Ten months have passed since the events of weirdmageddon. Gravity Falls Oregon prepares for another summer of passing by tourists to take a break from the road. The Mystery Shack was swamped with customers nearly two days after they had reopened for the heavy traffic. Soos, the new owner, does his best to keep up with the attractions, selling tickets, maintaining the house so a potential lawsuit doesn't occur. Dipper took care of the tours in the front while Wendy and Mabel worked at the gift shop. The twins were excited to come back for the summer but had little time to relax and have been helping with all the new customers. Wendy had returned for another summer of mostly slow days filled with phone scrolling and an occasional sale. Or so she thought; this summer she had already worked more than double of what she had since last year. Dipper, Mabel, Soos and Wendy were stressed for the most part of the day. When closing time approached, they began doing their usual clean up routine.
"Hey Soos, you have any idea why it was so packed today?" Wendy asked while refolding shirts.
"It's probably because of the new music festival that the mayor Cutebiker approved." Soos said taking count of the day's revenue. Wendy questioned what festival, and Soos pulled out a stack of papers. Wendy took one in her hands and read aloud 'Pitt-Cola presents; Lazzaopaloozawa! A three-day festival featuring today's and yesterday's best mainline and indie artist!'
"Hey, I've heard of this! They play really good music with light shows!" Mabel said. Dipper shrugged his shoulders.
"Eh, I've never really been interested in a music fest before." Dipper said. Mabel peaked at the setlist.
"Hey Dipper, look! BABBA is one of the headliners!" Mabel pointed at the band's name. Dipper's expression radiated serendipity. Reading down the list, Mabel's eyes popped wide open when she saw the name of a band called 'Together in the Stars'. She grabbed the flier from Wendy's hands. "Oh my god. Together in the Stars is coming! Can we go Soos? Please?!" Mabel began begging on her knees, fingers interlocked with each other. Mabel began to stare at Soos with wide glistening eyes.
"Who's Together in the Stars?" Wendy asked. Dipper rolled his eyes.
"This five-man band that sings about love, and heartbreak, and just some very sad music that a thirteen-year-old teenager could relate to." Dipper said.
"They get me, Dipper, they were poor souls dying from loves merciless consequences and have turned that pain into poetry." Mabel slammed the paper into her chest.
"Is she okay?" Wendy asked.
"Last year was 'boy crazy' phase, now it's 'my soul is too damaged to love again' phase. She saw Titanic for the first time and would not stop crying." Dipper told Wendy.
"Ah geez Mabel, we'll see." Soos said. Mabel put her arms down to her side. "It's just that we're really busy, and honestly if you and your brother weren't here, I think Wendy and I would suffocate from the waves of people. Melody would help, but I can't make a pregnant woman work. Especially if she's seven months in." Soos said with disappointment in his tone. "By the way, we have to put about 500 posters for the festival around the shack, we're being sponsored too." Soos said opening a can of Pitt-Cola, taking a swig then releasing a satisfying exhale. Dipper and Mabel groaned, grabbing half of the pile each. As the twins left, Wendy turned her eyes to Soos, then to her boots.
"Hey Soos, do you think it's messed up they spend their summer working instead of just enjoying the summer?" Wendy asked.
"Nah they love working at the shack." Soos assured Wendy.
"I like working here too, beats being in a lumberyard any day. But the workplace is only fun because you guys are here." Wendy said, wiping the windows with a squeegee. "What I'm saying is that they shouldn't be missing out on being a teen because of work. They're on summer vacation, they should be doing what they want to do. Like going to a music festival." Wendy pointed out. Soos closed the register and sighed.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I felt so bad saying Mabel couldn't go because we might need her at work. I feel… dirty." Soos said before a small squirm squeezed out of him. "Maybe I should get a new hire." Soos rubbed his chin.
"That's a great idea. We can hold some interviews and see if there's any matches." Wendy said, putting away the cleaning supplies.
"You're gonna help out?" Soos asked.
"Uhhhh…. When I said 'we' I actually meant you. Tomorrow's my day off and I'm taking it." Wendy awkwardly admitted.
The gang closed the shop. Soos drove to a home he bought in the suburbs to get ready for his new family. His abuelita also joined him to live there. Wendy walked, and Dipper and Mabel stayed in the shack. It was a little empty with Stan and Ford away on an adventure, but Stan did promise they'd visit them a little later after summer started. The next day when the shack is usually closed, Soos threw up a help wanted ad online and began to interview people throughout the day. He encountered familiar town folk, teenagers looking for their first job, and even had an interview with Tad Strange.
"Sorry Tad, you have wonderful skills and talents that I'm sure are useful, but I just don't think you have enough 'mystery' in you to work at the Mystery Shack, you know?" Soos asked. Tad nodded.
"I understand. Thank you for your time and have a marvelous day." Tad stood up and walked out the front door.
"Man, who knew picking people to work with could be so rough." Soos said, scratching the last name off his 'potential employees' list. Soos heard a knock on the door.
"It's open!" Soos yelled. A young lady's face peaked through the door.