Twins Missing in Dual Worlds chapter 17: HECK kitchens.
"Come on guys, it's time for our monthly trip to Stumpy's." Hop Pop banging a spoon to a pot getting their attention.
Our what?" Mabel turned to him in curiosity.
"It's one of the three best restaurants in town!" Hop Pop answered
"It's one of the only three restaurants in town." Polly corrected her Hop Pop.
Mabel snorted at that.
"Come on, you know that he always has something new when we go in!" Sprig picked her up and tucked her in his arm.
Polly grimaced. "Each worst than the last."
"So, uhh… why are we going?" Mabel tilted her head.
"You mean other than the fact that Sprig made our dinner explode?" Hop Pop raised an eyebrow at her.
"Fair point." Mabel replied.
"Besides, Sprig got us banned from one of them, and Polly got us banned from the other."
"Not fair!" Sprig crossed his arms, while Polly flared her arms. "How was I supposed to know that kid was gonna be a cop?!"
"I feel this needs more context."
Polly and Sprig spoke at once, "No you don't." Causing Mabel to laugh.
"Come along now, we don't want to deal with the dinner rush." Hop Pop motioned for the children to follow, before walking out of the house..
Stumpy's restaurant was an unremarkable place, even by Mabel's standards. "Wow…" It was filthy, Mabel could feel the junk from the floor even with her flats on her, the smell was nauseous, almost as bad as that biker bar. The tables look poorly keep and would fall apart at any second, the only impressive thing was that this place might be made from a fallen tree.
"It's not pretty, but it's better than nothing." Hop Pop sighed.
"Do they not know what a mop is?" Mabel grimaced in disgust.
"Considering that one table has a chair for a leg, that might just be the case." Polly pointed out.
"Don't worry, even rats don't like this place." Sprig said.
"Gross." Mabel said as everyone took a seat.
"You think you have it bad? I've been here before!" Polly shouted.
"Sorry..."
"It's all right." Polly sighed. "Are human food places like this bad?"
"No way! They'd be shut down in an instant!"
"Here ya go, four bowls of slop. Enjoy, or don't. Makes no difference to me." A dull green frog stepped over and served them, dropping bowls in front of the four. He wore a dirty apron and an old chef's hat, the latter drooping down, its poorly repaired seams barely holding on. His hands had been replaced with knife and a spatula. While his shaggy beard hid a scowl. No doubt "anywhere, but here" was where he wanted to be.
Mabel raised an eyebrow. "Wait you only make slop?"
"Yep."
Mabel whined as he walked off.
"Excuse me, hello. Over here. Yoo hoo!" Mabel turned to see a lime green newt trying to get the chef's attention. He had green hair tied up in a ponytail. Wearing from top to bottom a tricorne hat, wearing a purple jacket untied, underneath was a gray button up shirt. and that was all that Mabel could see.
"There be a problem, sir?" Stumpy rolled his eyes.
"Um, yes, there's a fly in my soup! There should be dozens! I mean, how hard is it to run a restaurant, anyway? You just put food on tables. A tadpole could do it!"
Mabel groaned. "Urg. Critics. Anne used to complain about them all the time."
"Ugh, that snob thinks that just 'cause he 'talks good', he's better than everyone!" Polly groaned.
"That's Albus Duckweed. He writes reviews for the town paper. They have comic strips sometimes." Sprig pointed out.
"Sounds like a jerk." Mabel shook her head.
"He really is." Polly said dryly.
"Just ignore him Mabel, it's not our problem." Hop Pop didn't want trouble.
"Sorry, can't." She jumped up and ran over to the two.
"I mean, seriously, look at this place." Duckweed gestured towards the restaurant.
"Shove it snotball!"
"Kid what are you doing?" Stumpy's eyes widened in horror.
"Ha! Well, what does a creature like you know about the arts of fine dining? Huh? Tell me!" Critic countered.
"More than you apparently! You don't even know how to give proper feedback like a proper critic! In fact, I think your just a phony who likes attention."
