User blog:SaenihpNnylf/Can Someone Lend Me a Hand Chapter 4

So, for this chapter we decided to give Handy and Flaky a break that doesn't involve them dying so this whole chapter will just focus on our featuring characters Lammy and Mr. Pickels.

We still don't own Happy Tree Friends or any of the characters.

While this is going on, out in the outskirts of Happy Tree Town, Lammy is over at her own house pacing her bedroom as an animate Mr. Pickels sits on her dresser watching her. "I don't know why you're surprised about this. I keep telling you, other animals are trouble."

Lammy sighs and flops on her bed. "No, Mr. Pickels, they're not. I'm sure if you gave them a chance you'd see. Except Lumpy, if you see him, make him gone. As for Handy, I'm sure he has a reason. All I ever hear about him is nice."

"Trust me. I won't let that moose get you again, but they all call you crazy."

Lammy sighs and leans up on her elbows. "They wouldn't if you didn't play inanimate object whenever anyone else can see."

"Well, that wouldn't be a problem if you didn't keep trying to blame it on me. Everyone here gets killed some way or another, the only thing that makes you stick out is blaming it on me."

"Well, they keep looking at me like that. Getting all mad or scared and I don't want to be an outcast."

"I know you don't, but it keeps us both alive. Doesn't it?"

"Well, yeah but…" before she can finish the thought she is surprised by her telephone ringing. Lammy answers the phone, Mr. Pickels going completely silent. "Hello?"

Lammy froze in place at the voice that comes through the other end. "Hello, Criminal."

Lammy gulps audibly, trying to find something of a voice. "L-l-Lumpy?"

"I'm not a cop today, so you can calm down about that. This is about something else."

"Then why'd you call me a criminal?" Her voice was a bit smoother but her knuckles are still white, death gripping the table that the phone's cord now has her tethered to.

"Because you are one, I don't know your name, and I wanted to make sure I have the right number," Lumpy explains, contrary to Lammy seeming way to calm about it.

"I'm not a criminal! I told you, it was Mr. Pickels!"

"Good, so I do have the right number," he says casually, giving nothing else on the matter. "Now, down to business, I hear you have a habit that is very rare in this town of surviving many days on end. Is that true?"

Lammy glances at Mr. Pickels, her lip trembling, and wonders where on earth this could be going. Though, to be fair, Lumpy never gave her a sideways glance unless to arrest her. "Yes..."

Lumpy goes on making sure to never get Lammy any opportunities to cut him off until he wants her to be able to. "Then I have a proposition for you. As you may or may not know, there is nothing I care more about than money and with the current staff limiting the hours by dying, my diner hasn't been able to get as much as I would like it to and with you that would almost never be a problem."

It takes a moment for her to process that. "Wait... you tazed me in the eye, then broke my wrists... and now you want to give me a job?"

"I want more money," he reiterates being the only reason.

"I'm still not getting why I should. What's in it for me?"

"The fact that, with your existing criminal record alone, you could be locked away either forever or until you die permanently if it ever does happen. Even if you find a way to prove that pickle of yours actually is alive and responsible for the murders; that makes you an accomplice. However, it would be counterintuitive to do so if I need you for my own personal gain."

"And what criminal record would that be considering everyone in this town, including you, has killed someone?" Mr. Pickels shakes his head and walks away, not seeing the intelligence in provoking the moose.

"Which is why manslaughter isn't illegal or everyone would always be in jail. Murder, however, still is."

Something crosses Lammy mind from what Handy had told her, Mr. Pickels isn't the only serial killer in town. "What about Flippy?"

"That's none of your business. The fact remains that I can and will if you refuse."

Lammy sighs in defeat, since Lumpy's the only authority and she certainly does want to be arrested again, she doesn't have a choice. "Alright."

"Good, you know who has all the power in this town aside from the town itself. I'll obviously mostly need you for afternoons and evenings but come in first thing tomorrow morning so Petunia can show you how to do the job."

