AN: Before we kick things off here for my first Wiggles fanfic, there are a few things that I'd like to make known about my stories for this category. They'll be set in the same universe as the Wiggles stories written by my good friend, GreenWiggle2018, who depicts the Wiggles as American musical artists in their 20's with one additional member: himself as a Wiggle. Also included in my stories is Princess Grace, an original character from the story "A Wiggly Royal Wedding" and Jimmy Wiggle's wife, who, like her husband, is being used with her original creator's permission. And speaking of original characters, my Wiggles stories will also include an original character of my own creation: the Managerial Moose. Basically, he's a version of me who's the Wiggles' manager. Some time ago, GreenWiggle2018 suggested that I come up with my own self-caricature to include in our Wiggles projects, and after much thinking, we agreed that I could be the band's manager. And now, here I am at long last writing his debut story, which I will begin now.
One morning at the Wigglehouse, the Wiggles were all hanging out doing what they loved best, with Greg practicing some new magic tricks, Murray playing a song on his guitar, Anthony slicing some fruit to make a delicious fruit salad, Jeff sleeping in his arm chair, and Jimmy and Grace were sitting on the couch together discussing something that would be happening very soon.
"Oh, Jimmy", Grace said, "tomorrow's our wedding anniversary."
"That's right", Jimmy said, "one whole year since the day we said 'I do'."
"I can't believe it's been a year already", Greg said, "it feels like it was only yesterday that we met Grace after we stopped that robber who stole her purse."
"You said it, Greg", Murray said, "man, where has the time gone?"
Just then, the front door to the Wigglehouse opened up, and in walked the Wiggles' manager, the Managerial Moose, a young man who was a year younger than Jimmy with fair skin and brown hair who wore a gray shirt, a black and white striped sport coat, black pants, and a pair of black sandals.
"Hey there, Wiggles", Moose said.
"Moose", Jimmy said, "good to see you, buddy."
"Hello again, Moose", Grace said.
"Good morning, Jimmy", Moose said, "Grace."
"Have you booked us a new gig", Greg asked.
"I sure have", Moose said, "it's gonna be an outdoor concert at the local beach."
"The beach", Anthony asked, "that sounds like fun!"
"You bet it does", Jimmy said, "count us in!"
"Great", Moose said, "the concert is at 3:30 this afternoon."
"Then we better start getting ready for it now", Jimmy said, "come on, everyone!"
As everyone went to get ready for the concert, they heard a snore and remembered that Jeff was still sleeping in his chair.
"Oh, right", Greg said, "Jeff's still asleep."
"You all know what to do", Jimmy said, "Moose, care to give us a hand?"
"Sure thing, pal", Moose said.
Moose walked up to Jeff with Jimmy, Grace, Greg, Murray, and Anthony, and together, they all five shouted:
"WAKE UP, JEFF!"
Their combined shouted resulted in Jeff suddenly waking up.
"I'm up, I'm up", Jeff said, "what did I miss?"
"We're getting ready to go to our next concert", Greg said.
"Moose booked us one at the beach", Jimmy said.
"The beach", Jeff asked, "cool, I'll pack my swimming trunks."
"Excellent", Moose said, "while you guys are getting ready here, I'll head over to the beach to make some final preparations."
"Okay", Jimmy said, "see you there."
Moose left the Wiggles to get their stuff ready for the concert, and later, at the beach, a large group of people, mostly consisting of the Wiggles' target audience of children, was sitting in front of a stage near the boardwalk, where Moose was speaking to them through the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming here on this glorious summer day", Moose said, "now, here to make your summer a whole lot cooler, please welcome the hottest group around, the Wiggles!"
The crowd cheered as the Wiggles walked onstage, and as they began playing their first song, Moose stepped off the stage and went away to go do something.
"Okay", Moose said, "time to go to work."
The Wiggles sang many different songs from their library of songs, with the children and their families dancing along to them, and after singing their last song for the concert, which was "The Monkey Dance", the crowd gave them a big round of applause.
"Thank you, thank you", Greg said, "you've all been a wonderful audience."
"It's been a real treat performing for you all today", Jimmy said, "we're glad to have made it."
