Burger Competition: Toad vs. Toadette

(A/N: Happy 4th of July)

On a perfect day in Toad Town, Toad and Toadette are enjoying a nice walk when suddenly, Toad saw something special. He said, "Look at this, Toadette! It's the big Burger Eating Competition held at Burger Shroom today and it is perfect because today is the 4th of July!"

"A real competition? That's amazing, Toad," Toadette replied with a smile, "I think we should do it because anyone can enter this competition and the winner gets a huge prize! Are you with me?"

"I'm ready for an afternoon battle of the burgers! Let's go!"

So Toad and Toadette ran as fast as they could to the restaurant for their burger duel.

When they got there, they saw a male person eating burgers in record time. Toad looked at him and said to Toadette, "Wow! That must be Joey Chestnut! A professional eating athlete from Westfield, Indiana!"

"Me too," Toadette replied as Chestnut finished eating, "He's been breaking records in various eating competitions including burgers, hot dogs, and more."

"I know!"

Joey came to them and said, "You must be Toadette and Toad, right?"

"That's right," Toad replied as they shook his hand, "I can't believe that you ate so many burgers here and we are impressed with your performance."

"Thanks, Toad. I love to eat in various competitions and I won the hot dog eating competition in Brooklyn 16 times. So, what brings you here?"

"We're going to have our burger eating competition and we need somebody to be the referee of this amazing competition to honor the July 4th holiday."

"Well, you came to the right person because today's match is going to be the Battle of the Toads in a ten-minute burger eating duel!"

"You want us to compete?" Toadette asked.

"Of course," Joey replied, "Both of you are amazing competitors and this arena is all set up with a scoreboard, burgers, and a cheering crowd! So, are you ready to chow down?"

Toad and Toadette looked at the stadium and with a smile, they said, "Let's do it!"

"Great! Now take your places and prepare for battle!"

So Toad and Toadette took their places as Joey came center stage and took out his microphone. Then he said, "Happy 4th of July, Mushroom Kingdom! I'm Joey Chestnut and it's an honor to be your referee for this amazing occasion. Today, Burger Shroom proudly presents a very special battle to honor our beloved country as we bring you today's match... THE BATTLE OF THE TOADS!"

And on cue, the entire crowd is cheering with excitement. Then Joey said, "That's right, everyone. It is Toad vs. Toadette in a battle to the finish! Now here's how this is going to work. On my whistle, both players will have ten minutes to eat as many cheeseburgers as possible. Whoever has the most burgers at the end is the winner. If there is a tie, then it will go to a burger eat-off and I'll explain it when that happens. So, are you ready to see these two Toads eat some burgers?"

The entire restaurant agreed with him as they are cheering with excitement.

"All right, then! Can we have ten minutes on the scoreboard, please?"

The scoreboard agreed with him as the timer is set for ten minutes. Then Joey took out his whistle and said, "Toad and Toadette, are you ready?"

"We're ready, Joey," Toad and Toadette replied with a thumbs up.

"Okay, then! So without further ado, let the battle of the Toads..."

Both Toads placed their hands on the burgers as they await the signal from Joey and while they're waiting, the entire restaurant grew silent.

After a few moments of waiting, everything is ready. Joey raised his whistle up to his lips, took one final deep breath and then...

It is time.

"BEGIN!"

TWEET!

And right on cue, Toad and Toadette took their first bite at the same time to start the competition as the crowd is cheering with excitement.

"And they're off," Joey said to the crowd as Toad and Toadette finished their first burger in ten seconds, "Looks like we're off to a great start as Toad and Toadette scored their first burger."

Toad and Toadette are having a great time as the battle continues to heat up and after three minutes of eating, the score is now eleven to ten with Toad leading by one.

Two minutes later, the battle is now halfway done. Joey Chestnut looked at the scoreboard and said, "We're halfway through this competition and so far, we have a tie game with twenty-five burgers each! But remember, anything can still happen in this burger eating competition and the fireworks are flying here as we begin the second half."

Toad and Toadette munched away with every bite as the scoreboard continues to add up the number of burgers eaten. Now they have thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five!

"Two minutes remaining," Joey announced to the crowd as the timer signified that time, "Just two more minutes!"

Toad and Toadette kept on going as the battle is entering its climax.

Joey saw the timer and said, "We're down to the final sixty seconds and it looks like Toad is munching away with every bite. But here comes Toadette with another eaten burger as they are neck and neck! Who will emerge victorious? We're about to find out!"

As the clock continues to wind down, the crowd is cheering louder than ever. They are happy to see Toad and Toadette eating burgers on a perfect holiday.

"Thirty seconds left," Joey announced as the timer turned yellow.

Toad and Toadette are having a great time as the battle is about to end.

"Twenty seconds," Joey shouted as they kept on eating, "Audience, would you like to join me in the final countdown?"

"YEAH!" The crowd replied with a cheer as Joey took out his whistle from the start with fifteen seconds left on the clock.

"All right, then! Here we go!"

With that, Joey and the crowd looked at the flashing timer, took a deep breath and then...

It all comes down to this: The final ten seconds!

"10..."

"9..."

"8..."

"7..."

"6..."

"5..."

"4..."

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

TWEET!

With the final whistle blown by Joey, the battle of the Toads officially came to an end as they finished their final burger.

Toad and Toadette came to the cheering crowd as the judges are busy with the results. Joey Chestnut came to them and said, "Ladies and gentlemen! It has been an amazing battle between these two Mushroom Kingdom residents and before we announce the winner, do you have anything you would like to say?"

"I sure do," Toad replied, "I just want to say that today is the 4th of July and to all of our American readers, I hope you'll enjoy the barbecue, the beaches, and the big fireworks show tonight with your friends and family."

"That's right," Toadette added, "Let's salute this day to all of our Americans and remember to have fun and stay safe!"

"You said it! Now let's see those final results."

"I agree with you. Let's do it!"

Then they turned to Joey Chestnut and said, "Joey, we're ready!"

"All right, then," Joey replied with a smile, "Here we go! Drum roll, please!"

With that, the drum roll began as Toad and Toadette turned their attention at the scoreboard. Joey smiled to the crowd and said, "Ladies and gentlemen! After ten minutes of eating, the winner of the very first Big Burger Eating Competition, by one burger, is..."

Toad and Toadette held on to each other as the scoreboard calculates the final results. Joey placed his hands over their shoulders as they await the scoreboard's big decision.

After twenty seconds of waiting, the decision has officially been reached. Everyone held their breath and then...

DING!

It's official.

"By a single burger, the winner is... TOAD!"

Toad jumped for joy as the crowd cheered for him as confetti fell on the restaurant. Joey came to him and raised his arm to signify his victory as the scoreboard shows the final results. The final score is fifty-five to fifty-four with Toad winning the competition over Toadette by a single burger.

Toadette came to him and said, "Great job, Toad."

"Same to you," Toad replied as they shook hands for great sportsmanship with the crowd applauding for their fair play.

"Now that's what I call good sportsmanship," Joey Chestnut said with a smile, "Happy 4th of July, everyone!"