"I'll be there." As she hangs up she looks at Mr. Pickels who had just came back into the room. "I hate him."

"He deserves it. So, you're stuck with a job now?" he asks, having caught that though he could only hear what Lammy said.

"Yeah, I start tomorrow. It was that or be locked in jail forever." She groans.

"Well, he knows how to get what he wants at least."

Lammy nods. "He wouldn't have as much power over everything as he does if he didn't. So what're we going to do?"

"I guess whatever job he wants you to do until we find a better answer to that question."

Lammy frowns, finding leaving him at home the worst thing imaginable. "You're not going to get me in trouble again, are you?"

"I suppose I could refrain from killing anyone while you work if that's what you mean, unless you're in danger, of course." Mr. Pickels gives but seems unhappy about the idea.

"I suppose that's the best I'll get. At least I work with Petunia tomorrow."

"So, what is the job?"

"All I know is it's at the diner, I won't really know what to do until tomorrow."

"Well, that's better than what I was able to gather at least. He's not going to be able to stop me from coming with you though."

"Mr. Pickels, I'm serious though, no killing. From what I've heard about Lumpy, his bad side is the last place I want to be. Then again, so is his good side."

"I told you, I won't; so, I won't. Doing so there would only put you in danger which I would never purposefully do."

"Alright, I believe you, but first things first: we need to find the diner. I don't feel like getting killed because I got lost."

"Right, so let's go." He jumps onto her shoulder as she gets up.

Lammy walks out the front door and shuts it behind her. "So... any idea where to go?"

"It's probably closer to the middle of town."

"Guess we'd better get going then." Lammy sighs looking at the buildings off way off in the distance. She has wondered more than a few times if the location of her home though still in the cursed town had anything to do with her survival rate. "With luck we'll run into someone that can point us to it."

"Well, I suppose it would make it easier for us." Lammy goes to her car, trying to find her keys. A small tug on her ear draws her attention to Mr. Pickels who, with a flourish, pulls the key ring from under his hat, complete with a new handcuff key courtesy of their run-in with Lumpy.

"Thanks." Lammy takes the ring and unlocks the door, getting in the driver's seat and setting Mr. Pickels in the passenger seat. When she goes to start the car, she notices the handcuff key with a smile. "I really don't want to think about what I'd ever do without you, Mr. Pickels." As she starts driving and looking for the diner, a thought pops into her head. I'd have friends.

She shakes her head, which Mr. Pickels notices. "You alright, Lammy?"

"I'm fine."

Mr. Pickels just shakes his head. "Lammy, we've been best friends since you were a toddler; I know you better than that. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Mr. Pickels." She notices a rabbit walking down the street and pulls up next to him. "Hi, I'm looking for a diner. Do you know where it is?"

He looks at her. "You must be Lammy, Giggles told me about you. I'm Cuddles, her boyfriend." With the introduction out of the way he gives her directions from where they are.

"Thank you, Cuddles. It's nice to meet you." Lammy keeps an arm over the inanimate pickle as if it would do any good if he decides to kill the rabbit.

"Tell Giggles I said hi." Cuddles waves to her as she pulls away. Definitely Lammy, only tree friend I've ever seen that would have a pickle riding shotgun.

Luck still being on her side, she makes it to diner without incident. Lammy, Mr. Pickels on shoulder walks into the diner. Giggles is manning the counter and Petunia's mopping. "Hi Petunia, Giggles. I'm supposed to start working here tomorrow. Also, Cuddles said to tell you hi for him Giggles."

Petunia sighs and keeps mopping as she explains. "I should probably warn you about two things to prepare yourself for: first, since Lumpy's a cheapskate, unless for training they'll never be to workers on the same shift for any job." Confused, Lammy looks over at Giggles then back at her and Petunia realizes the source of the confusion. "Oh, I'm not working. The floor's just really dirty."

"Alright, and what's the second?"

"Giggles and I's least favorite part, especially considering how often it actually happens, if someone dies in the middle of their meal, you're required to take the money they owe off their corpse."

