Tommy's Tool Town - Chapter 76 - All Hallows Eve

By 11:30, the store was a flurry of activity.  The entire night crew had been called in, including Wilton Scott, who'd evidently volunteered for PVC cleanup, seeing it as some sort of missionary adventure.

"They could build schools from PVC in Nigeria, and perhaps run water through them for hydration," Wilton said, and Kitty rolled her eyes.  "What?"

"Wilton, where do you get this crazy stuff?" Kitty asked.

"The Internet.  Did you know that most of what occurred in Star Wars is so realistic it could happen?" Wilton proclaimed, changing the subject drastically.

Only Wilton could travel from Nigeria to the Death Star without missing a beat.

"I don't think so," Kitty remarked, taking a moment to sit on a toilet display.

"It's futuristic, I'll admit, but even so, we aren't that far from making intergalactic travel a reality," Wilton declared.

"Hey, Wilton," Stockwell yelled.  "Why don't you go into the Receiving Galaxy and hop on a forklift."

"I'm not certified," Wilton said sullenly.

"Well, maybe you'll find Yoda back there.  Perhaps he can drive a forklift," Stockwell suggested, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Drive a forklift, I can," Wilton stated impressively.

"Sonny Brooks is floating around somewhere.  He showed up with Mitchell about fifteen minutes ago.  He's probably rusty, but he's certified." Stockwell shook his head and walked away.  He was lacking in caffeine and sugar, and he'd have sold his own mother for a King Sized Snickers.

Kitty frowned as Stockwell passed by.  "What?" he said.  "You want a Snickers, too?"

"I'm sad and worried," Kitty mumbled.

Stockwell knew he'd regret it, but he asked anyway.  "What's wrong?"

"It will be Halloween in a few minutes, and I always wear my Great Pumpkin pajamas the night before, and wish for a husband who likes dogs and karaoke, Renaissance festivals, and long walks on the beach......"

Stockwell began wishing JJ had killed him.  He hated this woman stuff.  It was reserved for soap operas and Danielle Steel novels.

Kitty looked forlorn, and as if she had more to say.

"And?"

"I can't reach my mother or grandmother," Kitty whispered.

"Dear God, you don't think?" Stockwell asked.

Kitty looked at him.  "Of course I do."

"You think they're here?" Stockwell asked, feeling the blood supply cut off to his head.  He felt dizzy and his blood sugar was plummeting.  He couldn't imagine where Daisy had gone.  Perhaps she'd planned to butcher the burgers herself.

"Kitty?" Stockwell said very gently, almost lovingly.

"What?" Kitty whimpered.

"Do you have a Snickers anywhere?  Your purse, your locker, stashed under self checkout?"

"I bare my soul to you, I tell you about the Great Pumpkin pajamas, and you ask me if I have a candy bar?" Kitty asked incredulously.

"What can I say?  I'm a real catch," Stockwell said.  He obviously had the jitters, and Kitty figured the request was more a survival mechanism, and less a lack of bedside manner.

"I have food!" Daisy announced suddenly, and everyone flocked to her as if Jesus had just shown up with a basket of fish.

The food was gone in five minutes, and sedate, the Tool Town crew prepared to take on the night. Bernice and Penelope watched the clock intently, counting the minutes until the showdown at midnight.

Daisy Cates did the same, knowing Hannah was skulking around Receiving, planting bugs like the Orkin man.

Kitty set out to walk the store, certain a grandmother lurked somewhere in the shadows.

Slick Mitchell sat in his office, playing with the gun in his ankle holster.  He hoped he wouldn't shoot his foot off by mistake.  He hated the idea of wearing only one wingtip.  He planned to put a bullet in Mickey Burger, whoever he might be.  If it was Stockwell, he wondered if the wound would ooze chocolate. 

Midnight was upon them, and everyone was ready.

Everyone but Wilton.

He was in Receiving, talking to himself, and trying desperately to start a forklift.

He gave up after a few minutes, and hopped off the machine.  He could hear the hum of other machines, and figured everyone who could run a forklift was probably on one.

He turned and faced the machine.  He assumed the stance of a Jedi, and called upon the force.

The forklift roared to life.

Wilton almost shit himself.

"It freakin' works," he whispered.

The receiving area went dark immediately, and the forklift's lights flashed on.

"Shit," Wilton whispered.  The Jedi moment took on a Stephen King feel, and he felt like he was looking at the Christine of heavy lifting.  "This isn't happening," he mumbled, although it was.

"Astro!"  The word wailed over the sound of mechanical humming, and despite his fear, Wilton was offended.

"I am not an asshole.  I am a nice man, with a family.  I read!  I MEDITATE!" Wilton screamed, as the machine came toward him.  "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"Make it a daily double," the bird screamed, reciting one of Daisy's most beloved phrases.