Jimmy and the rest of the Wiggles walked off the stage and over to Grace, who had watched the concert from the front row.
"You were great, guys", Grace said, "especially you, Jimmy."
"Thanks", Jimmy said, "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Hey, does anyone know what time it is", Anthony asked.
Greg checked the time on his wristwatch.
"4:45", Greg said.
"Sounds like we've got a little time for some fun on the beach", Jimmy said.
"Count me in", Murray said.
"Me too", Jeff said.
"Great", Jimmy said, "you guys want me to get you something from the snack bar?"
"Sure", Greg said, "I'll take a hamburger with mustard."
"I'll have one too, but with ketchup", Murray said.
"I'd like a corn dog, please", Anthony said.
"And I'll take a chicken strip basket with ranch dipping sauce", Jeff said.
"Alright, then", Jimmy said, "coming right up."
"I'll go with you", Grace said, "I think I need to look at the menu."
"Sure thing, Grace", Jimmy said, "let's go."
Jimmy and Grace went to get everyone's snacks from the snack bar, and while they were doing that, the Wiggles decided to walk around on the beach for a little bit, and as they did so, a thought entered their head.
"Say, guys", Jeff said, "have any of you seen Moose since the start of the concert?"
"Now that I think about it, I haven't", Anthony said, "where could he have gone?"
"He probably got distracted by the fun of being on the beach", Greg said, "I mean, who can blame him?"
"True", Anthony said.
"Hey, there he is", Murray said, "over there!"
The Wiggles went off in the direction Anthony was pointing, where Moose was walking around the beach with a metal detector, which he was waving above the ground.
"Moose", Greg asked.
Moose shushed the four Wiggles and resumed scanning the ground with his metal detector.
"What are you doing", Greg asked.
"I'm looking for buried treasure", Moose said.
"Buried treasure", Murray asked.
"Yes", Moose said, "I've been trying to see if I can find anything valuable on this beach, but so far, all I've found is this."
Moose reached into his sport coat and pulled out part of an old fishing rod.
"I'm not sure you're going to find much buried treasure around here", Greg said.
"We'll see about that", Moose said.
Then, his metal detector went off, telling him that it had found something metal.
"Oh boy", Moose said, "treasure!"
Moose grabbed his shovel and quickly began digging in the spot his metal detector found the object, and stopped when it hit something.
"I think I've hit the jackpot", Moose said.
He reached into the hole and pulled out a large treasure chest and opened it up, and inside, to his wonder, was a bunch of gold coins and jewels of different color.
"Yes, yes", Moose said, "this is perfect!"
He reached into the chest and felt some of the treasure in his hands before putting it back.
"With this much gold and jewels, there's no limit to what I can buy", Moose said.
"Hey", a voice shouted, "what do you think you're doing?"
The voice belonged to none other than Captain Feathersword, who marched over to the treasure chest and shut the lid.
"This is my treasure chest", Captain Feathersword said, "what are you doing with it?"
"Sorry, Captain", Moose said, "I didn't know it was yours."
"Do you know how long it took me to find a good place to bury this", Captain Feathersword asked, "now I have to look for a new one all over again."
Captain Feathersword picked up the chest and carried it away, and Moose let out a disappointed sigh.
"Well, so much for that", Moose said.
"Why were you even looking for buried treasure, anyway", Murray asked, "don't you make enough money representing us?"
"I was hoping to find something valuable so I can buy Jimmy and Grace a great anniversary gift", Moose said.
"Why do you want to get them an expensive gift", Greg said.
"To make up for not attending their wedding", Moose said, "I was visiting some friends from the university and couldn't make it."
"Oh, yeah", Greg said, "I remember."
"Jimmy understood why you didn't show up", Jeff said, "and so did Grace."
"And even so, I'm sure they'll appreciate whatever gift you give them", Anthony said.
"Thanks guys, but I still feel bad about not being there to witness my old friend's marriage", Moose said, "so, whatever it takes, I'm going to give them the best anniversary gift they could ask for."
And with that, Moose walked away, leaving the Wiggles feeling a little worried.
