It was now Lunch Hour at the Thai Go restaurant, and mostly everyone was in the kitchen.
Anne and Olivier were working together as usual, with Olivier applying his own mixed potions
to enhance the flavor of whatever Anne was currently cooking over the stove.
Oum was chopping lettuce, while Sprig was jumping up and down.
"How can I help?!, How can I help?!, How can I help?!" chanted Sprig.
Sprig then jumped on Olivier (nearly knocking him, and Anne over.)
"SPRIG!" exclaimed Anne.
"CAREFUL, SPRIG!" exclaimed Olivier.
"Sorry. I just want to help." said Sprig. "CAN I help?!"
"It's alright dude, we got this." said Anne.
Sprig then hopped over to Anne's mother. "Can I help!?"
"Don't worry about it, pink frog." spoke Oum, focused on her work. "You're our guest."
Oum then hands Sprig a plastic cup filled with a liquid. "Why don't you sit in the corner with a Thai ice tea."
Sprig scowls as he take the cup, and sits in the corner.
"Ugh...I hate being a stupid guest. I wanna be...(*plays with the straw*) family."
Sprig then looked to see Anne's father walk in with some Lychee.
He broke open one, and playfully tosses a seed over to Anne (who caught it in her mouth.)
Anne laughs, and Bee made a 'Touchdown' gesture.
Anne then made a silent gesture to her father, and pointed at Olivier.
Bee winked and gave a thumbs up as he opened up another Lychee seed.
The Thai Man threw another seed, which Anne caught with her hand this time.
Anne then tapped on Olivier's shoulder to get his attention.
Olivier looked at Anne...who showed him the seed in her fingers.
She then made an 'ahh' gesture, prompting Olivier to blush awkwardly and open his mouth.
Anne threw the seed into Olivier's mouth, he swallowed the seed, and then gave Anne a thumbs up
(which prompting her to make the same 'Touchdown' gesture that he father did.)
Sprig groaned sadly, and began to sip some Thai Tea.
((*DING!*))
As the door bell rang to signal a potential customer, the Boonchuys went to greet them
Sprig quickly put his face mask on, and snuck out of the kitchen to inspect the new visitor.
"What's happening, Boonchuys?!" exclaimed a man. "Anne!?, Whoa!, I thought you were dead."
Sprig looked at the man, confused. "Eh?"
"HEY!, it's NED!" exclaimed Anne. "OLIVER, come out here! There is someone I want you to meet!"
Olivier walked through the beaded curtain from the kitchen, and into the lobby.
He stared at the strangely excitable man (who he swore he had seen somewhere before.)
"Ollie, Sprig. this is NED." began Anne. "This guy's our number one customer. He's been around for years."
Anne showed Olivier and Sprig a wall of photographs labeled as [#1 CUSTOMER],
and pretty much all of them had Ned in it (Even one with the Boonchuys from YEARS ago.)
"Wooow..." said Sprig, in awe.
"I was wondering who that guy was in every single picture." said Olivier. "Nice to meet you...Ned."
"Nice to meet you, too." said Ned, with a smile. "and, you arrre?..."
"oh, This is Oliver Clawthorne." said Anne, grasping Olivier's shoulders.
"I met him when I went missing. He helped me get back home...He's also my boyfriend!"
"Really!?, That's AWESOME! Congratulations, Anne!" said Ned.
Anne smiled as she hugged Olivier (who was blushing beet red.) "Thanks. I'm an extremely lucky girl."
Anne then released Olivier. "So, Ned. will you be having the usual today?"
"Actually, I'm not just your customer anymore." spoke Ned.
Anne looked puzzled. "Wait, what?"
"I bought a food truck!" proclaimed Ned, proudly.
"I wanna bring your mom's amazing cooking to all of L.A. She puts the "POW!" in "Pad Kra Pao!"
Anne smiled at this. "NEAT!, You guys are in business together?!"
"no, we're not." said Oum, her tone deadpan.
"I already told you, NED: We're just not interested in a food truck."
"But you've got the best Thai food in the country!" defended Ned. "and if we partnered up,
we could make so much money together! Couldn't you just share some of your recipes with me?"
"Absolutely not." said Oum, sternly. "Those recipes are for family only."
"sorry, Ned. but Rules are Rules." said Bee. "We even have to follow the same rules with Oliver,
who has his own family recipes of "herbs and spices" that we are now using for our food."
"It's true." said Olivier. "They cook it, I give it extra flavor."
Ned's eyes then lit up. "HEY!, I've got an idea: Why don't you come work with me?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" said Anne, grabbing Olivier protectively. "My BOYFRIEND works for MY Family, Ned."
"But-"
"sorry, Ned. but Oliver is our hired employee." said Oum, sternly.
"Our family recipes are off limits, and so too are his. "I have spoken."
Ned sighed in defeat. "Well...when you changed your mind, you know where to find me."
Ned then turned, and leaves the restaurant...Although he didn't go far,
as his *Thai on the Go* food truck was stationed right outside the window.
"Wow. He's literally parked right outside the restaurant." observed Anne. "That can't be good."
"It's not." said Oum, annoyed. "customers are very confused right now."
Sure enough, a man walks by and looked back and forth between the Restaurant, and the Food Truck.
And in a manner of minutes, the man's indecision leads to him becoming a sobbing mess.
