Note: All right guys these next two chapters I'm bouncing in between worlds here. So if you get confused lemme know and I'll try to make things clearer. Also, thanks to Toga for establishing Maggie in the fabulous fic "Swamp Call" (Which if you haven't read BTW go read now!). It saved me tons of time and space that I needed for other things.
Chapter Two
“Hi ho and welcome to The Muppet Show!” Kermit exclaimed to an enthusiastic audience at the Muppet Theatre.
He grinned and waited for the applause to die out. The house was packed with a record-breaking amount of people in attendance. This was the moment he lived for. Pleasing his fans and bringing happiness to others. All the heartache and headache backstage was forgotten in this single moment as he looked around at the still clapping audience. The noise died down and a buzzing replaced it.
Kermit groaned and rolled over. A green hand poked from the covers and slapped the alarm off. This was the fifth time this week he had that same dream. Not that it was a bad dream. He always enjoyed it albeit the dream did get stranger every time. Well he enjoyed everything except that part about the overacting female pig.
A glance at his clock brought his thoughts to the present. If he didn’t hurry he’d be late for work. Not that it mattered. He knew his long time co-worker would cover for him. With another moan he rolled over and began the routine that was the same day in and day out. Ever since he decided to ignore that Hollywood agent years ago and get what his folks called “a real job”.
A few minutes later he did a final check. He picked up a script he had written long ago, his house keys, banjo, turned off the stove, and walked out the door. Locking the door, he turned around as Croaker called from his front porch next door.
“Yo, Kermit. Headed for the Henson Fun Fest?”
“Technically, it’s Leland Family Fun Center and I am. I got a 10 hour shift today, not to mention two birthday parties,” Kermit answered while he threw his script and uniform in his bicycle’s basket.
“Whatever, the Henson’s own it and it’s supposed to be a …” Croaker began.
“…A place for everyone. A festival of fun for you and your family alike.” Kermit finished automatically.
“Say that’s good. You sound just like the commercial.”
“I was the voice on the commercial.”
“Oh yeah right. Have a good day.”
“Thanks Croaker. Call the Center if the tadpoles begin hatching. Mr. Henson promised I could take off and come.” Kermit said referring to Croaker’s growing family as he mounted his bike.
"Will do. Maggie wouldn't have it any other way. Hopefully, he'll actually let you off this time around," Croaker promised waving goodbye.
Humming an old song he wrote about rainbows he turned his bicycle towards the other side of town. Once a very small town. Leland hadn’t grown much since the first time he traveled this now busy dirt road. The old swamp had been drained to make room for housing and a few more stores had been built. Other than that Leland still had that small town flair to it. A place where everyone knew everyone else. He waved to Wilson and Pilgrim as he passed the Pet Shop and continued on. Horace landed on his bike handle to give him the latest buzz that was going around town. Even Dr. Krassman, Goggles, and Blotch sat in their usual spot in front of the local watering hole. All three nodded as he passed and continued on their conversation.
Kermit had definitely grown used to this place. Things weren’t so bad. That was if he ignored that nagging feeling that he was meant to do bigger things. It was just a silly impossible dream. Then again if it was so silly then why couldn’t he ignore how he felt?
Before he knew it he had pedaled up to a giant complex. If the local café was the watering hole this place was definitely where a person went to have something to do. The fun center had pretty much everything and brought plenty of tourism and money to the town. However, due to the unsightly large factory like look of the building and the noise from the go-kart track the town council had made the Henson family build it as far outside town as they could.
Go-karts, laser tag, arcade, bowling alley, movie theatre, paintball, animatronic characters singing annoying oldies songs all night, and more this place put Chuckie Cheese’s to shame. Squeals of delight and laughter filtered out into the parking lot as Kermit chained up his bike. He sighed as he slipped the button up Polo shirt with the company logo on over his head. Tucking his script under one arm and his banjo under the other he pushed the double doors opened and headed for the snack bar where he was to work for the day.
A dark haired girl in the uniform shirt and denim skirt looked up and smiled. Then she returned to the disaster at hand. Ice cream, cake fragments, and nacho cheese had exploded and landed all over the carpet, chairs, and bar itself. If the President Sam the American Eagle had seen it he’d declare the snack bar a national disaster area. Christyb tossed a damp rag at Kermit and he began scrubbing.
“Ho buddy, how convenient of you to be late today of all days. What was it this time Kermit that drew you away from the wild wacky world of a 4 year old’s birthday?” she stated brushing a stray strand of hair back into place.
“Just overslept. So what’s the status report?” he answered while grimacing at the “gift” of chewed gum under his flipper.
“Hmmmm…well we’re done with the party. Cake, presents, and the rest of the enchilada is done. They’re off playing laser tag and who knows what else ,” she began and motioned behind them, “ and Brian…I mean ‘Mr. Henson’ is discussing our fate.”
