Days have passed since the incident at the local mall had come and gone and they were relieved that no one found out about the Plantar's or who they were along with no one finding out about Charlie's alien like powers. They were relieved that Charlie handled the situation with his methods which they knew that was his family's parenting styles hard at work with how they've been raising him.
"Do you think Hop Pop will be alright after his skin was temporarily green and kind of burning?" asked Charlie looking worried.
"He'll be alright. One hot shower cured the whole problem." reassured Anne starting to chuckle. "But with him being green. I have to admit. That was kind of funny."
"He looked like he gotten a color job on his skin." said Charlie trying not to laugh. "Just imagine if his skin was blue instead."
"It would be like that movie Giamatti was in. He came out looking blue and orange." chuckled Anne.
"I can hear that famous song from Eiffel 65 right now." Charlie laughed.
They had a little laugh but their laughter died down after a minute or more.
"But I'm glad we got through that situation. Even though it was my doing and I should've just listened to you in the beginning. We should've started off with something small. Like something in our backyard." said Anne showing her remorse.
"Well, at least we learned from it afterwards. Besides, I've made mistakes and you've never held that against me." said Charlie with a word of comfort.
"You are right." said Anne planting a kiss to his cheeks.
Charlie blushed and kissed her on her cheeks. They looked at each other and planted their soft lips to each other's as they were making out for a brief minute but they stopped once they heard someone was coming and it turned out to just be Hop Pop from the front door as they were spotted.
"Everything alright here? Or have you two kids been smooching?" joked Hop Pop.
"No!" said Anne and Charlie in unison.
"You guys know I'm only pulling one on ya." chuckled Hop Pop.
Later The Next Morning
Things appeared to be normal for Anne, Charlie and the Plantars as they appear to be doing completely alright but still nowhere near learning how they can get back to Amphibia to stop King Andrias and his army that were planning to invade. They knew that the cloaked Frobot from before was still out there, trying to find out where they live and trying to kill them but they kept an eye out in case they were to encounter the dangerous machine.
Anne walked into the kitchen with a large jug of orange juice, pouring Polly a glass and after she placed the jug down on a nearby table. Polly chugged most of her glass of orange down. Mrs. Boonchuy came along with freshly scrambled eggs on a pan.
"Would anyone like eggs?" offered Mrs. Boonchuy.
"Yes, please." said Polly.
"Why, yes. Thank you." answered Hop Pop.
She scooped some of the scrambled eggs onto Hop Pop and Polly's plate, they took a bite, chewed and swallowed it down.
"Thanks Mrs. Boonchuy. I could do good with protein." said Polly kindly.
"Beans are protein." said Anne.
"Charlie says beans make you fart." chuckled Polly.
"We got ventilation." chuckled Anne.
"These are eggcellent, Mrs. Boonchuy." said Hop Pop kindly.
"Yes. Thank you for the delicious food." said Polly kindly."
"Oh, you're very welcome." said Mrs. Boonchuy. "So Charlie knows what beans do when consumed? He told me about some spices his family uses in their salsa. They'd jokingly call it the butt blaster?" chuckled Mrs. Boonchuy.
They laughed as they didn't think Mrs. Boonchuy would actually say it out loud. They remembered Charlie telling them about the spices and peppers that him and his family used in their salsas. They remember tasting the salsa two days ago and it tasted incredible but it left them all farting loudly which they had a fond laugh about.
"You should try their salsa that they've dubbed that name. It tastes amazing but it'll have you farting loudly." chuckled Anne. "The ladies of the house really do consider us all family to them, even the Plantars."
"He-Heeey!" came Sprig's voice.
"Speaking of family." said Hop Pop.
They saw Sprig enter the room as he used his huge tongue like a lasso rope to wrap around a nearby hanging lamp and he swung in while doing a flip into the kitchen. Landing on his feet and pulling his huge tongue back in.
"Good morning, fam-fam! Oooh... Eggs!" greeted Sprig.
Sprig used his huge tongue to lap up the remaining of the scrambled eggs directly from the pan that Mrs. Boonchuy used. Mrs. Boonchuy's facial expression appeared slightly tense yet stoic as if trying to normalize what Sprig is doing as she was still getting used to the strangeness of the Plantars but has adjusted to it.
Sprig swallowed the remaining of the eggs, leaving the pan messy with his spit which Mrs. Boonchuy knew had to be cleaned. Sprig loved the taste of the eggs but felt like it needed something.
"Mmm... These could use a little something. Got any hot sauce?" asked Sprig.
"Sure. I'll get-" Mrs. Boonchuy began.
Sprig leaped forwards towards the fridge which left two handprints of scrambled eggs on the refrigerator door. He opened the door as he let them know he had it. He was rummaging through the fridge as he tossed out a can of fish, a banana, a jar of butter till he found the hot sauce. As he was drinking straight from it. Mrs. Boonchuy's face was more stoic than she had her face appear.
He suddenly let out a loud burp which made him suddenly burp fire from his mouth just like how Charlie had the ability to breathe fire from his mouth. After the fire burp stopped. Mrs. Boonchuy saw a little flame was on the nearby plate of the table which she extinguished it just by using the pan to press on it, suffocating the flames. Mrs. Boonchuy gave Anne a look of rational anger, causing Anne to blush with a chuckling grin.