"Does anyone else have a bad feeling about this", Greg said.
"I do", Murray said.
"Me too", Anthony said.
"Same here", Jeff said.
"Let's hope we all turn out to be wrong", Greg said.
That evening, it was time for everyone to go home, and as the Wiggles and Grace stepped into the Big Red Car, Moose decided to ask Jimmy a question.
"So, Jimmy", Moose said, "I hear tomorrow's a big day for you and Grace."
"It sure is", Jimmy said, "it's our wedding anniversary."
"Well, let me take a moment to express my congratulations to the both of you", Moose said.
"Thank you", Grace said.
"Do you have anything special planned for your big day", Moose asked.
"Nothing in particular", Jimmy said, "we were gonna spend some time up in the Taliton Kingdom for the day, but besides that, we don't really have anything else planned."
"Are you sure", Moose asked, "you're not gonna have a party, or anything like that?"
"No, no party", Jimmy said, "just a simple day of us spending time together."
"That's right", Grace said, "I couldn't ask for anything more."
"I'm just saying, a first wedding anniversary is a pretty big landmark", Moose said, "are you sure you don't want to do anything special to celebrate it?"
"Positive", Jimmy said, "a day of me being together with my lovely wife will be quite enough."
"Alright", Moose said, "if you say so."
And with that, Jimmy, Grace, and the rest of the Wiggles left the parking lot and set off for home, but as they drove away, Moose began making a plan.
"Jimmy says he doesn't want a party, but that's the perfect way to commemorate a year of his and Grace's marriage", Moose said, "so, I'm going to throw them the best anniversary party ever whether they like it or not."
The next day, Jimmy and Grace were getting ready to leave for the Wiggle Town Train Station in their Cadillac Escalade so they could spend the day in the Taliton Kingdom.
"Have fun, you two", Greg said.
"Thanks, guys", Grace said.
"We'll be back at around 5:00", Jimmy said.
"Okay", Anthony said.
"Oh, and tell your folks we said hi, Grace", Jeff said.
"Sure thing", Grace said.
"See you guys tonight", Jimmy said.
And with that, Jimmy and Grace drove off to the train station, leaving the remaining Wiggles by themselves.
"So, now what", Anthony asked.
"I don't know", Greg said, "what do you guys want to do?"
Just then, a gray 2013 Honda Civic pulled into the driveway, and Moose stepped out of it.
"Hey, guys", Moose said.
"Moose", Greg asked, "what are you doing here?"
"Have you booked another gig for us already", Murray asked.
"Not quite, Murray", Moose said, "I'm here on more important business."
"What kind of business", Greg asked.
"Planning Jimmy and Grace's anniversary party, of course", Moose said.
The other Wiggles were quite surprised to hear that.
"But didn't Jimmy say that he and Grace don't want a party", Jeff asked.
"I know what he said", Moose said, "but this is a special occasion, so I'm giving them one anyway."
Moose walked into the Wigglehouse with the Wiggles quickly following him.
"Moose, wait", Murray said, "I don't think this is a good idea."
"Yeah", Greg said, "this isn't what Jimmy wants."
"I told you, I need to make up for not being at Jimmy and Grace's wedding", Moose said, "Jimmy and I have been friends for a very long time, and I wasn't there for the biggest day of his life."
"We already told you he understood why you didn't show", Anthony said, "you don't have to do any of this."
"That's right", Greg said, "he and Grace will appreciate it if you get them something simple."
"That's not enough", Moose said, "I have to make it up to them in the biggest way possible."
The Wiggles could tell that Moose wasn't going to listen to them.
"Oh, forget it", Greg said, "there's just no reasoning with him."
"What now", Jeff asked.
"Well, since we can't talk Moose out of throwing Jimmy and Grace a party, we might as well help him with it", Greg said, "just to make sure he doesn't go overboard."
The Wiggles walked up to Moose, who was looking at some plans he had for the party.
"Okay Moose, we're in", Greg said, "what's the plan?"
"Welcome aboard, Wiggles", Moose said, "now, here's what we're going to do."
The Wiggles all gathered around Moose as he began telling them his plan for the party.