"If you weren't a child, I would slap you." Duckweed snarled.
"You'd have to catch me first." Mabel stated childishly.
"You're leaving, that is the best news I heard all day." Duckweed said, only mostly joking.
"You wouldn't know good food if it smacked you in the face!"
"What would a creature like you know about good cooking?"
"I eat it." Mabel snickered.
"Lassy, there no need to cause trouble." Stumpy placed a hand on her shoulder.
"But he's insulting you!"
"Not like I can do anything about it."
"It true you can't." Duckweed added.
"Oh yes he can!" Mabel stood over the critic. "He is the best restaurant in town. Way more talented than you can do. He will surprise you." He was the only restaurant in town.
"He can?" Duckweed raised an eyebrow.
"He can?!" Stumpy surprise filling his voice.
Polly rolled over to Mabel, "I have the feeling he can't."
"With my help he can!"
"I accept your challenge." Duckweed slammed his hand on the table.
"Very well then, be ready." Before the talentless critic walked away.
"You just drove me out of business."
"Nope! I'm gonna help you!"
"No way, that was the most popular critic in town. One bad review from him and I'm finished!"
"You weren't gonna get a good review in the first place. He's a total prickly pear."
"Welp… time to give up. I'm done, time to close up shop." He sighed and walked behind the counter to get to packing.
"Oh no you don't!" Mabel jumped on top.
"It's over kid, I'm doomed."
"Hold it! I'm serious! I'm gonna help you!"
He stared at her, before turning and walking into the kitchen.
"That actually went better than I expected it to." Sprig quipped.
The Next Day…
Stumpy was dragging in a giant blue lizard… newt… alligator thing. He started messing with a mushroom, "Dang mushroom needs replacing. Not that it matters anymore." He turned… only to find Mabel standing behind him. "Mother of pearl! How long have you been there?!"
"Since closing." Mabel giggled with glee.
"Okay that's a bit creepy… are you trying to take that Flour girl's spot as town creep?"
"Nope! Now let's get to work!"
"Look, kid, you're on your own. Do whatever you want. It's not gonna make a difference in the end, anyway."
"You got it"! Before she happily got to work. Starting with cleaning.
Then, she put her crafting to work to decorate the place.
Stumpy decided to just focus on the food. Then again… since she was helping clean the place, the least he could do was toss the trash…
That was, until she ran over and shouted. "I can help!"
He handed it to her and watched as she went to throw it in his dumpster… only for it to get up on two legs and chase after her. Stumpy laughed as she hit it to try to get away.
A Few Minutes Later…
"On it." Mabel gave a salute… only to turn and knock the pile of plates over. "Oof! Sorry!"
"Well… at least you didn't break anything."
"Speaking of break… we should do breakfast food!" Mabel cheerfully said. "The boys always loved it when I made breakfast for dinner!"
"You should have eaten before you came here." He rolled his eyes.
"No, I mean to change up your terrible menu." Mabel pulled out one of the menus.
"How so?"
"Like, you could sell breakfast for dinner!"
He thought about it for a moment, before shrugging. "I suppose it would be nice to not eat the same food all the time."
"Then let's get makin' and bakin'!"
"Ok, now squeeze gently and aim." Stumpy held Mabel's arms as they aimed a snake… eel… hose… thing. Once adjusted, she took a breath and fired, cleaning everything they fired at.
"Thanks Stumpy!"
"Any time. You're putting a lot of work into this."
"Of course I am. You need help."
Stumpy hesitated in reply.
"I also made this for us this." She said showing off 50's diner style outfit. They consisted of a striped red and white hat for herself and a white hat for him, red bow ties for both of them, a new red and white striped Apron for Stumpy and nice matching mini dress for herself.
"You sure people would like it?" "Absolutely! It's popular in America!"
"Is that where you from?"
"Yup!"
"I guess we can try this." Stumpy shrugged.