"Jeopardy?  You want to play Jeopardy?" Wilton yelled.  "I'll take STAR WARS FOR TWO THOUSAND, ALEX!" Wilton wailed, challenging an unknown force.

The forklift went dark.  The lights came on.  Evil cackling filled the expansive space.

"What the hell?" Wilton whispered, thankful for a young bladder.

The lights went off again, then began flashing in disco fashion.  Wilton felt an unexpected vertigo assault him, and he wondered if he'd died.  He figured his hell would include disco and insults.

From the shadows, Wonder Woman walked toward him, a very old Wonder Woman with chicken legs and garish makeup.

Yup!  He'd died and gone to hell.

"Where's my kitty?" Wonder Woman yelled.  "What have you done with my kitty?"

Wilton wondered if he'd fallen asleep.  Perhaps this was just a nightmare.  He closed his eyes, opened them quickly.  Wonder Woman was still there.

"I don't have your cat.  I have my cat.  She'd old, and her name is Princess Leia, and she pees behind the couch," Wilton said through a sob.  He wasn't sure what was worse, being assaulted by a geriatric Wonder Woman, or being killed by a possessed forklift.

He chose neither.

Wilton screamed like a banshee, like a teenage girl who'd mucked up her manicure leaving the salon.  His screams drew the troops.  Everyone was there, and he found safety in numbers.

Miles had returned, although no one knew when, or from where he'd come.  He had black powder on his fingers, although it was concealed by the darkness.  He'd been arrested and booked, and printed, and blissfully released.

The Dollar Stores were all closed.

That was okay.

Miles had an overnight reprieve from needing soap on a rope.

Kitty showed up.  She was unmoved by Wonder Woman, as if she'd expected to see her there.

Stockwell staggered in.  He had Snickers on his shirt.  No one knew where he'd gotten it from, but they figured there were a couple of IOU's at self checkout.

Gary Gutzenheimer stood at attention, waiting for the battle to begin.

Aaron Faulkner decided not to give up drinking. 

At least not tonight.

He pulled a flask from his back pocket, and killed the contents in one gulp.

Daisy arrived, using the same insult Wilton had heard during the forklift apocalypse.

Wilton had no idea why SHE thought he was an asshole.

Sonny Brooks stood in the corner.  He looked scared to death.

Bernice and Penelope held hands.  Somewhere between discovering the note and the disco lights, they'd both lost their love of detective work.

Mitchell stood in the shadows, holding a gun.  He planned to kill someone, especially if it meant he could reclaim his sister, and his store.

Mickey Burger stood in the shadows, holding an IPad.  Little did anyone know the true capabilities of the Iris system.  He hit a button.

Receiving went dark, then light, but dimly.

Boxes flew from shelves, and racks shook as if they were dancing in the throes of a hurricane.

Everyone screamed, even the men.  Sonny Brooks dropped to his knees and prayed.  He was thanking God.  The place was haunted as shit, and he'd just doubled his money.

Something else pierced the darkness, something that rose about the screams of frightened humans.  The wail of a bird, a bird whose prey had been located.

Astro flew from the rafters, the man in the shadows his target.

A shot rang out.

Everything went dark.

See You on Halloween Night!

The creators of Tommy's Tool Town are putting the finishing touches on the new chapter coming this Halloween night.  Don't miss this spooktacular event, the likes of which are reserved for the finest in literary comedy.

Not caught up yet??

You'll want to be, as a few old times stop by to participate in the mayhem, as Mickey Burger wreaks havoc on the store in an overnight event not to be missed!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to tell your friends to stop by for a dose of laughter.

Tommy's Tool Town - Chapter 75 - A Bug in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush

Daisy Cates had absolutely no choice.

She had to leave Astro in the store, or she'd miss the meeting with Hannah and Toothless Louise.  Five minutes after hanging up with Hannah, Kitty had called in a panic and asked her if she'd come into the store to clean up an enormous plumbing mess.

Kitty had assured Daisy it had nothing to do with shit, and Daisy agreed to help.

The PVC pipes had covered nearly every inch of the store when Daisy had arrived, but with a lot of work, and a little dancing, they'd gotten nearly half replaced by ten minutes before eleven o'clock. 

Astro had been miraculously quiet, and Daisy could only imagine what the little bastard was cooking up.  He was, without a doubt, the most ingenuous and deviant bird alive. 

Five minutes later, Daisy faked a low blood sugar attack, which Stockwell totally bought, and she'd offered to do a food run.  She texted Louise, asked for a dozen burgers and twice as many orders of fries, and told her she'd be at Bitsy's in a flash.

If everything went according to plan, she'd run to Bitsy's, get the skinny from Louise, grab a greasy sack of cholesterol, and head back.  If everything went according to plan.

