"I'm only stating the obvious, dude. I've even heard you say it a time or two. One day we're not going to be so young."
"What are you going on about, bro? I've never said anything like that. I'm almost thirty and I've got some things going pretty good for me."
"Yeah, I guess you have a point. You have a wife and a financially stable job, for your life style anyway."
"Are you calling my life style lame? For your information, Starla has a good job, too. And as soon as we save up enough, we're going to rent a new fancy apartment."
"What are you planning on doing with your trailer?"
"Eh, I don't know. We're thinking about fixing it up and then selling it. Probably going to buy a nicer trailer for like a mobile vacation home or something. You know, keep the flare going in our relationship. By the way, why are you even talking to me? Where's Mordecai?"
Rigby scratched his head. "That's just it. I haven't seen him all day. Do you have any idea why Benson closed the park today?"
"No idea, bro. All I know is it's basically a day off. I'm not going to complain if Benson wants to give us a free pay day."
Rigby scratched his head again. "Where is Mordecai? I'm going to the coffee shop. He might be there."
"Hold up. I think I see him over there. Benson and Skips are there too, I think. Let's head over."
Muscle Man and Rigby ran over to the fountain, where Mordecai and the others were. When they got there, they say what they were looking at. In the fountain, the was trash all in it. Not only that, graffiti was all over the bathrooms and benches.
"Rigby, tell me what you see? Because you know what I see? More of your shit we have to clean up!"
"You're blaming me for this? I haven't even been here for the past week! I've been sleeping at Eileen's place too! Even if I did sleep walk, her house is miles from here!"
"I don't want to here it! We'll check the cameras again just to be sure!"
"You can't do that Benson. There are no cameras out here," Mordecai said, hoping to back up his best friend in some way.
"Damn it. OK, desperate times call for desperate measures. Rigby, since you have no way to prove it..."
"Bullshit, I have a way! Everyday since you suspended me, I've either been with Eileen or Mordecai. And today, since Mordecai was busy, I hung out with Muscle Man!"
"Even so, technically, you're not supposed to be here right now. The park is closed and visitors, which you technically are for a while, are not allowed in while the park is closed. Get the picture? Leave before I make it worse on you."
"I still live here in the park. You said I can't be in the house while I'm suspended during park hours. If the park is closed, I can be in the house, which makes all of this one big backyard!"
Benson sighed, pressing on the bridge of his nose. "OK, I'll go easy on you. This is your one mistake. But I talked to Mr. Mallard, which I absolutely did NOT want to do, and there is nothing I can do on this one. He said that if you make one slip up, depending on the severity, to either suspend you longer or fire you. As much as I'd LOVE to fire you, your points make sense. So, I'm afraid I'm going to have to increase your suspension."
"Are you serious? How much fucking longer, Benson?" Rigby yelled. "And you know what? What's with the charges, Benson? I've been meaning to catch up about that? Some stupid detective came up and said you filed charges against me?"
"Listen, Rigby. You trashed my car, too. The cameras in the house caught you doing the damage. That has nothing to with the incidents at the park. But I believe I have a case against you now. So go ahead and sue me back. I doubt that little recording will do anything now." Benson smiled. "And since you have such a pleasant tone, I'm not going to count this week. And I'm adding on two months. So, in case your small brain can't do the math, that's three months starting effective immediately. And you're not allowed anywhere near the park during open hours, whether we're closed or not."
Rigby was in awe. "What the hell? I haven't even done anything! That is complete, total bullshit! Un-fucking-believeable!"
"Rigby, just get out of here so he doesn't make it any worse on you."
"You're right Mordecai. I will leave. But oh, no no no way am I quitting! That would mean Benson gets what he wants. If you need me, Mordecai, I'll be at my girlfriend's place. So long guys. See you in three months, Benson. I'll see your unfair ass in court at some point. And one more important detail. I'm going to get the information from my parents that clearly states I went through those sleep walking fits during my childhood. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!"
"So what you're telling me is, you're not allowed at the park at all during open hours, this week hasn't even counted towards your suspension, plus you have two more months on top of the original one month?"
"Yup."
"And Benson is suing you because you tore up his car?"
Rigby nodded. He didn't even touch his sandwich Eileen brought out for him. He was way too upset for that. Anger, anxiety and terror rushed through his mind. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Eileen. I won't even be able to have my phone. I might as well be unemployed."
"Well, we were hiring here, but our manager already hired somebody."
Rigby let out a massive sigh. "Not trying to be rude, but how does that help me?"
Eileen shrugged. "Just seemed like a good thing to say." She sat down the coffee pot she was holding. "It'll be alright, Rigby. Let's take a look at what you do have." She sat down in the seat across from him. "You have a place to stay, my place. There's that one down. You have a cheap place to come and eat. Since you're dating me, you can get my employee discount. Plus, we're doing a drawing. If you guess how many gumballs are in that jar over there, you get a fifty percent discount for life. I already know how many there are. It's-"
"444. I used to get those all the time for me and Mordecai. Let me guess, your manager bought them at that candy store in the mall?"
"Yeah, how did you know that?"
"That's the same place I got mine from. That's the max number I could ever get to fit in there. And it looks as full as it could be."
Eileen smiled at Rigby, blushing just a little bit. "See? With my discount, you can get 70% off! Hurry and go tell him your answer. He's running the register."
Rigby walked over and told the manager his answer. It was indeed the right answer. The manager took his picture, gave him a card and congratulated him.
"Yeah-yuh! Half off for liii-iiiiiife!"
"Woohoo! Great job, Rigby."
Rigby stopped celebrating. "Speaking of jobs, what am I supposed to for money? You already said you guys aren't hiring."
"I was thinking about that. Do you remember Freddy Fazbear's? It said they were hiring on the window."
Rigby face-palmed. "I remember that I said something like who'd want a job like that. But I have no choice. I'll go apply. What time you get off tonight?"
"8 o'clock. You going to my house afterwards?"
"No, I'm going to go get my stuff from the park house. It'll probably take me a while. By the way, why aren't you living in the apartments anymore?"
"I thought you'd ask. It took you long enough to realize. The day you took me home after we went on our...date, I guess?...my college said they put me on a grant list. I was able to split the house I'm in now with someone. I'm still looking for someone else, but I think I can handle it with some of the grant money for a while."
"Um, hello? You have me now! I can be your roommate!"
"That's a good idea. If we're going to split it, then you need a job. Hurry and go apply!"
"Good idea. But what I'm going to do about being sued? It completely sucks! I don't have money for a lawyer."
"I think I know someone willing to help. I'll tell you about it later. Anyways, get going."
"OK." Rigby hugged her tightly. "Thank you for helping me so much. I'll see you on later tonight, baby." He leaned in and gave her a big kiss.
"Good luck." Rigby left, a determined look on his face. 'He's so cute when he's determined,' Eileen thought to herself.
It's all coming together! The horror should start in the next chapter! I'm excited to try my hand at the horror genre. I really think I could do a decent job. Plus, I need to show this story some love.
Anyway, hope y'all are having a wonderful day filled with happiness and serendipity!