"Don't worry. I'll be right here."
"Heh, ya know, things feel different when you think you might have a shot." He turned to her. "Think we can pull this off?"
"Of course I do! And I believe in you too, Stumpy!"
"Thanks."
And so, Mabel switched the sign to "open", prompting the townsfolk to finally come in. Everyone was impressed by the changes while Mabel happily greeted everyone… that was, until she noticed one frog stand out.
"Oh wow you look super sick. You should go see the doctor."
"I am fine." Duckweed said, his mask disguising his voice.
"Your mouth isn't moving when you talk."
"It's a frog thing."
"No it isn't." Before she walked back to Stumpy.
"Hey Mabel, mind helping table four?"
"Alright, just letting you know the guy at table six is sus."
"If he has money I can look the other way."
"Okiedokee." Before she went to wait tables.
The Plantars soon popped in, prompting Mabel to happily seat the three of them. "I'd love to join you but I have work to do maybe another day. So… what ya guys think?"
"This place is swell." Hop Pop said.
"I love it." Sprig said.
"You've been holding out on us." Polly said.
"No one wanted to try my cooking." Mabel countered.
"That doesn't sound... okay that completely sounds exactly like us." Sprig chuckled.
Mabel laughed with them.
"Is that weirdo okay?" Polly asked, "He is putting food in his neck."
"I knew it!" She stormed over. "You're wearing a costume!"
"Ah ha! It was I, Duckweed, all along!"
"Huh it was Duckweed." Sprig quipped.
Polly facepalmed, "Who else could it be?"
"Have you met the town? There are like three people we seen today that would do that for no reason." Sprig countered.
"Touché." Polly still flicked him with her bow.
"Ow the back of my head." Sprig rubbed where she hit him.
"Why are you being such a creep?"
"It a critic thing, if you knew it was me you would have gave me extra special attention this is the only way for a fair review."
Mabel rolled her eyes, "Trust me. You don't deserve special treatment."
"Umm were you not listening?"
"So, how'd you like the pancakes?"
"They were excellent," he said, a bit upset. He was glaring like a child. His hands were so tight, the fork started to bend.
"Thanks! My Grunkle Stan taught me how to make them." He also taught her how to shoplift the ingredients for them, but nobody here needed to know that.
"You win this time, Pines." He said, somehow moving back in the shadows despite the seat being in the way.
"Are all critics so creepy?" Polly asked.
"Yeah, they are." Mabel shrugged. "Oh well we won."
Duckweed try to sneak away from the restaurant while Mabel was talking with the Planters.
A giant shadow appeared over him. Duckweed turn around to see a giant red mantis, it two front legs raise up, and the sharp point giving a sparkle in response. "I am going to o run away now, "AHHHHHH! WHY me!"
Mabel look at this, "Should we help?"
Hop Pop then said, "It is fine."
Duckweed ran, "Gotta hide, gotta hide..." His eyes fell upon a dumpster. "There!" Before he leaped in and closed the lid behind him. "There we go, the smell should protect me. I'll just stay right here next to this suspiciously sharp piece of trash." He paused, his eyes widening in realization.
In the next moment, the lid flew open and Duckweed leaped out, followed by a giant dumpster lizard. It roared before lunging at the mantis, while the bug swiped at it in turn.
In response, all Duckweed could do was cower in fear. "Great they are going to fight over who gets to kill me, this is the third worst night of my life."
"Glad everything works out." Mabel said, clapping her hands together.
"We did nothing to help, woo hoo." Sprig announced.
Mabel held her stomach as she laughed, "Sprig your killing me." The rest of the night went on uneventful.
To Be Continued...
Credit: Edited by Omega Ultra
Ending made with the help of Gero The Head Hunter Elite
Reviews: RonaldM40196867 chapter 16 . Dec 25, 2023
My response: Yes they did. Fiction would have to say there way more after death. Thanks, happy holidays. I hope so. Yes I do, and it won't be who you think.