That one gives Lammy a moment of pause and chills. "So... if they die, we're supposed to rob them?"

"It's not really robbing, just the money for the meal. I know, doesn't really make it any better but it's what we have to do."

Lammy sighs. ''Not like I have a choice. At least Mr. Pickels promised not to kill anyone.'' She tries to shake off the chills from the idea of the task. "Lumpy said you're supposed to be the one training me tomorrow."

Petunia looks surprised, this being the first time she heard of this. "He hasn't..." Right then the phone rings and Petunia goes to answer it. "Hold on a second Lammy, Hello?"

"Giggles," Lumpy says on the other line, having not cared enough to learn the difference in their voices and understandably expecting it to be Giggles since it's her shift, and goes on before the skunk could correct him. "Next time you see Petunia, tell her she needs to train Lammy tomorrow."

Petunia, deciding there's no point in correcting him, just says, "Alright, thanks, Lumpy." With that, Lumpy hangs up and Petunia lets out a sigh. "Well, now he has."

"So, what time do you want us here?"

"Get ready and head over first thing in the morning." Petunia says forgetting that Lammy's new to town and doesn't know that is an actual time in this town or when that is, but Lammy's confused look catches Petunia's eye. "About the time everyone starts coming back from the previous day's accidents."

"Oh… when is that? I've only died once and didn't pay attention to what time it was when I came back." Now it's Petunia's turn to sigh. She even looks over at Giggles hoping she can help clear it up for the sheep.

"Five in the morning," Giggles tells her, since, though still rare, she does have to rely on that instead of just when she comes back to life more often than Petunia.

"Oh, okay. We'll be here."

"That's all for now then."

"Alright, we'll see you tomorrow, Petunia." Lammy waves and leaves.

Giggles comments to Petunia, "Is it just me or is it kind of creepy when she speaks in the plural like that?"

"Must mean her and 'Mr. Pickels'." Petunia rolls her eyes and puts air quotes around his name, not believing he's actually alive.

Giggles frowns, thinking back to the poker game. She would have sworn that pickle of hers wasn't there one second but then it was and she was completely alone at the time. She shakes the ludicrous idea off. She wasn't alone, in hindsight, the Cursed Idol was on Lammy's bookshelf and has done stranger. Once, when that thing was involved, it started raining monkeys, and then she was eaten by an earthquake.

Lammy gets back in her car, setting Mr. Pickels back in the passenger seat. Before she starts the car, she gives a heavy sigh, leaning her forehead against the steering wheel. "In hindsight, that REALLY should not surprise me."

Mr. Pickels, not having to worry about getting seen, puts his hat back on. "What shouldn't surprise you? I didn't kill anyone."

"No, that does surprise me. What we're supposed to do when someone dies."

Mr. Pickels shrugs. "If you don't want to do it, I will."

"You will?" she asks, looking up at him.

"Sure, not like I have a problem touching dead animals and with the times you're supposed to work besides this first day, there shouldn't be anyone around to see me."

"Thanks, Mr. Pickels."

"It's no problem, Lammy. I'd do anything for you."

"I know that. So, then this won't be too bad."

"So, what are we going to do today while you don't have a job? We could have a tea party, just the two of us this time. "

"Alright, sounds like a plan, Mr. Pickels." She pulls up to her house. "Let's get the supplies and tea made, then get started." Lammy carries her teapot, table, and chairs to the back yard, sitting down while Mr. Pickels jumps down to the chair across from her.

Mr. Pickels smiles, sitting down. "See, this is much better. We don't need other animals to have fun."

Lammy pours herself and him some tea. "Yeah, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

"Well, I guess we'll see what that has in store." He doesn't really have anything else to say on the matter.

"Alright, I'll let it go, Mr. Pickels. Still, it could be fun."

"Well, you've always been good at making it that way."

The compliment causes the sheep to blush, and she takes a drink of tea to try to cover it. "Thank you, Mr. Pickels."

