WARNING: If you are likely confused about events that have happened in this fanfiction that didn't happen in canon, that's likely because this isn't following canon, but another story I made called 'Oh Rhonda!'. So, be wary of this fact when you read the story! If you haven't read the first 'Oh Rhonda!', please do so if possible so that you can understand what's going on. Otherwise, continue to enjoy the story!
Hey, look at this, folks, a new chapter shortly after releasing my last one? That's right, Tournament of Kikai is finished on Archive of our Own (for the time being, until I make a new sequel), so this looks to be the big project I'll focus on in the meantime! So, without further ado, let's start up another episode! Anyway, enjoy!
Another day in the city of Hillwood meant another day of goofing off... well, in terms of the kids, anyway. The adults were busy with their own thing as currently, inside the kitchen of Sunset Arms, two familiar looking explorers were looking at job applications as they looked down.
"Rejected..." Stella groaned as she put the paper aside and looked at another one. "Rejected..." Stella grabbed another paper and groaned in frustration. "I don't get it. Rejection after rejection and we STILL can't get a new job! You think being a qualified doctor would be enough for these people, but no, apparently all the jobs are filled!"
"Nothing good on my end." Miles frowned as he looked at the rejected job applications. "I don't get it. We're accomplished explorers, great at making medicine, studied rare items and visited towns that haven't been discovered on any map. How can we not be QUALIFIED to hold a job?"
"I don't get it either." Stella groaned as she held her head. "Even when we tried to do our own new business, it's not enough, and there's only so long that we can live off your parents's money..."
"Hey, I'm sure Mom and Dad would LOVE to have us around." Miles laughed a bit, before sighing. "But at this rate, we're hitting the bottom of the barrel here."
"Tell me about it!" Stella growled in frustration as she picked up another application and narrowed her eyes. "Look at this one! Dear Stella, we appreciate your application, but we are not looking for new teachers at this time'... this is ridiculous! We can teach children quite well!"
Miles paused as he shook his head. "What do we do? I mean, I love our son, and we do love spending time with him, but even he knows we need jobs."
Stella sighed as she shook her head. "Well, I certainly don't want to go back to my first job, where you have to bail hay out of a truck and tie it up one by one. Back in the country, it was a rough time as it is."
Miles couldn't help but give a slight chuckle, before realizing that his wife was giving him a bit of a death glare. Miles shrunk back nervously but before Stella could playfully slap him, two kids were stepping into the kitchen as a familiar raven haired girl was getting a tray.
"Snacks, snacks, snacks! Snacks for days!" Rhonda said in glee as she was opening the compartments and getting out chips, pretzels, any assortment of snacks she can get out.
"Hey dad, mom, how goes the job search?" Arnold asked as he sat down between his parents.
"Not so good, sweetheart. So far, rejection after rejection." Stella sighed.
Arnold looked between the two in sympathy as he said, "Sorry. You'd think the people here would hire you guys, I mean you got some great qualifications!"
"Thanks, but... yeah, considering we've been off the map for a few years, it's been hard to get jobs. I mean, one manager in our job interview kicked us out because we were not, and I quote, 'down to earth'." Miles sighed.
In the meantime, Rhonda was now getting a bowl of ice cream as she was filling it with two scoops... before switching the scoops out and just keeping the carton before putting a spoon on it. Rhonda licked her lips a bit before pulling out some whipped cream and chocolate sauce before putting those ingredients on top of the carton. She then pulled out a container of sprinkles before humming to herself, shaking the sprinkle can towards the ruined carton of ice cream, making it more colorful.
Ignoring the chaos going on behind them, Arnold was pulling out a newspaper as he opened it up. "Well, maybe some new jobs in the classifieds popped up."
"It's sweet of you to help us, but we've looked over that newspaper at least ten times." Stella said as she patted her son on the back.
"Doesn't mean it can't hurt to try." Arnold said as he looked over the ads. "Hmmm... looks like there's an opening for zookeeper."
"After our times with animals, I think we'd like to be away from wild ones... at least for a little while." Miles explained as he and his wife shook his head.
"Hmmm... seems Dino Land has an opening for mechanics. Hey, you two said you worked on the car at least once, right?" Arnold asked as he looked between his parents.
Stella chuckled nervously as Rhonda was sneaking behind her and swiping the unopened can of Yahoo Soda that she had on the table. "Well, mechanically speaking, yes. However, I don't think broken down rides are QUITE our forte."
"Oh come on, you saved a lot of people from a broken cable car." Arnold pointed out.
