Leo's birthday and a musical problem
Lauren's P.O.V:
On a Thursday like today, you would have no idea on what to expect even if it is a special day. It was Keith's dad birthday and we were planning a big surprise party for him. I was excited and Keith made this special gift for him which was a birthday song he wrote and composed just for him. I was sitting with him at the park and I know you're wondering where is Sean, but don't worry he'll pop up soon. "Your always there, your always there happy birthday dad, to you," Keith sang while playing the piano.
"Nice job Keith, I have a feeling that's going to work great for your song," I told him as we were sitting in the park steps. "Thanks Lauren and I'm glad you decided to join me this afternoon to help out," Keith told me. "Don't mention it Keith, it's the least I can do after all it is your dad's birthday," I told him with a smile.
"Good afternoon everyone come on down to uncle Sigmund's hypnotism tent grand opening this afternoon," a voice sounded too familiar with us. Annie Scrambler. "Hey you like you need a hypnosis come on over to my uncle's tent,' she was saying. I have to admit she looked desperate even as people went by her. She even grunted. "Gees, something is on Annie's mind today," I told Keith. "You got that right for sure Lauren, I wonder what it is," Keith asked. "This is not fair, why isn't anyone listening to me," she complained. "What's the problem Annie," I asked her and she looked at me. "Well it's my uncle," she started to explain.
"The hypnotist," I asked. "That one. He's having a grand opening for his tent today and he put me in charge of advertising and I can't seem to get the word out," she told us. "Well, have you thought about another advertising idea rather than flyers," I questioned. "No, what do you mean. It was nice of me to do this for him," she asked me. "I'm thinking things in a way like a jingle so everybody knows a popular tune and catches on to bring customers. Kind of like that Farmers one last week," I explained.
"Oh so that way people can come great idea Lauren," Keith told me before playing the piano again. "Why are you playing the piano in the park," Annie asked. "Leo's birthday is today and Keith is working on his present for him," I answered. "Oh okay. Wait Keith composed that," Annie asked. "The whole nine yards," Keith answered. "Impressive so you guys have an idea for my jingle," she asked us. "Well, try to think of what your uncle does," I told her. "He does hypnotism," she replied. "Exactly, so if you think of that idea and let it form to a jingle then it should come to you," I explained.
"I think I got an idea now, thanks Lauren you too Keith. I don't know what I would do without you," she told us. "Don't mention it, hey I got to run Hector wants all of us to meet up at the diner for the final plans of the performance, I'll see you in a little bit Keith," I told him standing up. "Okay Lauren see you then," he replied. I soon began to walk from the park over to the diner humming "Part of your world" from the Little Mermaid every time I stepped onto the pavement. I was just about a few blocks down form the diner when my phone rang with a text. "Hmm, what's this," I asked pulling out my phone.
"Hey everyone change of plans, just wanted to let you know that I am working on a jingle with ANNIE SCRAMBLER AND WON'T BE DONE UNTIL A WHILE," I read out loud the text. "Well, this isn't Keith he wouldn't do that," I told myself. Soon, I heard the voice of my sister calling the gang together and I looked at the text again. "Then again, this is bad," I said to myself and ran over to the diner to see Hector, and Lisa along with Shock sitting down. "Hey you guys saw Keith's text," I asked sitting down. "We sure did Lauren besides how in the world would he cancel on us," Hector asked. "All I know is when I talked to him on the phone, he said he was getting sleepy," Jess told us. "Wait a minute, him sleepy? That is the lamest excuse ever," I told them. "Yeah and besides it's,-"Hector was saying. "Shush," Jess told him as Leo walked by with food. "Hey Leo," we greeted and soon after he was gone walked away. "It's his dad's birthday and he was working on this song for him every inch and cranny," Hector whispered.