'First thing' next morning, Lammy is woken up by Mr. Pickels prodding at her. "Come on, Lammy. It's time to get ready for work."

The sheep groans as she sits up, wiping the grit from her eyes and looking out the window. "Mr. Pickels, it's still dark out." He shows her the clock and she sighs. "I didn't even realize there was a time this early in the morning." She gets up and makes the two of them a cup of tea. "Well, here's to my first day."

"And at least it should be the only one this early," he says, giving her a cheers. "Just don't let that moose find out about your distaste for them."

"Yeah... I'd be stuck getting up this early every day."

"Shouldn't be that hard to keep it a secret though."

Lammy gets up and stretches. "Yeah, I doubt Lumpy even goes there very often. As long as he gets his money, he won't care."

"Yeah, especially considering he owns pretty much everything."

Lammy looks at the clock again. "If we don't go now we'll be late, come on, Mr. Pickels." Mr. Pickels puts down the cup and hops onto her shoulder. "You got the keys?" In response Mr. Pickels pulls them out of his hat and tosses them into her hand. "Alright, let's go."

They get in the car and she drives off, glad of two things: that she found out where the diner is yesterday and that she had the tea so she was at least more awake than she would have been.

As they drive, the streets are dead silent. They both chalk it up to being so early, but in that town it had an ominous feeling to it. "Kind of wish there was at least someone else out right now, it's kind of creepy since it's so lively during the day."

"Well, it seems the same as evenings when most are dead or dying just not as good because less animals are dead or dying though it's probably that everyone's just starting to come back."

"I know, but still... not a big fan of evenings either for that reason. The closer it is to noon the better. I may not be the most social tree friend, but with everything bear like this..."

Mr. Pickels climbs onto her shoulder as she parks. Time to get this started. However, as she goes over, she finds it locked. Realizing no one had given her a key and Petunia doesn't seem to have gotten their yet, she sighs. "Just my luck, I show up at the time Petunia said and she's the one late."

Then it clicks to them both that the skunk said to get ready first thing in the morning, not be there and in hindsight, for someone who died yesterday it would be impossible to be here at this time unless it's where they died. "Mr. Pickels... do you get the feeling we got here before we were supposed to?"

Since there's no one around to see or hear him, he admits. "Well, now I do."

"Should we wait here for Petunia?"

"It's really the only thing to do."

"I guess, but let's go sit in the car, it's a bit chilly."

"I agree." He nods with a small shiver. They both sit in the car waiting for Petunia, hoping it won't be long before she arrives.

Eventually the skunk does pull her own car into the parking lot. Lammy carries Mr. Pickels, who's playing inanimate object, and goes to the diner. "Morning Petunia."

"Good morning, Lammy!" The sheep frowns a bit, Petunia's way to chirpy for this time of morning. Petunia unlocks the door to the diner. "Also, Lumpy said to let you know you're not getting paid for training."

Lammy sighs. "Well, at least that seems to imply I will other days." That actually had been a worry that came to her mind more than a few times.

"Also, Lammy, I know you didn't like me telling you about Lumpy's protocol dealing with tree friends who die before paying... are you going to be alright with that?"

"I figured out a plan on how to handle it," Lammy says both truthfully and sensing a trap in the question.

"Alright, as long as you're ready to deal with it. To be honest, I was going to suggest what I do: have them pay first."

"That's actually a smart idea."

Petunia shrugs as she turns on the lights and gets everything set up. "We only have an hour before Lumpy shows up to make sure the doors are open. And I figured that might help, since I'm not fond of touching the dead either. Thought about having Lifty and Shifty work part time when Lumpy first told me, but they would've robbed everyone blind."

This is Lammy's first time hearing about the raccoon brother but between their names and the last comment, she figures enough out. "So, what needs to be done before then?"

