Chapter 1
Stu was in his basement, sketching ideas for his next project. As he sat on his stool and desk, he scrunched up another piece of paper, creating a massive pile in the corner, his workshop was surrounded by an array of prototypes of his inventions that didn't quite pass the final stage.
"I'm not doing well here!" Think, Stu, think!" Stu said in the third person, smacking his face with his palm in frustration "We are coming up for the new millennium and I can't even come up with a new concept for a Reptar toy"
Footsteps could be heard as Didi made her way down to the basement stairs, waving a letter and saying, "Stu, I have a letter for you!"
Hey Deed," Stu remarked, turning his head.
Didi hands him the letter and adds, "Here you, Stu."
"Thanks Deed, I hope it's not another bill," Stu continued, laughing.
"I'm pretty sure it's not a bill," Didi chuckled.
Opening the mail with care "I wonder what this letter could be, Deed?" Stu wondered.
Didi smiled and added, "Read it and you'll find out."
Stu opens the envelope to reveal the letter and begins to read it.
"Dear Stuart,
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that you have been shortlisted for the Inventor of the Decade Award, which will be presented at the Inventors Summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
I hope you will be able to attend this distinguished event because of the excellent ideas you displayed at the Annual Inventors Convention in Arizona.
Again, many congratulations. All expenses will be covered. Please send an email to confirm your participation and the number of people you'll be bringing.
Sincere thanks,
Craig Ferguson, Chairman of the Inventors Summit"
"I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" he exclaims, holding his letter. "I've been nominated for the prize for Inventor of the Decade!".
"Stu, that's fantastic news! I'm so proud of you!" Didi hugged Stu.
"I knew the blood, sweat, and tears would eventually pay off, this could be my break through!" Stu responded, waving the letter in the air.
"I told you; the hard work would pay off in the end." Didi grinned.
"If I win, think of the possible publicity I could get, I could expand Pickles Toys into overseas market!" said Stu optimistically.
"Don't get too excited too quickly; you still have to compete with other nominees for the award," Didi said.
Brought down to reality, Stu quickly glances to the floor and returns his gaze to Didi, saying, "I know Deed, but I'm so excited to be nominated for such a prestigious award, and we get a trip out of it too!"
"Let's get the boys down here and break the news," Didi remarked, tapping Stus' elbow.
"Boys, come down!" "Your Dad has some exciting news to share with you both!" Tommy and Dil were yelled down by Stu.
Tommy and Dil dashed down the stairs to find out what their father had to say to them.
"What's the news, Dad?" asked Tommy looking up to Stu.
"Let's hear your news Dad" said Dil smiling.
"Um, I've just found that I have been nominated for the Inventor of the Decade award at the Inventors Summit!" Stu stated.
"Awesome! Dad! where will it take place?" enquired Tommy.
"Way to go, Daddy!" exclaimed Dil as he embraced Stu.
"Thank you, Champ," Stu replied, embracing Dil with his arm, "it will be held in Glasgow, Scotland!"
"Cool! Do we get to go?" Tommy inquired.
"Of course, champ, it's all-inclusive, and we can bring as many people as we want, you can bring all your friends and their parents," Stu replied, smiling.
Didi swiftly reminds Stu that they will need to acquire permission from the Principal because the dates do not fall inside the school vacation period.
"Stu, we will need to ask their school permission first to get time off," Didi says.
In a flash of insight, Stu says, "Oh, yeah, well don't worry boy's, I'll talk to your principle."
When the doorbell rings, Stu comes over to answer it, and he is surprised to find Drew, Charlotte, and Angelica.
"Drew, I thought you were doing overtime next weekend," Stu was perplexed.
"Pop's invited us over," Drew replied, wondering why he was unexpectedly invited over.
"Hi, Uncle Stu," Angelica says as she goes through the door.
"Hey Angelica," Stu said as he held the door open.