"First things first: decorations", Moose said, "we are gonna make this party the grandest one ever by decorating it with only the finest decorations."
"What did you have in mind for that", Murray asked.
"Easy: decorations in Jimmy and Grace's signature colors: pink and green", Moose said, "speaking of, I need you to go to the party store and pick up as many pink streamers and green balloons as you can."
"Sure thing", Murray said.
Murray went to buy the decorations, and Moose went over the next part of the party plan.
"Something else I plan on decorating the party with is a big banner that says 'Happy One Year Anniversary'", Moose said, "I'm gonna need one of you to put that together for me."
"I can take care of that", Jeff said.
"Thank you, Jeff", Moose said, "I want that banner to be as big and grand as you can make it."
"I'm on it", Jeff said.
Jeff went to start work on the banner, and Moose moved on to the next part of the party planning phase: refreshments.
"Next up, we need to decide on some food and drinks for the party", Moose said, "Anthony, I need you to put together a good menu for us."
"No problem, Moose", Anthony said, "leave it all to me."
Anthony went to pick out some food for the party, and Moose went over the final item on his list.
"Last but not least, the cake", Moose said, "Greg, I ordered a cake from the bakery in town, and I'd like you to go and pick it up for me, please."
"Sure, no problem", Greg said.
Greg went to pick up the cake, but stopped upon thinking of something and spoke to Moose.
"Hang on", Greg said, "what are you going to do while we're out doing all this other stuff?"
"I've got a surprise that I'm working on for the party", Moose said, "I'll take care of it."
"Oh, okay", Greg said, "just don't go overboard, okay?"
"But of course", Moose said.
Moose watched Greg leave and then took his phone out.
"Now to get those fireworks ordered", Moose said.
Some time later, Moose carried a box of fireworks into the house and set them on the kitchen table.
"This should do it", Moose said, "this party's going to have the grandest grand finale in the history of grand finales."
Just then, Murray returned from the party store with a shopping bag in one hand hand and the balloons in his other.
"I'm back", Murray said.
"Good timing, Murray", Moose said, "let's get started with..."
Moose's mood suddenly changed upon catching sight of the balloons.
"What are those", Moose asked.
"What", Murray asked.
"Those", Moose said.
He pointed to Murray's balloons.
"They're the balloons you asked me to get", Murray said.
"No they're not", Moose said.
"What are you talking about", Murray asked, "of course they are."
"I specifically asked you to buy green balloons", Moose said, "these balloons are lime."
"They were all out of normal green ones, so I got these instead", Murray said, "it's still a shade of green, so I figured it doesn't really matter, right?"
"Wrong", Moose said, "it's not Jimmy's shade."
Moose reached his hand into Murray's bag and pulled out a roll of streamers and examined it.
"Well, you got the streamers right at least, so I'll let your little slip-up slide", Moose said.
Moose's words made Murray feel hurt, and just then, Jeff walked in with the banner, which was rolled up.
"I'm all done with the banner", Jeff said.
"Excellent", Moose said, "let's have a look at the masterpiece."
Jeff unrolled the banner for Moose to look at it, and the latter frowned upon seeing it.
"You call this a banner", Moose asked.
The banner was a plain white one decorated with green and pink paper heart cutouts glued all over it and the words "Happy One Year Anniversary!" written on it in alternating green and pink letters.
"I thought this design might be a good one to go with", Jeff said.
"Yeah, well you thought wrong", Moose said, "this banner is neither big nor grand."
He snatched the banner from Jeff and crumpled it up.
"Make a new one", Moose said, "this time, bolder."
"But that one took me an hour to make", Jeff said.
"So, it should only take you another hour to make a new one", Moose said.
Jeff looked down in sadness, and Anthony walked over to Moose.
"Um, Moose", Anthony said, "I've got the snacks all set up in the kitchen."
"Excellent", Moose said, "let's see how well you did your job."
Anthony led Moose into the kitchen, and there, on the kitchen table, was a spread of different dips with fruits, vegetables, and crackers and a bowl of punch, which made Moose unhappy.
"You call this a spread", Moose asked.
"I put together some healthy snacks for us all to enjoy", Anthony said, "and wait until you taste the punch."