That was until Mrs. Boonchuy heard a calming voice speak to her.
"Calm yourself Mrs. Boonchuy. Sprig is just a child. He can learn how to be civilized and well behaved. Meet him on his level. Anne and the Plantars can talk with him. Try not to lose your patience"
"I think my conscience is speaking to me and I can definitely hear it this time." said Mrs. Boonchuy looking surprised.
As Mrs. Boonchuy left the kitchen and placed the pan in the sink. Anne walked over to pick up Sprig and bring him to the table.
"Sprig, can we chat? Dude, what are you doing? You may want to ease up on the...acrobatics. That, and try to avoid making a mess." advised Anne.
"I'll admit I made a little mess but other than that. What do you mean?" asked Sprig.
"Sprig Plantar, you're a guest in the Boonchuy's home. For frog's sake, behave like one." Hop Pop instructed.
Sprig let out a laugh as if misunderstanding what Hop Pop meant.
"Ha! Silly Hop Pop. We aren't guests, we're family. Even Charlie's been welcomed into the Boonchuy's family as much as his family is welcomed into theirs." said Sprig with an adorable expression.
"No! We're not! Just because Anne and Charlie are Plantar, doesn't automatically make you a Boonchuy." said Hop Pop his parenting being exercised. "Wait, I think I mixed that up."
"Doesn't it though? I mean, the math checks out. I said that wrong, didn't I?" said Sprig.
"You're NOT a part of Anne's family!" said Polly sharply.
Hearing this made Sprig's big eyes begin to feel tears well up in them as he felt rejected just by Polly's sharp words.
"Oh... Anne, is that true?" said Sprig his voice shaky.
"Don't worry about it, man. Being a guest around here is so much better. Being family just means chores, responsibilities and getting yelled at when you mess up. Charlie on the other hand, I think my folks already warmed up to him since he's been so kind and helpful and that he treats me right. He actually changed the tires to my parent's car yesterday when they were punctured. They told him he doesn't have to do that but he volunteered. Saved my folks a trip to the mechanic." explained Anne.
"That explains the new tires." Sprig commented.
"I, for one, like being waited on hand and foot, and I should know." said Polly as she leaned back and put her feet on top of the table. "I have feet now."
"Sorry, guys. I just always wanted a bigger family and I guess I got a little carried away." said Sprig apologetically. "Does this also apply to the Matsuda's?"
"Different case. They already consider us family after the good we've done for Charlie and the good he's done for us. That, and it's also because they've seen how close me and Charlie have become like father and son. The Boonchuys, I think it'll take some time to be welcomed into it." reassured Hop Pop.
They all replied to Sprig and told him how they understood and apologized. That was until Mrs. Boonchuy called for Anne to come along with her as Anne was going to be working at their Thai oriented restaurant.
"Well, that's me. See you guys when I get back." said Anne heading out.
"Oh, wait! Can I come with you? I'd like to make up for how rude I was this morning." said Sprig hopping on over to Anne's side.
"I guess that'd be fine. Hop Pop, Polly, try to research some portals and junk while we're gone." instructed Anne.
"You got it." replied Hop Pop.
Sprig hopped up onto Anne's shoulders and ridden on them as Anne left. Polly had brought out two DVDs for them to watch which Hop Pop and Polly already decided on which to see.
Meanwhile at Thai Go
Anne, Sprig, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy were working around the restaurant that Anne's parents owned and operated. Thai Go was the Thai food restaurant that Anne told Charlie and the Plantars about a few times.
"So this is the restaurant you talked about?" said Sprig looking awestruck.
"We've had this baby going for a long time. Ongoing, I think." said Anne.
"And guess whose volunteering for today?" came a male's voice.
They turned to see it was Charlie. He had a green apron on while having his long hair in a low ponytail while wearing a red bandana, he had a surgical mask on but kept it low below his chin for the time being and white rubber gloves that were silver.
"What brings my soul brotha here?" said Anne looking happy to see him.
"Mrs. Boonchuy told me that the place was going to be shorthanded one worker and they might get swamped so I volunteered to help out. I've cooked Thai food before as well as Japanese and a variety of other foods from different countries. I can cook the heck out of Ramsay." said Charlie looking confident.
"How could I say no to him when he was volunteering. That, and we could use someone with strong hands that knows how to be delicate." chimed in Mrs. Boonchuy.
As they were in the back of the restaurant. Charlie volunteered but both Anne and her parents were impressed with how Charlie could work around the kitchen. He was able to chop up vegetables and ingredients quickly without losing a finger or limb, he kept his hands and cool utensils clean, every order that was made, he gotten them filled out, cooked, prepared, brought them to the customers and reported back to the kitchens afterwards.
"He's fast on his feet and with his hands." said an impressed Mr. Boonchuy.
"In the famous words of Lagasse. Bam!" said Charlie confidently.
As Charlie would volunteer. Anne, Charlie, and Anne's parents were working around the kitchen. When some were chopping ingredients, some were bringing in more of them. Sprig on the other hand was looking to contribute in some way or form. He jumped up and down in excitement chanting "How can I help!" a few times but stopped as he tried to show some restraint.
"Don't worry about it, pink frog. You're our guest." said Mrs. Boonchuy as she handed Sprig a plastic cup of Thai iced tea while chopping lettuce. "Why don't you sit in the corner with a Thai iced tea? Also, careful when being around sharp objects. We once had someone work here and almost lost a finger when he was chopping up lettuce."