"I need those deals done today, Jonathan!" Charlotte said this while clutching her cell phone and quickly touching Stu's shoulder to say hello.
"Great, the more the merrier I guess," Stu mumbled sarcastically as he shut the door.
"Stu, I'm sure they won't be here for long, and this will give you the perfect opportunity to tell everyone your good news!" Didi said to him.
"True, but I was hoping to have an afternoon of peace down in the basement while the boys played video games in the den, now I'll never get any work done..." Stu explained.
"Just put on a polite face, and after Lou has told everyone his news and everyone has had a refreshment, I'll make sure they don't overstay their welcome," Didi remarked.
"Oh, Pop's and Lulu can stay; I just want Drew, Angelica, and Charlotte out," Stu joked.
"What was it about me, Mom, and Dad?" enquired Angelica eavesdropping in their private conversation.
"Nothing, Angelica, and you shouldn't be listening in on people's private conversations, young lady!" Stu stated sternly.
"Whatever, Uncle Stu," Angelica responded as she went into living room with her parents.
Stu is annoyed by his niece's snarky behaviour. He opens the door again as more footfall can be heard, which can only mean Lou and Lulu have arrived.
The doorbell rings, and Tommy hurries over to answer it. Their Grandparents had arrived, and Tommy and Dil said in unison, "Grandpa and Grandma!" as they both hug Lou and Lulu.
"You boys are getting taller and taller every time we see you, I can't keep up!" Lulu said with fondness.
"You got a letter in your hand, Grandpa?" Tommy inquired.
"That's right, you boys, take a seat, I've got big news!" stated Lou
"Hey Pop, hello Lulu, come into the den, Drew, Charlotte, and Angelica are there," Stu remarked.
"Stu, please make some coffee!" "I have a letter I'd like to read," Lou said, removing it from his front pocket.
"Sure thing, Pop, Didi is in the kitchen preparing refreshments," Stu replied.
"Boys, go say hello to your cousin Angelica while I get drinks ready for everyone," Stu said, placing one hand on Tommy and Dil's shoulders.
Tommy, irritated, states, "I don't want to play with Angelica, and I thought she wasn't coming today."
"Yeah, Dad, but why are they all here?" Dil was perplexed.
He understands his son's anguish. "Boys, I don't like it any more than you do, but the sooner we get it over with, the sooner you can play your video games," Stu adds.
"All right, Dad, we'll pretend to enjoy having them here." Tommy laughed as he and Dil walked into the den.
Stu pulls out a couple of chairs from the kitchen as he gets the last one, Stu comments to Didi what the letter Lou is carrying, "I wonder what the letter could be about Deed, I guess I'm not the only one with news"
"I'm curious what the news could be, I hope he and Lulu haven't been duped into buying a timeshare," she says as she takes sugar and creamer from the kitchen cupboard.
"Don't worry, Drew has warned Pop's about these time share scams," Stu said, leaning slightly on the chair with his hands. "Don't worry, Stu," Stu said, leaning slightly on the chair with his hands.
The family gathers around Lou as he lifts his spectacles slightly, carefully removing the letter from the envelop, "What you are about to see here is history in the making, a new dawn for the Pickles, a window of opportunity never seen before."
"Please, Pop's, just get to the point," Stu implored.
"You're going to put us all to sleep, Pop, before you even read the letter," Drew joked.
"Conflab it! I was attempting to make this moment more dramatic... you know, with some atmosphere!" Lou lowered his brows.
Lulu taps his palm tenderly and murmurs, "Alright, Louis. read your letter to everyone"
Tommy and Dil were lounging comfortably on the floor when Spike and Spiffy arrived. Tommy replies to Lou, stroking Spike, "Me and Dil are excited to hear you read your letter Grandpa."
"Thank you, Scout. "At least someone is appreciating the build-up to a story," Lou muttered, giving Drew and Stu a frigid look that indicated he was annoyed by their pushiness.
Lou takes a deep breath before beginning to read the letter.
