Chapter 3

A deafening noise reached Town Hall. Mayor Tortimer raised his majestic head, adjusted his glasses and called out feebly: "Heh"

Shaken up, Pelly ran to the window next to the ATM. "What was that sound!" She cried out, racing out the door; completely forgetting about the aging tortoise in the back room.

"What was that you said?" The mayor grabbed his old wooden cane (which he had acquired from Nookington's for 1,000 bells) and pushed open the swinging gate to his office, searching for the pelican.

Sighing at the new generation's speed, Tortimer lumbered out of the building and followed a flummoxed Pelly down the worn stone path.

"Down with prices! Down with Nook!"

Nodding his head somberly, Mayor Tortimer viewed the scene through his glasses, precariously perched on his nose. A fairly large groups of villagers was parading around Nookington's carrying signs and chanting. Turning to his assistant, Pelly, Tortimer asked a very obvious question, "Are they protesting?"

Pelly looked at the old tortoise in exasperation. "Yes sir, they are protesting."

Shaking his head sadly, Tortimer wondered when his calm, peaceful town had become filled with rioters. The new generation sure was loud.

What a scene! Pelly was aghast at all of the protesters. All of her friends were there; Merry, Felicity, Wolfgang, even the snobby Gigi was dirtying her hands, protesting Nookington's high prices. What an amazing sight. Glancing at the aging mayor beside her, Pelly had a pretty good idea that Tortimer wasn't very happy about this new protest, and was more than likely shaking his head at the 'new generation'.

"Pelly." Mayor Tortimer croaked out, pulling on her sleeve.

"Yes Mayor?" She asked, gazing down at him.

"We need to talk to that youngster Tommy Nook."

Resisting the urge to giggle at the word youngster refer to Tom Nook, much less calling him Tommy of all things, Pelly grabbed the old man's hand and pushed through the protesters, dodging signs and feet.

Eventually they reached the store entrance, where Nook was pacing up and down, peering out the elegant glass door every so often. When he caught sight of the two of them, a small, hopeful smile came upon his face. Mayor Tortimer spoke first.

"So Tom, it seems that we have a group of rioters on our hands."

"Yes sir, Mister Mayor, sir." Nook scowled, "Those rabble-rousers won't leave, and I think we need to revert to desperate measures."

"Well, I don't know." The mayor tapped his chin thoughtfully, we don't even have a police force in our little village."

"Do we really need the police? I have a few people I know that could take care of this quickly with little fuss. I might be able to call them in."

"I don't know..." Tortimer said, thoughtfully.

"It looks like you need a new gold plated cane, I just recived a new one from my suppliers. How would you like that one?" Nook's smile was at full wattage.

Tortimer's eyes had lit up at the thought of a gold cane. "I would love a gold cane."

"Alrighty then, I'll call my supplier right now."

"Don't forget to call your chums too, so they can take care of our problem." Tortimer said, winking at Nook.

"I'll get right on it Mayor." Nook replied, a smug grin on his face.

Pelly looked on in amazement. Had the usually honest Mayor Tortimer just accepted a bribe?!