Let's get to the first part of the second episode on the way. Anyway, enjoy!
Inside the Beeper Emporium, Big Bob Pataki was smiling as he was looking around, trying to sell another beeper. "Step right up, we've got beepers up the wazoo!"
However, it had turned out to be useless as the more Bob had hung around the place, the more he noticed that... there haven't been any customers lately. The man sighed as he held his head. "I don't get it. People always came here all the time. What happened? Where did I go wrong?"
Bob sighed as he walked behind the counter and looked around his empty store. He hated to admit it, but... things have been going wrong since his only daughter had left. Sure, business went thriving at first, but as the months went on, less and less people were coming in to buy beepers. Eventually, around the last month or so, people only came in to look before walking away.
And if that wasn't enough, his wife... soon to be ex-wife, had actually started growing a bit of a backbone once again and started filing for divorce. Bob tried to fight it as best as he could, but the settlement was final. They were still in talks about how the divorce was going to go.
As he put his face down, he groaned. The once proud Beeper King had fallen from grace. And for what? A new technological advancement that people became more interested in than beepers?
"Hey, hey, why the long face?"
Bob looked up to see a brown haired man with a thin mustache and groomed goatee, wearing a grey suit walking up to the man. The man in the grey suit looked around as he said, "Not a whole lot of sales going on here, eh?"
"You don't need to tell me." Bob frowned as he crossed his arms.
"Bob, buddy, you need to understand... beepers are a thing of the past. Lately, people are starting to get into the cell phone craze. Maybe you should too!" Nick smiled.
"I suppose..." Bob sighed as he sat down.
"Oh now, why the long face?" Nick said as he sat down. "I mean, I know beepers haven't been selling, but..."
"I'm not thinking about the beepers!" Bob growled, shutting Nick up. "It's just, everything in my life has been turning the other cheek at me, ever since my only daughter decided to move out!"
Nick raised an eyebrow. "You did tell me you had a daughter that's very successful in what she does."
"Yeah, the most successful child I can easily say I'm proud of!" Bob bragged. "Of course I wish she went off to college, but it was sweet she wanted to be closer to us, and I'm glad she made the choice. But ever since she graduated community college, she did a lot of things that I never thought she'd do. Moved out, adopted a kid, actually start her own life. I know it's selfish to think that your kid would stay with you forever, but... I guess I just kinda wish she would run the store, you know?"
"Guess that's not going to happen, what with beepers not being in style anymore." Nick smirked. "I'm telling you, Bob, you need to make the move to cell phones. Let's face it, the day of the beeper is gone. You need to let go of the past and look forward to the future."
Bob paused as he pulled out a picture from his pocket... and sighed. "Maybe it is time I made that change..."
With a heavy sigh, Bob had put the picture down on the counter in front of Nick. Nick smiled as he put a hand on Bob. "Trust me, Bob. As your partner and confidante, you're making the correct choice. Now why don't you take a break and we'll discuss what to do with the business from here."
Bob could only nod as he started to make his way to the back of the room. Nick groaned as he held his head in frustration. Of course, he never really liked Bob, but he knew he had to work for him if he was going to win and take his own business away from him. He thought he had something with the beeper contract when he worked with "Scheck", but it became null and void when it was revealed the real one was dead and a kid was in the guise of Scheck. To Nick's relief, the contract had been ripped apart before Bob would even have a chance to read the fine print...
But he knew it wasn't enough. He wanted to get his grubby hands on Bob's business, and use this business to finance his own side business... of course, he wouldn't say what it is to anyone, as he tends to keep it secret. Having Bob change from beepers to cell phones was a good start, but he couldn't help but wonder... what could he do to help improve Bob's business AND eventually trick Bob into handing over the business to the man.
His eyes suddenly fell on the picture that Bob laid on the counter. His curiosity taking over, he leaned towards the counter to pick it up and examine it.
Of course, there was Big Bob at the center of the picture, smiling, to the left of him was his soon to be ex-wife, Miriam, who, he admitted, did good in the business... but with her leaving him, how could- it was the final person in the picture that had gotten his attention. In more ways than one.
