13- Dishing it Out (Cooke)
Cooke was the final one to be repaired. And one that could not fit on the table.
Rodrigo had to walk over to him and repair him where he stood.
Cooke felt his covers get removed and a few new fuses put in.
Testing was simple: making sure all of his knobs produced a flame. Sure enough, they worked.
It took four workmen to take the old stove to the storefront.
Cooke couldn't fit on the shelf. He sat beside the shelf. Rayna sat on the shelf. The banner overhead drooped a bit, brushing one of his burners.
The customers came and took everything on the shelf, including Rayna. Everyone seemed to ignore him.
That is, until...
A scrawny Italian man walked over. Why did he seem so familiar? Cooke looked at the man's left hand. A wedding ring?
The man's gaze flickered to Cooke's price tag. He called the cashier over. After handing the cashier money, four workmen lifted Cooke out of the store. He found himself in the bed of a pickup truck.
The truck pulled away, headed down the highway.
His destination was a townhouse a few miles down the road.
"Maria, you said you needed a new stove," the man said. "Well, I picked up one from a shop."
Carrying Cooke into the house was a lot of effort. He looked over one of the men's shoulders. An old woman sat on a chair, knitting.
Was that his old Mistress? It sure did look like her.
Hope, Chris and Rob met in the common area.
"Sure, I'll help you stop a ghost," Hope said.
Chris handed her an address. "Here's where we have to go."
"Is that the shop with the broken front door?" Mona asked.
Hope nodded. "Apparently, the ghost caused it."
"But how are we gonna get to the shop?" Toaster asked.
Fantine thought. "Hmm, Mistress has been packing some stuff for the ritual. Cassius and I can squeeze inside. Why don't you find out if you can stow away?"
Radio, Lampy and Toaster glanced at the box. A cross and a book of prayers were on either side of the box.
Radio twisted his dial. "I'm sure we can fit."
"I'm not going." Kirby muttered. "Blanket said he's not going either."
"I've had nightmares!" the electric blanket wailed.
"And someone's got to keep an eye on him." Kirby replied.
"All right," Toaster said. "It's just Lampy, Radio and me."