When Monica talked her way out of trouble with the race official, Coop just stared at his mom and realized—she wasn't normal either. In fact, she might be even weirder than his dad.
Up until now, Coop had always thought his dad's occasional chaotic behavior was the most embarrassing thing in his life. But now Monica had just shown up in the middle of a teenage skateboard race, on a motorcycle, casually telling the race official that she was chasing an intergalactic criminal—like that was just a normal thing for a 38-year-old woman to do. He wasn't even sure which of his parents was more embarrassing anymore.
As they moved along, Coop started talking to his friends.
Coop (confused): My whole life, I imagined my mom as this sweet, smiling lady… you know, the kind who bakes cookies and hugs me when I come home
Fiona: And instead, you got a motorcycle-riding secret agent who chases a hamster at skateboard races.
Coop: Yep. And now I don't know if my dad is more embarrassing, or my mom.
Dennis: Well… statistically speaking, it's a 50-50 chance.
Coop: That isn't helpful, Dennis.
Fiona: Look, Coop, maybe she wasn't always like this. Maybe when she was with you, she really did bake cookies and was kinder… but then her job changed her.
Coop: You really think so?
Fiona: Of course! Maybe she wasn't always this… cold.
Dennis: Or maybe she was always like this, and you just idealized her in your head, because the human brain tends to fill in missing information with imagined memories.
Coop: Do you have to analyze everything so realistically?"
Dennis shrugged.
Dennis: Just saying. Biologically speaking, there's no proof she ever baked anything.
Coop felt his sanity slipping.
Coop: Whatever. Now I'm completely sure that both my mom and dad are weird, and that's probably why they got together in the first place. And Millie and I probably inherited some of that chaos.
Fiona: At least you're not alone in this.
After calming down a little, Coop skated over to Monica by the edge of the track.
Coop: Seriously, Mom… I mean, Agent Moonbeam. It wasn't enough that you showed up to a skateboard race on a motorcycle, but you also told the race official that you were hunting an intergalactic criminal?
Monica: Yes.
Coop: That is NOT normal!
Monica: You haven't defined what 'normal' is.
Coop sighed.
Coop: And you really thought that was a good idea?
Monica: Kid, sometimes the truth is the best tool to confuse someone.
Coop: What do you mean by that?
Monica was just about to explain it the way a secret agent would—clearly, concisely, and without emotion—when Dennis skated up beside them, having overheard the conversation. He immediately jumped in.
Dennis: What your mom means is that when the human brain finds information too absurd, it automatically rejects it because it can't connect it to prior experiences! It's a psychological phenomenon called cognitive dissonance, which actually evolved as a survival mechanism, since humans…
Dennis suddenly paused. He had just realized that Monica was actually listening to him. She was looking at him attentively (as much as one could while riding a motorcycle), not blinking, not interrupting—just letting him talk.
Dennis: So, uh… Mrs. B. basically used this brilliantly! The race official's brain short-circuited for a moment because the information was both too much and too unbelievable at the same time, so instead of trying to process it, he just ignored it!
Monica nodded, as if acknowledging Dennis as an intellectual equal.
Monica: Exactly.
Dennis's eyes lit up, and he straightened up proudly on his skateboard.
Dennis: I knew it! That's exactly how I would do it! Scientifically speaking, it's one of the best methods of manipulating people! Not that I manipulate people or anything… haha.
Fiona: Dennis, you overdid it again.
Coop (grimacing): Are you seriously trying to impress my mom right now?
Dennis (blushing): M-me? No way. I was just scientifically analyzing the situation, and it's a complete coincidence that she happens to follow the exact same thought process as me. I mean, obviously, your mom is a brilliant woman blessed with extraordinary intelligence, whose logic and cold, strategic precision deserve the utmost respect…
Coop: DENNIS!
Dennis shut up. Monica didn't even blink, but she most likely understood exactly what was going on.
Monica (calmly, with the faintest hint of amusement): I appreciate your observations, Dennis.
Dennis froze for a moment, then let out a small, satisfied whisper:
Dennis: This is the greatest victory of my life.