Moose took a sip of the punch, and then proceeded to do a spit take.
"What is this stuff", Moose asked.
"Fruit punch", Anthony said, "I made it using this recipe I found in a cookbook."
"No, no, no", Moose said, "this is all wrong!"
"What", Anthony said.
"Dips aren't good enough snacks for this party, we need stuff like shrimp and mini sandwiches", Moose said, "also, we should be drinking sparkling grape juice, not punch."
"But Moose", Anthony said.
"Furthermore, this table isn't decorated enough", Moose said, "we need something like candles to put on here."
To illustrate his point, Moose grabbed a couple of candles and set them on both ends of the table, then lit them, not noticing that one of them was close to his box of fireworks.
"See", Moose said, "that's how you decorate a table."
The two of them then heard the sound of the front door opening.
"That must be Greg with the cake", Moose said, "hopefully he managed to do his job right."
Moose walked back into the living room, where Greg was holding the box with the cake in it.
"Greg, there you are", Moose said.
"Hey, Moose", Greg said, "I got your cake."
"Great", Moose said, "let's have a look at it."
Moose opened the cake box, and there, inside it, was a lemon cake with blue icing that had "Bon Voyage John and Wendy" written on it in white frosting.
"What's this", Moose asked, "this isn't the cake I ordered!"
"Oops", Greg said, "I must have grabbed the wrong cake by mistake."
"Greg, how could mess up something as easy as this", Moose asked.
"I'm sorry", Greg said, "I'll go back and get the right one."
"No, no, I'll do it", Moose said, "since you obviously couldn't handle such a simple task, it's only right that I do it myself."
Moose picked up the cake and walked towards the door.
"I'll be back soon", Moose said, "while I'm gone, I want you all to get everything ready for the party."
And with that, Moose left the Wigglehouse and began walking to the bakery.
"It's so hard to find good help these days", Moose said.
Inside, the Wiggles were all just about fed up with Moose's behavior.
"What has gotten into him", Anthony asked.
"I don't know", Murray said, "but I'm sick of it."
"Me too", Jeff said.
"That makes all four of us", Greg said, "looks like there's only one thing to do about this."
Later, Moose was walking back to the Wigglehouse with the right cake, which was a French vanilla cake like the one at Jimmy and Grace's wedding with green and pink striped icing and "Happy Anniversary Jimmy and Grace" written on it in cursive with white frosting.
"Now this is more like it", Moose said, "hopefully we can get the party back on track despite the setbacks."
But when Moose entered the Wigglehouse and went into the kitchen with the cake, he noticed the Wiggles standing around with their arms crossed and stern looks on their faces.
"What are you guys doing", Moose asked, "you're supposed to be setting stuff up for the party."
"Yeah, about that", Anthony said, "we're done, Moose."
"What", Moose asked.
"We're not helping you with this any more", Jeff said.
"That's right", Greg said, "even though we didn't want to, we went through a lot of trouble to help you with this party, and you've done nothing but criticize us."
"Because you haven't been doing a good enough job", Moose said, "how are we going to make this the best anniversary party ever if you guys won't put forth an honest effort?"
"We have been", Murray said, "but you haven't been happy with our work."
"That's because it's not perfect", Moose said, "I want this party to be great for Jimmy and Grace, and to make it great, it has to be perfect!"
Moose slammed his fist down on the table, not noticing that one of his fireworks leaned over a bit, with its fuse being exposed to one of the nearby lit candles.
"Moose, I think you need to calm down", Greg said.
"I am calm", Moose said, "and I'll be even calmer when you four quit this little strike you've got going on and get back to work!"
Just then, the five of them heard a sizzling sound.
"Hey, do you guys hear that", Greg asked.
"I do", Anthony said, "what is it?"
They looked around for the source of the noise and noticed Moose's fireworks, which were all lit as a result of the fuse exposed to the candle getting lit and spreading to the other fuses.
"Holy lit fuse", Murray said.
"She's gonna blow", Jeff shouted.
Moose quickly grabbed the box and ran towards the front door.
"Get the door, quick", Moose shouted.