"He was okay?" asked Charlie coming in to get another order taken out.
"Doctors reattached his finger. But he ended up finding work elsewhere which that was years ago." answered Mrs. Boonchuy.
Charlie raised his eyebrows as if surprised to hear such a story. He walked out to hand in more orders to the customers while Sprig was sitting down nearby as he sipped the iced tea and it wasn't bad ether. But he was bummed out from the fact that he's still seen as a guest but not considered family officially.
"Ugh... I hate being a stupid guest. I wanna be family." said Sprig to himself while playing around with the straw.
Sprig looked up at Anne and Mr. Boonchuy as Mr. Boonchuy took out a seed from some sort of food and he tossed it at Anne which she managed to catch it in her mouth, chewing it up and swallowing it. Charlie came in and witnessed it.
"Ying dī. Mr. Boonchuy." said Charlie.
They heard the door from the front entrance open as they heard the bell ring to let them know a customer walked in and Charlie came in to inform them.
"Ned's here. He claims to know you guys?" said Charlie a little confused.
They all walked out to the restaurant and they were met with a tall, heavyset male adult wearing a pink Romance Academy seven shirt, a dark jacket with flames imprinted at the bottom, tan cargo shorts, dark socks and sporty looking shoes. He had short brown hair with a bit of a brown beard. He appeared to be a cheerful man.
"What's happening, Boonchuys? Hehehe... Anne! Whoa! I thought you were dead. And I see this is Charlie. I heard you two are dating." said Ned looking cheery.
"What up, Ned. I see you're the number customer here for quite a long time. Yet you're much bigger in person. Did you take on boxing when you were younger?" asked Charlie already knowing the man.
"I never took up boxing professionally but I did use it as a form of working out." answered Ned. "Although that would explain why I'm built like a heavyweight champion boxer. Yet when I heard Anne is dating. They didn't say anything about how... muscular he is and with all that hair. He might as well be the son of the Terminator."
"I'll be back." said Charlie perfectly mimicking a deep voiced Austrian accent.
Ned chuckled as Charlie did a perfect impression of the titular character from the film he mentioned.
"So Ned's been coming here before?" said Sprig.
"Check it out, Sprig. This guy's our number one customer. He's been around for years. Just like Charlie pointed out." said Anne.
Anne shown Sprig some pictures of Ned from years back. There was six of them and each one was of Ned at the restaurant and interacting with them a few times. Sprig looked on in amazement.
"Oh! And I'm not just a customer anyone, Anne." said Ned.
"Wait, what?" said Anne confused.
"He bought a food truck and he's got an idea." Charlie told Anne and Sprig telepathically.
"I brought a food truck. I wanna bring your mom's amazing cooking to all of L.A. She puts the pow in pad kra pao!" said Ned looking passionate about what he was doing.
"That explains the truck outside. Saw it when I brought out a plate or two to some customers." said Charlie out loud.
"Oh, neat. You guys are in business together?" said Anne looking impressed.
"Negative on that. Mrs. Boonchuy didn't mention anything about that. Nor did she mention who Ned is till now." said Charlie.
"He is correct on that. We're not in business together. Not yet." said Ned with a grin.
"I already told you. We're just not interested in a food truck." said Mrs. Bonnchuy with a sigh of annoyance.
"But you've got the best Thai food in the country and if we partnered up, we could make so much money together. Couldn't you just share some of your recipes with me?" asked Ned as he implored.
"Absolutely not. This recipe is for family only." said Mrs. Boonchuy stoically.
"I know that looks on her face. That's the mom look." said Charlie.
They all look at Charlie as they wondered what he meant by the "Mom" look. He knew that there was an explanation to his words or the odd term he just used.
"That stoic expression every mom gets when they're serious about who knows what. That's the mom look that means there's no way you'll be breaking through that wall. An atom bomb can't break through it. I should know. I grew up in a house full of women and I've seen them get that look all the time when they were dealing with people." said Charlie.
"Point taken. Well... when you changed your mind, you know where to find me." said Ned as he left the place with some sense of optimism.
They saw him walk out of the restaurant, going outside, and walked inside the food truck he had outside. The food truck of his was stationed outside the restaurant which both Mrs. Boonchuy and Charlie were getting some bad signs from this.
"Kare no fūdotorakku wa resutoran no soto ni arimasu?" said Charlie.
"Xô chı̀." answered Mrs. Boonchuy.
"Warui nyūsu?" asked Charlie.
"Khrậng h̄ıỵ̀." answered Mrs. Boonchuy.
"Wow... He's literally parked right outside the restaurant. That can't be good." said Anne noticing the bad news.
"It's not, customers are very confused right now." said Mrs. Boonchuy pointing at the window.
They saw a blonde-haired male adult approach both the food truck and the restaurant. He looked to see that both the restaurant and the food truck had the same sign which this confused the man into nearly breaking down. Charlie communicated with him telepathically to calm him and explain the confusion which had a strange way of working as the blonde-haired man assumed this was ether his conscience talking to him or that it could've been the voice of an angel helping him.
"He means well but Ned just doesn't realize he's hurting the business. It's been weeks and he still hasn't budged." said Mrs. Boonchuy with a sigh.