"True but that doesn't answer the question on why this happened," I told them. Paul soon came in and was reading something. "Oh hey Paul, can I see that for a quick second," I asked him. He gave me the flyer and I looked at it then I knew something was up. "I knew it," I told them. "Knew what," Hector asked me. "Keith fell into a Prankster trap," I replied. "How," Jess asked. "Well Annie was having trouble advertising for her uncle's tent and came to us for advice on advertising," I explained.
"Then I guess when you left, she may have convinced Keith," Hector told us. "No I think she hypnotized him," I explained. "Lauren's right, he said he was getting sleepy right," Lisa asked. "Yeah I guess during the call Annie must have used her hypnotism watch to make Keith sleepy which had the affect of him to change the rehearsal for his dad's gift," Jess pointed out. "Good point sis I'm going to head over to the tent now to investigate what the heck she got him into," I told the gang standing up.
"Good idea Lauren, we'll follow behind in case of trouble. You can get a head start," Hector agreed getting up as well. "Great Hector, Jess you coming," I asked her almost out of the door. "Not now Lauren I got to pick up the cake before the bakery closes in an hour so it will be Hector you and Lisa," Jess told us. "Perfect, "I told them. "But wait, how are we going to keep Leo distracted," Hector asked. "I got this, yo Shock, "I called to him. "What's up Lauren? You need my assistance," he asked looking up from the dishes. "Yeah can you keep Leo distracted for a little bit until we get a problem solved," I asked him. "Sure can, you need me to text Sean," he replied. "Nope, I got it," I told him before walking out of the diner. Lisa and Hector were behind me as I texted Sean to meet me at the tent.
I arrived there to see Annie and Keith talking about the jingle they were going to do and I quickly went behind one the of the bushes that was a few feet away from the tent with the blue and gold design on it. I had a strange feeling this would get crazy any second. I looked at the two of them just talking and I couldn't figure out what they were saying. Soon, Sean approached me. "Hey Lauren," he told me with a smile.
"Hey buddy thanks for coming at such short notice," I whispered. "No problem so why am I here kneeling on the grass and whispering to you," he asked me. "Because Annie hypnotized Keith into this jingle for her uncle and they are about to do it soon," I explained. "Okay Uncle Sigmund, come on out I have a surprise for you," Annie called out to Sigmund. "Okay, they're doing it now," Sean told me looking up over the bush. Well, this may not be pretty. I think
Sean's P.O.V.:
Music soon started to come through the piano and for the first time ever we heard the jingle. "If you need a hypnosis, change the behavior, come to Sigmund Scrambler, he'll help you, he'll save you. I bet you'll be happy, very happy you went to Sigmund Scramblers hypnotism tent," Annie sand out loud. "Annie, I have to admit I am impressed with the jingle you made and it seems customers are coming," Sigmund told her. "Excuse Sigmund can you help me with a bad habit I am trying to break," someone asked him. "Of course," he told her with a smile. "Thanks Uncle," she told him with a smile. Sigmund soon went back into the tent helping the client with the habit she had. Lauren and I were speechless at the jingle. "Well, I have to admit it's pretty good," I told Lauren. "Yeah, it sounds great, I can agree," Lauren replied. "Okay Keith, want to accompany me some more on the piano," Annie asked him. "Sure," he replied to her and played the song again. "Lauren, I think we need to get in there," I told her. "Yeah I know Lisa and Hector want to talk to him," she replied.
Lauren's P.O.V.:
"Showtime Lauren," Sean asked looking over the bushes. "Showtime," I smirked getting up over the bushes just in time as Lisa and Hector came up the hill to talk to him as Annie walked back in fear. I guess she might have figured out we were coming. "Hey Keith, listen I know this was fun and all for you but we got to get back to the diner so you rehearse your song for your dad's birthday remember," I told him. "Oh is that today, I'm sorry Lauren but honestly I want to work with Annie," Keith told us. "Are you insane, dude it's your dads birthday and you composed the whole nine yards for this song come on, snap out the hypnosis of yours," Sean pleaded.
