7The rain drizzled down, plinking against the roof of the Mystery shack, leaving the twins to keep their adventuring indoors. Grunkle Stan was listening to the weather report on the radio, "Put on your umbrella caps this week folks! We're expecting quite a down pour!" The old man gave an exasperated groan.
"This is just great! How am I supposed to keep this place busy if the rain is just gonna scare away all the tourists?" He complained to the radio, which in turn, did not respond to him.
Suddenly the door flew open with a gust of howling wind, the water spraying inside as a figure with a heavy raincoat slipped themselves quickly into the shack, dripping water everywhere on the floor as they struggled with their umbrella.
"Wendy?! You were supposed to be here an hour ago!" Stan shouted.
"Sorry, Mr. Pines! I tried calling but the lines are GAH!" Wendy slammed the door shut, continuing to struggle with her red umbrella. "Close you stupid... AHA!" She placed it next to the door before turning around to look at Grunkle Stan tapping his foot with a very displeased look on his face. "Like I said, Mr. Pines, I tried calling earlier." She smiled sheepishly at her senior, taking off her rain coat to put ont the coat rack. "Anyways, there's something I really need to talk to you about."
"Oh yeah?"
"It's about my..." Wendy was interrupted by a loud crash coming down the stairs as none other than the Mystery Twins fought over the last slice of pizza.
"GIVE IT BACK, DIPPER! I CALLED DIBS!" Mabel screeched at the top of her lungs.
"GOTTA CATCH ME MA-OOF!" Dipper ran straight into Wendy, making his hat fly off, but luckily he hadn't managed to topple her. When he composed himself, he started to sweat uncontrollably at the realization of who he had just bumped into. "W-Wendy! Heh heh! Nice to see you again!" Before Mabel could interject, he tossed her the last slice of pizza, his appetite completely gone.
"Hey, kiddo!" Wendy smiled and ruffled Dipper's hair.
"Mabel and I are just watching some scary movies, if you know... you wanna join in?" Dipper was really hoping that she would say yes to it, she was just so much fun to hang out with.
"Aww, man dude! I'd love to, but I really need to talk to your uncle for sec." Wendy picked up Dipper's hat and dusted it off before giving it back to him. "Maybe later?"
"Uh, right!" Dipper glanced to the ground a little dejected. "Later then. Heh, heh."
Mabel ran up and snatched Dipper's hat, "COME AT ME, BRO!" Mabel called out, diffusing the situation for her brother.
"Mabel! Give that back!" Dipper ran after his sister, happy to be saved from the awkwardness.
Grunkle Stan shook his fist at his niece and nephew, "NO RUNNING UP THE STAIRS! YOU'LL BREAK-" Another crash resounded. "AH, whatever. I'm sure they're fine. What did ya need to talk to me about, Wendy?" Mr. Pines turned down the radio, not wanting to listen to police reports on a loose wild animal.
"Well, sir, there's a bit of family trouble at the moment." Wendy leaned on the counter. "It's pretty serious."
"You asking for some time off?"
"Nah, nothing like that, Mr. Pines. I just wanted to ask you if you'd mind my little cousin hanging around the shack during his visit. He's a sweet kid, just..." Wendy sighed, trying to figure out how to put this into words. "He's just been in a bad way."
"He ain't some little criminal is he? 'Cause if he is, I don't need some midget hooligan trying to get a five finger discount in my store."
"Actually, Mr. Pines, it's a bit worse than that. You see he's been in the hospital for a little while now because of certain... mental issues that he's been coping with." Stan gave her an uncertain look. "Nothing dangerous... or at least not to other people." Wendy finished, still trying her best to explain. It was something that was difficult for her to cope with. It was her own flesh and blood after all, and he's still just a little kid. She couldn't imagine what he could be going through to want to do something so horrible to himself.
Stan was taken aback by his realization. "Oh... oh no. Wendy, I-I'm really sorry to hear that." He put a hand on Wendy's shoulder to try and give her some sort of comfort. "Look, if you think he'd be better off running around here, then I don't mind, you have my permission, but know that you're responsible for him."
Wendy perked up. "Thanks a lot, Mr. Pines! I'll be sure to keep an eye on him!"
"Yeah, yeah. Now go clean up that puddle you made! I don't need some old crone trying to sue me for her broken hip!" Grunkle Stan walked back to his office to take care of some paperwork he had been putting off.
"You got it, Mr. Pines." Wendy quickly went to get the mop and bucket, unaware of the car that was pulling up in the Mystery Shack driveway.