"I'm just suggesting here. While I know the family recipes are strictly remaining in the family. Maybe you could talk to him and possibly have him employed as a delivery guy to the restaurant? Some restaurants work better when they have a few delivery guys when they lack a few extra hands to do so. But try to keep a level head on it if you talk to him about it." Charlie suggested. "But let's negotiate about that later. Now's not the time."
Charlie went back to the kitchen while Anne and her mother looked at one another as what Charlie suggested sounded like a good idea but they were hesitant on going through with it.
"Hiring him as a delivery guy does sound like a good idea." said Mrs. Boonchuy. "We need to talk about another time. When we're not so busy. Maybe after we get off work. I better start the khao pad."
As Mrs. Boonchuy walked back to the kitchen. Sprig looked on at the food truck with a suspicious expression and was starting to get an idea in mind.
"Mmm... Tough problem, huh? Why, if someone were to solve it, your mom might consider him the son she never had." said Sprig with a grin.
"I wouldn't do that Sprig. Let's wait till later on today and talk to him about that offer I suggested." Charlie told both Anne and Sprig telepathically.
"Let's listen to Char Char on this one Sprig. It's best to stay out of it." Anne advised.
"It was just a thought." said Sprig.
As Anne walked back towards the kitchen. Sprig had a devious grin and rolled off the counter but just as he was about to hit the floor. He was stopped by some invisible force that levitated him to the floor on his feet.
"Try not to get hurt, Sprig. You do not want to break any bones." Charlie advised telepathically.
Meanwhile Outside
Ned was already serving out one dish after the other. Some people went into the building while others would go to the food truck. He had given a young man a bowl of noodles which he walked off with it and was practically devouring it.
"Next!" called Ned.
He heard someone whistling to him and it sounded close. That was when he looked down and saw Sprig. This time, Sprig was in a disguise of his own as he had on a blue bandana, an olive drab green coat, yellow rubber gloves, a silver scarf covering up his face and he used two Thai coconut oil cans as stilts that were taped to his feet to make him look taller.
"Oh... Hi, kid. What'll it be?" said Ned.
Sprig cleared his throat before he spoke.
"Give me the special." said Sprig attempting to imitate a deeper voice.
"Sure thing." said Ned.
He got out a box that he put two eggrolls in and there was Pai Thai in there. Pai Thai was a popular noodles dish from Thailand that had been a stir-fried type of noodles that had Rice noodles eggs tofu tamarind juice, palm sugar or regular sugar, fish sauce, fresh shrimp, dried shrimp, bean sprouts, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper, lime and peanuts.
"Two eggs rolls and a bowl of Pai Thai coming up." said Ned handing the box to Sprig.
Sprig took the box and walked a few feet away and tried some of the noodles. Despite the fact that it tasted good. He had an idea to drive Ned away as he tried some of the Pai Thai but then pretended that he was poisoned as he dropped the box and cried out "Oh my Frog!" and turned to the alarmed people.
"This food... it's turned me... PIIIIIINK!" cried Sprig as he opened up his jacket and shown them his upper body.
The people saw his skin was definitely pink, they at first were shown to be horrified but smiled instead.
"Hey, I wouldn't mind being pink." said a young Thai male adult. "Is it normal that what you just said sort of made me laugh?"
Sprig got up on his feet and looked on in surprise. His plan had failed.
"I wasn't trying to being funny." said Sprig explaining himself.
"Maybe it will help me with my next Star Trip audition." said the Thai male adult as he turned to Ned. "Excuse me, I'll have whatever he had."
"Sure thing. Although I don't know how he became pink but his reaction was funny. Just imagine if he was blue like that guy from that early two thousands film. His reaction to finding out he was blue and orange was priceless." chuckled Ned.
"What? Are we fools?! That was a lie. I wasn't trying to be funny. We might as well wear a sign on us that reads Morons. I should know. I've done dumber things than anyone before." ranted Sprig.
Many of them gasped and looked offended while one of the customers questioned him about his insult. Inside the restaurant. Anne and Charlie were cleaning up some tables by gathering plates and chopsticks.
"We're doing pretty good today. I think my folks were surprised at how you can cook anything and how you much of a big help you were. That, and you really surprised my dad when you caught him before he slipped and fell and caught everything he almost dropped." said Anne feeling optimistic.
"I am flexible and fast on my hands and feet. I'd try to walk on my hands here but that might be considered a health violation risk." chuckled Charlie. "Where's Sprig? He's been quiet for most of the time."
That was when they gotten their answer when both Charlie, Anne and Mrs. Boonchuy looked out the window and saw that Sprig and the customers outside getting into a commotion as he kept calling them "Morons" which they knew this wasn't good.
"Well, there's some good news and bad news. The good news is we found Sprig." said Charlie looking bewildered. "Bad news is there's some troubled being stirred up and I think I'm going to live with a terrible regret."
"Charlie, I don't want you to have to see this." said Anne about to go outside.
"Charlie, you don't want to see this." said Mrs. Boonchuy.
Charlie followed them as Anne and her mother went outside and grabbed hold of Sprig while dragging him inside.
