Welcome to Round 17 of Tranquility Creek! As always, we begin with the Hannon family. Last round, Tetra was beginning to realize that having three toddlers at once was nothing compared to having three teenagers at once. She instituted a family curfew to try and keep them under control, but surprisingly her daughter Betta decided to throw caution to the wind and stay out late at the Romance festival, leading to her learning a new word-grounded. Meanwhile, Mikel continued to grow his bakery.
So, I take it things have calmed down a bit since I was last here?
Tetra: They sure have. In fact, we're all getting ready to go down and help out at the bakery.
Betta: But Mom...
Tetra: No buts...unless you want to lose your phone again.
Betta: Ugh...fine...
Mikel: All right, you three go ahead and get us ready to open...I'm going to head back and start stocking up.
Shark: But Dad...
Clam: Can you show us how those register things work again?
Betta: I don't even know how to turn the displays on...
This ought to be a show...
Customer: Excuse me, do you have anything vegan?
Clam: Um...
Customer: What about gluten free?
Clam: ...Sure.
Customer: Really?
Clam: I mean, I've never seen any gluten back there...what is gluten, anyway?
Shark: Hey! What are you doing in here?
Betta: I could ask you the same question...
Shark: I was just taking a little break...
Betta: To text your girlfriend? Dad is going to freak...
Shark: Please don't tell him...I'll do anything you want, I swear.
Betta: Huh...well, you know I wouldn't mind having a day or two off from here...
Shark: Where am I supposed to tell him you are?
Betta: Eh, I'm sure you'll think of something....
Mikel: Hey, since you've got your homework done, I need you to do me a favor. Can you swing by the bakery and move the harvest indoors?
Harvest?
Mikel: I planted a small garden behind the shop. I figured using fresh ingredients might help us stand out.
From all the other bakeries in town?
Betta: Dad...I was just there all afternoon...
Mikel: Come on, it won't take that long. Besides, it might be fun to be there at night...all by yourself...
Betta: Huh...ok, I'll go...as long as you let Mom know so I don't get in trouble.
Mikel: Sure thing.
Oh, right...Jimmy. I forgot about him.
Jimmy: Um...why did you want to meet here again?
Betta: Well...my dad wanted me to come do some errands here...but, I figured as long as I've got the keys...
Jimmy: Are you sure it's ok for us to be here?
Betta: Sure...we own the place.
Well, your dad owns the place.
Betta: Whatever...I'm going to own it someday;
Jimmy: So you know how to bake and stuff too?
Betta: Well...not exactly. I can make brownies, though! Feel like a midnight snack?
Betta: See?
Betta, maybe you shouldn't be using the bakery's ingredients to feed your...um, friends?
Betta: What? Dad's always saying he wants me to learn to do this too. What's the worst that could happen?
Does the word fire mean anything to you?
Clam: Dude...check it out!
Shark: What?
Clam: Some girl at school posted an invite to this huge party tomorrow night. Want to check it out?
Shark: And how exactly do we get out of bakery duty?
Clam: Um...
Shark: Exactly.
I'm sure your dad won't mind you guys taking one night off.
Shark: Ha!
Clam: Are you kidding?
Shark: He loves having us there. If we handle talking to all the customers...
Then he doesn't have to. Got it.
Shark: Besides, I've still got that stupid robot to build for science class.
That sounds fun, actually.
Shark: It might be, if I didn't have to do it at midnight....
Looks like you've got some help, at least.
Shark: Huh? From who?
Um...from me?
Shark: How are you going to help? You can't even pick up anything...
Man, it's swamped in here...
Mikel: You're telling me. Shark, where's your sister? I need her to help out front while I whip up some more stock in the back.
Shark: Oh, um, she's...still at school. Um...volunteering.
Mikel: That's a thing?
Shark: Yeah, she's helping raise money for...something...
Nice save, Shark...
Shark: Enjoy your afternoon?
Betta: Yes, actually....
Shark: How much longer are you going to keep this up, huh? You know, I can't lie to Dad for you forever.
Betta: Ugh...fine. I'll come down there tomorrow...but you better not say anything about where I've been going.
Mikel: What...what are you guys doing out here?
They appear to all be doing their homework, Mikel...
Mikel: Oh, right...well, I guess that's a good thing. Just don't take too long...the evening rush is coming up.
Oh, right...Tetra's here too.
You're writing in the bakery now?
Tetra: Well it's either this or never see my family...I know Mikel's passionate about this place but it seems like I'm coming home to an empty house every night. So, I brought my old computer over here.
Misty: I gotta say, those kids of yours have some work ethic...I can't even get my two to set the table.
Tetra: Well, be careful what you wish for. They spend so much time here I've barely seen them all week.
Misty: Really?
Tetra: Well, Mikel likes to have them here...I just wish he'd let them have a little fun time too.
I think they're managing to sneak it in...though you might want to wait until after the customers go home, Shark.
Tetra: Hey...can we talk?
Mikel: Yeah, but just for a bit. The kids and I have to get going...
Tetra: That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. I was thinking maybe I could do something with the kids today...
Mikel: But...who will work the register?
Tetra: I'm sure you can handle it for the afternoon.
Mikel: I guess I am pretty stocked up...I actually may have over-done it in the kitchen recently, actually.
Tetra: I'm so glad you said that...I've got a plan for that too.
Ahh, I see. Let's hope it goes better than the soup kitchen.
Well, this one's obvious...give the squirrel the cupcake...
What? When is helping the squirrels not the right answer? You should always help the squirrels.
Well, at least there isn't much time to let that trauma sink in...
So, where are we headed?
Shark: The park. So many of our cousins have little kids now...that arcade just isn't made for them.
Alright, well, let's get this done before we miss our chance. Happy birthday, dear Shark...
And I guess all that helping at the bakery paid off.
Not bad...
Shark: Um...I look exactly the same...
Can't a disembodied narrator compliment someone around here?
Betta: So...I had fun the other night.
Jimmy: Me too...but you're sure your dad didn't get mad?
Betta: Are you kidding? He didn't even know. In fact...I think I may have just found our new perfect date spot. After all, how can I be breaking curfew if I'm working?
Jimmy: I like the way you think....
I'm not sure if I do...
Tetra: Betta! Come on, we're going to get a picture with your cousins!
And with one last Hannon cousin shot, I guess that about wraps this week up! See you guys in round 17!
A Message From the Mysterious Voice: And so begins Round 17! (Or, the "Round of the Cats and Dogs". Just wait...) Mikel's bakery is actually doing pretty well. He even maxed his baking skill during the week. Of course, not having to pay his kids wages helps out with that. The kids really did spend every afternoon at the bakery-hence the reason we barely saw Tetra at all.