"Lights on, freezer and cooler checked and stocked, tables cleaned, floors cleaned..." Petunia pauses. "I forgot, after you get the hang of working, you'll be afternoons, so most of this'll already be done. You know what, since you don't really need to learn that stuff, I'll get it all like usual. You'd throw off my routine anyways."

"Oh... alright. So, what am I supposed to learn while I'm here?"

"Mostly everything once the store's open."

Lammy sighs as she holds Mr. Pickels and tries to stay out of the skunk's way. “If that's the case, why was I supposed to be up so early?” Lammy mutters. “Probably because he hates me.”

Petunia interrupts the sheep's train of thought. "Lammy, Lumpy's not as stupid as you might think. Everything he does, he's got an agenda behind it. Knowing him, he wanted you to get the hang of the job working with me because of the time; this place can get much more dangerous as the day goes on, it's a popular place and sees everyone at some point or another."

"I've never doubted his intelligence. I don't get two things on that though: how it could get more dangerous later in the day and why does he care if it does?"

"Flippy tends to come in in the early to mid-afternoon; I had the misfortune to be working at the burger joint one day while he came in. It was a pretty good day up until that point, don't even think anyone had died yet; then Cuddles accidentally squirted ketchup on Giggles as Flippy walked in, it set him off. As for why Lumpy cares, if everyone working is dead, then he's not making money until he either sends someone else or everyone revives; it's a waste of money to him. He's even charged Mime for invisible drinks at the movie theater before."

"Oh, I haven't met Flippy but from what I've heard about him, I don't want to. That does make much more sense though and please tell me Mime gave him invisible money."

"Flippy really isn't a bad person, but it's who he is. As for Mime... no, Lumpy demanded actual money."

"It still sounds scary."

"A bit of advice: If you see gold in his eyes, get as far as you can from him, the only one who's stood against Flippy at that point is Lumpy, and it wasn't to save anyone but himself."

"Okay, I'll definitely keep that in mind."

"Other than that, there really isn't much to worry about. It'll be overwhelming at first since it's just you, but you get used to it quick, and most of us will be dead by that point..."

"That is a relief, at least." She does feel a bit of pain in her chest though. She knows it’s true and is one-hundred percent temporary but it seems wrong to be relieved about it.

"Also, keep an eye out for Disco Bear. He doesn't come in often, but it’s trouble when he does. Though he's been… odd… recently."

Lammy's ears perk up slightly at that. "What do you mean? Who's Disco Bear?"

Petunia is certainly surprised by the question. "You really mean to tell me that creep hasn't tried to hit on you yet?"

Lammy thinks a moment, then shakes her head. "Not that I can remember, but I don't really get out much. Who is he?"

Petunia just shakes her head. "You'd know him if you saw him, if not from his personality then from his afro."

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind."

As Petunia finishes, dead at seven, they both hear a click from the front door and turn to see Lumpy. "Good Morning Petunia, Criminal. Everything ready for the day?"

"Yes, everything's ready, Sir." Instead of having to actually look around and check, he just watches her eyes knowing that if something's out of place, she couldn't stop herself from pointing it out to him by obsessively glancing over there.

Lammy glares at the moose. "You know, my name's Lammy. If I'm going to be stuck working for you the least you can do is stop calling me a criminal."

Lumpy shrugs. "When you prove to me you're beneficial to have around, I'll worry about learning your name."

Petunia shot a look over at Lammy. She was practically asking for trouble. Lammy catches Petunia's eye, and the skunk shakes her head slowly. Even without words, the message is clear 'It's not worth it'. Lammy sighs inwardly, knowing she's right.

"I expect you to be here in the afternoon to work. Petunia, have you gone over what she needs to do yet?"

"Not everything yet," Petunia admits, knowing that if she says yes he'll either quiz Lammy or have one of them go home, leaving Lammy to flap in the wind either this shift or in the afternoon.

Lumpy waves it off, having already known the answer. Petunia's OCD meant she would've put everything as she wanted it before getting started. "It doesn't matter, just make sure she knows what she's doing before her shift starts. If anything goes wrong it's coming out of your paycheck."

