Chapter 20 - Pandemonium and Silence
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After the commercial break ended, Wakko was ready for the final puzzle.
"$22,000, all cash, You've done really well so far Wakko." Said Pat
"Thank you, Pat." Said Wakko
"Now, We need you to pick a letter from the 5 available there."
Wakko looked very closely at the W, H, E, E, and L in front of him. There was a 20% Chance he would pick the Million-dollar Envelope. Somehow, his mind was drawing him to the second E. it just seemed like the right one to pick. Wakko drew the second E from the set and passed the envelope to Pat.
"Thank you, Wakko, and now our Bonus round Puzzle, is Fictional Character, R,S,T,L,N, E, Vanna will reveal the letters in this puzzle." The Screen showed Wakko's head in a small circle in the bottom right while he watched Vanna light up the board.
[ ][ ][R][ ][E][N] [S][ ][N][ ][ ][E][ ][ ]
"Alright, We need 3 more consanants, Plus a Vowel." Pat turned to Wakko.
Wakko looked at the puzzle board. He had absolultely no clue what the name could've been. It was a fictional character, So that narrowed the playing field a bit.
"Um...F...H...G...and O." Said Wakko, causing Vanna to reveal more of the puzzle.
[ ][ ][R][ ][E][N] [S][ ][N][ ][ ][E][G][O]
"Ok, Wakko. 10 seconds, Take a shot at it, good luck." Then the sounds of the timer slowly ticking down forced Wakko to think harder about what the answer could be.
"uh..." Wakko was blank for about 5 seconds.
4 seconds ticked by before Wakko blurted out the only answer it could be.
"Carmen Sandiego!" Wakko said as clearly and loudly as possible. What came next was the cheers and applause of the impressed audience watching the young Warner finally come to the end of what was a somewhat difficult road.
When Wakko was done jumping all over the place, Pat called him over.
"Ok, Wakko, you ready to look in here?" asked Pat
"I'm ready!" Wakko was more than excited.
Pat opened the envelope, then closed it back up quickly.
"You know, We've come a long way since 1974. Back then we were giving away just 3-figure sums to adults." Pat then opened up the envelope for the world to see. "Now to a 7-year old boy, we're giving away $1,000,000."
The audience cheered louder than ever before. Wakko went even more ballistic as his siblings ran down to hug and kiss him and congratulate him on his victory.
"We knew you could it, Wakko!" Dot hugged her brother tightly
"Atta boy!" Yakko high-fived his victorious sibling
Amidst the commotion, Pat got close to Wakko and asked him a question that cataclysmed into something special.
"So Wakko, You've just won 1,000,000, plus 22,000. What are you gonna do with all that money?" He asked
Without taking a breath, Wakko said "I'm giving it all to the salvation army."
Then, the crowd that was once loud, became silent.
"Say that again, Wakko?" asked Pat
"I'm giving it all to the Salvation army." Said Wakko
Then the silence was broken by a single man's clap. That man got up out of the stands while everyone there just stood silently, frozen in time.
"I think our boy just discovered the true meaning of christmas!" Said the man
Wakko was really confused.
"Who are you?" he asked
"Remember that time you and your siblings were in the short little drummer Warners?" asked the man
"I remember." Said Wakko
"And remember how you were singing your version of little drummer boy to the baby Jesus?" asked the man
"Uh-huh."
"That little baby...is the reason people give gifts. Just like he was given to you and everyone living on the earth. That's why they call it christmas. Cause jesus's last name is Christ. make sense?" asked the man
Wakko could totally understand.
"And that...that is the true meaning of christmas. What I gave you and the world 2000 years ago. That little baby in the manger."
Wakko now understood entirely.
"Now I gotta go back. my son's celebrity status is different come easter." then the figure disappeared into thin air, While Wakko returned to his human world to cheers from the audience who had just heard his plans.
"No, no, no, no, Wakko. You just don't give away a million and some dollars just like that!" Said Pat
"Well I am." Wakko spoke without hesitation.
Then the studio went to commercial break. Almost immediately, Wakko was approached by the contestant co-ordinator, Mark.
"First of all, Congratulations on Winning the game, Wakko!" Mark congratulated the youngest contestant ever.
"Thank you." Wakko replied
"However, we need to discuss this, donating all your money away thing. And we need to discuss this, immediately, backstage." Said mark
Mark led Wakko to the greenroom. Wakko's siblings and Dr. Scratchnsniff followed.