"To Lou,
Thank you very much for writing to me, anyhow... Grant bolt! am in the middle of writing this letter... look what you done... might as well keep this in so am not wasting any paper...
I have pictures from when I visited you and Auntie Morag in Cleveland with my family as a child, as well as from when you came to see us during your two-week stay in Glasgow. In case you read this to your family, I'll be more specific: Lou and I are distant cousins twice removed since our grandparents, Bernard Pickles and Margaret Pickles, were siblings.
Unfortunately, owing to issues and family disputes, contact was broken, and I was terribly saddened that there was no means to contact you, but I always hoped that one day you would find me again. I'm hoping we can deepen the Pickles American and Scottish links.
My beautiful wife Cora died a few years ago, but I am grateful to have such a wonderful family, including my son Billy, his wife Isla, and my grandchildren Callum, Grant, and Fiona who are around the same age as your Grandchildren. They surely keep me on my toes!
I'd like to extend a cordial welcome to the family to come and see us here in Glasgow, and please bring as many people as you wish.
P.S. Glasgow should be pronounced "glaaz-gow" rather than "Glass-Cow," so please try to use the proper pronunciation while interacting with the local Glaswegians. It will serve you well, trust me on this one!
My phone number and home address are on the back, your letter has made this old Scotsman extremely pleased and I hope you can come to visit.
Goodbye for now,
Angus Pickles"
Putting the letter back in it's envelop and placing it safely in his inner coat pocket, Lou gets choked up, recomposing himself "I never thought I would live to see the day, a scottish relative would get in contact"
"How did you find you track down Angus?" asked Didi sipping her cup of coffee.
"One day me and Lulu were at our local travel agents looking for leaflets to get some ideas for our next vacation, just by fate the first leaflet was about Scotland, that gave me an idea" said Lou
Start of flashback.
Lou POV.
"I had to do some extensive research, I went to the library and got access to genealogy records, after hours of scrolling through census records and believe me there is a lot of Pickles, I managed to trace your great-great Grandmother Margaret as mentioned in Angus's letter, digging deeper I found a copy of her immigration records, she left on a steamboat from Glasgow to New York City, where a lot of people would move in search of a better life. In the process of elimination, I ordered an up-to-date directory book from the UK on that new fancy website where you can buy people's junk, anyhow I scrolled through page after page until I found the Glasgow section until I found one person listed, taking a chance I wrote a letter and it paid off, it turned out it was indeed my cousin Angus!"
End of Flashback
"You know, Pops, Glasgow has a very rich cultural heritage," Drew explained.
"Johnathan, I'll call you back in five minutes... actually, make that two minutes," replied Charlotte, who had gone less than five minutes without touching her phone. She smiled at Stu, indicating that she needed to go into another room to speak with her assistant.
"Oh, Charlotte, go into the kitchen and make your phone call," Stu suggested.
She swiftly leaves into the kitchen and Stu is just itching to tell everybody the news of his own.
"I just got a letter from the chairman of the inventors summit saying I've been nominated for the Inventor of the Decade award, which will be held in Glasgow," Stu stated, standing confidently and proudly with Didi smiling.
Drew laughs as he spits out his coffee, "You... you have just been nominated for an award!" Didi is irritated by the coffee splatter on the carpet.
"Yeah, what about it?" Stu inquired.
"I think that's fantastic news, well done," Lulu replied, smiling.
"Well done, Stu, I am so proud of you," Lou exclaimed.
"You're the guy who invented an electric sponge only a few years ago, and you've been nominated for an award for your mediocre inventions!" It simply does not make sense!" Drew was chastised
"Dad, can we go home?" Angelica asks, nudging her father.
Drew says quietly "We can go In a few minutes, honey, your father will be attempting to outwit Uncle Stu."