He tosses Lammy an apron. "Whether they have actually met you or not, everyone knows about you and that pickle by now, so keep it in the apron pocket to avoid worrying anyone. I know how much revenue this diner brings in, so if profit drops too much it's on your head, not Petunia's."

"Understood, Sir." She tries to keep the contents of her stomach where they belong at calling him that as she puts the apron on and carefully tucks him into the pocket out of view.

"So, you do have some manners." With that Lumpy turns and walks back out of the diner, then turns around. "And Petunia, I don't want another washer incident; I had to pay to replace the last one. If it wasn't implied already, that money to replace it is coming out of your paycheck."

With that, Lumpy leaves. As soon as he's gone Lammy turns to Petunia. "How do you put up with that?"

"There are not really any other options. There are worse things to work for him as though," Petunia says, remembering what Giggles told her about working as a nurse when Disco Bear had his heart attack.

Lammy thinks back to Lumpy's threat before she agreed to work for him. "Yeah... I guess so."

Before Petunia can respond, Nutty comes jittering into the now open diner. Petunia gets behind the counter. "Alright Lammy, this is where the stuff you'll need to know comes up. Pay attention." Lammy watches carefully as Nutty climbs up onto a stool, almost knocking it over with how much he keeps jittering,

Petunia hands him a menu. "Lammy, like I said, it isn't too hard. And after a while you'll even start figuring out what the usually get. Like Nutty."

She waits until he opens his mouth, and says along with him. "A bag of sugar, a triple chocolate milkshake, and an extra-large slushy"

"And as I've told you before Nutty, we don't have Slushys." Nutty doesn't seem happy about the lack of slushy but nods vigorously on everything else.

Petunia puts a hand out for his money before bringing him his sugar fix. Nutty reaches into his fur pockets producing the right amount of money and giving it to her. Petunia quickly counts the money before dropping it in the register.

"All set, Nutty, enjoy." She gives him the sugar and shake, along with a straw. "I'm not even bothering giving you a spoon, just take it outside before you get it all over the floor again." Nutty just jitters out with the shake and bag of sugar but on the way spills the shake on the floor which, much to Petunia's disgust and even horror, he proceeds to lick directly off the ground.

Petunia proceeds to push Nutty out the door before grabbing the mop and scrubbing the floor. "Disgusting... disgusting." As she scrubs, she can picture all the germs from the sugar-crazed squirrel's tongue swimming around. "Why does this happen every single time he comes in? And Lumpy won't even let me ban him because it's 'bad for business'."

"Couldn't you give him a cup with a lid to make the spill less likely to happen in the first place?"

Petunia just looks at her. "There was a lid on that cup."

"Oh, I couldn't see it from this angle... wow."

Petunia sighs. "Like I said, you figure out pretty quickly who's good to have in here and who you want to leave immediately."

"Okay, so Nutty and Disco Bear, anyone else to keep on the list of who you want to leave immediately?"

"Well, most is personal preference but definitely Lifty and Shifty, though I'd be shocked if they're ever alive long enough to show up. If those two ever do though do NOT take your eyes off them both unless you feel like paying to replace everything in the store. They are banned, being the only ones we're allowed to since they just lose Lumpy money, but they don't seem to care."

"So, Lifty and Shifty are thieves and not allowed in the diner, Disco Bear because of the way he acts, and Nutty because of the way he manages to spill something on the floor?"

"Well, more the way Nutty has to lick the spill up. Though still a problem, he would be less of a problem if he just let the spill be but yes on the others."

"Alright, I think I got it... so pretty much just get their money and bring them what they want?"

"Also, and this is very important, come closer here." Lammy, her curiosity piqued, leans closer to Petunia. "Sorry, guess I kind of got your curiosity up for nothing, I more meant so you can see the buttons on the register. Anytime money goes into the register, you need to use these number buttons to enter how much. Are you good at math?"

