A Different Point of View

The Mystery Fair

It was early morning, and a fair was being constructed outside the Mystery Shack.

"There she is, Mabel," Stan stated proudly, "The cheapest fair money can rent. I spared every expense."

"I know I say 'A dollar or less, but free is the best', but that doesn't necessarily apply to everything," Bella frowned. Dipper screamed as he fell down in a tram car.

"I think the sky tram is broken," He informed, "Also, most of my bones."

"Haha, this guy," Stan laughed. Dipper fearfully climbed out of the tram, "Alright alright, I've got a job for you two." Stan pulled out a stack of fake safety inspection certificates with 'A+' on them, "I printed up a bunch of fake safety inspection certificates. Go slap one on anything that looks like a lawsuit."

He handed the pile to Dipper, who gave half to Mabel.

"Grunkle Stan, is that legal?" Mabel asked.

"When there's no cops around, anything's legal!" Stan grinned. The twins walked off to put the certificates everywhere.

"Remind me how I ended up married to a convict?" Bella asked, folding her arms and glaring playfully.

"I don't even know," Stan shrugged, "Hey Soos, how's that dunk tank coming along?"

Soos was using a blowtorch on the handle of a dunk tank.

"Almost ready to go, Mr. Pines," He informed, turning off the blowtorch. Stan walked over and knocked on the target, but the seat barely moved.

"Ha! You've got it rigged from here to Timbuktu!" Stan laughed, "There's nothing on Earth that could knock me down!"

"Yeah, except for like, a futuristic laser arm cannon," Soos mused. Stan waved the notion off and patted down his suit.

"Hey, you haven't seen my red screwdriver, have ya?" Stan asked, "Darn thing went missing."

He started digging around in a toolbox.

"Maybe some magical creature or paranormal thing-um took it," Soos suggested.

"Oi! You've been spending too much time with those kids," Stan rolled his eyes and mumbled to himself, "Alright, let's see where I put that thing."

"Hey Stan?" Bella spoke, fiddling with her hands, "You're not gonna stay in that thing all day, are you? You promised we'd spend some time together at the fair today."

"Don't worry, I didn't forget," Stan chuckled, standing up and pulling Bella into a hug. He kissed the top of her head, "The dunk tank doesn't open till noon, so we've got all morning."

"Good," Bella giggled, "So, since you're all done setting up, can we go get some cotton candy?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," Stan nodded. The two of them walked off, holding hands.

They spent the last few morning hours of the morning doing various activities at the fair. Bella's mouth ended up covered in cotton candy, they played games, and rode rides (although Stan refused to go on the Ferris Wheel). Eventually, 12:00 rolled around.

"Sorry babe, but the dunk tank is opening in a few minutes," Stan said, looking at his watch, "I gotta go."

"Aw, alright," Bella pouted. Stan gave her a kiss, "Love you."

"Love you too," Stan smiled and walked off to get ready for the dunk tank. Bella finished her cotton candy and started wandering around the fair.

"It's 12 o' clock!" Stan announced through a megaphone, "The dunk tank is now open!" The tourists cringed and covered their ears when the megaphone screeched, "Step right up and dunk me, folks!" Stan pointed at a tourist eating a pretzel, "I'm talking to you, Cut-offs!"

The tourists mumbled angrily and gathered around the dunk tank.

"That's right!" Stan laughed, "Muffin-Top, High-Pants! Who wants a piece of me?" A couple of tourists threw baseballs at the dunk tank, but they failed to knock down Stan. Stan laughed, wiping a tear from his eye, "Come back anytime, folks!"

The day passed quickly and uneventfully. At one point Bella saw Mabel running around with a pig. A few hours later, Stan was still in the dunk tank.

"Ha, you suckers!" Stan laughed through the megaphone, "Your pockets are empty and I'm still sittin' high and dry!" The crowd booed loudly and Stan egged them on. Bella, who was sitting nearby, rolled her eyes. She looked at two guard-looking men, who were carrying away a man in a gray suit, "Hey, biceps! I'm talking to you, haircut! Take your best shot!"

One of the men shot the target with a laser, breaking it and causing Stan to fall in the water. The men walked off as the crowd began to cheer.

"How the fuck...?" Bella trailed off, turning to look where the men had left, but they were gone.

Nearby, Dipper and Mabel were talking. They looked at Wendy and Robbie, who were eating a caramel apple nearby.

"Oh jeez, I gotta deal with this all summer?" Dipper groaned.

"I'm on it," Mabel grinned and pointed the apple out to her pig. It squealed, running over and jumping on Robbie to get the apple. The boy yelled and dropped the apple, which the pig quickly ate. Robbie backed into a table and spilled a bucket of hot water on himself.

"My pants! They're shrinking!" He cried, running off. Everyone laughed, including Stan, who was still underwater. He coughed and popped back up above the water. Bella laughed, walking over to the tank.

"Alright, let's get you outta there," She smiled.

-----

That night, the Pines family was back in the shack. Stan was dressed in his undershirt and boxers, Dipper was writing in a book, and Mabel was playing with her pig.

"So who's this little guy?" Bella asked, walking over and rubbing the pig's head.

"This is Waddles," Mabel beamed, "I won him at the fair today! He's my new best friend."

"Oh no, we've already got one farm animal here, we don't need another," Stan said.

"No! Grunkle Stan!" Mabel whined, hugging Waddles close to her.

"Oh Stan, let her keep the pig," Bella rolled her eyes, "He's kinda cute. He can go home with the twins at the end of the summer."

"Ugh, fine," Stan gave in.

"EEE! Thank you, Grunkle Stan!" Mabel squealed, hugging him.

"But if it comes near me, I'm throwing it out," Stan grunted, but smiled lightly.

"Graunty Bella, can I borrow the kitchen timer?" Dipper asked Bella. She looked down at him and saw that he was carrying Soos's tape measure and some jumper cables.

"Uh, sure? I guess," Bella allowed, raising an eyebrow.

"Thank you!" Dipper called, running into the kitchen and returned with the kitchen timer. Bella went to the kitchen and grabbed a bag of chips. When she opened them and started eating, Waddles the pig came running in, oinking excitedly. Bella chuckled, stuffing a handful of chips into her mouth.

"Listen, Gompers learned it and you're gonna learn it, too," She began, walking into the other room. Waddles followed her, obviously trying to get some of the chips, "Rule number one: my food is my food."

"Waddles! Where'd ya go?" Mabel asked. She was sitting on the floor in front of a book spread open on the floor and surrounded in crayons.

"He heard me eating and wanted some of my chips," Bella explained. She held out a handful of chips and Waddles gobbled them up. She looked at the book Mabel was drawing in, "Whatcha got there?"

"Oh, uh, just a journal/diary me and Dipper share," The girl said, "But don't tell him I'm drawing in it."

"Hehe, ok," Bella chuckled, "I won't."