Which it never did.

Daisy let herself out through Receiving and walked through the dark to where she'd left her old truck.  The truck turned over three times and sputtered to life.

She tore out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell and hit the road.

All went well for three minutes, then someone pulled out in front of her.

Daisy let out a string of profanities that would have paled a navy man.

"Watch out, Astro, you trucking stream of Schlitz," the bird screamed, and Daisy damn near ran the truck off the road.

"No way," she grumbled.  The bird's enormous head filled the side mirror.  The damn thing was in the bed of the truck, but at least he'd left the store.

"Astro, Astro, Astro!" the bird yelled, and Daisy rolled her eyes.  She was an animal lover, a lover of all creatures, but she couldn't help but wish a piano would fall on that damn bird.

A few minutes later she arrived at Bitsy's.  The parking lot was full, which she found odd.  Didn't anybody work?  Why was everybody in a bar at eleven o'clock at night?  Didn't they have to get up early?

Daisy suddenly realized she didn't care.  She had enough on her plate.  She had a mystery to solve, and a bounty to collect.  She had to get herself out of retail before it killed her.

She texted Hannah, and went around back as previously instructed, but not before suggesting to the bird he stay put. 

Louise met her at the door.  She was wearing a new set of ill-fitting dentures.  She smiled like the Cheshire Cat.

"What the hell?" Daisy asked, recoiling.

"Won 'em in a hot game of hold 'em.  I knew I had it when I got pocket aces," Louise said, as the teeth clacked wildly together.

"You look ridiculous," Hannah said, from behind them.

"They feel great!" Louise said with earnest, as the bottoms flew out of her mouth, hit the edge of the sink and fell to the floor.

"They don't fit," Daisy advised.

"I'll glue 'em," Louise said, shoving the bottoms back into her mouth without rinsing them, an act that made Daisy and Hannah shiver.

"How's that food coming?  I have to get back before anyone suspects anything," Daisy said.

"You're gonna need to be back by midnight anyhow," Louise said, smiling the horrid grimace again.

"Says who?" Daisy asked.

"The putz with the designer jeans.  He says everything is going down at midnight," Louise advised, as the top denture launched.  "Shit, they really don't fit," she agreed, as she pulled the teeth from a pot of chili, and threw them in the sink.

Daisy made a mental note never to eat the chili at Bitsy's again.

"What did you hear?" Daisy asked, as she and Hannah sat on a couple of filthy stools.

"The putz called some guy, said 'Burger, if you hurt the girl I will kill you,'" Louise said.  "Then he says he doesn't know anything about any guns or any money, but he thinks some cat lady is up to something strange, says something about her grandmother lurking around."

"That would be Kitty.  She's a nut job but I don't suspect her of anything but loneliness and an obsession with shiny shit," Daisy explained.  "I don't think she's in on this."

"He mentioned some Stockwell guy, in fact he called Burger "Stockwell," and then, "Miles," almost as if he was looking for a reaction," Louise went on.

Daisy was impressed and said so.

"I watch a lot of crime shows.  When you look like I do, you don't go out much in the light," Toothless Louise said, and Hannah grimaced.

"You look fine," Hannah offered.

"You're a damn liar.  I have no teeth, frizzy hair, no boobs, and a butt that looks like I sleep on a sheet of plywood.  Don't lie.  Society has no place for an old biker who never gave herself a thought, but if I can help you solve this, maybe my life will mean something," Louise offered with a sigh.  "Here," Louise said, handing Daisy a small box.

"What's this?"

"The rest of the bugs.  I saved a fortune buying them in bulk.  If nothing shakes out tonight, you can put them in the store.  I'll monitor the whole thing.  We'll solve this thing and we'll do it together," Louise said.

"You're damn right we will.  Louise, you stay here and monitor the bugs.  Hannah, you come with me," Daisy demanded.  "We're gonna solve this thing, and we're going to do it tonight.  We've got fifty minutes to get back, get some bugs planted, find you a place to take cover, and see if we can solve the crime of the century."

"I thought that Lingburgh shit was the crime of the century," Louise said.

"It was.  It's a new century, and we're gonna make the news of this one!" Daisy declared, tucking the bugs under her arm, and grabbing two greasy sacks.  "Let's go, Hannah!"

"Do good, girls!" Louise said, offering hugs to both, who took great care not to touch her apron.

"There's a makeover in this for you!" Hannah offered, and Louise smiled a toothless grin.

Tommy's Tool Town - Chapter 74 - Bicentennial Larry

Slick Mitchell was pissed.  His sister had been kidnapped, his confidante was a wuss, and he was no closer to solving the mystery of who this Mickey Burger idiot was.

