Chapter 24: The Long Weekend

Somewhere in New Jersey, two sprites had just escaped a cryptid attack.

In the next morning, Jake Long and his best friend Spud were waiting for Jake's father to pick them up for the camping trip. "Too bad Trixie's family didn't let her come with us." Spud commented.

"They don't know my Dad." Jake explained.

"Well, that only means one thing." Spud solemnly stated and then smiled and pulled a bag of s'mores. "More s'mores to me! I mean, us."

A car then showed up. "Get in, my little cougars." A bearded man said.

"My parents told me not to talk to strangers." Spud replied.

"He's not a stranger, Spud." Jake said upon recognizing the beard from last Halloween. "Hi, Dad."

"Hi, Jakers." Jonathan Long replied while taking off his fake beard. "Please get in."

"So, Mr. Long, why did you call us 'cougars'?" Spud asked after he and Jake entered the car.

"I used to be a cougar scout as a kid." Jonathan explained. "I'd be wearing my old uniform from those days but Susan hid it saying it'd be too tight. Fortunately, I have this camping gear."

"Why aren't Jake's sister and Mom here with us?" Spud asked.

"They're having a SPA day." Jonathan explained.

LINE BREAK – Bus station

Susan and Haley were about to enter what they believed to be the SPA bus when a SPA employee interrupted them. "Mrs. Luong?"

"Uh, yes." Susan answered.

"Mrs. Luong, I am Lucy and I work for Long SPA." The employee introduced herself. "Please follow me to the SPA bus." She asked while showing another bus.

"Uh, what about that bus?" Haley asked.

"That's for 'Spartan Boot Camp', Miss…" The employee looked at the customer list. "Haley. I won't risk losing two VIP customers like that."

LINE BREAK – Jonathan's car

"So, does anyone want to hear some music?" Jonathan eagerly asked.

"Sure, Mr. Long." Spud answered. "From which radio station?"

"I didn't say anything about radio, did I?" Jonathan maliciously asked and then started singing. Jake recognized the song as the one his Dad used to sing to make up for the times they wouldn't camp because he had to stay hidden from the human world. The three of them liked the song.

They eventually arrived at the camping site and started eating their s'mores. "Remember, Dad." Jake warned Jonathan. "Some sprites might show up so take a look before spraying or swatting whatever you assume to be a bug."

"Okay, Jakers." Jonathan complied.

"So, Jake, have you ever thought about being a cougar scout?" Spud asked.

"Yes but my family was too worried about my safety and certain secrets you now know about, wouldn't let me venture outdoors back then." Jake explained.

The conversation was soon interrupted by a sprite showing up and landing on Jake's shoulder. Jonathan quickly drew his fly swatter but then stopped to take a look. "Sorry." He sheepishly said.

"Don't worry." The sprite replied and turned his attention to Jake. "American Dragon, you're our last hope." He said and then explained his people's predicament. They then went to the village. "Uh, Mr. Long? Do you need to keep holding your fly swatter like that? We may be more afraid of the Jersey Devil but it's not to that point."

In the village, Jake and Company were told about a legend of a hero who'll save them. "Don't worry, Jakers." Jonathan reassured his son. "This Jersey Devil may look gigantic to these small creatures but I've already seen how big you are as a dragon."

"Actually, I believe they're evenly matched, Mr. Long." Another sprite commented.

"In that case, I'd better sharpen my cougar scout skills." Jonathan commented.

"Uh, Dad, I'm grateful for everything you do to help me but I don't think the cougar scouts were trained to face that." Jake commented. He didn't believe someone who spent most of his life behind a desk reading reports and making decisions would be useful in battle.

"The Jersey Devil cannot be much bigger than the average bear." Jonathan dismissed his son's worries.

LINE BREAK – The SPA

"People here know how to treat VIPs, Mom." Haley commented to Susan.

"I can't help but worry about the boys, Haley." Susan replied. "With the stuff your Grandfather told us…"

"Sometimes he worries too much, Mom." Haley said. "Honestly, the worst thing that could've happened to anyone in our family was our almost getting into the wrong bus."

LINE BREAK – The Jersey Forest

After a too complicated battle to be described and Jake almost falling down a cliff until Jonathan saved him, the Jersey Devil was no longer a threat. "I'm glad this is over." Jonathan commented in relief. "I couldn't let anything happen to you, Jakers."

"Cougar code?" Jake asked with a weak smile.

"Dad code." Jonathan answered.

Before they returned to New York, the heroes were shown a statue the sprites erected to homage their newest hero: Jonathan Long. "Sorry you didn't get a statue, son." Jonathan commented.

"This time you deserve it more than I do, Dad." Jake replied. "Sorry I underestimated you."

They eventually returned to New York. Once Jonathan returned to his penthouse, he found his wife and his daughter there. "Hi, familia. How was the SPA?"

"Fantastic, Jonathan!" Susan answered. "What about your camping trip?"

"It's a looong story." Jonathan answered and showed a bag of s'mores. "Do you want some?"

"No, thank you." Susan and Haley answered at the same time.

"More for me." He shrugged and commented.

End chapter.