The last bit shocked Kermit. Rumor had it that the national frog leg restaurant chain of Doc Hopper’s was interested in a location inside the Center. He hadn’t for a moment believed it until now.
Christy sighed and frowned at the piece of whip cream coated hair that fell across her face. She rested on her feet with her back leaning against the bar and sighed. Kermit looked over at her curious. For a moment he wondered, no he hoped she was teasing. One look into his co-worker's eyes told her she was dead serious.
"Pull up a piece of carpet. I'd rather tell you myself than you hear it from him. Trust me it'll make you sick," Christy said softly as Kermit settled in beside her. Quietly he looked up and began to scrape forgotten gum off from the underside of the counter.
Sounds of the center echoed around them as they sat for a moment in silence. Kids, teenagers, and a few adults kept walked past chattering away. Crashes of pins falling could be heard from the bowling alley as sounds of the newest hit movie floated into the area. Squeals were heard as children hid from each other in lasertag and in the distance the animatronics show crooned old songs to the few who sat and watched. From outside airbrakes could be heard. The warning sign of a large busload of visitors.
“So, what do you know?” Kermit finally asked.
“We’re not fired…at least not as of this morning. The deal is for certain though. Brian was ranting and raving about how much business it’ll bring the Center. Seems as if Old Man Hopper wants to bring in his own staff though. Doesn’t trust us to fry his precious legs. Oh that sounded terrible, I’m sorry Kermit,” Christy explained.
Kermit laughed at her. As opinionated as she was it killed her to say a bad thing about anyone. Just another thing he loved about his wanna-be director friend, “That’s okay. Hey guess this means I’ll be free to sell that script.”
Christy stood up and restarted the cleaning process, “The one I read? The Muppet Movie right? It’s good Kermit, very good.”
They returned to behind the counter and began prepping for lunch. Pretty soon they’d be bombarded with hungry customers wanting some grease loaded high carb fuel to last them the rest of the afternoon. Suddenly Christy paused from loading the hot dog roaster and looked at Kermit.
“What are you thinking? I know you and you’re getting another one of those ideas. Out with it, you’re making me nervous.” Kermit stated while loading the Slushie machine with cherry flavored mix.
“Oh nothing. Just that we should quit our jobs and start casting. That’s all.” she said with a toss of her hand and a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Quit our jobs??!! That script is based off of a daydream! Not to mention it involves too much from real life. What are you going crazy?”
“Been there my froggy friend. I’ve been crazy. Hear me out. We both dream of show biz in one-way or the other right? We talk about it all the time. You know ‘What if this and What if that’. Let’s stop ‘what if-ing’ and do something. Let’s make that movie of yours!”
"Christyb you are nuts. We both have good stable jobs. I'd like to eventually meet some nice girl and settle down."
"Oh you mean that chick you met on Match.com? 'Butcher Shop Babe'?"
"She's a nice girl. What would you know about online relationships?"
"Do you even know her name?"
"Yes, she told it to me this morning on AIM. It's Pigathius"
"Pigathius? What kind of name is that?"
"I kinda like it. Unsual for a frog."
"Kermit, look at us. I'm covered in grease and...ugh....nacho cheese. We work in a cheesy, pardon the pun, tourist trap. You can't tell me you don't hate it." Christy said waving her tongs around.
Their discussion was stopped by the opening of the office door across the way. Both of them began to look as busy as possible while an ecstatic Brian Henson emerged with a very happy Doc Hopper. Christy and Kermit kept a close eye and ear on their boss. The two men shook hands jovially as Doc Hopper left through the front door. Kermit muttered something about talking it over later as Brian made his way over to the counter.
“I’ll take my usual,” he stated as Christy reached to make his coffee on the espresso machine, “It’s final. One month from now and this little thing will be the next Doc Hopper’s Frog Leg restaurant.”
Brain took his coffee and sipped from it. He waited for his speechless but yet captive audience to process the news. When they didn’t respond he took his cup and stood to leave. Just over his shoulder he called out, “Oh yeah, I’m sorry to say that we no longer have need of you here. We’ll be laying you off indefinitely until we can find someplace else here in the Center to use you. Turn in your shirts to my mother‘s office when you leave today. We begin remodeling tonight.”
Christy looked over at Kermit and asked, “Did he just do what I think he did?”
“If you mean we just got canned…then yes he did,” Kermit replied gaping at the direction in which their boss disappeared.
“Well, I’ll be. Guess we’ll have something to talk about tonight at the Phil's huh?” Christy asked staring blankly at the direction in which Brian Henson had departed.
“Something like that,” Kermit replied still staring and absent-mindedly pressed the start button on the slushie machine.
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