"Nothing to worry people. The kid is an actor and trying to do a publicity stunt for the upcoming film he's going to be in. So it was all an act, he didn't mean to insult anyone. He was told to try some method acting which he's not a fan of that. Don't worry, I'll give him a ride home and possibly talk with his folks." lied Charlie. "Anata ga sōdeatta yō ni."
Charlie walked back inside the restaurant while Ned attempted to negotiate with Mrs. Boonchuy again on his offer but Charlie told him "Now's not the time Ned" and the door closed. Mrs. Boonchuy sat Sprig on the counter and looked peeved.
"Mrs. Boonchuy. Hikitsugi sasete kudasai." Charlie chimed in.
She oddly obeyed and let Charlie take over with Sprig. Charlie faced Sprig with his most stoic expression his face has shown.
"Sprig, what you're doing out there. Not cool, bro. Driving away Ned won't really help the business here for anyone, and you almost got exposed to the public. I implore you not to do that. Civilians out there have a huge tendency to blab to anyone. Just like teenagers at school who can't keep a secret when they're too tempted to keep it to themselves. Thank God those people out there aren't teenagers. Anne and Mrs. Boonchuy are fuming and I'm kind of scared of them right now. They got that look that Sonya has whenever she sees kids causing trouble for another and when she's got that look. She's in mama bear mode and messing with her or her kids is like a death sentence and even I'm scared sweatless of her when she's got that look. So I'm imploring you right now. Don't do anything to risk your exposure out there. We don't want to be losing you. So let's not do anything we'll regret." said Charlie appearing calm, stoic and rational.
Everyone was looking on at Charlie with widened eyes. He was calm, stoic and rational about his lecture with Sprig. How was he so calm about this they didn't know. He muttered "Kami wa watashitachi o yurushitekudasai" under his breath while making the hand sign of a prayer. Mrs. Boonchuy was about to say something to Sprig but turned her attention to Anne.
"Anne, I don't know how Charlie did it but he's actually gotten me to calm down from the fumes but this behavior is unacceptable. I apologize but I'm doubling your chores. Don't let it happen again. Charlie, you have nothing to fear from us. What you did somehow cooled me down. Don't know how that worked but I'm not going to question it." said Mrs. Boonchuy lightly scolding Anne while reassuring Charlie before returning to the kitchens.
Sprig understood what Charlie told him but was confused at why Mrs. Boonchuy scolded Anne for something he did as Anne didn't do anything to cause trouble. This had him confused at first.
"Wait. Why'd she scold you for something I did?" said Sprig.
"She's not about to yell at a guest, Sprig. She only yells at family." said Anne looking annoyed as she was collecting used plates and chopsticks.
"Ouch, Anne. Thanks for rubbing it in." said Sprig showing a wide-eyed hurt expression as tears welled up in his eyes.
"Look, Sprig, I know what you're doing here, and I get why, but please stop or I'll be cleaning the bathroom with a toothbrush for the rest of my life. Just knock it off, OK?" said Anne going into the back into the kitchen.
"Sprig, I really feared that there was going to be some yelling, intense yelling, but don't take this the wrong way or anything but the only reason for any of this is because one, they don't want you to get exposed and captured by some government agents, they want you to stay out of trouble for your own safety. That, and they don't want to attract any bad attention to the restaurant. There's always a better way at handling this. We'll all talk with Ned about what I suggested and hopefully, he'll understand, and all will work out. But causing chaos out there may hamper that. So for now, let's knock it off and try what I've suggested. Things will work out for better." said Charlie with a word of compassion.
Charlie pulled the tape off Sprig's feet that had the cans attached to them and once he gotten the tape off and carried the cans with him, he walked back into the kitchen with Anne and Mrs. Boonchuy. Sprig had a devious grin as another idea came to his mind.
"Heh... Knock it off or knock it ON?" said Sprig.
"I heard that!" called Anne.
"NO, YOU DIDN'T IT!" said Sprig running off.
"Want me to keep an eye on him?" Charlie suggested.
"Let's both keep an eye on him for now." Anne advised.
Hours later. It got dark out as Sprig had another idea to stop Ned but his idea was going to sound crazy to any rational minded person. He walked outside the restaurant and hopped over to Ned's food truck by rolling over to it, he hopped towards it again and got in front of the truck. Ned was listening to music on his blue headphones at full volume as he couldn't hear anyone or anything as he appeared to be cleaning up the truck and closing down for the night.
Sprig crawled around on the truck's walls like a spider and crawled inside the truck while he left a note laying down on one of the stove burners that was turned off. Sensing he wouldn't see the note. Sprig snapped his fingers near him to get his attention which snapped him out of his world and he looked to see the note that Sprig placed down. He picked it up and read it which his face lit up like Times Square, New York.
"OH yes! YES! YES! FINALLY! NED'S GONNA GET AHEAD, BABY!" said Ned getting excited.
Ned hopped out from the truck through the opening that food was served out to. He nearly fell but got onto his feet as he entered the building next door.
Sprig jumped down from the ceiling of the truck where he hid. He grabbed a toothpick and placed it in his mouth as if to look cool.
"And now to destroy an earth man's livelihood." said Sprig under his breath.
He took out mouth toothpicks and placed them in his mouth, tasting how dry the sticks of wood were, he spat them out and coughed a bit. Anne and Charlie came out from another exit of the restaurant's building, taking out a bag of garbage as they tossed the bags of trash into the nearby dumpster.
