From their seats on the couch, Dipper and Mabel both looked at their Grunkle Stan, who in turn had opened the front door and looked around for the fifth time in half an hour.

"Where are you, Sixer?" they heard him mutter.

"Grunkle Stan, you don't think—something happened to Great Uncle Ford—do you?" Dipper said cautiously.

Dipper and Mabel's "Grunkle" frowned deeply as he closed the door and turned to them. "I hope he's just engrossed in whatever "science-y" thing he's out there looking at," Stan said, "—but I have a bad feeling. "

Dipper got off the couch. "Grunkle Stan, why don't—"

"No." their great uncle said, closing the door. "You're not going out there when it's nearly dark and looking for Ford. I'm going, and I'm going to call Soos and Wendy to come over here and watch you. "

Mabel got off the couch and came to stand by her brother. "Grunkle Stan, you do realize that once Soos and Wendy get here, we're just going to convince them to follow you so that we can help find Great Uncle Ford, right? "

Dipper grinned and glanced at his sister approvingly. That was his thought exactly.

Stan smacked his face with his hand. "All right, fine. Dipper, go make the calls. "

Dipper ran to the phone and dialed Soos' number.

"…chomp-chomp-*gulp*-Ramirez residence. "

"Soos! We need you down at the Shack!" Dipper told him.

"Whoa—dude. My abuelita and I just got done with dinner—what's up? "

"Well, it's our Great Uncle Ford. He went to the woods this earlier this afternoon to explore and he said he'd be home by dinner and he hasn't come back, and Grunkle Stan's getting worried, and—"

"Dude. Say no more. I will be right there."

"Thanks, Soos."

Dipper hung up and dialed Wendy's number.

"Yeah ! Corduroy's Lumber! Boys! The plates are not Frisbees !"

Dipper gulped. Even on the phone Wendy's dad was intimidating.

"Um—hi—sir—this—this is Dipper Pines. Is Wendy available—I mean, can she come to the phone?"

"Boys!"

Dipper had to hold the phone away from his ear. When he returned it Wendy's father was saying,

"—just a sec. Wendy! "

Dipper rubbed his ear to try to stop it from ringing, and after a couple of seconds put the phone next to it again.

"Hey, Dip, what's up? "

"Wendy—I have some bad news—at least, I hope it's not bad news—anyway, we need your help. "

"Dipper, you sound worried. What's the matter? "

"Well, it's my Great Uncle Ford. He went to explore in the woods hours ago and he hasn't come back."

"Oh, yeah—Stan's twin brother Soos told me about. He's missing? Well, I can't have that, I haven't met the guy yet. I'll be right over. Want me to call Soos? "

"Already did that. Uh—aren't you just sitting down to dinner? "

"Ah, Tambry and the guys and I went out for pizza an hour ago. Besides, dinner around here's a mad house. "

Dipper could hear Wendy's father yelling at Wendy's brothers in the background.

"I'll be right there, Dip. Later. "