"Not really, that's why Mr. Pickels keeps track of the score in card games."

Petunia sighs. "Well, you mostly just have to add prices for different items one customer orders to know how much they owe you and then count what they give you. Think you can handle that?"

If only Mr. Pickels wouldn't play dead when someone else is around... She knows that was exactly the reason for Petunia's sigh. "Yeah, I can do it."

"Good, you'll get quick at it pretty soon." Just then, she notices Toothy's car pulling in. "Okay, Toothy's usually pretty easy to serve, think you're ready to give it a shot?"

"I'll try." Lammy sticks her hand in the apron pocket and pets Mr. Pickle, trying to steady her nerves. She smiles a bit when she feels his hand pat hers considering no one can see him in the pocket.

As Toothy walks in and sits down, Lammy grabs a menu and hands it to him. She gets behind the register and waits for his order, a menu in her own hand so she can see the prices. He looks over the menu but had noticed the new face. "I don't think I've seen you before."

Lammy glances down at the register rather than meet the tree friend's gaze. "I'm Lammy, Petunia said you're... Toothy?"

"Oh, I think I've heard of you from Lumpy." He hesitates looking at her. "You don't look like a criminal though."

"No, I'm not. I just keep getting blamed for Mr. Pickels killing people."

"Mr. Pickels?"

Lammy's eyes widen, realizing too late she'd let it slip. "It... It's nothing, so are you ready to order?"

"Yeah, I'll have an egg and bacon plate and a glass of orange juice."

As Lammy checks the menu and hits the buttons Petunia watches over her shoulder. "The egg and bacon plate is a single item; you don't charge him for the eggs and bacon separately."

"I can see that."

Petunia sighs, then rattles off the prices to Lammy from memory. "You tried to charge him for a bacon plate and a plate of eggs. Sorry Toothy, it's her first day."

"It's okay. I'm in no hurry. So, what do I owe?"

Lammy adds it up correctly and tells him, glancing at Petunia to make sure. Petunia nods, and Toothy pulls out the money and hands it to Lammy. As she puts it in the register Petunia looks at her. "I hope you know how to cook."

"I do."

"Alright Lammy, the meats are kept in there." She points to a metal door at the back. "And the drinks and other refrigerated menu items are kept here." She gets the juice and eggs out of a nearby fridge. "Also, be careful in the freezer, only takes a few minutes to freeze and that door only opens from one side."

"So, if the door closes while I'm in there, I'm dead?"

"Pretty much, it opens in toward the freezer, and Lumpy decided he didn't want to spend extra for a handle on the inside. Handy tried once, wasn't even going to charge Lumpy for it, but Lumpy turned the unit back on. He 'didn't want to have to spend the extra money replacing any food that thawed'. For this shift, I can save you if it happens but after that… you're best hope would be to try to get the customer's attention, good thing it's not sound-proof at least."

Or hope no one's in here so Mr. Pickels will help. She shakes that off. He'd save her whether they are or not. She makes a note to leave him right outside the freezer whenever she goes in. "Alright, just bacon. If I'm not out in two minutes, come get me."

That draws a smile from Petunia as she pours Toothy's orange juice. "How about seeing the room before you decide how much time you need."

Lammy raises an eyebrow at that but goes over to it, now curious. She pulls the freezer door open and peers inside to find boxes all over metal shelves in a room as large as her living room. Just the draft cuts through the lamb's fur and sets a bone-deep chill. "Lammy, the boxes are all labelled and in alphabetical order clockwise, bacon's on the left of the door."

Lammy sighs, glad that they're at least alphabetized, and makes sure not to let the door close while looking left. Right there is a box with Petunia's writing saying 'Bacon', which tells Lammy that she should be grateful to Petunia because she's the one that labeled and sorted everything. She quickly opens it and grabs a pack of meat and hurries out of the freezer. Even just a few seconds has the girl shivering like a leaf from the cold.

That OCD of hers can come in handy, she thinks getting the bacon started. "Hey Petunia, Are you the one that sorted and labeled the freezer?"