"Do you think we were too hard on Sprig? Not going to lie. I stepped in to make sure that the heat cooled down so that there was less yelling." said Charlie worried.
"Maybe we were a little harsh but you and I know we don't like having to exercise authority on those we love. Besides, we can talk to him later on tonight and..." Anne paused.
Charlie wondered why Anne paused but he sensed Sprig's mind and turned around. Both of them saw that Sprig was about to handle the controls over the food truck or possibly try to drive it away from the building, literally.
"Shit! Sprig's about to do something that'll have him on an episode of L.A.P.D." said Charlie getting worried.
"Oh, no." grumbled Anne worriedly.
Charlie teleported from where Anne stood and inside the truck while Anne ran over towards the truck to stop Sprig. Sprig was about to operate the gear shift as his index finger was inches away from the gear shift.
"Sprig, don't you dare touch that gear shift!" said Charlie sharply.
"Sprig, what are you doing? You're not old enough to drive yet." said Anne sharply.
"Squirming my way into your mom's heart by making this food truck disappear." said Sprig with an evil expression as he began pressing random buttons.
"Not on my watch." said Anne jumping inside from the window.
"I can see the judge throwing the book at us right now." said Charlie as he watched them wrestling each other to stop the other.
As Sprig squirmed to get free from Anne's arms. He accidentally kicked the gear shift and placed it in neutral. The truck began to move forwards and Charlie was the first to notice.
"Guys! The truck is moving!" cried Charlie.
Back at Thai Go
"Ned, I don't have time for this nonsense." said Mrs. Boonchuy. "By the way. Later on, there's something I want to talk to you about in terms of a job. Something Charlie suggested."
"One, what did the little guy suggest in terms of a job. And two, your note said something about-" Ned began.
"Note? What note? I didn't write a note." said Mrs. Boonchuy in confusion.
Ned handed her the note that he brought up. The note had read as followed.
Neddy,
Come to my restaurant right away. Let's discuss my recipes.
Mrs. B
It even had a smiley face drawn on it next to her name.
"Ned, I didn't write this note. But I did want to talk to you about something in terms of a job because Charlie had suggested it as a means of negotiating something that both sides could benefit on. But I didn't write this note." said Mrs. Boonchuy.
"If you didn't write the note. Then who did?" said Ned looking confused.
Mrs. Boonchuy looked at the note again and could tell she didn't write that note but it wasn't long till she put two and two together and learned who wrote it as she grumbled a bit.
"PINK FROOOOOOOOOG!" called Mrs. Boonchuy furiously.
"Wait, whose driving my truck?" said Ned noticing his truck was moving.
They looked on and saw that the people in the truck were Anne, Charlie and Sprig. Anne and Sprig were wrestling each other to stop the other from causing any more trouble. Charlie was trying to pull the gear shift to place it back in park but it wasn't working. They get worried and left the restaurant in a hurry. They attempted to follow it.
"My food truck!" cried Ned.
"Your food truck!" cried Mrs. Boonchuy.
"We got to follow them. If anything happens to those kids, I already know you'll kill me and so will that boy's family. I'll have nine angry mama bears after me. And they'll be eating good tonight on that." said Ned in a panic.
"We can still follow them." said Mrs. Boonchuy.
The truck was moving faster on its wheels when Anne tried to pull Sprig from the steering wheel while Charlie held onto something to prevent him from falling. The truck ended up on the sidewalk to the right.
"You two, stop fighting! We have bigger problems. Who's driving the truck?!" cried Charlie.
There was a little jump in the truck and both Anne and Sprig saw what Charlie warned them about. They were on the sidewalk and were wide eyed with panic.
"HOLY CRAB APPLES!" screamed Anne.
"When did we start moving?" said Sprig in a panic.
"Do I have to answer?" cried Charlie.
Anne got into the driver's seat and both of them buckled up.
"OK. I've never driven a car, but I have driven Bessie and played nine hundred hours of Super Wahoo Carts." said Anne trying to be optimistic.
"One, Bessie didn't run on gas, two, she wasn't mechanical and three, that's a video game. I'd teleport us out of here but we got to make sure this truck doesn't run anyone's asses over like a street pancake! We might as well ask where's the butter." cried Charlie.
"ANNE, LOOK OUT!" screamed Sprig.
"Watch out for that tree!" warned Charlie.
Anne turned to the left to avoid crashing into a tree. They were on the road and off the sidewalk.
"Brakes! Gotta mash the brakes!" said Anne.
Anne tried to mash her foot on the brakes, but nothing was happening. They jumped a hill on the road while they hung on.
"The brakes aren't working!" cried Anne.
"I think I know why." said Charlie pointing at a sticky note.
Anne looked up and saw that there was a sticky note near the windshield that read "Ned, You rascal, don't forget to fix the breaks. Ned" this sent a fit of anger in both Anne and Charlie.
"NEEEEEED!" screamed Anne and Charlie in angered unison.
"It's OK, guys. I've got this." said Sprig as he grabbed onto the truck's MP3 device and tried to remove the front of it. "Whoa, girl. Whoa!"
"This isn't a steed!" cried Charlie.
"DUDE, THAT ONLY WORKS ON SNAILS!" cried Anne.
