𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼 Shorts

♔ BSK - D x OC - 10

"Come in, I've been expecting you!" A high, grating voice said.

We went in.

The man sitting at the desk could hardly be called a man. He was small, with a round face, beady eyes, and a permanent scowl. Despite his unusual appearance, an aura of malice and calculation surrounded him.

"Please, allow me to introduce myself," he said. "The name's Finlayson - Baby-Face Finlayson!"

Cuthbert's eyes widened. "You!"

Baby-Face grinned in satisfaction pleased at being recognised. "Yes, me! The meanest gangster around!"

"You took our school unfairly," Danny accused.

"Fairly, actually," Baby-Face corrected.

"You didn't buy it, so I say that's not fair!"

Baby-Face raised an eyebrow and held out a red tiddlywink. "Head bet it, and I won it. Fair and square. Don't challenge me!"

"But... Why close it down?" Fatty asked.

Baby-Face curled his lips into an evil smile. "Because I have plans for Bash Street! I'm going to turn it... Into an abattoir!"

"That's nothing to do with the group ABBA, is it?" 'Erbert whispered, but it was loud enough to be heard.

"No!" Baby-Face exclaimed. "I'm going to turn it into a factory! The sheep will be grown in very very small indoor pens, the mincer will dice them up, and bish bash bosh- add some pastry and you've got Finlayson pies!"

He gestured to the window, which had a nice view of Beanotown. "And I needn't stop with sheep," he continued. "I can see a nice pig in Dennis the Menace's garden! And look, some yummy yummy doggies out for walkies!"

Danny pointed a finger at Baby-Face with a hardened jaw. "You fiend! We will stop you!"

Baby-Face stopped smiling. "Stop me? How?" He cackled darkly. "Nobody can stop the meanest gangster in town! BABY. FACE. FINLAYSON!"

With each of his last words he flipped his tiddlywink up in the air, catching it perfectly each time. For effect, he slammed it on the table after his final word.

"Cuthbert," I murmured quietly in an aside. "Did you... did you see that?"

"See what?" Cuthbert asked.

I shook my head, my eyes still on that tiddlywink. "Never mind," I muttered.

I stepped to the front of the group. "Here, Finlayson!" I said loudly. "Cuthbert will play you at tiddlywinks. Double or quits!"

Gasps were heard, and someone grabbed my wrist. I shook them off and faced Baby-Face's intrigued expression square on.

"Double or quits?" He asked curiously.

I nodded. "Yes. If you win, you can have my parents' house."

Baby-Face broke into a smug grin. "You're on! We play tiddlywinks at high noon!"

Once we were all outside, I got a barrage of questions.

"You're getting Cuthbert to play Baby-Face Finlayson at tiddlywinks, double or quits?" Plug asked incredulously.

Sidney shook his head. "You're more nuts than Smiffy!"

"Baby-Face beat Head!" Spotty pointed out. "And Head's a tiddlywink grand master!"

I smirked. "That doesn't matter. Baby-Face cheated, and I've worked out how."

They stopped protesting, and surveyed me with interest.