The Cloning (Part 2)

It took some time, but the gang finally managed to calm Ford down, well relativity speaking. At least he had stopped drooling and was beginning to make a little since. This of course allowed the party preparations to continue without much delay.

Ford watched as the gang posted flyers around town and set up the snacks and refreshment table back at the shack. He tried to help, but his mind kept wondering to that coping machine. And why not? The previous owner of this Shack made a device that could clone people out of an ordinary copying machine!

'What a brilliant mind he must have.' He thought. 'I wonder if he was the Author of the Journal.' His eyes widen at the thought that had to be it! It was the only explanation! The sudden disappearance must have been when he was ran out of town!

'If that's the case maybe there are other stuff around the shack that he's made!'

"Guys I have a break in the case!" he exclaimed.

"The case?" Stan asked, the party preparations were done and now they were waiting in the living room for everyone to arrive.

Ford held up the journal and everyone gasped.

"What are you thinking?" Fids asked.

"What if…" Ford said. "Now work with me on this one." He added. "What if the scientist who made that cloning machine is the Author of the Journal?"

"And what he got ran out of town for something crazy like this?" Heather asked.

"Think about it!" Ford said. "We all know a brilliant mind wrote this journal." He reasoned. "And cloning is supernatural science…in a sense."

"I don't know man." Danny said leaning against a wall. "You sure you're not trying to see something that isn't there, so you can get to that copy machine?"

Of course, the gang had caught Danny up on the course of events from that morning. After all the guy was there to cover for them when they came back to the shack late, or stayed out in the woods for the night.

"What?" Ford asked looking stunned that they would even think that. "This is serious! We could have proof right under our noses-"

"How about you sleep on it bro." Stan suggested knowing good and well he wouldn't. "Besides tonight we're partying!"

"Yeah!" Everyone cheered around them.

Just then Mabel came into give them their final assignments for the night. "Alright party people," she addressed. "Let's talk business. Fids, it's your job to take all the remaining flyers and post them in the riches part of town. We're charging for admission and the shack could really use the extra money."

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" Fids saluted and raced off to complete the task.

Mabel turned to Maria, "Ria, you'll be on DJ, Ford you and Danny are on final decorations and then you'll be security for the party." She hands Ford a box.

Ford sighed. The gift shops merchandise had been stored away freeing up the space for the party. The gift shop now looked like a retro disco dance club, and Mabel had just given him a box of streamers and glitter no doubt to litter the room with.

Heather, you and Stan will work the ticket stand." Mabel added.

"What?" Stan groaned. "But Grauntie Mabel, this party is my chance to talk to girls!"

Ford raised his hand and spoke up, "I… I could work with Heather." He offered.

Mabel thought about it for a moment, "If it's alright with you, then you can. But you have to remember, Ford, that if you do, you have to commit to stay at the ticket stand with Heather. No getting out of it. Just the two of you. Alone. All night," she added in a knowing wink and smiled.

Ford looked back at Heather to see her spraying Fid's glasses with silly string and watched them laugh and thought. 'Maybe the copy machine thing can wait for tomorrow, besides this could be my chance to ask her out.' "I promise." He told his Grauntie.

"Perfect!" Mabel said. "Now let's get moving guys we're almost done!" She clapped her hands, and everyone got to moving.

"So just us to night Hu?" Heather asked.

Ford nodded shyly.

"Cool we can take turns checking out the party." Heather suggested. "That way we can have fun too."

"Gr-great!" Ford stammered and stomps his foot as she walks away. 'If she's in the party while I'm outside I'll never get to ask her out.' He sighed as he got to work. 'If only I could be in two places at once.' Suddenly he smiles as the idea forms. 'And maybe I can!'

"Oh boy." Danny says as he and Stan can see the bad idea forming from a mile away.

"And the plot thickens." Stan joked.

"Still think we shouldn't get involved?" Danny asked him.

"Yep." Stan said. "Trust me we'll only make it worse." He said speaking from experience.