He'd gotten the text telling him to be at Tommy's at midnight.  He'd almost missed it between all the rants and complaints from Reeve Stockwell about some ridiculous PVC incident, and some exotic dancer bologna.

He didn't care about exotic dancers, not much anyway.  Granted, he always wondered when he got a wadded up sweaty pile of one dollar bills, from some toothless guy who looked likely to be arrested while lurking around a college campus, but it wasn't his business.  Money was money, regardless of whose thongs it had been tucked into.

Slick sipped his beer from the bottle, something he normally didn't do, but Bitsy's was the ultimate dive, and he didn't dare drink from a glass.  Louise, the star witness in what was likely a variety of crimes, was tending bar, waiting tables, and lurking around like a stalker.  Slick didn't like her, but figured she was harmless.

Sonny Brooks was ten minutes late.  Slick watched as he came into the bar, looking like someone who expected to be mugged any minute.  Sonny's eyes were wild and he looked terrified, and Slick imagined he'd spent more than a few minutes stuffed into his locker with his undies pulled up to his ears.

"You're late," Slick said, and Sonny sat down, but not before wiping the booth with a hand wipe he peeled from a little white wrapper.

"I know.  I wanted to make sure I wasn't followed," Sonny whispered.  Slick only heard half of what he said, and he rolled his eyes.

"Don't make fun of me," Sonny whined.

"I'm not, but if we're gonna do this, we have to speak in a volume that humans can hear," Slick advised.

In the kitchen, Toothless Louise's ears perked up like a rabbit in a game of prey and predator.  She listened closely.

"Larry isn't here yet, so you're off the hook," Slick said, taking a long pull from the bottle.  He called for Louise, who scurried over like a rat, and ordered another beer.  "You want one?" he asked, looking across the table at Sonny.

"No.  My wife hates it when I drink," Sonny said.

"You always do what your wife says?" Slick asked, and Louise circled like a vulture.

"You met her?" Sonny asked.

"No."

"Then don't criticize.  She's a peach as long as I behave myself."

"No beer for you, Sonny?" Louise asked, then paled.

"How'd you know my name was Sonny?"

Louise paused but barely missed a beat.  "I call everyone Sonny."

"Oh," Sonny said.  "I'll have a milk.  Chocolate."

Slick Mitchell rolled his eyes again.  If he didn't stop, he'd be facing some ocular disease, but after what he'd seen, he didn't think he'd mind being blind and led around by an actual dog.

"Do I look like I serve milk?" Louise asked.

"No," Sonny said softly.  "Can I get a Shirley Temple?"

"What are you eight?" Slick asked.

"Shut up," Sonny mumbled.  "I'll have a Coke."

"Certainly," Louise said, leaving in the same disturbing manner as she'd arrived.

"Who's Larry?" Sonny asked, recovering from the emasculation served up by the world's worst waitress.

"Larry Dale.  I'm bringing him into our confidence," Slick said.

"Bad idea," Sonny mumbled.

"There you go, talking in that grumbly shit I can't understand.  Speak up or leave.  I can do this without you, but I'd rather have your help."

"Larry Dale is a bad idea.  Kitty's crushing on him, and he says he's married, but I don't think so.  He doesn't act married, and he admitted to sleeping with Mick Daniels.  Maybe he's bicentennial," Sonny said.

"He's what?" Slick asked, trying not to laugh.

"Bicentennial," Sonny repeated.

"He's two hundred years old?" Slick said, nearly gagging on his laughter.

"No.  He's probably like forty two or so, but he sleeps with more than one species," Sonny said, and Slick let out a ferocious bellow of laughter.

"You mean bisexual and more than one gender," Slick said when he'd recovered.

"That is what I said," Sonny mumbled.

"Right," Slick said.

Back in the kitchen, Toothless Louise rolled on the floor clutching her sides, as Coke spilled over the top of an almost-clean glass, onto the floor.

"Sonny, I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but are you medicated?" Slick asked.

"Maybe a little," Sonny admitted.

"You are acting like a genuine dumbass," Slick said.

"The doctor says it's stress.  It's a situational disorder from working in a haunted location," Sonny explained, and Slick pounded his fist on the table.

Sonny jumped and almost peed himself.

"That is the kind of stuff that upsets me," Sonny whined.

"My store isn't haunted," Slick said.

"Is so," Sonny mumbled.

"Look it.  Larry Dale just walked in.  He is willing to help us crack the case of what's going on in the store, and he's willing to do it for the thrill of the chase.  If we solve the mystery, the money is yours.  You in, or are you too STRESSED from ghosts and shit to give this your all?"

"I'm in on one condition," Sonny stated.

"What's that?" Slick asked.

"If I hear any spirit voices coming from anywhere, like the intercom system, the walls, the phone or the computer, I'm out and I get the money," Sonny declared.