Sprig let go and nearly fell to the floor but Charlie grabbed onto him and placed him in the passenger's seat, quickly buckling him up. The three kids saw a pile of garbage up ahead with what looked like a ramp resting against it. Some kids probably put it there to skate off of from their skateboards or dirt bikes.
"Hang onto something!" screamed Charlie.
They all screamed and crashed through the pile of garbage but luckily for them. They didn't crash or get knocked around as the pile of garbage was more like crashing through a wall of cardboard. They all gave a sigh of relief but then Charlie saw a turtle on the road.
"Turtle crossing!" cried Charlie.
The turtle retreated into its shell to protect itself but what happened next was like something out of a cartoon and cartoon like physics. They hit the turtle's shell but at the force it hit the shell looked like it barely hit it. It did not damage to the shell but it sent the truck flying into the air like it was flipping over and over. Charlie used his powers to teleport the turtle out of the city and into a zoo somewhere.
They screamed and held onto something as the truck went straight in between the buildings of apartments but crashed through a big screen television two neighbors were handling to pass onto the other. It looked like they were letting the other borrow it but after the kids crashed through it. The television was smashed into pieces.
"This is so fucked up right now! If the accident doesn't kill us. Ned or our folks will! I've never been grounded before!" shouted Charlie in a panic.
The truck landed on the ground and was back on the road but passed a sign that read "Skate Park. Left Turn Ahead" Anne suddenly gotten an idea.
"Idea. Sprig, I need your help. Use that tongue and help me make a hard left. Charlie, take seat in the passenger's seat." Anne instructed.
"You got it!" said Sprig and Charlie in unison.
Sprig hopped up onto Anne's head while Charlie sat in the passenger's seat, buckling up quickly. Sprig stuck his head out the left window and out launched his huge frog like tongue which wrapped around a nearby traffic pole as the truck was making a hard left. Anne managed to grab onto Sprig to prevent him from being pulled out while Charlie took the wheel. They made the left turn but after Sprig pulled his tongue back into his mouth.
They were headed for the skate park that they remembered the sign shown where to turn to. Anne regained the wheel as they were about to crash headfirst into a metal fence.
"Fence!" cried Charlie.
They crashed through the fence and Charlie used his powers to teleport any of the skateboarders to a safe distance away from them as the truck as they passed through four pools, while Anne, Charlie and Sprig were screaming and the skateboarders cheer for them as if they were seeing a perfectly executed stunt that they'd see in car chase scenes from action films and some of them record them on their phones. The truck landed on a stairway's rail and skidded on a sidewalk as it went down a ramp with Loop that sent them flying into the air.
"Everybody hang on!" cried Charlie.
They all hung on while Charlie took hold of Sprig and held onto him in his arms as they landed on the ground without moving further, although the truck was now broken and damaged in many places. The food truck's sign was snapped in two, the tires were flat and punctured, the windshield wipers were slightly disconnected, the rearview mirrors were almost broken off from where they were, parts of the car had dents and dings and the windows were cracked but were shatter proof.
Anne, Charlie and Sprig were wide eyed from shock. Sprig's goggles hung from the left of his head, his hat nearly about to hang off from his head. Anne and Charlie's hair was slightly out of place.
"Everyone okay?" said Charlie.
"I think I just peed my pants." said Sprig.
"I think that makes two of us." said Anne.
"Nope. That's just some of the lemonade that spilled back there." said Charlie sniffing the air.
They all unbuckled their seatbelts as Charlie went into the back of the food truck to scope out the extent of the truck's damages and he didn't like what he saw.
"Let's hope Ned has insurance." said Charlie hopefully.
"We did it!" cheered Anne and Sprig in unison.
"Incoming angry mom." Charlie told them telepathically.
Sprig took the moment to get back into his human disguise and that's when the double doors to the food truck opened and Mrs. Boonchuy was irate while Ned was wide eyed with shock.
"Hi Ned. Hi Mrs. Boonchuy." said Charlie nervously. "We're in deep shi- I mean trouble, aren't we?"
"Come out of the truck. We have to talk." said Mrs. Boonchuy.
Charlie helped get Anne and Sprig from their seats and one at a time. He carried them out of the truck and placed them on their feet to the ground outside. Charlie was the last one to exit the truck.
"I know this looks bad but it's best if we start from the top and possibly stay away from the truck. I'm a little shook up right now. And with that look on Mrs. Boonchuy's face. We have an A.M.S. situation." said Charlie managing to regain his composure.
"A.M.S.?" said a confused Ned.
"Angry mama situation!" said Charlie and Mrs. Boonchuy in unison.
"I don't believe this." said Mrs. Boonchuy annoyed.
"Me either. You send your daughter and her boyfriend to destroy my truck? What? Are you people insane?" said Ned surprised.
"Anne and Charlie had NOTHING to do with this, it was ALL me. I was just." Sprig began as he looked up at Mrs. Boonchuy who looked at him with the facial expression that Charlie spoke of before. He sighed and took off his hat for a moment. "I just wanted to be a part of the family but I should've respected your boundaries instead of pestering you into something you didn't want. I also should've listened to Anne and Charlie when they advised me to stay out of trouble and to not cause trouble. I ignored all of you twice and like Charlie said when someone gets their third strike. I'm gon get it."