Petunia looks up from the eggs. "Yeah, I convinced Lumpy that profits would go up if everything was in order. That and he got tired of having to do things himself, I kind of died a few times, I couldn't take the mess anymore."

"Well, thank you for that. Much easier."

Petunia chuckles as she puts the eggs and bacon on a plate and hands it to Toothy, along with some silverware and condiments. "You have no idea. You should've seen it before it got straightened up."

"That sounds terrifying."

"Only if you're trying to find something. Let us know if you need anything else, Toothy."

"I will." Toothy nods and starts eating.

"Well Lammy, that's pretty much all there is to this job."

"It is?"

"Yeah, pretty much just taking orders, getting the payment, and preparing the food. Any shipments the place needs are delivered in the morning so you won't have to worry about it."

"What about closing down since I have the last shift?"

Petunia fiddles with her air freshener. "I can't really help there... I've never survived until close."

"Oh, right, sorry. So, how am I supposed to learn what to do there?"

The skunk shrugs. "Beats me, since I have to open it most mornings I'm guessing someone shows up to close."

"I guess, and I can probably figure out."

"I suppose all you'd need to do is clean the place up and make sure the doors are locked."

"Makes sense, I'll try to get it as clean as I can so you don't freak out the next morning."

"Lammy, do you think you've got it or do you want to stick around and get a little more practice before your shift starts?"

"I think I do."

"Alright. If you want, at shift change I can stick around a little. It's been a while since me and Handy have eaten here. Assuming I'm still alive of course."

That gives Lammy a chill, having yet to get used to that at all. "I hope so."

"I think you would do fine if I'm not."

"Still, I'd rather not have anyone die."

Petunia actually laughs a little at that. "Yeah, keep dreaming."

"Yeah... I guess I forgot where I am now."

"It happens. It's just the brain in denial."

Toothy chuckles, reminding them both that he's still chilling on his stool. "Yep, sometimes I wake up thinking about what a great day I'm going to have. Then I open my eyes and it's gone." With that he hands his dishes to Petunia and waves to the duo as he heads out. "Good luck with the job, Lammy!"

"Thanks Toothy, I have a feeling I'm going to need it."

Petunia notices the worry in Lammy's voice. "You'll do fine Lammy, it really isn't hard. Plus you clearly already have phenomenal luck if that's what you're worried about."

Lammy smiles at Petunia and puts her hand back in her apron. ''It's not luck though, and Mr. Pickels won't do anything if he thinks someone will see him. He might be able to without being seen though. Just like how no one ever sees him kill them.'' She tries to brush the worries off. "Thanks Petunia. Well, I'll go ahead and head out."

"Alright, have fun, Lammy. Don't forget your shift starts at noon."

"I won't." Lammy nods heading out.

"Leave the apron here, Lumpy'll make you pay for it if you take it outside of the diner."

"Shoot, thank you." Lammy takes Mr. Pickels out of the pocket and takes off the apron and tosses it to Petunia, who tucks it under the counter.

"Try not to die before your shift starts, it's hard enough getting one person for each shift, let alone finding a replacement. I know that would only be your second death but the town would probably find that hilarious."

If that war vet decides to show up in a bad mood, I might have more than bad luck to worry about, she thinks, sending another chill through her body. "I'll try; see you at shift change, Petunia."

"Hopefully!" Petunia calls back.

As soon as they're outside, Lammy looks around, finding no one in sight. "All clear, Mr. Pickels."

Trusting her call, Mr. Pickels stands up and puts on his hat. "That wasn't as bad as I was thinking."

"Well, that was just the training. What do you want to do until we go back for the real thing?"

"We could go back home and play some poker. I disagree that it's not as fun with two."

"Sounds like a plan, especially since I'm probably going to be tired of meeting new tree friends by the end of the night."

"I'm already tired of meeting new animals," he says, though Toothy was the only ones they met during the training, it was one too many.