"Ah, the things we've seen and we did not get in trouble." said Flynn as we went back into Room 48. "That's what I call an unqualified success."
"Success! Success! Success!" Larry and Curly said as they shook each other's hands until Moe snapped. "All right, break it up!"
"Well, not only was today a success," said Krishna. "But it's also a relief, because the Dragon Lady is nowhere to be found."
"Whew. Now that's a big relief." I said.
"Giesag! Giesag! Giesag!" Kevin, Bob and Stuart said as they high-fived each other until Gru plucked them up, saying. "Well, for once, I'm glad this whole ordeal is over."
"Well," said Rapunzel. "I wouldn't call it over just yet."
"Let me guess." said Gru. "Since the outside world is not how Gothel claims it is, you want to see more of it."
"That's not what I was gonna say." said Rapunzel. "OK, that is what I was gonna say."
"Well, I say you are not welcome in my house."
"Oh, come on...uh...Gruski. Can I call you Gruski?"
"No." groaned Gru as he walked away.
"Hey, we love to take you," said Larry. "But..."
"The old truck's starting to act up." fibbed Moe.
"But it was working fine earlier." said Rapunzel.
"Yeah, she's right." agreed Curly, whose nose was pulled by Moe, who snarled. "Better to be safe than sorry."
Rapunzel, then, turned to me and Flynn.
We looked at the other chefs, who didn't say anything, for they don't want to risk getting into trouble with Gothel.
Flynn and I looked at each other, then at Rapunzel, to whom I said, with a reluctant sigh. "All right. You can come with us."
Rapunzel gasped happily. "Oh, thank you!"
She hugged us tightly, adding. "This is gonna be so much fun."
"It won't be once Gothel finds out." I reminded her.
"That's okay," Rapunzel said as we waited for the bus. "I mean, what she doesn't know won't kill her, right?"
"Oh my gosh," she later said on the bus. "This would kill her."
"THIS IS SO FUN!" she hollered on the train, heading northbound to Hillsdale.
"I am a horrible daughter. I'm going back." Flynn could hear Rapunzel say at my house, not getting enough sleep.
Even I can't get the first five pages of my 8th scrapbook* done the next day when I heard her say ecstatically. "I am never going back!"
"I am a despicable human being." Rapunzel said, her head resting on the horn on one of the cars that were placed in the San Mateo Street Festival later that day.
"And I thought Gru was!" Flynn shouted while he and I covered our ears.
"WAHHOOOOO!" cheered Rapunzel as the train sped towards Menlo Park the next day. "Best weekend ever!"
Flynn: Once we got to the station, Nathan and I watched as Rapunzel wept her eyes out.
"I don't know how much longer I can take this." groaned Nathan, for he hadn't gotten much sleep the whole time she was with us.
"You've got enough on your plate, buddy." I assured. "Go get some rest. I'll handle this."
With that said, I went up to Rapunzel, cleared my throat, and said. "You know, Blondie. Nate and I can't help but notice, you seem a little...at war with yourself here."
Rapunzel sniffled. "What?"
"Just picking up the bits and pieces. You know, overprotective mom, forbidden field trip. I mean, this is serious stuff." I said. "But let me ease your conscious. This is part of growing up. A little rebellion, a little adventure. That's good, healthy even."
As I spoke, the sound of snoring caught our attention.
Apparently, Nathan was so tired from what we've been through during the weekend that he just plopped at the nearest seat and started sleeping.
"Of course, it can be a bit tiredsome at times." I added. "Come on. Let's get you something that'll lift your spirits...or energy, in his case."
Nathan: As Flynn led Rapunzel out of the station, Pascal stuck his tongue into my ear.
"Who? Wha...Where? Breakfast?" I said, finally awake.
Then, upon seeing Flynn and Rapunzel crossing the street, I caught up with them.
"Wa...wa...wait, aren't we going to Stack's?" I said, seeing that they were going left. "I mean, that's where breakfast is served."
"No." said Flynn. "I know a much better place than Stack's. And you're staring at it."
Hanging outside a bar was a sign that read...
"The Snuggly Duckling?"
"Trust me, kid. It's a very quaint place. Perfect for any occasion." said Flynn. "Maybe you might find something you like on the menu."
"Well, I do like ducklings." said Rapunzel.
"But...what about the bus?" I asked.
Knowing I was right, Flynn said. "We'll take it for the road, then."
Author's Note:
*Working on my scrapbooks has been an annual hobby since summer 2003, thanks to a very special segment called "Project Playtime," which aired on Playhouse Disney, showing how to make a scrapbook inspired by "Piglet's Big Movie," which was about to come to video and DVD around that time.
However, due to the coronavirus pushing some of the newer movies to next year, including "Minions: The Rise of Gru," which was suppose to be out this summer, and Disney's upcoming "Raya and the Last Dragon," my scrapbooking days have abruptly come to an end.