Even after a month, Plankton hasn't had a customer at the Chum Bucket. Most of this was because he had to have it closed until the restaurant could be brought up to date with the Bikini Bottom health board's new regulations. The Chum Bucket was now as clean as it was when Plankton first opened the restaurant. He also had to dump old batches of chum to make new ones. However, he still has not had a customer so much as place an order. This has caused him to fall into a deeper depression and even put on weight. He spends most days watching Karen's video screen. Even she is getting tired of the pandemic, especially since Plankton doesn't have the best taste in movies or TV.
"Ugh. Karen, can you change the channel? I wanna the coconut show." Plankton whines.
"Plankton, you need to expand your taste in movies and TV. Stop watching the same thing over and over again." Karen snaps.
"But I don't like this movie. It's too stressful and the ending doesn't make sense." Plankton whines louder.
"That's the point! It's meant to be that way. It's nothing cliché, like that stupid head hit by coconut show. You're complaining about something that's meant to be the way it is. That's like complaining that a slasher movie is violent and scary." Karen snaps back. Plankton then turns off the monitor and turns Karen back to normal.
"Ugh… I need to get out of here." Plankton says.
Suddenly the phone rings for the first time in a couple years, the last time being a prank call.
"Chum Bucket, how May I help you." Plankton says into the phone.
"Yes, I'd like to order two chum batches." A young man says.
"You'd… you'd like to order food?" Plankton asks, shocked that someone he didn't trick with a marketing scheme is genuinely asking him for a delivery order.
"Well… yeah. You're the only restaurant open today." The customer informs him.
"The only one?" Plankton asks curiously.
"Yeah. The Krusty Krab is closed today and tomorrow, plus the fancy restaurant is too expensive for most people right now. I wanna have something to eat, man." The customer says.
"Okay… man. That'll be $20. It should be there in 20-25 minutes. Will that be cash or check?" Plankton says.
"Cash. And I live on 134 Kelp Ave." The customer says.
"Okay, we'll see you then." Plankton says, hanging up the phone.
"So am I supposed to be your delivery person, now? We don't have a car." Karen says.
"You have wheels, don't ya? I'll build something that'll boost your speed to maximum strength overdrive, should you need it." Plankton says.
He then readies the chum batches and bags them up. Though reluctant, Karen takes the order for delivery.
While she is gone, Plankton gets several more phone orders for fried chum nuggets.
"Why are these so popular?" Plankton asks yourself.
Just then, Karen walked in and looked around to see the orders she has to deliver.
"I think I know why you have customers." Karen says, pulling up a video. The two customers have long, scraggly beards and glassy, red eyes. They seem very sleepy as they veg out on their couch and eat their chum.
"Yo, I don't what everyone's talkin' about, this stuff's pretty good." One of the fish says.
"I know. We gotta get this again." The other fish says, as the two of them giggle. Karen turns off the video and switches back to her monitor.
"Oh that's great. THIS is my clientele. That'll be a good slogan. The Chum Bucket: The perfect snack when you score smack." Plankton says sarcastically.
"Hey, at least you have clientele. Maybe this'll get you to do something besides sit around all day." Karen says to him.
"I'm working, what more do you want from me?" Plankton asks.
"Well maybe watch one of Larry the Lobster's workout videos. You could stand to lose a few ounces." Karen says, pointing to Plankton's belly.
"Eh, running around and making chum is gonna help me lose weight." Plankton counters.
"It would help you, if you were eating any of the leftover chum." Karen says, noticing the crumbs on his belly.
"Yeah you're right." Plankton sighs.
"Of course I am. Now let's finish out the day and get ready for the next day." Karen says.
"Very well, Karen." Plankton says.
By then end of the day, the Chum Bucket had made 59 deliveries. Karen was tired at the end of it, as was Plankton.
"We really should get a car, Plankton." Karen comments as she oils down her wheels.
"That and/ or hire another person. I'd hire that dumb starfish, but I doubt he'd follow the protocol." Plankton says.
"Maybe we could put a help wanted sign up." Karen suggests.
"That's a good idea, or I could build another robot and save time on buying masks for people that aren't me. Besides, I doubt most people wanna work for me anyway." Plankton says.
"You're the evil genius. I'm sure you'll think of something." Karen says.
When she left, Plankton was left alone with his thoughts, thinking about how Karen called him an evil genius. With the new guidelines in place, several business owners under intense media scrutiny, and newfound customers, he knew that going after the formula was a bad idea for the time being. He looked out the window at the Krusty Krab, knowing it was a good idea to bide his time and truly brainstorm.
"Oh just wait, Krabs. Pray the pandemic doesn't end. Because THEN that formula will be mine." Plankton says, letting out an evil laugh.
End of the chapter. Definitely a more positive chapter, especially for Plankton. I wanted another humorous chapter before I do something serious. Don't know what the next chapter is going to be, but hopefully I can come up with an idea soon. Until then, happy reading.