Chapter 15
Stan swiveled out of bed, grabbing his glasses from the nightstand and stepped into his slippers, then began scratching himself as he started shuffling to the kitchen for some coffee.
"Eh, sounds like business is slow, I only heard the door once this morning...the heck?"
He had come to the kitchen to find Wendy, a different Wendy, and not only different Wendy but a Wendy sitting on his nephew's lap, sucking his face off!
She's dressed to kill! The boy doesn't stand a chance, she's too old for him! He folded his arms.
"Uh-HEM!"
The lovers broke and turned around, surprised to see Stan wearing a face even more unhappy than usual.
Oh-oh.
"Mornin' Grunkle Stan." Dipper held tightly onto her as if to say stay where you are.
"Mornin' boss." Wendy held on to Dipper's neck returning his squeeze, and lowered her eyelids. Show them no fear! Never let them see you sweat!
"If you want me to stay your boss we gotta talk." And he pointed to the shack office as if ordering her there.
Dipper slipped his arm under her leg and tightened his grip with the other arm and stood straight up lifting her out of his way, Wendy letting a yelp! out with surprise at his sudden strength, then he put her down standing her up so he could stand and turn to face Stan with an equally unhappy look.
"Anything you want to say to her Grunkle Stan you can say to the both of us. I know what you're thinking."
"Do you now? You don't even know what she's thinking. You think you do but you don't."
Wendy felt insulted and crossed her arms, she leaned forward. "Do you have any idea what you're talking about? "
But Dipper placed an arm in front of her. "I got this Wendy."
"Dipper, she's three years older than you. You think this is gonna last? She's had more boyfriends than the shack's got termites..."
"THAT'S IT! Listen Grunkle, if we want each other it's nobody's business but ours. "
"Ah but your business IS my business as long as I am your legal guardian at the moment, and you're under age."
Wendy chimed in again pushing Dipper's arm down. "So am I but you hired me without a work permit." Stan frowned even more if it was possible but said nothing.
She turned to Dipper. "Sorry Dipper, it was too easy to pass up." They smiled at each other.
"S'ok!" and he winked at her. Then he turned to Stan, but now his face was pleading, and his voice lighter.
"Grunkle Stan: This girl of my dreams gave me my first kiss. Would you deny me that?"
"And she'll give you your first heartache kid. That's what I want to deny."
"BUT EVERYONE GETS THEIR HEART BROKEN!" Everyone turned around to see Mabel. She ran to Dipper and Wendy and grabbing their hands placed them together, hand in hand.
"I should know! You didn't stop me from my first kiss from Mermando, or my date with Norman, or keep me from having the whole crew of Sev'ral Timez upstairs. Dipper deserves the same chance Grunkle Stan."
Stan looked at Wendy, still frowning.
"Wendy, you...you be careful with him, got it?"
Here we go again. She let go of the frown and relaxed her eyebrows, almost pleading.
"Stan, he will probably get tired of me before I do. I'm done shopping around. He's just started..."
"Wendy, I'm not shopping..."
She turned to face Dipper so Stan couldn't see her far eye, which she winked. Let me handle this one. He nodded.
"I know Dipper. But Stan needs to be reminded what it was like to be young."
"I remember. I remember girls like you who I loved dancing with, loved the same jukebox music, and were really hitting it off...until a longhaired psycho hippie Romeo came by and poof! Gone."
Mabel and Wendy looked at each other in new understanding. They went to Stan, one on each side taking his arms. Mabel spoke first.
"I'm sorry Grunkle Stan. But would you have wanted to be kept safe from getting to dance with her, never to have danced at all? Give my brobro a chance. "
"And me too." Everyone looked at Wendy now. "You think I enjoy breaking up with guys? You think I don't want stability and security? That's what I've been looking for and finally I realize it was in front of me all the time. Through bad and good, Dipper has stuck with me, even when I was dating other guys. Please don't deny me the guy that can finally still my restless heart."
Stan looked at Wendy and then turned to look at Mabel. Then he looked up at Dipper.
"I oughta have my head examined."
Wendy laughed. "Yep, you should."
Then they all laughed.