Nick felt himself tightening around himself as he examined the picture of the adult woman that was smiling, standing next to the standing Big Bob. The blonde hair, the pure white shirt covered by a black vest, and a green plaid skirt that covered her body. His mouth started to form into a smile, quickly formulating a plan.
A few moments later, Nick walked into Bob's office as the man looked up. "Say, Bob, I just noticed the picture you laid down on the counter and wanted to ask... that girl on the right. Is she your daughter?"
Bob paused as he looked down. "Er, yes. Her name is Olga."
"Olga, huh." Nick put on a hidden smile. "Anyway, Bob, I was thinking. In order to get people to like you again, you need to change to cell phones. That part is obvious. But at the same time, you need a new face to promote the cell phone company. I don't think your face will do it anymore."
"And what's wrong with my face?" Bob frowned, glaring at Nick.
Nick chuckled nervously. "Nothing wrong with it, per se... but it's just, if your face is next to you holding a cell phone, people will just see an old man trying to be 'hip' with the kids, and the kids of today won't want that. They need something new, something creative, something that can define a younger generation."
"Really?" Bob asked.
"Yes." Nick smiled as he looked down. "And just by examining this picture, I would say your daughter Olga may be the perfect fit! She's someone who can fit in today's society, and looks like the type that can use a cell phone."
"You really think so?" Bob asked in surprise.
"Bobby, I know so!" Nick laughed.
Bob paused as he smiled, "It is a tempting thought..."
Bob then slumped down. "But there's no way she's ever going to talk to me... not after what I said to her adopted kid."
"Hey, hey, don't look so down. I'm sure she'll forgive you in time." Nick smiled. "Why don't you go down to where her place is and talk to her?"
"If I do, she or one of her boarder friends will slam the door in my face." Bob sighed. "I don't know if she'll ever talk to me."
"Hmmm... that would be quite a conundrum..." Nick paused... as he smiled, "Tell you what, why don't I talk to her? She doesn't exactly know who I am, but if I tell her that I'm a friend of yours, I'm sure she'll be able to agree to what you want to do..."
Bob paused as he put a finger on his chin. "If you really think she can do this..."
"Trust me, I know she can." Nick smiled. "I'm sure she'll agree to pose for a picture for your new cell phone store. Just tell me her new address and I'll be able to talk her into it."
Bob looked at Nick unsure, but nodded as he started to tell him the address. As Nick wrote it down, dirty thoughts had started to enter his mind...
A couple of days, at a newly rebuilt PS 118, the school bell had just rang the dismissal bell as everyone was walking out in excitement, some wanting to get homework done, while other just wanted to play the day away. For a certain group of friends, however, they were waiting for one more person to join them.
"Come on, come on, you're our ride home." Rhonda sighed as she started to tap her feet impatiently.
"A little eager to get back home, are we?" Lila smirked.
"Wouldn't you know it? Today's the day the made for TV James Bond movie comes on, and I am not missing that!" Rhonda said.
"Hey, Rhonda, we're all excited to see that." Arnold told her, holding her hand. "But please, try not to be so eager, will you?"
"Sorry, buddy boyfriend. But I can't help it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch this movie! In other words, it'll be on TV once!" Rhonda said. "And I cannot miss that Arnold. Not... at... ALL!"
Arnold felt a little intimidated upon seeing Rhonda peering closer at him as Arnold blushed. "I'll take your word for it."
"We're all excited to see that movie." Phoebe smiled as she and Nadine giggled.
"We've all read the books, so seeing a TV movie is something we just have to catch!" Nadine smiled.
"Mind you, I'm sitting next to Lorenzo since HE'S volunteering to make the popcorn." Tucker said as Lorenzo got a nod.
"I already told you, man, I make good popcorn on my own." Lorenzo smiled. "Mother told me that ella le gustan las palomitas."
"Looks like we have a VERY busy night tonight!" Gerald shook his head as someone was arriving at the doors.
