So I started writing up the next chapter after a burst of inspiration and decided this bit would work best as a mini-chapter before we actually tackle a full episode. Enjoy! The next update will not come so quickly.

May 15th, 2013

The repetitive sounds of "Currency, Currency, Currency" by BABA* interrupted Nicola's drive home from The Club. Without looking, he hit the accept call button on his phone.

"Hey Dad, you wanting to do dinner tonight? I can pick up pizza."

"Yes and no. I just got off the phone with your Uncle Shermie."

"Been a while since he called, everything alright?"

"He tore something or other doing one of those charity runs, and now he can't watch his grandkids this summer."

"Mabel and Mason?"

"Apparently the boy's going by Dipper now. Anyway, I offered to take the little gremlins instead."

"And you need me to clear out my old room?"

"I'm keepin' your room just the way it is, but I could use your help clearing out the attic."

"Say no more, I'll be there in fifteen. Would you still like me to bring pizza?"

"I'll order some when we're done."

Nicola opened what seemed like the millionth box, sending up a plume of dust as he did so.

"When was the last time you even touched this place?"

Across the attic, Stan waved off his own cloud of dust. "I dunno, just kept shoving stuff up here over the years. Anything I couldn't sell." He looked into his box. "Huh, so that's what happened to that creepy duck sculpture you made in middle school. Wonder why I never tried to pass it off as haunted."

Nicola huffed. "First of all, it's meant to be Gompers. Second, there's no way it's that creepy."

Stan silently held up the deformed ceramic goat, which did in fact somehow resemble a duck.

Nicola cringed. "Okay, it is that creepy. You're welcome to make an exhibit of it."

Stan placed the sculpture back in the box. "Nah, I'd probably get sued for traumatizing a child or somethin'. What've you got over there?"

Nicola peered in the box. "Looks like a bunch of photos. Definitely older ones, there's no color." He pulled some out to inspect them. "Hey, wait a second, is this you Dad?"

He held up the photo in question. It was all in shades of brown, showing two young boys standing with wide smiles in front of a broken down boat, buckets of wood and nails by their feet.

Stan leaned closer, his mouth quirked up in a wistful smile. "Yeah, me 'n Ford. We spent every chance we had fixin' up that old boat, called it the Stan 'O War. Ol' girl's proably nothin' but splinters now."

Nicola tapped the boy in an aviator's jacket. "That's Ford?"

Stan nodded in confirmation.

"He's got six fingers."

"Runs in the family apparently. You ever have kids and they might too."

"Do you think he'd like me?"

Stan paused, mid-turn towards another box. "I think… he wouldn't know what to make of ya at first, but in time, yeah, he'd like you."

Nicola put the photo back before hefting up the box. "Guess we'll find out when that portal finally decides to cooperate."

He didn't see Stan open a new box, glancing to the spot where a jar of baby teeth once sat. "Yeah, guess we will."

May 16th, 2013

"You've reached Tate and Backle's Bait and Tackle, Tate McGucket speaking. How can I help you?"

"Tate! I need your help with something!"

"Nicola? You have my personal number, why are you calling the shop line?"

"I'd like to propose a new business opportunity for Gravity Falls Lake. Cilla's already agreed to sponsor in exchange for seven percent of the profits."

"Go on…"

"What do you think about renting boats?"

* The idea of Nicola's ringtone for Stan being a version of Money, Money, Money was too funny to pass up.