(Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella)
"Parallels Attract"
"C'mon, Petunia! It's not a big deal!" Archibald reasoned.
"I-I can't do it, Archibald. You better hire someone else to play as Julia." Petunia hesitated.
"But we can't! This is the sequel of Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush! You already took Julia's part! The viewers might wonder why Julia changed." Bob pointed.
"Just get another girl to be Minn's love interest. I can't play the part now."
"But you've always been Larry's love interest! Is that what bothers you?" Archibald asked.
For a moment, Petunia blushed. Did Archibald point out a fact or a scheme? She didn't know. But she concentrated on another thing, something she can't handle. It wasn't Larry or her role. It was something else that bothered her. Tears welled up from her eyes but she turned her back on the two veggies.
"I'm so sorry. I just can't." Petunia mumbled.
Bob and Archibald were left wondering. They looked at each other and then to Petunia who was walking away from them.
"What's gotten into her? She loves acting and working with Larry and for the production. Why would she give up her post?" Bob questioned.
"I have no idea, either. This thing seemed to upset her." Archibald said glumly.
The two looked at the floor helplessly and hopelessly because they can't succeed to convincing Petunia to play her part. It was true that she loved acting. She also loved working with Larry. So why deny the part? Wait a minute… Loved working with Larry…Then, it dawned in Archibald.
"Larry." he muttered.
"What?" Bob asked.
"Larry can convince her. He's the only one who can talk some sense into her." Archibald explained.
"I don't know, Archie. I think it's a little too obvious."
"But we're desperate! If we won't get Petunia to join the show, this episode will be canceled!"
Bob was left with a decision if he'd let his best friend talk to his (Larry) crush or lose the episode, the show and, maybe, their jobs. His mind stirred with thoughts and predictions. Finally, Bob made a choice.
….
"You want me to do what?!"
"Please, Larry. If you won't talk to her, the episode might cut off. We've tried to convince her. We've even tried to bail her in! But it didn't work. Everyone else talked to her, but she won't listen. You're the last person who hasn't spoken to her." Bob said.
"C'mon, Bob! You know very well that I stammer when I talk to her." Larry complained.
"Please, please, please, Larry? Please take one for the team." Bob begged.
Larry sulked on his couch inside his trailer. There was no way he was doing this. When he turned to Bob, he saw that expression that he never thought he'd see again since college.
"Aw, c'mon, Bob! That's not funny! Quit doing that!" Larry scolded.
Bob's mouth was pout and his eyes were big, too adorable for Larry's taste. Bob used that face to get him accept his apology for a fight they had in college. He vowed not to make that irresistible face again. But now he's doing it.
"Bob! Quit it!" Larry begged.
Bob's pupils grew bigger, making him more adorable. Larry bit his lip, trying to resist Bob's trick. He tried looking away, but he would draw back. He couldn't take it no more.
"Fine. Fine! I'm talkin' to her! I'll go now, okay? Happy?" Larry said.
Bob's face shrunk to normal and he laughed.
"I knew you'd catch on." he giggled.
"Whatever,"
…
Inside her dressing room, Petunia sulked on her couch, holding an ice cream cup that she used in the first episode of Minnesota Cuke. It was filled with ice cream for her. She sipped it down but it didn't soothe her. Abruptly, someone knocked on her door. She put down the cup on her coffee table and headed to the door.
"I'm coming." she called.
She twisted the knob and opened the door. She was surprised to see a cucumber waiting for her.
"Oh. Hi, Larry. What do you want?" Petunia asked feebly.
"I-I just came to talk to you about something." Larry said.
"Sure. Come on in."
Petunia sat on the couch and picked up her ice cream cup and Larry sat to the opposite end of the couch.
"Is that the ice cream cup we used in filming 'Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush'?" Larry asked, smiling.
"Yes. Would you like for some ice cream?" Petunia offered.
"Um, no, thank you. By the way, I did intend that ice cream for you, you know." Larry said.
Petunia blushed. "Thanks…"
"So… about the show…"
Petunia suddenly stood up, realizing Larry's purpose of coming to her trailer. "I'm not doing it, Larry."
"I don't want to force you, but this show is important to us." Larry stated.
