"WHERE IS RIGBY?!" Benson yelled at Mordecai.
"Whoa, chill. I texted him to come back. He should be here any minute now."
"He better! Because if he's not here in five minutes, you'll be fired right along with him!"
Mordecai was getting anxious. 'Damn it, Rigby. You really fucked up this time...'
As if on cue, Rigby walked through the door. Benson locked on like a heat seeking missile. "There you are, Rigby. I've been waiting for you. Please, come with me to my office." Mordecai was kind of creeped out. Benson had the most malicious grin on his face as he led his raccoon friend up the stairs.
"Whoa, bro. He's about to get shit canned, isn't he?" Muscle Man said. All Mordecai could do was look down and nod.
In Benson's office, Rigby was sitting in the chair while an irate Benson paced behind him. "Rigby...I admit, you have been a valuable member to our team. However, your recent mishaps have led me to a conclusion. One that you are not going to like." Rigby couldn't help but fidget a little. "Turn around. I have something to show you." Rigby got up and turned the chair around.
Benson wheeled over a TV with a VCR. He pushed into, rather forcefully, a tape with no label. "This is why."
On the tape was a night-vision view of the living room. Nothing out of the ordinary. It switched to the kitchen, the hallways, Rigby and Mordecai's room, Pop's room and cycled back. "This is a little creepy..."
"Shut up! Watch the video!"
The video switched back to the living room on its third cycle. On the staircase, a figured skulked down the stairs. The camera stopped its cycle and focused on the figure, but missed it. The figure slipped into the kitchen. It ran up to the fridge and started flinging food every where. Stuff went all over the place! It sprang and jumped around and just started tearing up everything! Chairs were thrown every where, holes were punched in the wall, and silverware was flung all over the place! Suddenly, the figure moved into view of the camera. It was none other than Rigby himself. He was snarling and growling, but his eyes were closed. Was he...sleeping? Rigby was sleep walking. The tape stopped and went black.
Rigby's jaw was dropped. Did he really do all that? No way! That couldn't have been him. That wasn't him!
Benson was clenching his fists and looked like he was about to explode. "You...um...you...YOU UNGRATEFUL, STUPID, UGLY, LAZY, EVIL, NO GOOD, WASTE OF SPACE, PATHETIC, RETARDED BASTARD! YOU HORRIBLE, SHORT, SLACKING SACK OF SHIT! YOU MOTHERFUCKING SCAVENGING WORM! I WILL HAVE YOU THROWN IN PRISON FOR THESE ANTICS. But first thing's first...I have been waiting a long time for this...YOU'RE FI-"
"Actually, Benson, I'd think about what you're doing."
"What? I'm about to fire you! Shut up and let me!"
"Do you really want to? After I just recorded you saying everything? I'm still an employee under you. I could sue you for harassment. You just cursed at me. You insulted me. I have no idea how I was able to do that. Even if I sued you, you'd try to use this against me, but when I was younger, I had a case of mental illness where I went through a phase of violent episodes of sleep walking. That would be invalid. You would lose. Not just the lawsuit, but your job, your lifestyle and more importantly, you'd lose all of your friends." 'Eileen was right. What if all of the stuff that's happened to me is affecting me?'
Benson was furious. So furious that he didn't even think he could yell. The little scoundrel had him beat. There's just no way the Rigby he knew would've said something like that. It was impossible! Rigby never even graduated! "How do you know all that stuff?"
Rigby smirked. "Wouldn't you like to find out?"
Benson growled. "Rigby...I'll-"
"I hang out with Eileen all the time, man. She's like a walking encyclopedia. And when I'm not with her, I watch a lot of TV. I mean, a loooooooooot. Even educational crap if there's nothing else on. Hey, did you know if we as strong as ants, we could pick a car easy!? How freaking cool is that?"
Benson sighed and sat down at his desk. In a more serious tone, he said, "Look, Rigby. This can't go unnoticed. It has to be dealt with before Mr. Mallard finds out. I...I guess I have no choice. I can't fire you, but I can put you on suspended leave."