"Yes, but saving people and fixing cable cars are not quite the same thing. Besides, that cable car broke off and we almost got hurt." Miles explained. "So, yeah, we're not quite mechanically inclined."
Arnold sighed as he turned around. "Hey Rhonda, you want to contribute to our cause?"
Rhonda, who had her snack tray filled up with loads of snacks, was staring at it rather hungrily, before blinking twice as she turned to Arnold. "Awww, do I have to?"
"Yes, it's my parents." Arnold lowered his eyelids.
Rhonda paused, before giving a sigh as she put down the large tray of snacks, before leaning over and whispering, "Wait for me."
The raven haired girl then turned and joined the three as Miles and Stella looked at Rhonda as she raised an eyebrow.
"Are you two kids throwing a party up in your room?" Stella asked.
"Oh no, this is basically a game day for both of us." Arnold explained.
"Then... why all the snacks?" Stella raised an eyebrow.
Arnold looked back and sighed. "Because Rhonda is a BIG eater. I'm still amazed she can eat all this and STILL not gain weight."
Rhonda giggled. "Hey, I slim down pretty well."
"I'm beginning to wonder if, at some point before we met, a doctor prescribed you a special pill that when ingested, you can eat whatever you want and not gain any weight." Arnold sighed.
Rhonda paused as she looked back. "You think I overdid it on the crackers?"
"Rhonda..." Arnold moaned. "When it comes to when you eat, you overdo it on a LOT. Besides, I believe Olga's strict words were, when it comes to you gathering that food, 'Rhonda, you're going on a diet'."
Rhonda widened her eyes cutely as she gave a slight pouty face towards Arnold. The football headed boy looked at her straight in the eyes... before groaning. "Okay, fine, but we SHARE the food."
"Yay!" Rhonda grinned happily before shaking her head. "Anyway, what can I do to help?"
"Mom and Dad are still looking for a new job." Arnold explained.
"Still?" Rhonda blinked twice, before shrugging. "Well... if you ask me, it's not really that hard to find some good jobs."
"But all the good jobs are taken... what can we do?" Stella asked in concern.
The four sat together as they thought and thought. Rhonda even stood up and started to pace. Miles paused for a brief moment as he was thinking... before his eyes lit up.
"I know we've went into business ourselves before, but let's change it up a bit. Maybe we can run some sort of fun activity center together... for kids?" Miles asked.
"Activity center?" Stella asked as she and the other two kids looked towards Miles.
"Think about it. We've seen a lot of bowling alleys, aquariums, malls, the like... but a simple activity center would be great. We could have game nights for a price, floor shows... we can even have some volunteers do a few activities." Miles suggested. "And we can afford some of it. All we need is a good building."
Stella, Arnold and Rhonda looked at each other... before their eyes lit up as they turned and nodded, with Stella saying, "I can see that. Have I ever told you what an amazing husband you are?"
"Only about a thousand times." Miles grinned happily.
"Well, then, how about a thousand and one?" Stella laughed before leaning over and kissing Miles on the lips. Arnold and Rhonda, who were both used to seeing Arnold's parents being like this, remained unphased.
Rhonda laughed as she said, "Hey, if you're doing this fun activity center thing, maybe we can have our friends involved, maybe set a few activiites? We can have it all be challenge-like games for anyone involved?"
"That's an excellent idea, Rhonda!" Stella smiled. "Do you think you can call your friends up and let them know what we're doing!"
"Sure! Any ideas where you can put the activity center?" Rhonda asked, raising an eyebrow.
Miles gave a smirk. "I think I have a good idea, IF permission can be granted..."
About a day later, Arnold, Rhonda and a few of their friends from PS 118 were gathered around as Stella and Miles stood in the center of the building.
"Hello, kids! Welcome to the Shortman Activity Center, where we have the best of the best in terms of activities! The best part is, ANY KID here can suggest an activity, and we'll be able to make that request!" Stella smiled.
"Enter in kids and we'll get started." Miles said as he opened the door to the center. Everyone stared in awe as they entered inside.
Tucker turned to the others as he said, "I have to say, Arnold, your parents certainly got an activity center rented out pretty fast."
"Rented, nothing." Arnold smiled. "The two actually bought the center out and got it all filled. In a way, it's like they're running the business."
Tucker looked in awe as everyone entered inside and started to explore. What they saw was nothing short of amazing...
And that's the first part of this episode! How did you guys like it? Next time, we'll be exploring the new Shortman activity center, alongside a few suggestions for activities... mostly coming from Curly and his two friends (that's right, Pudding and Bucky are doing a lot of suggesting as well), and with Curly's weird friends, we have Sid on the case! What'll happen? Just wait and see! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!