Mason "Dipper" Pines' POV
Ah, summer break. A time for relaxation, fun, and enjoying the outdoors... unless you're me. I found myself behind the wheel of the Mystery Cart, racing through the dense woods at top speed with my sister beside me. Our hearts were racing, and we were being pursued by a monstrous creature effortlessly toppling towering pine trees in its wake.
My name's Dipper Pines, and my sister Mabel is on the verge of getting sick. You might be curious why we're in a golf cart, trying to escape from an incredibly terrifying creature. But I can assure you, there's an entirely rational explanation.
Let's rewind.
When our parents decided that my sister, two brothers, and I needed a change of scenery, they sent us north to a quiet town known as Gravity Falls, Oregon. We were to stay at our great-uncle's residence, nestled deep in the tranquil woods.
When my twin sister Mabel and I first arrived in Gravity Falls, we shared a room, while our younger brothers, eleven-year-old twins Bradley and Bradford Pines, shared another. Side note: Bradley goes by Wade, while Bradford goes by Cade. As Mabel excitedly decorated her side of the room with posters, she exclaimed about the attic's charm, showing off the splinters on her hands. Meanwhile, I settled into my bed and saw a goat leisurely perched on it. Our brother Wade approached the goat with a friendly greeting and allowed it to chew on his sleeve with a good-natured smile.
Mabel and Wade were generally optimistic, but Cade and I found adjusting to our unfamiliar environment challenging, especially Cade. Unlike Mabel, Wade, and me, Cade was born with six fingers on each hand, which made him the target of severe bullying back home. Cade wore a long-sleeved hoodie in Gravity Falls to conceal his hands from curious stares. Not even our Great-Uncle Stan Pines or anyone else in Gravity Falls had seen Cade's unique hands.
Ah… Great-Uncle Stan Pines.
Our uncle had turned his home into a cheesy tourist attraction called "The Mystery Shack." It was baffling why anyone would visit. To make matters worse, my sister, two brothers, and I were roped into working there. It seemed like we were in for a long, mundane summer. However, everything changed on one significant day.
While I was busy spraying and wiping down jars, Mabel suddenly leaned in and peered through the collection of Stan bobbleheads to catch a glimpse of a passing boy. Meanwhile, Wade was sweeping the shop floor, and Cade uncovered some astounding items for The Mystery Shack.
Mabel gleefully exclaimed, "He's looking at it! He's looking at it!"
The young boy hesitated before nervously reading the note out loud, "Do you like me? Yes. Definitely. Absolutely!"
"I rigged it!" Mabel said, lowering her voice.
"Mable, I know you're going through your whole Boy Crazy phase, but I think you're kind of overdoing it with the crazy part," I expressed to Mabel, puzzled about the reasons behind her current phase.
"What?!" exclaimed Mabel as she blew a raspberry. "Come on, Dipper! This is our first summer away from home! It's my big chance to have an epic summer romance!"
Cade began, "Yes, but do you need to," and Wade interjected, "to flirt with every man you come across?"
I remember seeing Mabel with a boy near the greeting card display a few days ago. It looked like she was attempting to flirt with him, but things didn't go smoothly - she shoved him into the display. Then, there was another incident where she startled a guy sitting with a turtle by jumping out from behind a bench. Lastly, she tried to flirt with a guy at the Mattress Store, but her approach involved hiding behind colorful balloons and scaring the employee.
"Mock all you want, brothers, but I felt good about this summer. I wouldn't be surprised if the man of my dreams walked through that door right now."
Right after Mabel said that Grunkle Stan walked through the museum door holding arrow signs and a Pitt Cola can; he burps, but it sounded like it was caught in his throat, having the old man say, "Oh! Oh, not good. Ow."
My sister cried out in disgust, "Aww! Why?!"
My brothers and I started to laugh at Mabel.
"All right, all right, look alive, people," said Grunkle Stan, "I need someone to go hammer up these signs in the spooky part of the forest."
My brothers, sister, and I quickly shouted, "Not it!"
"Uh, also not it," Soos said.
"Nobody asked you, Soos."
"I know, and I'm comfortable with that," he replied, eating a chocolate bar.
Soos is one of a kind. And I believe no one can ever replace him. I think that's another reason why Wade, Cade, Mabel, and I get along with him. In the short time we have known Soos, we have all seen him as an older brother.
"Wendy, I need you to put up this sign!"
Wendy pretends to reach for the signs, "I would, but I, ugh, can't, ugh, reach it. Ugh…"
My brother laughed by my side. I glanced at him and noticed Cade standing very close to me. I know he's afraid of this town. I understand since we are in a new place. However, I felt like it was more than that. Usually, Cade and Wade would follow each other. However, since my siblings and I got to Gravity Falls, I noticed that Wade would follow Mabel while Cade would follow me. Yes, Cade and Wade are eleven, while Mabel and I are twelve, but that doesn't mean they don't look up to us.
"I'd fire all of you if I could. All right, let's make it… eenie, meenie, money… you," Grunkle Stan said, pointing at me.
"Aw, what?!" I whined, "Grunkle Stan, whenever I'm in those woods, I feel like I'm being watched."
"Ugh, this again."
I sensed Cade distancing himself from me. Looking down at him, I noticed him gently rubbing his arm while nervously biting his lip. I didn't want to alarm any of my three siblings, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was unfolding in our town. I was determined to shield Cade and Wade from the unsettling truth if there was something amiss.
