Author's Note #1:

If "Voices of Spring," one of the songs heard from one of the Three Stooges shorts, "Micro Phonies," was part of a soundtrack, then it would fit perfectly during the montage where Flynn finally gets the hang of being part of the Culinary Arts Program.

"Well, Flynn, this should be a wonderful opportunity for all of us to get to know one another." I said in my Dr. Doppler voice as Flynn and I walked over to Room 48 the next day. "You know what they say: Familiarity breeds...uh, well...contempt. But in our case..."

"Just...stop with the cartoon voices, OK?" Flynn asked once we got to our classroom.

"Humph. Killjoy." I said to myself in my normal voice.

But as Flynn opened the door, Bob hurried outside, calling out. "Lapoonza! Lapoonza!"

Flynn and I looked at each other.

"Lapoonza?"

Surprisingly, Bob was referring to Rapunzel, to whom he gave another flower, saying. "Para tu."

As Rapunzel took the flower, a group of kids that came from the Child Development Program gathered around and embraced her, much to her happiness.

I watched in admiration. Flynn, on the other hand, just rolled his eyes and groaned.

So did Stuart as he looked in on this heartfelt moment.

"Mmm, blumock."

"You said it, Corn Pop." said Flynn as he and I walked into the classroom, where I asked my fellow chefs. "The kids sure like Rapunzel, don't they?"

"Well, they're not the only ones, but yeah." replied JJ.

"She's an absolute gem." added Krishna.

"Oh, puh-lease!" said Flynn. "What is it they like about her?"

"What's not to like, man?" said Big D. "She's warm, loving, beautiful."

"Yeah," Larry said dreamfully. "She even has a face only a princess would have."

By hearing him say that, Flynn and I looked at Larry with our eyebrows raised, until finally, Flynn started to laugh.

"Way to spill the beans, procupine." said Moe, who bonked Larry on the forehead.

"Oh, that's rich!" Flynn said between laughs. "Blondie a princess? I'll believe that when I see it."

"I don't know, Flynn." I said. "If what Larry's saying is true and Rapunzel is a princess*, this wouldn't be the first time I..."

I stopped myself short, for I soon saw that Rapunzel was already inside the classroom, standing behind me.

"AAAAHHHH! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Oh, sorry." said Rapunzel. "It's just...

"How's that working out for you, staying with your 'cousin?'" she asked Flynn, who replied. "Don't get used to the idea, sunshine. Until I get my satchel back, it's only gonna be a temporary stay."

"Mm-hmm." said Rapunzel. "Well, it could take days, weeks, months...who knows? Maybe you'll change your mind."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. Days? Weeks? Months?!" repeated Flynn. "You mean I'm stuck here forever?"

"Well, it doesn't have to be forever, man." said Big D. "Once you find your dream job, you can leave earlier than expected."

Flynn stopped him right there, saying. "Ah, bup, bup, bup, bup. Being a thief is my job. I mean, this is Flynn Rider you're talking to."

"You may be Flynn Rider...out there," said Rapunzel. "But in here, you're Eugene Fitzherbert. Just watch what we do and you'll get the hang of it in no time."

Flynn stared at her coldly and said. "Not if my life depended on it."

"Yes, well, whether you like it or not," said Gru as he walked up to Flynn, pointing on his forehead. "We will be pounding a few skills into that thick head of yours to keep you out of trouble."

"If we're starting with breakfast," said Larry. "I'm peckish. And I'm sure our new friend must be too."

"No. Denied." said Flynn, who crossed his arms.

"Well, maybe some french toast will help change your mind." I suggested. "Any leftover bread?"

Flynn: In the kitchen, Nathan demonstrated how he makes french toast while the rest of us watched.

"The key to making french toast is quite simple." he instructed. "You just put in a few eggs, a splash of milk, a squirt of vanilla, and you mix it up."

"Don't forget to kick it up a notch." said Larry.

"BAM!" exclaimed Curly.

"Hey, Lagasses." said Moe. "Quit your yakkin' and watch the little master work."

Once the batter's been whisked, Nathan dipped two slices of bread in there and onto a pan.

"You top it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and..."

As Nathan flipped both slices, sprinkling them with cinnamon, Pascal hurried over with a plate, in which he placed the french toast and kissed his fingers.

"Bon appetit." he said, handing the plate over to me.

I looked at the french toast, then at the chefs. And by the looks of their faces, you can tell they want me to try what Nathan made.

So I cut off a piece of french toast with a fork, dipped it on some syrup, and ate it.

"Mmm. Mmmm! This ain't half bad." I said, taking another bite. "And you know how to do it all by memory?"

"Yep," said Nathan. "In fact, next time, we have French Toast Day in my house, I can teach you how to make it yourself."

"Oh, ho, ho, you're gonna learn a lot more than just french toast," said Krishna. "Because this is only the beginning."

And so began my time in the Culinary Arts Program.

While trying to cut an onion like some kind of mad man, Rapunzel held my arm, saying. "Uh-uh. I don't think so."

She took the knife from my hand and demonstrated how to cut the onion.

"Right. I knew that." I said.

"No, you don't. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk." said Curly, who found himself pushed back by Moe, who said "Spread out!"

The next day was started by making the bread.

At first, Nathan thought I was going to louse it up again after what happened last time, but thankfully...I didn't, for I had just poured in three and a half ounces of yeast, like the recipe said, to his surprise and impression, along with the other chefs.

I also learned how to handle a knife and a hot pan.

When holding a knife, I just have to hold it down and yell out "Knife" wherever I go.

The same for the pans, for when carrying it to the sink, you have to yell out...

"HOT! HOT! HOT! HOT! HOT!"

When preparing lunch on one of the following weeks, I taste-tested a scoop of some plum gravy.

"Mmm. Not bad, but could use a bit more balsalmic."

"Mmm, yeah." said Rapunzel. "Maybe just a little."

Once I poured and stirred some balsalmic vinegar into the gravy, I taste-tested it again.

"Now that's what I call plum gravy!" I exclaimed, stuffing the rest of it into Pascal's mouth...to his disgust.

"Ah, what do you know, frog?" I asked. "It's an acquired taste."

Pascal turned to Nathan, hoping he could talk some sense into me.

Instead, he only said. "Don't looked at me, Pascal. I'm not too fond of gravy, regular of flavorwise."

When lunch was ready and presented on the table, those who came to eat applauded for all the hard work that was put into it.

"See? We told you you'll get the hang of it." Rapunzel said with a smile.

I smiled back, but despite feeling proud of myself, I still have one thing on my mind.

"So, where do I find my satchel?" I asked, only to recieve a slap at the back of my neck...by Moe, who heard what I said.

"Too soon?" I asked.

"Way too soon." replied Moe.

Author's Note #2:

*What I was going to say was this wouldn't be the first time I found myself looking out for a princess, for I previously came across Jasmine from "Aladdin" in "Camp Nathan," Anneliese from "Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper" in "Nathan Rosenberg: 7th Grader," and Amoura a.k.a Robina in "Nathan Rosenberg: The Lost Continent."

Which reminds me, while "Nathan Rosenberg: 7th Grader" is slated to be published in the fall of 2024, as part of "The School Years," there still hasn't been any announcement on when "The Nathan Rosenberg Adventure Trilogy," which consisted of "Nathan's Road to El Dorado," "Camp Nathan, and "Nathan Rosenberg: The Lost Continent" will be published.

Until I come to a decision, let's go back to my turn telling the story.