"Does that mean I get paid for it?" Rigby asked hopefully.
"NO...ahem, no it doesn't. I would've said paid leave. You can still live here, but you will not be allowed here during open park hours, you must not contact any of the parks employees while they are on the job and you will not receive any kind of special employee perks. If you would like to, you can stay in the park itself as a visitor, but you may not set foot in the park house until after closing. Sound good? Well, it doesn't matter if you like it or not. That's how it's going to be!"
Rigby was in shock. "What?! I can't be around the guys? I won't get paid? I can't even come inside and play a video game?"
"No."
"Then...then what will I do!?"
"Listen Rigby. Get another job. You could use a part time job for this suspension. How would you have spending money?"
"But...I have no where to go? I don't even have a high school diploma! Where would I go?"
"I don't know. All I know is, you better get back to work. This is your last day on the job for, oh, I'd say, at least a month."
"A month?! Come on, Benson! Not that long!"
"A month, Rigby. Or would like to go for two months?"
"But-"
"Or how about three months instead?"
"Alright, alright, I get the picture...I'll go."
Benson laughed. "Goodbye, Rigby. Have a pleasant afternoon."
Rigby went to the bathroom. "Stupid, stupid, stupid..." he muttered to himself. He washed his face in the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. He had bags under his more than usual. "What's wrong with me?"
Suddenly, a knock came from the door. "Rigby, it's Mordecai. Come out, man. Let's talk." Rigby walked over and opened the door. "Hey dude. You alright?"
"I'm fine. Just pissed off."
"What happened up there?"
"What happened? I'll tell you what happened! Benson was gonna fire me, right? But he started yelling and cussing at me, calling me horrible names. But I got him by the balls and said if he fired me, I'd sue him for harassment. I recorded him." Rigby took out his phone and played back what he recorded.
"This is a little creepy..."
"Shut up! Watch the video!"
He paused it for a second. "I'll skip through this part. It's not worth hearing." He played it again.
"You...um...you...YOU UNGRATEFUL, STUPID, UGLY, LAZY, EVIL, NO GOOD, WASTE OF SPACE, PATHETIC, RETARDED BASTARD! YOU HORRIBLE, SHORT, SLACKING SACK OF SHIT! YOU MOTHERFUCKING SCAVENGING WORM! I WILL HAVE YOU THROWN IN PRISON FOR THESE ANTICS. But first thing's first...I have been waiting a long time for this...YOU'RE FI-"
"Actually, Benson, I'd think about what you're doing."
"What? I'm about to fire you! Shut up and let me!"
"Do you really want to? After I just recorded you saying everything? I'm still an employee under you. I could sue you for harassment. You just cursed at me. You insulted me. I have no idea how I was able to do that. Even if I sued you, you'd try to use this against me, but when I was younger, I had a case of mental illness where I went through a phase of violent episodes of sleep walking. That would be invalid. You would lose. Not just the lawsuit, but your job, your lifestyle and more importantly, you'd lose all of your friends."
"Damn. You really did have him by the balls. But what are you going to do? You're not fired, right?"
"No, but I am on suspended leave. Which means I don't get paid, I can't work and I can't even talk to any of you guys if you're working!"
"Whoa. Can you come to the park still?"
"Yeah, but only as a visitor. Man, this sucks!"
"Take it easy. It'll turn out right. How long are you on suspended leave for anyway?"
"Benson said at least a month."
"A month? That's ridiculous."
"What's ridiculous is I basically have no job, I'm fucked up in the head, I have no idea what I'm gonna tell Eileen and worst of all, I got some screwy detective on my ass!"
"Chill. It's gonna be alright. Anyways, I have to get back to work. Benson gave me a long list."
Rigby sighed. "I'll help. It's my last day to work before I get suspended."
Well, here it is. Chapter 3 finally up! I hope it was worth the hiatus. Be sure to let me know how I'm doing. Thanks guys! Keep on Keepin' On!