"Well tonight will surely be a night to remember." Danny joked.

"Dan my man." Stan laughed. "You don't know the half of it."

(A few hours later, upstairs in the Attic…)

Ford stood in front of a mirror happily doing his hair. He decided to go for a 'party casual' look and wore a bow tie over his normal outfit. He knew it looked a little odd, especially with his usual attire, but after learning that Heather would be doing something similar, he figured that he could try it as well. To spruce himself up a bit more, he went for the hair spray, only to find that Stan was right in his face. He screamed, "STAN!"

Stan laughed and spoke in a mocking voice, pretending to be Ford, "Uh, uh, I could work the ticket booth with you, Heather! Let's kiss!" He made kissy noises and laughed.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want, but I devised a plan to make sure my night with Heather goes perfect," Ford smiled confidently.

"Plan?" Stan asked. He groaned when he realized what he meant, "You're not making one of those over-complicated lists, are you?"

Ford scoffed, "Over complicated? Don't be ridiculous, let me… just…" he pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket, and unfolded it several times. The paper was long enough to reach the ground, "okay. Step one: Getting to know each other through playful banter. Banter is like talking, but smarter," he explained.

"That sounds like a dumb idea for poopheads," Stan complained.

"For example, what you just said. That is what I want to avoid with Heather," Ford said. "The final step is to ask her to dance with me."

Stan rolled his eyes, "Yeah, like that's gonna happen."

Ford glared at him, "I thought you would be supportive with me on this?"

"I'm just being honest. Ford, you'll never get anywhere if you can't just walk up and talk to her like a normal person."

"Step nine, brother," Ford pointed to step nine, which read 'talk to her like a normal person'.

Stan sighed and rolled his eyes he knew where this was going to lead, he knew it all too well. "This is going to be a long night." He realized out loud.

A long night indeed.

(Later…)

Finally, the party started, and Stan stood at the upper level, smiling and watching the party from below. He wore a white shirt, an unzipped leather jacket, ripped jeans, a belt chain, and tennis shoes. Grauntie Mabel leaned on the rail next to him, wearing a pink top and skirt, red heels, triangle-shaped earrings, and a red bow on her head, "What do you say, ankle biter? Can your Grauntie throw a party or what?" She asked proudly.

"This party is awesome!" Stan smiled. "And the music Ria chose is great!"

"Then what are you doing up here then, kiddo?" Grauntie Mabel pushed him to the stairs, "Go mingle! Have fun!"

"But I'm security." Stan reasoned.

"It's okay." Mabel assured him. "I invested in your idea of not letting anyone out without paying an exit fee." She gave him a wink.

Stan gave a shout with a fist pump in the air. "Best Grauntie ever!" And without another word he was off to the dance floor.

Meanwhile, outside, Heather and Ford were at the ticket station selling tickets. Ford knew he only had a little time before Heather would want to go inside, and he would have to resort to plan B so Ford took a deep breath and remembered the list, "Step one: Casual banter," he whispered to himself. He looked to Heather and said a bit too loud "SO, HERE'S A CASUAL QUESTION!" Ford coughed and lowered his voice. "What's your favorite type of snack food?"

"Oh, man!" Heather laughed. "I can't just pick one!"

"No way! Mine too!"

"Wait, what?" She gives him a confused look.

Ford's eyes widened when he realized his mistake, "Uhh… I mean… um…" he stammered and shoved a large handful of popcorn in his mouth as a distraction. He took too much and ended up coughing.

"Dude, are you alright?"

(Meanwhile…)

Inside the Mystery Shack, Stan was dancing wildly. He took a break and sat next to Fids and, to his surprise, Buddy. "Buddy!" Stan looks slightly alarmed for a minute and rightfully so. "You're here!"

"Don't worry none by it Stan." Buddy said, looking kind of down.

"What's up with him?" Stan asked looking to Fids

"Not sure." Fids admitted. "He says he and Bonnie got in a fight."

