Chapter 29
Stan picked up a copy of the Gravity Falls Gossiper, for even though he thought this newspaper was cheap, he had to find more information on Dipper and Mabel. He wasn't sure he believed they were dead- either that or he didn't want to. Flipping to page 6, a picture of the burning hospital was splayed across the top. Underneath read:
Startling all patients and hospital workers was the bombing explosions of the Gravity Falls Hospital; the bomber is still unknown. The building caught fire and destroyed all hospital records. Most of the patients and workers evacuated in time, but, "The only exit was soon blocked by some huge beam thingamaggiger... and no one could escape after that!" quotes Esme Thomas, current resident at the Gravity Falls Retirement Home and hospitalized for breaking her wrist. Those killed in the bombing are known to be:
Marilyn Sweenston, aged 35
Sally Alder, aged 19
Julianna Golden, aged 9
Vicki and Reggie Clark, aged 56 and 59
Kevin Jonson, aged 44
Marie and Jaclyn Heart, aged 20 and 23
Aaron Atkinson, aged 33
Oliver, Tally, William, and Elsa McCoy, aged 6, 14, 36, and 34
Lily Saunters Wright, aged 76
Dipper and Mabel Pines, aged 12
Tobias Orman, aged 80
Richard and Wesley Spire, aged 45
These are the only official deceased.
Stan frantically searched through the paper for more news on the hospital, but found nothing. He crumpled it up in anguish and defeat. His great-niece and nephew were dead. He'd just informed their parents Mabel was alive and now- Stan put his head in his hands.
"What's wrong, Mr. Pines?" A voice asked. It was Soos.
"You haven't heard?" Stan answered.
"Heard what?"
"You'd best read this," Stan replied, giving Soos the crumpled up paper. The two men sat for awhile on the table chairs, wordless and grief-stricken.
"I'll never forget those dudes," Soos said sadly.
"Me neither," Stan said. "Me neither."
