Shortly after Will started going to his new school, he, Joyce, and Bob decided to go out to eat as a celebration. They sat down and were thinking up conversation starters when a waiter arrived.
"Welcome to Moody's Diner. What can we get you?"
Joyce and Will hesitated—glancing at the menu.
"Hm, I take it you have never been here before."
Joyce answered first; "I'll have the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with a small side of onion rings and some herbal tea."
Will added, "Can I have a blueberry pancake, sausage link, and sunny-side-up All-Day Breakfast Special?"
Joyce, Bob, and the waiter were all about to say, "Why, of course," at the same time, but as soon as they noticed each other's lips move, the couple left the answer to the server.
"Thanks."
"And I'll have the Large Tossed Salad with no dressing, some homemade cinnamon rolls, and a Vanilla Frappe," Bob said.
"Of course—Your dinner will be here shortly."
As soon as the waiter left, Bob pulled out a pen and started writing down something on a napkin; then Joyce asked Will if he planned on hanging out with any of the kids at his new school the following day. "I don't really have any plans this week, but maybe I'll go over and play some games with some of them next week. Not surprisingly, I'm most drawn to classmates and staff who remind me of my old friends. I can't help it."
"Hey, uh, speaking of games, you know how in Legend, you can actually pick up right where you left off?", Bob asked.
"Yeah."
"Well, after work Tuesday I've been tinkering with a couple of old cartridges trying to fit in the RAM, so we can do that with all of them! Progress is being made fast."
"Wow. Sounds like I'll finally be able to beat Kid Icarus then. Wait, you're not gonna use my games are you?"
Bob jokingly put on his impression of his childhood nightmare Mr. Baldo the Clown saying, "Not unless you're really naughty kiddo, heh heh." He immediately switched back to his normal voice, "Nah, I'm kidding; I'm not the Grinch, or the garbagemen in New Mexico."
They all grinned.
Joyce chimed in; "I just think it would be really cool if they could figure it out where you can have enough holes, so all four of us could play at once sooner rather than later: you guys, me, and John."
Will reassured his mother, "Well when I visited the arcade, I saw a couple of older kids playing, but I guess by themselves, it's one thing."
They were interrupted by the sound of another worker screaming and dropping everything he was holding. The Byers looked over and saw the horrified waiter dash beneath another table and "001" sitting at a booth, all by himself with a small pack of pet food, several bottles of water, a rag, and an occupied travel kennel he had turned back toward his table. He unassumingly spoke to it, "How unfortunate." He then noticed the family spying on him. "Oh."
"I see you have a pet," Will said.
"It was quite an effort, but I haven't met a single person who wasn't petrified by my new friend's soft, smiling face."
"Why, is she a snake or something?" Joyce asked, "And maybe we'll be the first."
"Thank you." He allowed them to come closer and have a look inside the kennel. Inside was a terrifyingly disfigured, but otherwise adorable orange tabby cat who looked as if she had just gotten out of a bath after not being fed or washed since it learned how to walk. It gave off a soft "Mew."
"Isn't she absolutely pwecious?" 001 invited.
"That face could take some getting used to, but everyone has their own arrange of things they consider cuddly, and all that really matters is that you're taking good care of it and showing it lots of love and affection," Bob answered.
Will inquired, "My friend Dustin used to have an orange tabby. What's her name?"
"Mews."
