Fool's Gold

Disembarkation

The bus pulled up to the shady, derelict shack that Dipper and his twin sister, Mabel, would be housed in all summer.  As they approached the entrance they were greeted by a man, roughly in his seventies, that introduced himself as their great-uncle Stan. He wore a full tuxedo and a red fez on his comically large head.

    "What's with the costume, Stan?" Dipper asked, a smirk inching across his face. "Did the Indonesian festival come early this year?"

    "I'd prefer you to call me Grunkle Stan, if you don't mind, and the hat's just for show. You see, I run a very classy business establishment," Stan said. Inside the building you could distinctly hear music accompanied by women singing. "I have to look the part, while still appealing to the audience. It's very hard running a nice club if..."

    "Did you say club?" Dipper asked.

    "Well, yes. But I only hire the best, and most affordable, showgirls for..."

    "Showgirls!" Mabel gasped. She had been a showgirl back in California. She never danced, but she did sing. She hadn't counted on Oregon having clubs too. "Grunkle Stan, can I please perform this summer?" You could tell she really wanted to.

    "Tell ya what, if you can wow them tonight, I'll let you wow them the whole season. Waddaya say, kiddo?"

    Mabel practically trampled Stan while dashing through the door. While Mabel had her whole vacation figured out in the first few seconds of being there, Dipper was still unsure about Stan. He didn't look like all his screws were in right. Nonetheless, Dipper had nowhere else to go but inside.

~ ~ ~

    The scene was right out of a dream. Not only were the dresses beautiful, but the women inside of them were even more stunning.

Just then he heard a beautiful voice. His body tingled all over, as if the melodious tune massaged his brain and released all the pent-up tension from his body. He turned his head and saw her. Fiery red hair, adorable freckles across her face, and about 3 years too old for him. He knew he'd probably never get her to fall for him, but he needed to know who she was.

    "I see you're admiring the attractions, Dipper," Stan said in a whispered tone. It made Dipper jump at the sound. "Sorry, did I scare you?" Stan mocked.

    "No, I just didn't expect you to be right behind me! Anyway, what did you say?"

    "Her name's Wendy, but don't try anything. Her boyfriend Robbie once shot a man for whistling at her. He's really dangerous, not one to mess with."

    "I'm sure that never..." Dipper's voice trailed off as he saw what Stan meant. The 6-foot beast that was Robbie met with Wendy after her performance and they locked lips. Dipper, somehow feeling even worse than when he got there, went up to the attic where he found his room. It wasn't extravagant, but it would suffice.

    His white shirt creased as he laid down, listening to the party going on without him. Not too long after laying down, Mabel burst into the room and broke the silence.

    "Oh my goodness, Dipper! Grunkle Stan is going to let me be one of the main showgirls!" she squealed. At least one of them wasn't planning on jumping out of the second story window.

    "Congratulations. Whose coffee did you have to spike to get one of the main parts?"

    "No one's, he just liked my singing. You know, he's not such a bad guy."

    "If he's not then why have we never heard of him until now? How come Dad never told us about him until this specific summer when he conveniently found someone to look after us across the country? Not to mention he owns a theatre in the middle of a Podunk town that I can't even find on a map."

    Mabel went silent. She knew Dipper was hard to talk to, especially after their father had disappeared two months ago, but she couldn't handle him now. "Look, Dipper, I know you loved Dad, I loved him too, but you have to get over it. Grunkle Stan isn't Dad."

    Dipper's eyes welled up and he screamed, "This isn't about Dad! Why do you always bring it back to that pathetic oaf?" Dipper stormed out of the room and out the front door.

    "Hey, Dipstick! Where ya goin'?" Stan asked. "The party's in here."

    "It's complicated, don't ask," Mabel said, coming down the stairs.

    "Complicated," Dipper mumbled to himself as he stormed out into the dark abyss that was the woods.

~ ~ ~

    The wind howled around him as he paced back and forth, flooding his mind with thoughts, ideas, anything that could distract him from the present. Mabel knew never to bring up that family splitting, two-faced, little...UH! He was considering just living in the woods until fall, but he couldn't do that to her. It'd break her heart in half. She loved embracing how close they were, and how being twins only strengthened their bond. If he were to bail, he'd never forgive himself. He would just have to stick it out for three months.

~ ~ ~

    On his way back to the shack, a slip of paper caught his eye. It was old and crumpled, yet it was laying out in front of the building, as if it'd just been put there not too long ago. On the page were three words that changed Dipper's perception on everything that had just happened: Trust no one!