"I'm telling you something weird is going on in this town. Just today, my mosquito bites spelled out BEWARE," I told Grunkle Stan, showing him my arm.
Cade, Wade, and Grunkle Stan glanced at my arm before Cade and Wade said in unison, "That say BEWARB."
"The brats are right; Look, kid. The whole monsters in the forest thing is just local legend, drummed up by guys like me to sell merch to guys like that," Grunkle said, pointing to a fat, sweaty man laughs while looking at a Stan-bobblehead's head bobble, "So quit being so paranoid!"
Grunkle Stan thrust the weathered signs into my hands, the rough wood scraping against my skin. With a sigh, I glanced at my siblings, who merely shrugged. Gathering my resolve, I pushed open the creaky door of the shack and stepped outside, the weight of the signs in my arms a constant reminder of the task ahead.
Bradley Wade Pines' POV
I stood at the doorstep, gazing as Dipper's figure disappeared into the dense woods. My attention shifted to Cade, his longing to join Dipper warring with his fear of the unknown lurking within the shadowy trees. I couldn't blame him for hesitating – who knows what dangerous creatures lay in wait beyond the town's safety? It didn't sit right with me that kids would have to venture into such a risky environment. I had my reservations about Grunkle Stan's capabilities as a guardian, but sending my older brother off into those woods felt like an act of sheer negligence.
I casually shrugged, casting a glance over in Grunkle Stan's direction. There he was, engaging in his usual scheme of tricking people. I couldn't tell if he took pleasure in it or not. Gripping Cade's hand, we strolled over to Grunkle Stan, who was propped up on his cane, sporting a wide grin, and gesturing enthusiastically towards the customers. "We put the fun in no refunds!" he proclaimed with a hearty wave.
Cade and I smiled widely, "Hello, Grunkle Stan!"
As we made our way through the crowded street, Grunkle Stan suddenly jumped but quickly composed himself as he glanced at Cade and me with a surprised look. We exchanged knowing smiles with him, but he seemed to shake his head slightly as he walked ahead. Undeterred, Cade and I decided to follow him. Although he noticed us trailing behind, he didn't say anything. It wasn't until we overheard a passing woman commenting to her friend about the rarity of seeing involved fathers and grandfathers that we realized why Grunkle Stan seemed so reserved.
Before my brother and I knew it, Grunkle Stan suddenly placed his hands on our shoulders, gently guiding us toward the two women with a warm, mischievous smile on his face.
"Good day, esteemed ladies," greeted Grunkle Stan with a warm smile. "You may recognize me as Mr. Mystery, but feel free to address me as Stan. And here are my wonderful grandchildren—Cade and Wade Pines!"
I took a quick look at Grunkle Stan, feeling perplexed. "But Gru-" I started to say, but he swiftly placed his hand over my mouth.
The woman's expression twisted into disgust as she incredulously exclaimed, "Cade and Wade? Who in the heck gave their sons the names Cade and Wade?"
"Those names are our middle names," Brad clarified, "My first name is Bradford, and my brother's first name is Bradley."
The women couldn't help but chuckle as they shared their thoughts.
One couldn't resist commenting, "That's even worse."
"I know! Just imagine if they went by Brad and Ford! They are old names! Especially the name Ford!" laughed the woman.
As the conversation unfolded, I noticed Grunkle Stan tense up. His hand remained over my mouth as I looked up at him. He had narrowed his eyes on the women. "Never mind," growled Grunkle Stan as he firmly pushed Cade and me away from the two laughing ladies.
"Grunkle Stan, are you alright?" asked Wade.
"Yes, everything is fine, Wade. I thought your names were Cade and Wade," said Grunkle Stan.
"According to our official names, Cade and Wade are our middle names. Mabel and Dipper still address Cade as Brad and me as Ford. This resulted from our parents' belief that our given names were old-fashioned. As a result, Brad and I have faced challenges in using our middle names."
Grunkle Stan's gaze drifted back and forth between us before finally settling on Wade. I squinted suspiciously when I realized that Grunkle Stan's eyes were not fixed on Wade but rather on his hands. Reacting quickly, I stepped in front of Wade, shooting a fierce glare at Grunkle Stan, clearly indicating that I was not about to let anything happen to him.
"Don't you dare say a word about Wade's hands, Great-Uncle Stan!"
Grunkle Stan took a quick look around the Shack to ensure no one else was present before he crouched down and gently rested his hands on Wade's and my shoulders. "Bradford, I want you to know I won't remark about your fingers. I know someone else who also has six fingers. You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."
Wade's gaze shifted to his fingers, and a somber expression crossed his face. In a quiet, pained voice, he revealed, "Growing up, my parents constantly urged me to conceal my hands, insisting that I shouldn't have to look at my abnormal hands. That's why I keep them hidden."
As he stood there, I watched him quickly slip his hands back into his sleeves, trying to conceal them. Taking his hand, I felt the warmth and familiarity of his touch, but I also noticed our hands were hidden under his long sleeves. I felt a pang of sadness, knowing that our parents' expectations had forced him to hide his hands. Despite Mabel, Dipper, and my attempts to reassure him, it seemed Wade was determined to keep his hands hidden. As I looked over at Grunkle Stan, I could sense the sadness in his eyes. I couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Grunkle Stan could be the one to help Wade finally.
"Grunkle Stan, do you think you can help Wade feel not ashamed of his hands?"