Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long since the last update. I had a bunch of homework. Anyways, here is Chapter 6!-Mr-Dippingsauce

Chapter Six

Stanley knew something was wrong with his brother. He continually heard him moaning in his sleep, and when he went to see what was wrong, Stanford was tossing and turning and covered in sweat.

Stanley didn't know what was up with him. He thought it had something to do with why Stanford had come here. So he started researching.

He looked through all the major national newspapers. He found that right before Stanford had come here, a string of robberies had been committed in major cities across the central U.S. Could Stanford be this robber? he wondered. His mind was racked with this puzzle.

Stanley woke up one day to find Stanford's empty and unmade. He searched the house, only to find that he was the one there. He went outside. "Stanford!" he called. "Stanford!" `He walked into the forest.

He soon found his twin. Stanford was sitting in the clearing they had met the gnomes in, talking to none other than Jeff. He stood up to go, having just finished up, when he saw Stanley. "Sorry, I probably should have left a note." Without saying another word, he walked towards the Shack.

Stanley turned to Jeff. "What was he talking to you about?"

"Sorry, can't tell you." Jeff replied.

"Come on Jeff, I'm his twin for heaven's sakes."

"Nope, sorry. Wait," he said. "He said not to tell another living soul. You wouldn't happen to be dead or a zombie would you?"

Stanley walked away.

"Oh come on! It's a fair question!"

"What did you tell Jeff?"

"It's nothing," said Stanford.

Stanley sat down next to his brother. "Come on, man. I'm your twin brother. You can tell me anything."

Stanford shook his head. "Look, Stanley, if I could tell you, I would. But I just can't. I…I just can't."

Stanley sighed. "Look, I know you want your privacy, and I respect that. But why won't you just tell me? I mean you told the king of the gnomes for heaven's sakes/"

"Just please don't ask me."

Stanley sighed once more. "Fine. But if you change your mind, you know where I am."

Stanford sighed. He wanted to tell Stanley, he really did, but if he did, he knew the first thing Stanley would do would be call the police. He told Jeff, the gnome king, so that he could get it off his chest. He thought it would relieve him of his burden. It had not done any of that. He still felt sick to his stomach.

Why? Why can't I control myself around money? Stan thought. He remembered when he was younger, what drove him to become a thief.

Piedmont, California, June 18, 1962

It was a hot, summer day in Stan and his family's hometown. Hot and sweaty, Stanford went to the fridge in their small, dingy kitchen. He opened the fridge, only to find that his father still had not hired someone to fix the fridge. Everything was warm. He went over to his father, who was splayed across the couch.

"Dad, the fridge is still broken."

"I know son."

"Why don't you just get someone to repair it?"

"We don't have enough money."

Stan sighed. There never seemed to be enough money in the house. Not enough money for ice cream, not enough for new school supplies, not enough for dinner.

"Why does money matter so much?"

Stan's father sat up. "Look, son, money makes the world spin, makes our clocks tick. Money determines where you end up in society. The more money you have, the better." He sighed. "Son, when you grow up, do whatever you can to get money. I don't want you to end up poor like me. You hear me?"

"Yes, father."

Stan emerged from his flashback. He'd probably been in thought for 15 minutes. He sighed. He could hear Stanley and McGucket conversing in the other room he could barely make out the words "Barf Fairy" and "Squash with a human face and emotions". He was pretty sure he was just imagining that, though. Tired out, he went to take a nap.

Charles watched the last light in the Shack go out. He smiled. Now was his chance.

Creeping on tip-toe, he tested the front door. It was not locked. Charles entered house, creeping slowly on the creaky boards he entered the living room. Sweeping his gaze across the room, he noticed something lying on the table. He went over and picked it up.

It was a collage of articles all on the same topic; the string of robberies out in the Midwest. Why would those two care about that? Charles thought. He didn't have time for further thought; he heard footsteps coming down the hall. He quickly dashed through the storage room and outside.

Back in his car, Charles picked up the days newspaper. He yawned as he lazily flipped the pages. Something caught his eye. In the paper was a "Wanted" ad for the very same person who had committed the robberies the Pines were interested in. what had caught his eye was the picture, he was sure as his name was Gleeful that the robber was Stanford Pines.

Charles quietly began to laugh.

Thanks for reading this guys! I hope to have chapters 7 & 8 up later this weekend!-Mr-Dippingsauce