Olga Pataki was shaking her hair out as she sighed, "Sorry, kids. I had a little trouble with one kid, but it's all taken care of."
"That's all right, you're here now!" Rhonda smiled.
"Ready to go?" Olga smiled as she motioned the kids over.
Since Olga's car couldn't fit the required number of people, she decided to go with a caravan that could fit a little more, and she was okay with the choice she made. It did help to pick up Rhonda's friends that way. Olga smiled as she looked up at the mirrors. "Excited to see your movie?"
Rhonda, Nadine, Phoebe and Lila were squee-ing in utter delight as Arnold rolled his eyes. "I think it's a safe bet."
Olga smiled. "That's great. Anyway, Kevin's going to come over and visit while you're watching your movie, so we'll be having a little date of our own."
"It's strange to say that you're engaged to Monkeyman, but hey, he seems to be treating you nicely." Tucker smiled.
"Oh, he has." Olga giggled. "My fiancé is a sweetheart!"
As Olga turned the corner to the street where the boarding house is, she quickly parked it in the garage as she turned off the car. As everybody was getting out, Olga gave a sigh as she started to walk towards the door, with the excited kids rushing ahead of her. Olga was the last one to go in as she shut the door and locked it.
"Welcome back!" Phil smiled as he turned from the kitchen table to see Olga coming in. "How was your day?"
"Oh, you know, same ol', same ol'." Olga used her hand to wave it off. "What's up with the boarding house?"
Phil smiled, "Good news is, we'll be having another boarder coming in soon... actually, he said he's coming by in a few minutes or so to examine his new room."
"Oh, a new neighbor! That sounds like fun!" Olga smiled.
"Indeed. He should be here any..." Phil started before hearing a knock on the door. "Gee, I wonder if that's him now."
Phil had got up as he started to go off to the door. Olga gave a sigh as she picked up her bag and started to head for the other room... but just as she was about to head upstairs, she noticed the man that Phil had let in. A brown haired man with a thin mustache and goatee, wearing a nice suit. Olga stopped as she examined the man. She swore she had seen him before, but couldn't pinpoint to where.
BUMP!
Olga yelped as the man bumped into her. The man, looking concerned, offered her hand. "I'm sorry, it was an accident. Are you hurt?"
Olga paused as she took his hand. "I'm alright. I just zoned out for a moment and... didn't see you there. Are you the new boarder looking into the place."
The man smiled as he said, "I am. My name is Nick. Nick Vermicelli."
"Where have I heard that name before?" Olga thought to herself, but kept a smile as she shook hands with the man. "I'm Olga. Olga Pataki."
The man raised an eyebrow in interest. "Oh, Pataki as in Big Bob Pataki?"
Olga groaned upon hearing that name. "Unfortunately, yes. That man is my father."
"Oh wow." Nick said in surprise. "I never would have guessed. Anyway, I've been working for a while here and I wanted to move so I could get a little closer to my work place. I noticed an opening on this place and wanted to inspect the place for myself."
"I see." Olga smiled, looking up at the man. "Well, it's nice meeting you, Nick."
"Believe me, it is nice meeting you." Nick said as he watched the young Pataki woman walk upstairs, a smirk on his face. "Moreso than you think..."
Nick smiled as he turned to Phil. "Your neighbors sure seem friendly."
"Trust me, they're more eccentric than you think." Phil muttered... as he then smiled, "Well, how about I give you the grand tour, shall we?"
"Of course." Nick said as he started to follow Phil as he had a hidden smirk, plans formulating in his head. "All according to plan..."
And there's the first part of the second episode! How did you guys like it? Like I said, I wanted to give spotlights to characters I didn't get a chance to do in the original 'Oh Rhonda!', and Nick Vermicelli, I feel, would be a good start! If you haven't guessed what his role will be in this story... well, let's just say you'll be getting subtle hints in this episode and the rest of the arc, all of which involve Olga Pataki. You'll see what happens as we go along! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!