Coop just massaged his forehead.
Coop: Okay, so people's brains sometimes shut down from absurdity. But then… how does that work with my dad? Because with him, if I say something too absurd, he just punishes me instead.
Dennis, still riding the high of Monica actually paying attention to him, immediately launched into an explanation.
Dennis: That's a completely different response, called a cognitive dissonance resolution mechanism! Your dad's brain can't process illogical situations, so instinctively, he tries to do something familiar and controllable to restore order.
Coop: And for him, that means punishing me?
Dennis: Exactly! His brain can't comprehend that something outside of you—like an evil space cat—could cause this much chaos. So instead, he controls the only thing he can: you.
Coop blinked in disbelief.
Coop: So basically, I get punished because my dad's brain can't handle the truth.
Monica: No, he punishes you because he's just an idiot.
Coop and Dennis both turned to Monica at the same time. She had said it completely emotionlessly, as if it were the most obvious fact in the world.
Dennis: Scientifically speaking, that's irrefutable.
Monica nodded, then turned back toward the competitors.
Coop furrows his brows, ready to snap back with a "That's not true!" but he holds his tongue instead.
Memories flood his mind: the time Burt banned him from skateboarding for an entire week because he accidentally blew up the backyard grill (even though Kat was the real culprit)… the time he was grounded just because Millie tearfully complained that Kat had jumped onto the chandelier in fright, and somehow, that was considered Coop's fault… the countless times Burt never believed a single word about his battles against Kat, no matter how much he tried to prove the truth…
Coop clenches his jaw but can't bring himself to argue with Monica.
Coop (with a resigned sigh): Alright, well… sometimes he really isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Fiona suddenly cut in, growing tired of this absurd conversation.
Fiona: Guys, maybe we should focus on actually getting to the next part of the course before we all end up breaking our necks.
The next stage of the skateboarding race led up a steep ramp to the rooftop of an abandoned factory.
Fiona and Coop climbed at full speed, their skateboards rattling against the metal as the wind tugged at their clothes. The height sent their adrenaline levels skyrocketing.
Fiona: Don't fall behind, Coop! – she called out with a smirk, cutting in front of him with a smooth trick.
Coop: I'm just getting warmed up! – he shot back, pulling an ollie to overtake her again.
As they reached the rooftop, they came to a breathless stop on a massive metal platform. The place looked like a set straight out of a horror movie—rusted tanks, unstable pipes, and a slowly rotating giant fan.
But someone was missing.
Coop (glancing back toward the ramp): Where's Dennis?
Meanwhile, down on the ground level, Dennis was talking with Monica.
Dennis: The factory rooftop is the most strategically likely point for Mr. Kat. There's probably something important there—maybe even another alien hiding.
Monica crossed her arms and nodded.
Monica: It's rare for someone to actually investigate before treating their own theories as fact. Exceptional observational skills, Dennis.
Dennis' eyes widened—Monica had just acknowledged his intelligence.
Dennis: Uh, yeah… I always think logically.
Monica gave a small nod, then turned her attention back to the racers.
Up on the factory rooftop, Coop and Fiona reached the massive metal platform at the same time. The scene could have been straight out of a horror film—rusted tanks, broken pipes, and a massive ventilation fan.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice cut through the air.
?: Well, now, that's just plain rude! No one even knocked!
Coop and Fiona froze. The voice came from a shadowy corner, and as they stepped closer, Mr. Cheeks emerged from the darkness.
Down below, Dennis and Monica's heads snapped up.
Coop narrowed his eyes.
Coop: You again?! Mr. Cheeks?!
The hamster grinned slyly.
Mr. Cheeks: You know, guys, I'm so glad you showed up here. I was almost worried I'd have to wait for another competition.
Coop and Fiona instinctively took a step back—just as the ground beneath them suddenly trembled.
Mr. Cheeks pressed a button on a rusty panel, triggering a hidden trapdoor beneath their feet.
Mr. Cheeks: Time to get rid of you two.
Coop and Fiona plummeted into the darkness. The last thing they heard was Mr. Cheeks' wicked laughter.