Starlight Stories Rich and Love: Burns Song

Chapter 5: A Smithers is Not a Toy

The next day, after escorting Mr. Burns to his office, Waylon Smithers strutted through the plant on his way to his own office, a self-satisfied smirk painted on his face and his eyes alight with bliss. As he poured hot water into his mug and tore open a tea bag in the break room, he sang absentmindedly, "Oh what a beautiful mornin', oh what a beautiful day... I've got a beautiful feelin' everything's going my way... Oh, the sounds of the earth are like music...oh, the sounds of the earth are like music..."

Carl turned to Lenny. "Looks like Mr. Smithers got lucky last night."

Smithers blushed. "Is it that obvious?" He dipped his bag of tea in and out of the water. Sitting down with his hand cradling his cheek and setting his mug onto the table, he stared into the water as he swirled the tea bag around in it and said, "It was better than I ever dreamt it would be."

"Whoa, whoa, we don't need to hear it in lurid detail."

"I won't subject you to an explicit account, but suffice it to say, he rocked my world."

"So...who was it?" asked Lenny.

"It was that young guy you brought to the ball, isn't it?" said Carl.

"Ooh, yeah, he was dreamy."

"Huh? Oh, yes, uh – Kevin. Yeah, it was him."

Lenny said, "You're really smitten with him, aren't you?"

"Like you wouldn't believe." Homer walked in, and Smithers grabbed a big pink box from the counter and handed it to him. "Half of them are jelly-filled, and the other half are chocolate-filled. They're all yours, so go nuts," he said, giving a friendly slap on his shoulder. "Have a great day, guys!" he said, taking his tea with him and leaving for his office, a skip in his step, at least until he spilled some of the scalding hot water on his hand. But he didn't care about the burn as long as he had Burns.

He wasn't in his office for long before Mr. Burns called him in. He entered the stately office and quickened his pace, eager to get closer to his love. "Smithers, have these financial reports on my desk in an hour," he said, handing him a stack of papers and looking away.

"Whatever you say, sir."

"And don't get any ideas about tonight. Last night was a horrible mistake, and you are never to speak of it again!"

He lost his balance and nearly fell over. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I'm such an idiot!" He smacked his face. "How could I have let myself believe for a second I would find happiness?" He sighed. "I'll always have that glorious memory, though."

"April fools! And quite the fool you were. You should have seen the expression on your face!"

"But sir, it's...May."

"Don't be a spoilsport, Waylon!" He spun around in his chair. "But still...I don't want you to get the wrong idea about us. We are not now, nor shall we be, lovers. I have simply...expanded your repertoire of duties to me."

"And I'm happy to do it, sir." He went back to his office and prepared the reports and returned in 55 minutes. "I have the financial reports ready, sir. I've also arranged our accommodations for the upcoming conference in Paris."

He handed some papers to Mr. Burns, who reviewed them and said, "Good, good – ah, yes, excellent! Oh, wait, what's this? Smithers, what is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning of what, sir?"

"You booked us two rooms. Why would you waste my precious money this way?"

"Sorry, sir, I thought you might -"

"I don't care what you thought; just fix it."

"Absolutely, sir. I also have your coffee. It's still too hot, so let it cool a bit first."