Mrs. Boonchuy knew that Sprig was taking responsibility for his own actions and was letting them know that Anne and Charlie were innocent in the situation. She approached Sprig while she got onto her knees to face him. Her facial expression now calmed down.
"It's OK, pink frog... I mean, Sprig. I know how much you mean to my daughter and to Charlie and how much they mean to you." said Mrs. Boonchuy.
Anne and Charlie looked on with soft grins as they both took hold of each other's hands. She looked at them both for a moment, then back at Sprig.
"I probably shouldn't have treated you like such an outsider. Charlie did talk about how we all could learn a thing or two from each other or how to resolve an issue or more. Not going to lie. He's wise beyond his years. He even knows how to calm people down when they're about to blow a gasket." said Mrs. Boonchuy. "But I do apologize for how I treated you like an outsider. You've become like family to my daughter and to Charlie. Even us."
Mrs. Boonchuy had pulled Sprig into her arms to hug him which Sprig felt a sense of ease by this display of subtle affection. Ned looked on which tears in his eyes, moved by such a sweet family moment.
"I feel like and outsider too. I love your restaurant so much. I just wanted to be a part of it but- but I was wrong. I'm so sorry... I'm done trying to get your recipes... I just realized this is a gross appropriation of your culture and I should just show myself out." said Ned through his tears.
Ned was about to walk off but Charlie and Mrs. Boonchuy stopped him.
"Ned. Chottomattekudasai." said Charlie.
Ned stopped and turned around as Charlie gave Mrs. Boonchuy a stoic expression with a touch of compassion in his eyes. He nodded once to her and she nodded back as she knew what this meant. She turned to face Ned as she got onto her feet.
"Ned, look. I can't give you the recipes because they are for family only but... we could use some help with deliveries. Remember when I said we wanted to talk to you about something in terms of employment? Well, after you left to go to your truck when I rejected the idea the first time. Charlie suggested that while the recipes are for family only, he did suggest that making you our delivery guy was like a way of making compromise. It can help make business better in some way or form." said Mrs. Boonchuy with a word of comfort.
This left Ned's face to light up as he looked at Charlie who nodded once and he looked back at Mrs. Boonchuy.
"D- Deliver? Me?" said Ned looking as though he could faint from surprise.
"I mean, it won't pay much but you will be part of the restaurant. Charlie managed to talk to me about it and the idea actually sounds like something I can go for." said Mrs. Boonchuy.
"Yes! I'd love to. Oh, you will not regret it, Mrs. Boonchuy. Not for a second." said Ned shaking her hand.
Ned came over to Charlie and pulled him into his surprisingly big and strong arms that he actually lifted him off the ground from his feet.
"Charlie, little man. You're a blessing from the Heavens." said Ned as he rejoiced.
"Down, big and tall, down!" chuckled Charlie.
He set him back down to his feet and gleefully went over to his truck.
"Whoo-hoo! Yay! I'll make you guys proud! Oh, man. I got to get these brakes fixed." said Ned approaching his truck.
"Ned, wait a minute! Let me call for a ride for you and a mechanic or tow truck. It's not safe to drive that thing till someone fixes it." said Charlie taking out his phone.
"Who you gonna call?" asked Ned.
"I know some people." said Charlie as he dialed a phone number on his cellphone. "Yes, we'll need a tow truck, a mechanic, and a taxi to the local skate park. The vehicle is a...food truck. Yes, that's where we're at. You can't miss it. The food truck is damaged in so many places. Okay, we'll be here."
Charlie hung up his cellphone and Ned was taking in a breath and letting it out.
"Good thing I have insurance on the food truck or I'd be so..." Ned began.
"I wouldn't say that word here. There are children present." warned Charlie.
"Yep! You're right." said Ned in agreement.
Sprig dusted off his hands and felt like everything was alright. He pulled his mask off.
"Welp, I guess we're all done here." said Sprig about to walk off.
Mrs. Boonchuy grabbed hold of Sprig by the cap of his vest and pulled him up to face her. She had annoyed expression.
"Not so fast. If you think you're getting out of here without an earful, you've got another thing coming. Firstly, how dare you disobey me? Secondly, how dare you put Anne. Charlie and yourself in danger? Thirdly, why are you smiling?" said Mrs. Boonchuy who at first looked angry but her expression turned to confusion.
Sprig had tears of joy welling up in his eyes as his eyes looked like the expression of them cute, big, puppy dog eyes. Charlie knew what this meant and so did Anne.
"You're- You're scolding me. Which means..." Sprig began.
"Yep. Your family now, bud." said Anne lightly bumping her fist on his right arm.
Sprig let out a happy squeal as he swung over to a very confused Mrs. Boonchuy as he was hugging her. He felt happy to know that he's considered a Boonchuy, even if it meant he was being scolded. Anne and Charlie looked on with grins.
"Already having second thoughts about this. Is this normal?" said Mrs. Boonchuy.
"Not to worry. He's just happy that he's now a Boonchuy. I need a moment to express myself." said Charlie.
Chalrie sucked in a big amount of air and he sung out operatically both loudly and passionately as he operatically sung out the best part to the song "Ode to Joy" which both Ned and the nearby skateboarders were wide eyed at how beautiful Charlie's opera singing is. He eventually stopped afterwards. Both Ned and the skateboarders applauded for him.
"Wow! That kid's got some strong lungs." said one of the skateboarders.