"You want the money if you hear weird voices coming from the paging system?"

"Yes.  It would prove I'm right, and the place is haunted," Sonny declared.

Larry Dale stood at the bar.  He waved when Slick looked over.

"I'll tell you what, Sonny.  If I hear weird voices coming through the paging system, thus proving your theory that my business is haunted, I'll give you the money and I'll double the offer, but that is never going to happen."

Somewhere a rambunctious parrot with a love of parodies was preparing to prove him wrong.

Tommy's Tool Town - Chapter 73 - Boom Chicka Boom

Reeve Stockwell made quick work of disengaging from JJ Patricks.  JJ was still irked, but she hadn't killed him, and that was a good sign.  He was headed back to Tommy's, and driving like a maniac, which was hard work in his old beater.  The thing sputtered and spitted, and backfired.

"Excuse you?" Gutz said from the passenger seat.

"Pardon?" Stockwell replied, not taking his eyes from the road.

"It's customary to excuse yourself when you've broken wind," Gutz advised.

"I didn't.  That was the car," Stockwell advised.

"Are we going to make it back?" Gutz asked.

"We are," Stockwell assured.

They did.  Stockwell and Gutz arrived at Tommy's Tool Town ten minutes past closing.  Stockwell knocked on the door and cringed when he saw Kitty approach.

She looked like she'd come through a hurricane.

"Hey," Kitty said.

"What's happening?" Stockwell asked.

"I rallied the troops, and we have about half the pipes cleaned up," Kitty said.  "A bunch of people stayed past closing."

"Seriously?" Stockwell asked incredulously.  It was difficult getting his staff to stay UNTIL closing.  He couldn't imagine the bribery involved in getting them to stay late.

"What did you give them?" Stockwell asked.

Kitty looked away.

"Kitty?" Stockwell asked.

"Well, Bernice and Penelope had to stay because Bernice lost her keys. Wilton offered to stay if he could have Saturday off," Kitty said.

"He offered to stay an extra hour in exchange for eight hours off?" Stockwell asked.

"Yeah," Kitty mumbled.

"You need to work on your negotiating skills, Kitty," Stockwell complained.

"You weren't here.  You weren't running the show.  I did what I had to do.  Mags came in, and Daisy came back.  Alejandro stayed, and Aaron Faulker came back even though he was out somewhere when I called him.

"And I'm here!" Gutz quipped.

"How did you know about it?" Kitty asked.

Gutz paused.

Stockwell didn't miss a beat.  "I called him."

Suddenly the paging system squealed, then went silent.  The store was filled with provocative music, the kind one usually heard on Saturday night Cinemax.

"What the hell is that?" Stockwell asked.

"Dunno," Kitty mumbled.

"Kitty?" Stockwell asked.

"I don't know!"

"Where is everyone?  I don't see a soul," Stockwell said, as the music blared on.  "Kitty, what the hell is going on in here?"

"They're in plumbing.  Everyone is concentrating on plumbing.  If we can get that cleaned up, we can move more pipes from other areas of the store," Kitty explained defensively.

"Good.  Now you're thinking.  Let's go check on them, and find out where this ridiculous music is coming from," Stockwell said.  "I feel like I'm in a Gentleman's club."

"There were some fine establishments during the war," Gutz said, and Stockwell just stared at him.

"Look it.  I've got my hands full.  Could you not start that war shit again, just for tonight?" Stockwell rather begged.

"I suppose I could give it a rest," Gutz said, as the trio walked.

"What war?" Kitty asked, and Stockwell shot her a look that not only got her to shut her mouth, but made her want to tape it shut.

"That's a story for another time," Gutz said.

"Thank you, Jesus," Stockwell whispered.

No one said a word for twenty steps or so, but as Stockwell rounded aisle twelve, he gasped.

"What the hell?" he whispered.

Granted, some of the pipes had been restored to their rightful place, but one slim, twelve footer had been fashioned into something not normally seen in tool stores.  Alejandro and Bernice were entertaining the others with their pole dancing prowess.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" Stockwell roared.

"Shit," Kitty whispered.

"Is this it?  Is this what you offered them?" Stockwell said.

"No."

"No, Kit?  You didn't set up some strip club in my plumbing department?"

"We are not strippers, we are exotic dancers!!" Alejandro quipped, gyrating to where Stockwell and Gutz still stood.

"Shut up!" Stockwell demanded.

"May I interest you in a lap dance, sir?" Alejandro asked, in a demurely sounding female voice.

"Get away from me, you freak!" Stockwell roared.

"Stop the name calling!" Daisy Cates yelled, and everyone shut up.  Bernice fell from her pole position, and someone cut the music.  "That isn't necessary.  These kids have been through hell tonight, and if they want to have some fun, I say we let them.  They're willing to stay until midnight to help get this cleaned up, and that says a lot, considering it isn't anyone's fault this happened.

