Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 2 Part 2: World's Saddest Delivery Boy

Chester's deliveries became more of the same after that. If he managed to avoid a Brawler he barely spoke at all. He'd even let the character slip from time to time. Only to hear a confused child ask why Chester was so sad and then they would laugh when he shot the kid a goofy grin. From the chilling winds of the Brawl Mountain to the creepy bowels of Mortis's Mortuary. Chester's trip was a dull blur of flavorless monotony.

It wasn't until his cart lurched from its parked patch of grass that he registered where he was. He looked up and saw a warm smile behind an old set of glasses. "'Ello hun. What seems to be the problem?"

Her British tongue butchered every syllable. He pushed one of his tassels aside to respond, "Well it's just..." Chester was apprehensive to speak about it. What if Rosa gets angry knowing he found out?

The dark-skinned Brawler dipped down low. Her massive bush of black hair bordered on purple and nearly swallowed the cart's roof, "You heard about Mike?"

Chester looked over and got an up-close inspection of Rosa's shirt. It was a bright purple crop top with thick straps across her shoulders. Though if you asked Chester it might as well have been a bra with how little it covered. He turned away and blurted out, "Yeah!" with a heavy flush across his cheeks. But he just as quickly realized his mistake and added, "No! I meant no."

"Relax, I ain't gonna tat on ya."

Chester breathed a sigh of relief. It's always nice to know that the Starrs aren't just dogs that follow orders. Though maybe it's also problematic that they are so rebellious. Chester would question the morality of their situation later, for now, he asked a quiet question. "Is it true that Dynamike was kidnapped?"

"Dunno. Your guess is as good as mine." Rosa looked around before leaning in even closer. "But word is they found a stick of dynamite outside the mines. And lil golden feathers."

If that wasn't the sign of a struggle, Chester didn't know what was. As the two continued to talk another woman stepped out from the greenhouse. Her bright orange hair was on full display in an afro similar to Rosa's. Though on a much smaller scale. "Umm Rosa. The children are getting restle-" Bea locked eyes with Chester and squeaked. She immediately ducked behind the metal wall.

Rosa and Chester shared a confused shrug. The elder lady shouted, "Ey. Don't go running away." Bea slinked further back behind her cover. Rosa sighed as she turned to Chester, "Don't mind her. She's just nervous. We had a lot o' guests today."

He managed a soft snicker as he turned back to the apiarist. He figured a bit of his character work wouldn't hurt. "Oooo-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho. Don't worry madam I'm..." She had completely disappeared. "...harmless?"

Chester sat back once more and noticed something in his peripheral. And orange tuff of hair. He jumped back just as Bea spoke up, "I know... I was just worried Mandy was here."

Chester was a bit confused till he remembered the events of the day just before. He didn't think that a Brawler would be so easily spooked by a bit of high-velocity honey. Chester quickly assured her that Mandy was still back at the shop. Far away from them. Hearing that made Bea perk up a bit though she continued to cower just behind the blue painting of the cart's exterior.

Rosa unloaded a few crates off of Chester's cart. She easily lifted them over her head with one arm and walked past. She called back to Bea and the two left without a sound. All that Chester was left with was the ambiance of the tiny forest they lived in. He sat back with his eyes to the sky. The rays of the sun were piercing through the foliage above. And for a moment he felt a hit of cosmic power rushing over him.

After his encounter with the botanists Chester finally got the chance to just cruise back to the candy shop. While he rode he interacted with many park visitors. Plus the occasional resident that still couldn't handle the superstars around them. At one point he remembered seeing a young girl with snow-white hair chase down a living cactus. To most an outlandish claim but for him just another Thursday.