RADIO SHACK ROMANCE
After helping their friend and notorious master thief Sly Cooper defeat the evil Dr. M and then rebuild the Cooper family vault, Bentley and Penelope had settled in a small, peaceful town right outside of New York City. In the almost year's time since their adventure, the two young lovers had enjoyed many good times together, but lately things had not been going well for the couple.
Bentley had grown obsessed with his time machine, and spent practically almost all his time down at the lab working on the thing. He had built a crude prototype, but it was only able to go back or forward in time by a few months. And during the few moments he was at home, he was either sleeping or messing around on his computer.
Today was another typical day for Penelope, stuck in the house while Bentley was at work on the computer. She approached the turtle and gently embraced him. "Oh, Bentley dear," she said. "Why don't we do something today? Go to a movie, or out for dinner, or maybe steal something valuable?"
"I'm sorry," Bentley said, still concentrating on the computer monitor. "I'm quite busy right now."
"We never have any fun anymore," the mouse said, dismayed. "I think it's time you consider giving up this ridiculous time machine project."
"But I think I'm on the verge of a breakthrough," he said. "Once I get this machine in proper working order, we'll have plenty of fun traveling to the ancient past and the distant future."
"Whatever," said Penelope. "But while your having your 'breakthrough', I'm going to go out for a little while. I need to pick up some batteries for my RC car."
"OK," Bentley said. "See you later then."
"Bye." She grabbed her purse and stepped out of their apartment, heading down the stairs and out onto the street to the nearby Radio Shack to purchase the batteries. The store was located in a strip mall two blocks from their home. That turtle could be so annoying sometimes. She was starting to see why someone as calm and collected as Sly would just go off on him and call him such vile names.
She had witnessed a bit of this during their adventures with Cooper, and had often criticized Sly for being so harsh toward his friend, but it turned out it was pretty much justified, as Bentley was known to get rather whiny and irritable when he couldn't get his way, and at present was constantly carrying on about his failed time machine.
Oh well. She was hopeful he would get over this whole thing shortly. Penelope had now arrived at the Radio Shack. Getting these batteries was going to be a bit of a chore. Her remote-control vehicles required a special high-power brand of battery, and the sales clerk, a rude, lazy bunny named Hector, always acted like it was such a hassle to go in the back and get them for her.
She hoped the guy would be in a good mood as she stepped inside the store and made her way toward the counter. To her surprise, the rude rabbit clerk was not to be found. In fact, there was no one behind the counter. "Hey Hector," a voice called from the back. "We've got a customer. You mind waiting on them?"
"Why don't you do it, you lazy ass?"
"Fine... Worthless sack of crap..." A young bespectacled turtle stepped out of the back room and behind the counter. He stood just over four feet tall and was dressed in a red sweatshirt, black pants and red high-top sneakers. He had a plastic name tag pinned to his shirt that read "Todd". He adjusted his glasses and smiled to Penelope. "Sorry about that... How may I help you today, ma'am?"
This Todd fellow was so polite and soft-spoken, unlike the guy who usually worked here. "I'm looking for some Super-Turbo 9000 extra-capacity RC batteries, please," she said.
"Oh," said the turtle. "I'm not sure if we still have any, but I can check."
"OK." She watched as he once again walked into the back room. Though she knew it was wrong to think so, Penelope found this turtle quite attractive, plus he wasn't as loud and annoying as Bentley. She patiently awaited his return. He emerged a few minutes later, empty-handed.
"I'm sorry," he said. "But we're all out of that brand."
"Oh," she said, disappointed. "I guess I'm going to have to go somewhere else. Thanks for your help anyway, Todd."
"You know," Todd said. "I still have some batteries left over from my old RC cars. Maybe I could bring them here tomorrow ... or better yet, maybe you could come by my place tomorrow and get them."
"Umm, OK..." Penelope said, looking at him strangely. The turtle wrote down his address and handed it to her.
"May I ask your name?"
"I'm Penelope," she said, holding out her paw to her.
"Nice to meet you," he said, shaking her hand and smiling.
"Nice to meet you too, Todd," she said. "Around what time would be good for me to show up?"
"Around noon."
"OK," she said. "Bye." She waved and then stepped out of the store. Penelope was stunned as she walked home. This strange guy had just invited her over to his house out of nowhere. Sure, it was just to pick up some batteries, but it was possible it could develop into more.
No. She shouldn't think about such things. Bentley may have been a jerk, but she couldn't leave that poor little guy alone for the first handsome guy she saw at the store. Or could she? Perhaps if she started going out with this Todd, it would teach Bentley not to take her for granted and he'd start spending some more time with her and less time working on that darned machine. It was worth thinking about... She returned to their apartment and walked in.
She searched the entire apartment and Bentley was nowhere to be found. He had, however, left a note alongside his computer.
Gone to the lab to work on the machine a bit.
Be back real soon.
Sorry I've been so busy lately.
Love,
Bentley
She sighed and sat down on the couch, turning on the television. She really hoped he'd get over this thing soon. Perhaps a change of scenery would not be such a bad thing... She flipped through the channels as she waited for Bentley to return home.
Things had grown terribly slow at the Radio Shack after Penelope had come in inquiring about those batteries. Todd took the slow time to restock some of the store's shelves. Hector the rabbit approached him as he worked. "I heard you with that girl," he said. "You better stop trying to pick up women on the job, or you're gonna get in trouble."
"I wasn't trying to pick her up," said Todd. "I was just helping out the customer."
"Yeah," the rabbit said. "Helping her into your bedroom!"
"Hey," the turtle responded. "Why don't you make yourself useful, and do some actual work?" Todd then checked his watch. It looked like his shift was up. "Finish stocking up these shelves." He handed the rabbit a box of electronic parts, punched the time clock and then started to leave.
"Whatever you say," Hector said sarcastically.
Todd then left the store and started for home. What was he thinking inviting that girl over to his house? The place was a total mess! He'd better call some of his friends up to have him help clean the place, he thought as he got in his car and started for home.
He drove out of the parking lot and was soon caught up in the usual late afternoon traffic. As he sat through the gridlock, he took out his cell phone and dialed in a number. "Hey Andy," he said. "It's your old friend Todd. I've got a little favor for you and your guys... Just show up at my house around eight in the morning... Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while. OK. Bye." He hung up as traffic began to clear and then drove home.
Penelope was asleep in front of the television when Bentley returned home, which was just a little bit before midnight. He covered her up with a blanket and then headed into the bedroom to sleep himself.
Tomorrow was sure to be an interesting day for Penelope, and also for Bentley should he somehow find out she's visiting another guy, and not just another guy but another turtle as well. Supposedly, she was just going to pick up some RC batteries. Nothing much could come from such an encounter, could it?