Bernice and Penelope shot each other a knowing and relieved glance, which thankfully, nobody noticed.

Wilton Scott stepped forward.  "Did you know, sir, that pole dancing is considered to be wonderful exercise?  In fact, I once read something about church ladies who were dancing for Jesus."

"That's wonderful, Wilton.  Thank you for sharing that.  Does anyone else have anything?" Stockwell asked.  He seemed calmer, but he was that controlled angry, the kind normally seen right before one went completely insane.

"Did I miss the lap dances?" Aaron Faulkner slurred.

"Dear Lord, have you been drinking?" Stockwell asked.

"What I do on my free time is my business," Faulkner said defensively.

The paging system squeaked and squealed again, as if someone was playing with it.

"Who is doing that?" Stockwell demanded.

No one moved, and no one took responsibility, and everyone in the store was accounted for. 

"Alejandro, is there anyone else in this store, anyone that you know of?" Stockwell demanded.

"No, sir.  There's only thirteen of us, fifteen with you and Gutz, and the gang's all here," Alejandro explained.

"Daisy?  Can you walk the perimeter?  Let me know if you see anyone who shouldn't be in here," Stockwell asked.

"I will," Daisy said, lumbering away.

"Alejandro, Wilton, I am going to give you five minutes to get this damn pole down and back where it belongs.  Anyone who can drive a forklift, get back to Receiving and let's get the machines moving.  If we can get this cleared up by midnight, I'll let you all leave alive," Stockwell said, still sounding a bit like a madman.

"Anything I can do, sir?" Faulkner asked.

"Yeah.  Get yourself back to the break room and get yourself some coffee, and for God's sake, get a sponsor and get your act cleaned up," Stockwell said, and although he sounded pissed, he placed his hand on Faulker's arm.  "Honest to God, Faulkner, you're a great guy, with a good sense of humor, but you smell like a brewery, and you're going to rot your innards with that shit."

"Thanks, boss.  Means a lot coming from someone like you," Faulkner slurred, although not nearly as bad as before.

The paging system crackled again, and everyone turned their gazes toward the ceiling.

Daisy returned a moment later.

"Anything?" Stockwell asked.

"No, sir.  It's just us," Daisy assured.

"Then who in the hell is messing with the paging system?" Stockwell wondered aloud.

The crackling stopped for a moment and the store fell silent, but the silence lasted only momentarily.

"I LOVE ROCKIN' BOATS."

Daisy Cates went pale.

"Shit," she whispered.

Tommy's Tool Town - Chapter 72 - Rockin' the Boat, Astro Style

Reeve Stockwell looked down at his feet.  He knew he was about to get a lickin' from JJ Patricks.

"So, let me get this straight," JJ began.  "There are about a hundred thousand people within reasonable distance of where we're standing right now, and you chose that knucklehead for a partner?"

"Jeez.  When you say it like that," Stockwell mumbled.

"Well? I've got a point, right?"

"You do.  He's a good guy, JJ," Stockwell said, defensively.

"He thinks he was at the Invasion of Normandy."

"No one is perfect," Stockwell remarked.

"Are you for real?  That's your defense?  No, no one is perfect, but most people don't think they were killed in WWII, and then floated around in the clouds for a while, before being born into the Gardner family,"  JJ blurted.  She arched a brow and looked curiously at Reeve Stockwell.

"Who?"

"Gardner," JJ replied.

"Who's that?" Stockwell asked.

"Your Gutzenheimer's father.  His name is Richard Gardner.  He had one son, an odd boy, but bright.  He was obsessed with WWII.  They named him Jerry."

"Gutz is Jerry Gardner?" Stockwell asked.

"He is.  Gutzenheimer doesn't exist."

"Wow," Stockwell said in amazement.

"He spent some time in a facility," JJ said.

"How do you know?" Stockwell asked.

JJ smiled.  "I text faster than you walk."

"I didn't think anyone did anything faster than I walk," Stockwell said.

"Your CI partner was institutionalized," JJ said, and Stockwell frowned.

"Why?"

"He believed he was a German soldier in WWII," JJ said.

"Shit," Stockwell whispered.

"He was arrested once, too," JJ announced.

"Dear God.  For what?"

"Trying to break into Area 51," JJ explained.

"Terrific," Stockwell replied, sounding forlorn.

"We have a problem, Stockwell," JJ barked.

"I guess."

"You're stuck with him.  You brought him into this, but I am telling you, keep the reins in on him.  If he starts talking about the FBI, you need to commit him."

"I couldn't do that," Stockwell whined.

"You'll have to.  If you blow my cover, I'll kill you."

"Jeez.  You're vicious," Stockwell said, as a chill ran through him.

