Habak ni Doctor Quack

Chapter 11

It was a peaceful morning at Doctor Quack's clinic—at least for now. The air was still, and the quiet hum of daily life in the barangay was a welcome break from the recent chaos of beauty queens with runaway hair and close calls with the medical board. Pipoy, still half-asleep, was lazily sweeping the floor when he noticed a strange figure approaching the clinic.

"Dok," Pipoy called out, rubbing his eyes, "someone's coming, and they've got a huge box."

Doctor Quack looked up from his desk, intrigued, just as a delivery man appeared at the door, struggling under the weight of an oversized wooden crate marked with stamps from all over the world. The symbols on the box indicated that it had come from exotic locations far beyond the Philippines.

The delivery man let out a grunt as he dropped the crate onto the floor. "Delivery for Doctor Quack! Careful, this one's got some... interesting stuff."

Doctor Quack raised an eyebrow, immediately sensing something exciting. "Ah, this must be the package from my international supplier," he said with a grin.

Pipoy's eyes widened. "International? Dok, what kind of stuff are you ordering from around the world?"

The delivery man handed Doctor Quack a clipboard to sign, nodded, and quickly left, as if eager to be away from the strange package. As soon as he was out of sight, Pipoy crouched down next to the crate, inspecting it with suspicion.

"Dok, what exactly is in this thing? I don't want it exploding in my face."

Doctor Quack chuckled, grabbing a crowbar from the counter. "Don't worry, Pipoy. These are rare ingredients I've been waiting on for months. Some of the most powerful and... peculiar remedies come from these exotic lands."

With a swift motion, Doctor Quack pried open the top of the crate. Inside, packed neatly among straw and protective wrappings, were several curious bottles, jars, and small containers, each with labels that hinted at their mysterious origins.

Pipoy leaned over the crate, peering inside. "What is all this?"

Doctor Quack began pulling out the items one by one, his face lighting up with excitement. "Let's see... we've got Tears of a Happy Crocodile from Australia, Laway of a Gossiping Frog from Peru, Horn of a Sexy Bull from Spain, and... oh! Feathers of a Hypnotic Owl from the Amazon rainforest!"

Pipoy blinked, his confusion growing with every item. "Tears of a Happy Crocodile? Laway of a Gossiping Frog? Dok, are you messing with me?"

Doctor Quack shook his head, grinning. "Not at all, Pipoy! These are some of the rarest ingredients in the world. Each one has unique properties that can be used for a variety of cures and remedies."

He held up a small vial filled with shimmering liquid labeled Tears of a Happy Crocodile. "Take this, for example. Crocodiles aren't known for showing emotions, but in Australia, there are legends of certain crocodiles shedding tears when they're overwhelmed with joy. These tears can be used to create a powerful potion that brings emotional balance to those who suffer from extreme mood swings."

Pipoy stared at the vial, still in disbelief. "So... you're telling me that happy crocodile tears can cure people's mood swings?"

Doctor Quack nodded, setting the vial aside. "Exactly! And that's not all."

He reached for the next item, a small jar filled with thick, gooey liquid labeled Laway of a Gossiping Frog. "This comes from Peru. The frogs there are said to gather by the river and croak all night long, sharing 'gossip' about the forest. Their saliva has a unique property—it can loosen even the tightest lips, perfect for someone who's too shy to speak up."