"Please sit."
Wakko did as such, and his siblings and guardian did the same.
"Wakko, You just won over a million dollars on a nationally televised gameshow. On top of that, you're the youngest contestant ever to do so. You cannot just go up after the game and say 'I'm donating it all to the salvation army.' like that!"
Wakko was somewhat confused. It was his money, he could do whatever he darn well pleased with it.
"Is zhere some sort of legality issue by saying zhat charity name on air Vithout zheir knowing?" Asked Dr. Scratchnsniff
"Not really, but it's just not right for a 7-year old to just give away a chance at a headstart on his future! Wakko, do you realize what $1,000,000 could do for you?"
"It could feed lots of starving children."
Mark just couldn't believe Wakko's pure determination.
"Who coached you to say what you said out there?" asked Mark
"No one." Replied Wakko
"We told him to keep whatever he won." Said Yakko
Mark couldn't believe his ears.
"Well..." Mark continued "...as part of tonight's special, We're directly depositing the winnings into the contestants accounts. As of tonight, that million and some dollars is yours."
"Thank you." Said Wakko
"I hope you reconsider, Wakko. That money could set you and your family up for life." Said Mark, before beginning to walk away.
Wakko looked up at Dr. Scratchnsniff.
"Should we call the Salvation army people?" asked Wakko
"I can place a call immediately. But think about it, Vakko. Vunce zhis money is gone, you cannot just ask for it back."
"Do it. The money was always theirs, I just had to win it." Said Wakko
"Ok, But i'm going to give you ze phone. you talk to zhem."
The phone began to ring, And then the ring was stopped by a voice.
"Salvation army HQ, What can I do for you?" asked the lady on the other end.
"Who do I ask about donations?" asked Wakko
"You can talk to me, How much are you going to donate?" asked the lady
"One million, and 22 thousand dollars." Said Wakko
Then the phone went dead silent.
"Ok, if this is a joke, we can trace the call..."
"No, no! it's real! I'm Wakko Warner, I was just on Wheel of fortune!" Said Wakko
The voice remained quiet for a second.
"Would you hold on for a few moments, i'll get right back to you." Said the voice
Then the phone began playing some soft hits of the 90's.
"Oh really? Why can't they put real music during these long waits?" asked Yakko
After a 2 minute wait, the phone woke up again, this time it was a man's voice.
"Excuse me, did you say your name was Wakko Warner?" asked the voice
"Yeah, I did." Wakko replied
"Listen, son. My name is William Coxe, I'm the current general of this charitable organization. I was just watching your episode of wheel of fortune, and I just want to say thank you for thinking of donating your winnings to us."
"You're welcome."
"Gotta admit, Watching that dimwitted dinosaur fly off made me laugh."
Wakko chuckled a little.
"But..." Mr. Coxe took a short breath "I cannot take that much from you, I would not feel right."
Wakko was ready to almost start crying. When was anyone going to stand with him in his plan of charity?
"Yes you can! I'm giving you the money! I don't need it!"
"Son, you don't just give away $1,000,000 like that! We cannot accept it, I'm sorry!"
Just then, Contestant Co-ordinator Mark came into the greenroom.
"Wakko, we want you to come out onto the stage for a moment. Our executive producer wants to talk. Keep that phone on too."
Back out onto the studio floor, Wakko kept on talking with the Salvation army people.
"I can see you on the stage, Wakko." Mr. Coxe spoke into the phone.
"Ok, so we're on live now." Said Wakko, looking into the camera. As he looked, Pat, Vanna, and executive producer Marty Friedguy were there.
"Wakko, What you're doing right now, is truly amazing, almost no one would ever think to do that." Said Mr. Friedguy
Wakko didn't know what to say anymore.
"Now, I've also been talking with a few of the treasurers of the Salvation army, and I stand by them by saying, that you can't give away your money."
Wakko didn't feel like holding his head up any longer.
"But...I will tell you what's going to happen. On behalf of Merv Griffin Productions, We will, in your place, Donate the $1,000,000 to the Salvation Army."
The crowd clapped and cheered, along with Pat and Vanna, and Wakko's Siblings. Wakko extended his hand to mr. Friedguy and thanked him.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me." Said Wakko
Then the cameras stopped rolling and the show ended right there.
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