CHAPTER 5: Hot Dog!
The Nasty Dog wasn't as nasty as the name implied. The place was more or less clean. People were talking over chocolate milkshakes. Some kids were competing for the high score on the Miss Pac-Man machine.
"Hey, V-Man!" Jack calls out. I speed walk to the booth. "Glad you could make it, dawg!"
"Harriet couldn't make it," announces Maddie.
"Sorry to hear that," I respond courteously.
"By the way, we ordered already," Jack alerts. "I bet you'll like it."
"I'm down for surprises."
"Also, go get your soda. The machine's over there."
I got my soda quickly. Cherry cola, root beer. and some other lemon-lime concoction everyone was so obsessed with. It was a one-time thing, okay? When I returned, the waitress was right behind me.
"Three Nasty Dogs and three orders of Nasty Fries?" the waitress drones. We take the tray.
"Oh boy! Come on, Vladdie, try it!"
Hesitantly I bit into the thing that was trying to pass off as a meal. It was consistent and meaty and…
"Hey," I beam, "this isn't half bad!"
"Told ya!"
"I shouldn't have doubted this for a second! I never knew having friends could be so tasty!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" my two new friends cackled.
"So Maddie, how is your project coming along? I was so rude earlier and never let you have a chance to talk. I do apologize."
"Oh Vlad," Maddie sighs, "you're being so formal! And besides, it's not like I'd blab out my plans like a super villain! I gotta have a competitive edge."
"Oh ho! Really now?"
"Well, you kind of lost it this morning."
"Well, we are working in two separate fields."
"Yeah, but I will utterly dominate the engineering competition. Gotta think of the end game."
"Oh you guys," Jack playfully whines, "you're both pretty. And besides, may the best scientist win. BONZAI!"
We continue to enjoy the not-so-nasty hot dogs. This by far has been the best day of my life! I don't know what it is about it, but I think I'm getting a hold of-What do they call it?
"Oh boy! Maddie, Vladdie, this is my jam! Come on!" His hammy hands grabbed our wrists like a boa constrictor, dragging us to the "dance floor" that apparently was socially allotted. It was "Stayin' Alive" by the BeeGees.
Jack was singing along (of course!):
Well you can tell by the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I've kicked around
Since I was born
"Come on! It's more fun if you sing along!"
"Fun?" I question. At this point, we've been busting some moves until our moves couldn't bust anymore.
"Yeah, haven't you heard of it?"
"Well I'd hardly call the BeeGees 'fun'."
"Ooh, it's the chorus! Everybody now!"
Jack and Maddie were singing in duet:
Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
This was the part everybody knew, so what the hell! I needed some of this "fun" in my life.
I joined in:
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' aliiiiiiiiii-
As I was sustaining that applause-worthy note, I noticed that something seemed odd. The sky turned a darkish purple. A neon green light was near.
Oh god! Was this…
a ghost?
"Maddie! Jack!" I whisper yell. They looked at me while singing along or at least lip syncing it. "I think there's a… well…"
"Spit it out!" demands the orange one.
Suddenly, the track stopped. A green figure goes to the center of the restaurant. Patrons and workers alike scream and flee in fear, but I was too curious as to what a real ghost looked like to leave. This was my field of study after all!
"GHOSTS!" my buddies exclaim.
"Yes," I reply dully. "I was going to say that, but you get the picture."