"So, you're not here to get revenge and steal Heather?" Stan asked looking suspicious.

"What?" Buddy sniffled. "Oh that?" He shrugged. "I haven't given up on her, but I'll admit it went too far. I realized that, Bonnie on the other hand well she sees things differently."

Stan suddenly softens. "First fight with your twin hu?" He asked.

Buddy nodded.

"Been there, done that." Stan told him. "Maybe…I don't know…maybe I can help." He added.

Buddy's face lit up. "Really you'd do that? For me? Even after I almost…"

"Don't remind me." Stan warned. "Look I'm still mad at what you did, but I know what it's like when your twin is mad at you."

"Like your whole world is falling apart." Buddy cut in.

Stan nodded. "Look you can hang out with us but if my Aunt sees you she'll go nuts."

Buddy nodded. "Thanks for the solid." He tells him. "It sure means a lot."

Stan nodded finally relaxing since it appears Buddy isn't going to try anything.

For a moment there is an awkward silence.

"Nice party here." Buddy finally said.

"Thanks," Stan smiled, thinking this might not be so bad. "You can thank Grauntie Mabel for that. How're things going for you?"

"Alright, I guess," he shrugged.

Another uncomfortable silence followed. To lighten up the mood, Fids showed Stan and Buddy his pet, "I brought my pet raccoon! Do you like her?"

"Yeah," Buddy smiled. He went up to pet her, but the raccoon growled, and he drew his hand back.

"She's usually not like this," Fids said reassuringly, but Stan wasn't listening to him. He was gawking at a very pretty girl with a lazy eye in a very beautiful orange dress. "Stan?"

Stan pointed at his new crush, "Who is she?"

"Her?" Buddy asked. "That's Susan Wentworth. Growling Grenda's granddaughter," he gasped when he pieced it together. "You like her! Dude go talk to her!"

"W-What? Talk? I-I," Stan stammered, but the other two boys would have none of it. They pushed Stan into the crowd, muttering to him words of encouragement. Stan took a deep breath and walked up to her, but before he could, another boy went up to Susan.

"Hey," the boy smiled. "I'm Preston Northwest. Of course, you already know that. Wanna dance?"

"Sure," she said. Susan took his hand and they danced together.

Stan stared at them in shock. Fids and Buddy walked up, seeing his bad luck, "Tough," Fids said after a long, low whistle.

"Who's this Preston Northwest?" Stan asked, feeling jealous.

"The most popular boy in town," Buddy answered, "Except, maybe me but that could be debatable. Preston is richer."

"He always makes me feel bad about myself when I'm around him," Fids added.

"You've met him?" Stan asked.

"His folks have a yacht." Fids said. "They're at the docks a lot."

"Why didn't you tell us someone was bullying you?" Stan questioned. "Man, I can't stand Bullies!" He added.

At that moment, Maria spoke into the microphone, "The dancing contest will begin later tonight! The person with the loudest applause will win this party crown!" She held up a crown, and Stan got an idea.

"I'm gonna win that crown," Stan said in determination.

"Oh, yeah?" Preston asked, overhearing him. He turned away from Susan. "What makes you say that, newbie? And, oh look, are those your friends?" he taunted. "Raccoon boy? Baby Man? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Hold me, Fids!" Buddy hugged Fids in fear.

"Our kind isn't welcome here!" Fids exclaimed.

Stan looked angrily at Preston, "My name is Stan, not 'newbie', and I will win that contest, because jerks who make fun of other people don't deserve to win!"

Fids and Buddy gasped behind him.

Preston laughed, "Stan? That sounds like a fat, old man's name. Fine, Stan. The winner will get the crown… and Susan. May the better dancer win," he walked away menacingly. Susan stood where Preston left her, unsure what to do.

"He's going down," Stan smiled confidently.

Behind him, Fids and Buddy stared at Stan in total shock and for good reason.

Surely San had no idea what he just got himself into, but he was about to, and it wasn't going to end pretty!

-To Be Continued