Stockwell's phone vibrated in his pocket, and he was reminded of the mess that awaited him back at the store.  He opened the phone and checked the text.

It was from Mitchell.

If you hurt Rachel, I'll kill you.

"What the hell?" Stockwell said.

"What?" JJ asked.

"Now two people want to kill me," Stockwell said.

He had no idea who Rachel was, but if he saw her, he'd steer clear.

"I'm sure that's not true," JJ remarked.

"Really?"

"I'm sure a hell of a lot of people want to kill you, Stockwell," JJ said with a smile.

Nice.

****************

Daisy Cates plopped down on the upside down bucket in the little barn she found heavenly.  A small goat laid by her side.

She hadn't told Hannah she already had a growing goat family.  She hadn't told Hannah much about her life now, but that was fine.  She'd reveal things when and if they were needed, or she'd just show up at the RV rendezvous spot one day soon with a bunch of goats, a bulging knapsack, and a very ungrateful macaw.

The bird had followed her into the barn.

"Astro!" the bird screeched, announcing its presence by using its name.  His name wasn't really Astro, but evidently, that's what he heard every time Daisy yelled at him when he insisted on singing in the wee hours of the morning.

"Shut up, Astro!" the bird hollered, and Daisy rolled her eyes.

"It's asshole," Daisy whispered, chuckling at herself.

Her phone rang and the bird began to dance excitedly.

"Hello, hello, hello," the bird screeched, and Daisy left the barn momentarily, slamming the door and trapping Astro inside.

"Damn bird," she mumbled, not realizing she'd already answered her cell. 

This had better be good.  I've only been home for thirty minutes, Daisy thought.

"What damn bird?" Hannah asked.

"Never mind.  It's just a crow," Daisy said.

In the distance, she could hear the bird freaking out.

"Astro! Astro! Astro!"

He'd pretty much nailed it.

"What's up?" Daisy asked.

"Louise called.  She's got more dirt.  Wants to see us at Bitsy's about eleven.  She said something's going down at the store about midnight.  Some well-dressed-preppy-looking putz was in the bar, yacking up a storm with some Burger guy, yelling and stuff.  That was all she'd say, but said she'll whip us up some sweet potato fries and homemade ranch dressing if we come on down and hear her out.  She says we have to be there," Hannah rambled.

"I've got stuff going on," Daisy said, knowing she shouldn't leave the goat.  He was new, and she wasn't sure what was going on with him.  And then there was Astro, who'd begun singing Joan Jett songs inside the barn.

"I LOVE ROCKIN' BOATS," the bird hollered, and for a moment, Daisy wished she didn't love animals.  She'd have liked to send the damn bird packing.

"What's that?" Hannah asked, and Daisy moved farther from the barn.

"Nothing," Daisy mumbled.

"I hear singing," Hannah said.

"PLUCK ANOTHER MIME FROM THE BOONDOCKS, BABY!"

The bird was on a roll.

She had to get off the phone.

"I'll meet you at Bitsy's at eleven.  I gotta go," Daisy said, hanging up the phone.

"I LOVE ROCKIN' BOATS!"

"SHUT UP!" Daisy screamed.

Tommy's Tool Town - Chapter 71 - Blue's Clues

Ten minutes after the failed jousting, the final PVC pipe came to rest just outside the appliance department. Kitty Richardson sat behind Stockwell's desk, staring at the security camera views of the entire store. Nearly every square inch was covered with pipes.

"Son of a ....-" Kitty mumbled. She opened her cell phone and called Stockwell.  He answered on the first ring and sounded distracted.

"I think I should close the store," Kitty said.

"Why?  Is your grandmother there?" Stockwell asked.

"Honestly?  She could be.  She could be buried in a sea of PVC.  I don't know how I'd know," Kitty whined.

"PVC?  What the hell are you talking about?" Stockwell asked, sounding suddenly interested.

"All the pipes fell in plumbing," Kitty explained.

"What do you mean they ALL fell?" Stockwell roared.

"I mean what I said.  Like every pipe fell and is on the floor," Kitty whimpered.

"Where are they?" Stockwell asked.

"The better question might be 'where aren't they?'" Kitty clarified.

"Who did this?" Stockwell asked, although he suspected he already knew.  Someone was trying to sabotage the store, or get everyone out early, but that wasn't happening.  Stockwell was already hatching a plan, and when Gutz was done being interrogated by a severely hormonal JJ Patricks, Stockwell was prepared to bring the conspiracy theorist into his confidence, and share his plans for the hours ahead.

"I have no idea who did it.  I think they just fell," Kitty said.

"How long have we stacked pipe like that?" Stockwell asked.

"I don't know," Kitty admitted.  "At least a hundred years.  That's how long I've been here."

