The Secret Life of Brian

by LDEJRuff

Chapter 13 - The Quest for Answers

Many days have passed, and it was getting close to Christmas. While inside the Flannigan residence, Brian had gotten a call from the Hospital. He picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Flannigan, this is the Rhode Island Hospital," the doctor replied. "I have some great news about Tracy that I think you need to hear. She will soon regain consciousness within the week."

Brian was overjoyed when he heard this news. "That's good to hear. Thank you, doctor."

With that, both hung up.

"Oh, my God," Brian continued. "Dylan is going to be so happy."

Later that day, at Providence Place, Brian was busy browsing one of the toy stores.

"Hey, Brian," Vinny's voice got his attention.

"Vinny?" Brian responded, puzzled. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be home with the Griffins?"

"Yeah," Vinny replied, "but I figured I need your help. You see, the Christmas Carnival at the Quahog Mall has been cancelled, and I'm in search for answers. Some guy I know who works at the mall says that he knows a guy that lives here in Providence. Goes by the name of Bernie 'The Walrus' Spumoni. The thing is, he don't work for free."

"Really?" Brian replied, surprised.

Vinny nodded. "Some of these guys I know don't usually know nothing."

"Well, I just happen to know where The Walrus lives," Brian offered. "If you like, I can give you a ride."

"That sounds nice, Brian," Vinny replied, delighted. "Anyway, I've noticed your Prius at this mall's parking lot and figured that you'd be here. What are you aiming to get here, anyway?"

"A Christmas present for Stewie," Brian answered. "However, I don't want him to know that it was me who got him one; just from Santa."

"Oh," Vinny understood. "You still hiding your still being alive from the Griffins, huh?"

Brian nodded.

"Well," Vinny continued, "I think I know a better toy store that you can go to. It's a hobby store in Warwick that sells train kits."

"Well, maybe that's what I can get for him. Thanks for letting me know, Vin."

"You bet, B."

As promised, Brian took Vinny over to see The Walrus. Vinny knocked on the door. The Walrus opened the peep hole and quickly saw both dogs.

"Are one of you dogs Vinny?" The Walrus asked.

"That would be me," Vinny answered. "I was lucky that my big brother, Brian, was able to drop me off here to find answers."

"If you want to know who cancelled this Christmas Carnival thing," The Walrus began, "you need to bring me the foot of Johnny 'The Foot' Giatelli."

"That reputed gangster?" Vinny realized.

"Yeah," The Walrus replied. "I hear that he passed away recently. But I need his foot to make sure."

"Well," Vinny began, uneasily, "okay, if you say so, Mr. Spumoni."

"Please, call me 'The Walrus'," The Walrus requested. "All my friends do, even Sal Casella."

Again, Brian gave Vinny a ride, this time, to the whereabouts of The Foot. However, Brian had a confusing look on his face.

"Vinny," he began, "are you sure you want to do this?"

"I don't want to do this," Vinny shrugged. "I'm a kind-hearted dog, I can't kill."

"Well, maybe I can," Brian replied, rather worried. "If they send me to the pound, my publicity will be noticed, and the Griffins will know that I'm still alive."

"Brian, you're my big brother, and I love you," Vinny replied. With a sigh, he continued, "Well, here goes nothing."

With that, he and Brian got out of the Prius, entered The Foot's house, and saw that the house was completely empty, save for a cooler and a piece of paper. Inside the cooler, which Vinny had opened, was a severed foot, which, at the sight, made Vinny's eyes quiver. Brian picked up the paper and read it.

"Dear visitor," he began. "If you have found this severed foot, it means that I've moved away. I don't want The Walrus to know that I'm still alive, or that I have my foot cut off and replaced with one that's made of wood; as you have probably figured out by now, I have a prosthetic foot. If you deliver this old foot of mine to The Walrus, keep this letter I've left behind, as well as my existence, a secret. Signed, Johnny 'The Foot' Giatelli. P.S.: Good luck."

"Well, can't let this foot go to waste," Vinny said, placing the foot inside a box filled with tissue paper. "Let's get this to The Walrus and be done with it."

"Okay, Vin," Brian began. "But first, we should go to this hobby store and pick up a train set for Stewie."

"Good idea. I can tell him it's from me."

After buying the train set and painting it back at the Flannigan house with quick-drying paint, both brothers drove back to The Walrus' house.

"I hope I know what I'm doing," Vinny said.

"Ditto," Brian added. "Just get this foot delivered to The Walrus so you'll know who cancelled the Christmas Carnival. I'll be waiting in the Prius."

"Thanks, Brian."

With that, Vinny walked to the back of the Prius and picked up one of the boxes, since they both looked the same. What he didn't know was that the box he picked up contained the train that Brian painted. Vinny knocked on the door, and again, The Walrus peered through the peep hole.

"You got the foot?" The Walrus asked.

"Yup," Vinny answered, "right here in this box."

"Good."

And with that, The Walrus opened the door and allowed Vinny inside.

"Why do you want The Foot's foot so badly?" Vinny asked.

"Because, I'm throwing a Christmas party for my gang soon," The Walrus answered. "Now, about the answers to who cancelled this Christmas Carnival at the Quahog Mall, my associate, who learned from his niece about it, said that it's been cancelled by the mall's owner, Carter Pewterschmidt."

"Carter Pewterschmidt?" Vinny repeated. "Never heard of him. Guess I should have another guy working on finding out who this guy is. I can't do it personally, since I'm owned by a family who lives outside of Providence. Anyway, thanks, Mr. Walrus. Have a Merry Christmas."

"You, too, Vinny," The Walrus waved.

Vinny walked back to the Prius, where Brian waited.

"So," Brian began, "have you gotten the answer you needed?"

"Yeah," Vinny answered. "He told me that his associate's niece had told him that the mall's owner, Carter Pewterschmidt, had cancelled the Carnival."

When Brian heard Carter's name, he froze in fear. Vinny had noticed Brian's expression change.

"Are you okay, Brian?"

Brian quickly shook his head and snapped out of his expression. "Hmm? What? Oh, yeah, I'm okay."

Later that day, Brian dropped Vinny off at the bus terminal, so he could deliver what he thought was the train, to Stewie.

"Well," Vinny began, "thanks again, big brother."

"You're welcome, Vinny," Brian replied. "Merry Christmas."

"You, too."

With that, Vinny hopped out of the Prius with the box in paw and waited for the bus to take him home.

While he saw his little brother walk to the terminal, Brian thought in fear, "Oh, Vin. If only you knew who Carter was from Lois, you'd be surprised and shocked."

Brian would be right later that day.

Author's note: And so begins what happens during "Christmas Guy".