Greg opened the front door and Moose ran out it to take the fireworks as far away from the house as he could, but he tripped on the ground as he ran, and the fireworks flew off in all different directions as he fell.
"Hit the dirt", Greg shouted.
The Wiggles ducked as the fireworks flew all over the place, with Moose covering his head, and they all exploded in different directions, and once it was over, they stood up.
"Let me guess", Greg said, "that was the grand finale for the party?"
"Right on the money, Greg", Moose said, "but now Jimmy and Grace won't be able to see it."
"I wouldn't count on that", a familiar voice said.
Moose and the Wiggles looked and saw that Jimmy and Grace had returned from their outing, both of them having narrowly avoided getting hit by some of the fireworks.
"What the heck happened here", Jimmy asked.
"Hey, guys", Moose said.
"Was this your doing, Moose", Grace asked.
"Kind of", Moose said, "you see, here's what happened..."
Moose told Jimmy and Grace about his plan to throw them an anniversary party, mentioning things like his thoughts on the other Wiggles' help and the failed firework finale, and when he finished, the couple was quite annoyed.
"Are you serious", Jimmy asked, "I can't believe this."
"I know, I know", Moose said, "maybe the fireworks display was a bit much."
"I'm not mad about almost getting killed by those fireworks", Jimmy said, "I'm upset because you didn't listen to me."
"Me too", Grace said, "we told you we didn't want any of this."
"I was just trying to do something to celebrate your marriage", Moose said.
"A simple gift, or even a card would have been just fine", Jimmy said.
"I wanted to do something bigger than that", Moose said, "that way, I could hopefully make up for missing the event that this date commemorates."
Jimmy and Grace both calmed down upon hearing that.
"Moose, we've told you a hundred times, it's okay that you didn't show up at our wedding", Jimmy said.
"That's right", Grace said, "we understood that you had other stuff going on then."
"That's what we told him", Greg said.
"I know", Moose said, "but I still can't help but feel bad about it."
"I get that, but you've got to stop beating yourself up about this", Jimmy said, "really, it's okay."
Moose felt terrible about everything that had happened that day, and decided that it was time to make things right.
"Well, let me make it up to you", Moose said, "about me going against your wishes, I mean."
"What do you mean", Jimmy asked.
"What do you say to me treating you guys to some dinner at Culver's", Moose asked.
"Culver's", Jimmy asked, "I love that place."
"Me too", Grace said, "there was one in a town just outside the Taliton Kingdom."
"That's great", Moose said.
He then turned to the rest of the Wiggles.
"And guys, I'd like to treat you to dinner there too", Moose said, "to say sorry for how I treated you before."
"We're in, Moose", Greg said.
"Great", Moose said, "well, let's get going."
Soon, the group was sitting down at the local Culver's enjoying their dinner, with Jimmy having a medium double butterburger cheese combo with ketchup only, Grace having a medium double mushroom and swiss combo, Moose having a medium double sourdough melt combo, Greg having a medium four piece original chicken tenders combo with ranch sauce, Murray having the same thing as Greg, but with barbecue sauce instead of ranch, Anthony having a single Culver's deluxe with everything on it, and Jeff having a North Atlantic cod dinner.
"Well, guys", Moose said, "what do you think?"
"This is delicious", Greg said.
"A true taste of Wisconsin right here", Anthony said.
"It really is good", Grace said, "thanks again for dinner, Moose."
"Anything for my friends", Moose said.
"You know", Jimmy said, "this is pretty similar to what I was thinking for mine and Grace's anniversary."
"It is", Moose asked.
"That's right", Jimmy said, "no party, no big celebration, just all of us sitting down and spending time together."
"It is kind of nice", Moose said.
"I'll tell you one thing", Jimmy said, "Grace and I couldn't ask for a better way to celebrate a year of us being together."
"I'm glad I was able to give you both what you wanted", Moose said.
"Thank you, Moose", Jimmy said.
"Now, who's hungry for dessert", Moose asked, "frozen custard's on me!"
With that announcement, the group walked towards the front counter to place their orders for frozen custard to cap off what truly turned out to be an anniversary to remember.