"I don't think so guys besides Keith rather would accompany me," Annie told us. "Oh don't think so Miss I hypnotized him and broke the Electric Company code of Law," I smirked. "We have a code of Law," Hector asked me. "Play along," I told him. "Oh right, so come on buddy let's go," Hector told him. "Sorry Hector my place is with Annie," he told us. "Okay give me that watch now so we unhypnotize him please," Lisa sassed at Annie. "
Oh no way, I did it and I have been getting lessons so don't even try," Annie told us. "Oh really, cause if you don't reverse this I'll tell everyone your secret," Lisa told Annie. "What do you know about me perfect," she replied. "Lauren," Lisa asked me. "Do it," I smirked at her as she walked in front of the tent and yelled out, "HEY SIGMUND SCRAMBLER IS A FAKE DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY ON HIM. HE"S A FAKE AND SO IS ANNIE. THEY ARE BOTH FAKES,"
"Well, at least this may work for sure," Sean told me with a smile. It was short lived when Annie got out the watch and hypnotized both Lisa and Hector to sing the jingle as well with a car sound was heard. "Ok this just got bad and fast," I pointed out to Sean. They all sang the jingle as Keith accompanied them on the piano for the time being and I knew this was not going to be pretty. My phone rang and I saw it Jess calling. "Hey Jess," I told her picking up. "Any word yet on getting Keith back to normal," she asked.
"Nope, apparently Annie must have done the same thing to Lisa and Hector. Now they only stop when they hear a car horn," I told her. "Man, this is not going to end well for sure," she told me. "Alright Sean and I will figure this out, we'll meet you at the diner when were done," I told her. "Perfect Lauren talk to you then," she told me hanging up. I hanged up and wondered what in the world are we going to do. "Well, how in the dang world are we going to get them back to normal," I asked Sean. "I don't know," he replied eating a hot dog.
"Seriously, food are you nuts," I asked him. "No," he told me. "Okay, I got an idea why don't we wait a few minutes to see if they end the song by then and go from there," I suggested. "Sure," he told me. We stood by the tent for a little while just talking about the games we know and love coming up including eating lunch which we needed for sure since I was hungry well a snack in this case but whose's counting? Almost a few good minuets went by and the others were still singing that annoying jingle which I think at this point I couldn't stand any longer neither Sean. We looked to see Mr. Abercrombie of the Brooklyn Board of Communications come up to the tent looking for Sigmund. Now I didn't call for backup but this better work for us. "Lauren, Sean," he asked seeing us. "Hi Mr. Abercrombie," I waved. "What are you guys doing here," he wondered. "Helping our brother out which isn't going as planned. What are you doing here," I replied. "I'm looking for Sigmund to tell him members of the community are complaining about the advertisement," he told us.
"He's in the tent now so I bet you can talk some sense into him," Sean told him. "Oh thanks guys," he told us and soon went into the tent to discuss the problem. "Are you kidding me," we heard Sigmund shout from the tent and I could tell he wasn't happy for sure. He soon poked his head out and saw Annie. He mouthed to her to stop the song but she couldn't what it looked like. Mr. Abercrombie soon left in a huff and I just wondered what happened. "Well, this better get them back to normal because the song is giving me a headache," Sean groaned.
"I know buddy hang in there," I told him as Sigmund came out. "Lauren? Please don't tell me Annie did this," he pleaded. "She did," I told Sigmund. "Annie," he called to her as they were singing and soon stopped. "Oh thank goodness," I relieved and so did Sean afterwards. "Yes Uncle," she replied. "I told you a million times not to hypnotize people, you're not ready for that skill yet," Sigmund scolded. "But Uncle," she pleaded. "No buts and thanks to you I'm in trouble with the Board of Communications unless I guess this fixed," he replied.