"Nice, Kitty.  Fifteen years.  Fifteen years and this has never happened," Stockwell grumbled.

"I'll get it cleaned up," Kitty groaned.

"With what?" Stockwell asked.

"I don't know.  This shit is above my pay grade.  You need to come back.  You need to fix this," Kitty nearly demanded.

"I'm coming, but I'm still an hour away.  I'll be there in an hour and fifteen.  Don't screw anything else up before I arrive."

"Asshole," Kitty whispered, before hanging up the phone.  She was glad she was alone.  She really didn't feel that way about Stockwell, but he tended to overreact, and spent his wrath on whomever was in hearing distance.  She wondered if she should order a dozen fritters and have them delivered.

She didn't.

She did however, order a pizza and have it delivered to two old biddies who were probably fighting over primetime television.

There was no way in hell she could cope with that bullshit after a day like today.

****************

Mickey Burger was having a hell of a good time.  This was almost as good as the Slim Spin 5000, and that thing hadn't been easy to tamper with.  He was wreaking havoc, and he felt no remorse.

An eye for an eye, or so they said, Burger thought.

The PVC thing was amazing. 

He hardly had to do a thing.

He'd compromised the shelving, making the disaster imminent, but he hadn't planned on those two cart-riding ding bats to help his plan along.

And so well.

Thankfully they hadn't been hurt, although the skinny one looked like someone who'd just dreamed she was naked at school.

Burger made quick work of leaving the scene, pocketing a drill bit along the way, just because he could.  He still had a few hours of screwing with Slick Mitchell and his pathetic mother ahead of him, and he desperately needed something to eat.

Destroying someone's life and livelihood was hard work.

Bernice Lord still had the presence of mind to ask him if he needed help as he passed.

"May I help you, sir?" Bernice asked.

"I was having trouble locating PVC," Burger said, bursting into a fit of giggles as he walked away.

"Douche bag," Bernice said, loud enough that he could hear.

Burger didn't care.  He was having a fine evening.

"Who was that?" Penelope asked, crawling from beneath the PVC pile.

"Some douche.  You okay?" Bernice asked.

"I seem to be.  I may or may not have broken a nail," Penelope said, wrinkling her nose and examining the third finger on her left hand.

"All good?" Bernice asked.

"Yeah.  Just a chip," Penelope replied.

"What do we do about this?" Bernice asked.  She didn't have to explain what this was, not even to Penelope.

"We should call Kitty," Penelope said.

"Nope.  We are not admitting to anything.  As far as she knows, we're in Receiving."

"Are we?" Penelope asked.

"Are we what?" Bernice replied.

"Are we in Receiving?"

"Of course not.  We're in Plumbing."

"Then we're guilty.  They will blame us," Penelope said, sounding panicked.

"Disneyworld," Bernice mumbled.

"What?"

"It's what I say when I'm stressed," Bernice admitted.

"Why?"

"It's the happiest place on earth," Bernice explained.

"It is?"

"Not really.  It's all smoke and mirrors.  Underneath all the glitter, there's garbage everywhere.  People are rude, and the whole place smells like sweat and vomit, and don't even get me started on the rest rooms.  They all look like a shit bomb went off. 

"Jeez."

"No kidding.  I don't know why anyone in their right mind would eat Indian food and then ride a rollercoaster.  Talk about testing your bowels," Bernice ranted.

Penelope turned a slight shade of green.

"Shit," Bernice said suddenly.

"What?" Penelope asked, no less green.

"I lost my keys.  They're gone.  They're in this mess somewhere.  Come on, help me dig!"

"Seriously?" Penelope whined.

"Yeah.  You have to.  You rode with me.  You wanna be stuck here with this mess?  They might expect us to help or something," Bernice said.

"Jeez, Louise.  You're right.  Where should I start?"

"Here," Bernice said, dropping to her knees.

She dug frantically and came up with a quarter, a gum wrapper, a busted pen and a piece of paper with some doodling.  The pen was everywhere, and she found herself covered with ink. She flipped the paper over, trying to wipe her ink-covered hands on it.

"Whoa," Bernice said, standing up quickly.

"You find them?" Penelope asked, without turning around.

"No, but I found this!" Bernice said, waving the paper.

"You're all covered in blue."

"I know.  It will come off eventually.  Look at this."

Penelope grabbed the paper and read it quickly.

"What should we do?" she asked.

"We go.  It's a clue, and we need that money more than ever," Bernice said.

"Why?" Penelope asked.

"Because here comes Kitty and she looks pissed.  Now we're surrounded with PVC pipes, some of which are covered in blue ink.  We're totally fired," Bernice announced, taking the paper from Penelope's outstretched hand.

Bernice read it again before wadding it into her fist.  The clue was clear.

Receiving at Midnight.  If you're late, someone dies.