"Before you run your big mouth bro... the chairman said in the letter I can bring as many guests as I want, all-inclusive hotel and expenses paid..." Stu stated
Drew's berating of his brother abruptly changes tone, "you know I was only joking with you Stu! I believe your creations are... one-of-a-kind... you just need to establish your niche, and you'll soon have the captive audience you deserve!" He slung his arm around Stu's shoulders.
"How about we kill two birds with one stone and go to the award ceremony and visit our newly discovered relatives?" Didi said.
"Is this really what I think it is?" enquired Tommy
"Let's put roots in the ground, and I think this will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about your Scottish heritage," Lou stated enthusiastically.
"Yes, we are going to find the Lochness monster!" screamed Dil as he stood up and lifted his arms in the air.
"If we have time, then maybe" Didi murmured, stroking Dil's hair.
"Bro, you know the Lochness monster is a myth," Tommy pointed out.
Lou couldn't help but add to him, "Don't be too sure, scout, there's been many sightings reported."
Determined to find the Lochness monster, Dil declared, "I will find Nessy before we leave!"
"The Pickles are going to Scotland!" exclaimed Stu, excitedly.
In the following days, Stu contacted Craig Ferguson and had his guest list request approved, with the logistics planned and a Principle who didn't hesitate to sign their permission slips, allowing them to miss two weeks of school and catch up once they returned, any opportunity for some peace the Principle couldn't pass up.
The Pickle's would be joined on their adventure across the sea by the Finster's Chas, Kira, Chuckie and Kimi, the Deville's Howard, Betty, Lil and Phil, and of course Susie Carmichal, as well as their furry companions Fifi, Spike, and their son Spiffy.
"Here are the digits for the UK phone number you add before putting my cell phone number, and the number for the hotel where we will be staying," Didi stated, handing Boris a list.
"Relax, Didi, the house will be taken care of," Boris reassured her.
"Have a wonderful time in Scotland, me and your Dad will look after the house while you're gone," Minka replied, hugging her.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad; it gives me peace of mind knowing the house is being watched," Didi expressed gratitude.
When the airport shuttle taxis arrived, Randy and Lucy hugged their daughter Susie and said farewell. "I want you to have a great time," Lucy said while giving her a hug. "Take plenty of pictures," Randy said.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad; I'm sure I'll have a great time!" exclaimed Susie as she entered the cab, accompanied by Kira, while the rest of the adults, Angelica and the dog's rode in the other car.
"Hello, Susie," Kira said, smiling.
"Hello, Kira, are you looking forward to the trip to Scotland?" Susie stated
"I certainly am; Scotland has long been on my bucket list," Kira added.
"This is going to be so exciting; I've never been to Scotland before!" said Kimi
"I'm hoping to see some Scottish soccer because it's very popular over there," Lil continued.
"I'd like to try the food," said Phil.
"I'm going to capture the Lochness Monster," Dil declared.
"Dil, for the thousandth time, it doesn't exist!" stated Tommy
"Do you want to wager on it?" Dil inquired.
"You'll be sorry if he wins," Chuckie predicted.
"I believe Tommy is correct; the Lochness Monster is not real," Kimi stated.
"If I win, you give me your allowance for a full month," Dil stipulated.
"What happens if I win?" enquired Tommy
"Then you get my allowance for the whole month," Dil said.
"Deal!" Tommy said as he and Dil sealed the deal with their secret handshake.
As the airport shuttle taxis depart, Boris suggests to Randy, "Randy, do you and Lucy want to go to the movies with me and Minka to watch Combat Gym?"
"You read my mind, let's go, I've been wanting to see it for a long time," Randy remarked.
"What happens in the gym is what stays in the gym." Boris chuckled and threw several pretend punches at him.
"What is it with boys and their movies?" Lucy chuckled.
"Boris won't stop talking about Combat Gym, so let's go and maybe he'll stop talking about it afterwards," Minka stated.
The plane was flying into the clouds when Lou peered out the window and said to Lulu, "I'm coming home..."
End of chapter 1