"And on top of that is Leo's birthday," Hector added. "Yeah and I need to be normal in order to perform my song for him. Can you please reverse this and fast," Keith pleaded. "I can try but I need the words that Annie used to hypnotize you guys," Sigmund told us. "I can't remember them uncle," Annie whined. "I can't undo it unless I have it," Sigmund told us. "I got this," I told everyone standing up. "You do Lauren," Hector asked. The horn soon sounded again.
"Oh boy," I mumbled. "Here we go again," Sean agreed. "Okay now what," Sigmund asked us. "Well, I think I remember the words Annie said," I told them. "You do," Sean asked. "Well tell me," Sigmund begged. "Okay, sleepy one, sleepy all. Sleepy, sleepy all around, sing with all joy and heart until you heard this sound," I said to them as Sigmund swung the watch hoping this would work. "Well," he asked us. A few seconds went by and they looked at us looking relieved. "I think it worked," I told them. The car horn soon sounded again and they sang again. "Then again, maybe not," I noted. "Well this isn't going to be pretty," Sean told us. "Hold on you two I got an idea now I need your help," Sigmund told us. "You got it," we replied and soon stood by him as he put the gang to sleep.
"Okay, so what I'm thinking is why don't we change the lyrics of the song so they communicate with us," Sigmund suggested. "Perfect, and hopefully that can change up what's happening," Sean told me. "Yeah, okay Sigmund work your magic," I told him. "With pleasure. Now, all of you will continue to sing like birds and if you like you change the words," he told them with a snap. They soon woke up and looked around. "I hope this works," Sean muttered.
"The lyrics of this song has changed in me, hey that worked great," Annie sang out loud. "At least we can talk now for sure," Lisa sang. "Precisely my dear," Sigmund sung after Lisa. "Okay my dear Uncle Sigmund is there something we do," Annie asked. "I'm sorry Annie I can't unless I have the words you used to hypnotize them," he replied. "Yet everyone is counting on you," we all sang and he looked at us. "I know that for sure but again I need those words," he told them. "Okay, Annie can't remember so I think there is another person that knows who was on the phone with Hector when it happened," I told everyone after they stopped. "Who," Keith asked. "Jess she'll know," I realized. "Yeah let's go find her and fast," Hector agreed. "To Jess," Sigmund called and we took off running to find her. We searched through every portion in town till we found her in the park. "Jess," I called out. "Lauren I was getting worried of what was happening oh hey Sean," she told us. "We don't have much time for hi's we need and fast," Sean told her. "Audio recall," she asked. "Yeah they are still under the hypnotism we need the exact words and fast," I told her.
"I got it Lauren hang on," she told us looking at her brother and friends as she recalled the words. "Here goes nothing," I told Sean. She recalled the words as we heard it clearly only until a few seconds went by and silence was filled again. "I think it worked," Jess told us. "Alright Jess," Sean and I cheered but it was short lived when the sound came back. "Okay maybe not," Jess pointed out. "I think I know what's going on," I told them. "You do," Keith asked.
"Of course that horn must be controlling you guys to sing in harmony and the only way to not do it is to not sing," I realized. "Oh it's like a switch," Sigmund realized. "Exactly Sigmund, you have anything that can break this," Sean asked. "Sure do, right now I need everyone to focus, piano boy please play," he said kindly. "Uh his name is Keith," I whispered. "I know but I need to focus," Sigmund told us. "Okay," I told him stepping back along with Sean.
He hypnotized them to sing the last potion of the song together and it worked like a charm. "Finally," I breathed. "Hallelujah," Hector relieved. "Thank you Sigmund," Keith told him. "My pleasure and Annie," he told her. "Yes," she replied. "I believe you learned a valuable lesson," he scolded. "Which is," she asked. "Don't mess with the Electric Company," we told her. She huffed and soon went away. "Thanks again," I whispered to Sigmund. "No problem," he whispered and soon went off with her for apple cider. "Okay now that it's back to normal, you guys go get ready to perform for Leo and I think I have a suggestion for the song," I told them. "Let me guess, harmony," Hector asked. "You bet," I replied with a smile. They soon started to sound check as Sean and I went into the diner waiting for them to give us a signal.