"Larry, I can't." Petunia sighed, walking farther from Larry.
Larry saddened as he walked nearer to Petunia who had her back against him. "Could you at least tell me why? Is it because of me?"
Petunia bit her lip. She fought back the tears that were starting to flow down her cheeks. When she could not hold it anymore, her tears erupted and fell down like a waterfall. Larry never saw Petunia cry that way before. But now that he saw it, he hated seeing her like that again.
"Petunia, what's bothering you?" Larry asked.
"I can't tell." Petunia cried.
"It would help if you'd tell. Please, Petunia?"
Petunia paused for a moment. Larry's right. It may help to tell. She wouldn't lose anything anyway. She dried off her tears and got back to the couch with an unpleasant frown on her face.
"Alright. Here it goes. It began when my parents got sick. Before, I was a confident girl. I fell in love with filming and theater when my parents took me to a musical. Before my parents were ill, I auditioned for a show my school set up. On the week before the play, they started to act differently."
Larry allowed Petunia to continue while he sat down beside her.
"I found out of their sickness before the show and it just lost my focus. My voice trembled, I shook so hard and I slipped a couple of times. There were hundreds of people out there, laughing at my mistakes. What's worse, my parents weren't there to see me. Months after that, they were gone. Archibald and Lovey took me in. Kids started to call me rude names about me being an orphan and about my performance.
"Larry, we'd be filming on an actual spot. You didn't have jurisdiction to drive the tourists away which means that they're going to watch us. It would be like bringing back my past. I just can't, Larry."
Petunia shut her eyes and hugged the cushion that came along her couch. She wept mentally so that Larry couldn't see her that way anymore. Larry didn't know what to do. Then, he glanced at the ice cream that Petunia was eating/drinking a while ago.
"You know, Petunia, I know how you feel." Larry began.
"Your role in the film doesn't mean you do know how I feel." Petunia mumbled.
"No, really. I was being laughed at, too. Guys would tease me about my squeaky voice, my single tooth and other stuff."
Petunia slightly raised her head. "But I thought your voice, your single tooth and other stuff about you were adorable."
Larry slightly blushed. "Exactly. They teased me because I was too adorable. Those were the scallions! Now, they work with us and we are getting along. I'm pretty sure the kids are teasing you not because of your mistakes and faults but because they want what you have."
"No parents?" Petunia asked confusedly.
"No. Joy, love, confidence, a nice family that loves you even though you're not related, wisdom, a sensible wit about theater and beauty. Those kinda stuff! And if anyone's ever laughing in the filming, they might be laughing at me because I'm the silly one, and I got over that. You don't have to worry about a thing. I'll be right beside you throughout the film." Larry assured.
"Really?" Petunia sniffled.
Larry nodded, keeping his promise. He handed Petunia her ice cream cup and Petunia smiled thankfully.
"Okay, Larry. I'll do it." Petunia said confidentially.
"That's the real Petunia we know!" Larry cheered.
"That helped a lot. Thanks,"
"Aw… you don't have to be too grateful. Well, I'm telling Bob that you'll go on with the show."
"Okay," Petunia said.
Larry was about to exit Petunia's trailer when he remembered one more thing.
"Petunia?" Larry said, turning to her.
"Yes?"
Larry walked close to her and hugged her thankfully, to Petunia's surprise. Petunia, her instincts overcoming, hugged back.
"It helped me, too. Thank you." Larry smiled.
"No problem," Petunia blushed.
The two broke apart from their hug and Larry merrily walked out of the trailer, shutting the door behind him. Bob and Archibald were waiting for the results outside. When Larry dreamily started walking to his trailer, Bob and Archibald caught up with him.
"So? What did she say?" Archibald asked.
"She's in." Larry replied.
Bob and Archibald let out a sigh of relief. But they observed something else, yet they couldn't put a word in it. Larry was acting happier and the two other fellows glanced at each other.
"What's gotten into him?" Archibald asked.
"I think the question you might ask is how on earth he convinced her." Bob added.
"They must have had something in common to talk about." Archibald guessed.
And his guess was right.
Another story 'bout Larry and Petunia! Bonus! And four chapters updated! Double bonus! What did you guys think? Two down, one to go! :) Leave a review!
