother lost his girlfriend thanks to you!"
"Timmy!" Tommy scolded. Timmy looked serious at the fox.
"We want our money back." He held his paw, palm up.
The fox laughed, and rubbed Timmy's head.
"How can I say no to a kid?" He said. "Of course; I'll give your money back." He went to the back room, and came back with a bag filled with something. He gave it to Tom. Tom grabbed it.
The adult raccoon said thank you, and he and the kids left. The fox then brought out the real bag with the real money inside.
"Oh, I am so sneaky and sly like a fox." He said. "I love it!" He laughed and laughed.
Back at the store; Tom opened the bag. They all looked inside; in it was coal.
"I can't believe we've been outfoxed by that fox…again!" He told the kids.
"Don't worry Uncle." Tommy reassured him. "We'll make him pay. He'll pay!"
The next few days, Nookington's had no luck; no customers whatsoever. They had been all going to Crazy Redd's. Each day, Nook grew hopeless and hopeless, waiting for some customers that never showed. Each day, the kids grew sadder and sadder for their uncle, not knowing what they could do.
Then one day as the kids came up to the store, they were shocked to see construction cones around the store, and a; condemned' sign out front. They gasped, and hid in the bushes. They peeped out as they saw Tortimer and their uncle come out.
"Please!" Tom told the mayor. "I'm sure customers will grow tired of that shop, and flood back in here again! Just give e five more days!"
"No!" Tortimer said. "I gave you all the time you need; no customers are coming!"
"Please mayor?" Tortimer looked long and hard at Tom's pleading eyes. "Please; five more days, that's all I'm asking."
"Fine!" Tortimer told him. Tom Nook cheered excitedly.
"Oh, thank you mayor, thank you! You don't know what this business means to me." They shook hands. Tortimer then released his.
"But, only five days." He warned.
"Yes, only five days. Got it!"
"I'm serious Tom. If this place isn't booming with customers within that time frame; you and your nephews are out of a job; capeech?"
"I understand."
"Good! See you in five days." The tortoise then left.
Tom sighed, and held his head sadly.
"Oh Tom." He told himself. "What have you gotten yourself into this time? There's no way this place is going to be crawling again with consumers in just five days. It's hopeless; utterly hopeless!" He then slowly went back inside.
Tommy and Timmy went out of the bushes. Tommy looked at his twin.
"Tommy?" He asked. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Of course!" Timmy replied. "Don't be stupid; I'm your twin. I always know what you're thinking!" He then looked up at him, confused. "Tommy, what are you thinking?"
"Timmy, we got to think of a great plan to have Uncle's place back in business…and fast!"