Sean's P.O.V.:
"Hey sounds like you got them back to normal," Shock told us. "We sure did my friend and thanks for keeping Leo distracted. Keith didn't want him to see his present yet," I told Shock. "What present," Leo asked us. "Uh the one for your birthday," I replied. "Oh, well guess I am waiting then," he told us with a shrug. I looked out the window to Jess, Hector and Lisa leaving to get changed. Keith saw us and came in looking for a stage which we found luckily and brought it out over by the diner. I felt goosebumps and so did Sean as we watched. Leo wondered what was going on but Lauren gave the thumbs up to Keith and he started to play the piano.
Lauren's P.O.V.:
I got out my camcorder excited to record this all on video. "Hey dad this is your birthday, and honestly I didn't buy you a thing. I almost went with a sweater but better yet I had an idea in mind. It's the song I am singing to you because you are the world to me. I've always loved you and you were there for me through the high and the low. All I can say is you make me happy and I love you, happy birthday dad. (Happy birthday) to you. Dad this song is awesome I must admit would you say? Through the times you gave me joy. I thought life would be crazy but it is and I love you more. This song is for you the son who writes and whether I am down, your always there, your always there and I love you dad happy birthday (happy birthday) to you," Keith and the others sang.
I couldn't help but shed a few tears when they were singing. Sean couldn't hold it either so let's just say some water works were coming down. "Wow Keith I have to admit best present ever," Leo told him. "Thanks dad. I'm glad you like it," he replied. "By the way who composed it," he asked. "Yours truly," Keith smiled. "You did Keith," Leo asked. "As Lauren puts it, the whole nine yards," he chuckled and soon hugged his dad. "Aww," Sean and I gushed at the happy moment surrounding us. "Hey, are we having cake or what," Shock asked with frosting on his face.
"Shock did you touch the cake," I asked. "Sorry," he shrugged. "Shock," Hector called out and soon he went inside the diner. "Don't worry it wasn't the cake Jess bought, it's the one I made," he told us. "Pfew," I breathed out along with the others. "Come on let's have some cake," Leo told us. We smiled and soon went into the diner to enjoy some cake as we listened to the radio. "I have to admit guys, you did great," I told Hector. "Oh thanks Lauren besides I'm just glad I don't have to sing the jingle anymore," Hector told me.
"Us too," Lisa and Keith replied. "Yeah I think once or twice is fine but more is annoying," Sean told us. "True that," Hector agreed. "A toast to Leo on this his birthday, Leo from all of us to you a happy birthday," I said lifting my smoothie in the air for the toast. "Here, here," everyone replied lifting the glasses as well in appreciation. The radio was on the local news talking about the increase of oil coming into the country. "We'll be right back with all the week top stories coming up after a brief message," it spoke as we sat down eating cake. "Got a bad problem you need to change? Come on down to Sigmund's tent and he can help with a watch away," Sigmund said in the ad.
"Well, looks like a new location is set in place," I told them. "Looks like it," Hector added. The jingle came back on this Sigmund and Annie were singing. I perked my eyes along with the others and I wondered what happened. "Whose helping them this time," Lisa asked us. "I don't know," I shrugged along with Sean. "It's me again," Keith told us. "You," we all asked. "Yeah, Sigmund liked it and asked me if I can play it one more time as a favor so I said yes," Keith told us. "I still can't believe after what Annie did you would help them out for a one time deal," Jess said stunned.
"Well, if there is one thing I learned is you have to forgive others just like Jesus did," Keith replied. We smiled and agreed on that one for sure. I have to admit sometimes with music it can get crazy but you just never know how it will end up in the end like today.
There you have it everyone! This chapter was hard and fun to write at the same time. I apologize for the delay I had been busy but here you go. Stay tuned for the next chapter which is near the first Halloween special which I am so excited to write!