"That truck has got to go." said Olivier.
Oum sighed. "I know he means well, but Ned just doesn't realize how he's hurting the business.
It's been weeks, and he still hasn't budged. (pauses) Oh well, I better start the khao pad. Come along, Oliver."
Olivier followed Anne's parents into the kitchen, while Anne remained in the dining room with Sprig.
"Oliver's right: Ned HAS to go." said Sprig.
Anne gave Sprig a stern look. "whatever you're thinking of doing, Sprig: DON'T."
"OKAY, okay, fine...just thinking out loud."
Anne leaves and rejoins her family and boyfriend in the kitchen.
...leaving Sprig ALONE.
"Okay, I'm here." said Anne. "What needs doing?"
As Anne's parents prepared food, Olivier was in his own space mixing beakers.
"I could use some assistance, Anne." spoke Olivier. "Could you hand me those ingredients over there?"
"Sure, dude." said Anne, as she went and handed Olivier the items that he needed.
"thanks. We have an "On-Line" order from this "Grub Grab" thing, and it needs to be ready in ten minutes."
"It will be." said Bee. "We've done this kinda thing before."
"so far, it's the only business we've had." spoke Oum, bitterly.
Bee grimaced, and stepped away from his moody wife for a moment.
The man then stepped near Olivier, and stood next to him silently.
"Sooo..." began Bee, trying to start a conversation.
Olivier glanced up at the man. "something on your mind?"
"a little...if it isn't too much trouble."
"Go ahead, then. I can do this and talk at the same time." said Olivier, as he mixed potions.
"what is it like...fusing with Anne?"
Both Olivier, AND Anne froze. completely unready for such a question (Anne especially.)
"Uhhhh..."
"Oh, is that too personal?!, sorry. but...I'm just curious." said Bee.
"It's a little hard to describe, dad." said Anne. "When it happens...our bodies and minds merge into one.
so our memory of being...Olivanne is kinda fuzzy. Almost like trying to remember a dream after you wake up."
"Olivanne?"
"That's what we agreed to call our fused form." said Olivier. "Anne thought it up."
Bee thought for a moment. "olivanne...I like it!"
"Thanks, dad." said Anne, smiling. "and, sorry we didn't tell you and mom before.
we were...well, *I* was afraid you two might think it was weird."
"well...it is kinda strange. Especially for me as a parent." began Bee
"but, we trust Oliver. and if you are okay with this fusion thing, then I am too."
Anne smiled, happy that her dad was so open minded
(though, she was still concerned over her mother's reaction.)
Just then, a Gold/Blue eyed Falcone flew into the Kitchen and began screeching.
"Olivier, could you PLEASE control your bird!" spoke Oum, mildly annoyed.
Olivier looked up at the Falcon. "Fleetwing says something is going outside."
"Does it concern us?" asked Oum.
Fleetwing screeched again.
"Looks like it: An angry mob is right outside the door...and so is-oh, Titan."
"What?" spoke Bee.
"SPRIG." groaned Olivier.
"Lūkchāy k̄hxng xe-" grumbled Oum, in aggravation.
Anne and her mother immediately left their posts, and walked out the kitchen.
Olivier would've gone after them, but he and Bee still had work to do.
Not long after, the two heard Oum angrily saying something to Anne.
(("Anne, this behavior is unacceptable. I'm doubling your chores. Don't let it happen again!"))
As Oum angrily returned to the kitchen, Olivier turned to Bee.
"The potions are ready. Can you apply them while I step out for a moment?" spoke Olivier.
"Sure! I may not be a "potion mixer", but I am good with applying seasonings."
Olivier quickly walked away, and into the dining room where Anne and Sprig was.
"-please stop or I'll be cleaning the bathroom with a toothbrush for the rest of my life." pleaded Anne.
"What happened?" spoke Olivier, already dreading what he was about to hear.
Anne looked at Olivier, a distressed look on her face.
"oh, not much. SPRIG riled up some potential customers outside by calling them "morons."
and, now mom is giving ME extra chores to do as punishment!"
Olivier briefly scowled at Sprig, before looking at Anne again.
"Anne, it's OKAY. I'll help you with any extra work you need to do." said Olivier.
"That is the part of the whole reason I am here, remember?"
Anne looked at Olivier for a moment. she then smiled, and hugged him.
"have I ever told you how much that I love you, Ollie?" said Anne.
Olivier smiled as he hugged his girlfriend back...but he then looked down at Sprig.
"Okay, SPRIG. mind telling me in your own words just what the heck you were doing?"
"I was just trying to help." defended Sprig.
"Define: "Help." said Olivier, crossing his arms.
"I was trying to make everyone think that Ned's food was dangerous to eat." explained Sprig.
"but as it turns out, SOME humans seem to like the idea of turning bright Pink!"
Olivier rolled his eyes. "Sprig, you DO realize that because of how Ned is advertising himself,
Most people probably think that he DOES work for Anne's parents."
"Yeeeah...And?"
"AND, if you make HIS food appear bad...you risk making OUR food look bad, too." said Anne.
Sprig widened his eyes in stunned realization. "cripes, I never even considered that."
Both Anne and Olivier exhaled sharply. "just knock it off, Sprig." said Anne. "let US worry about Ned."
Anne then looked at Olivier again, and gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "thanks again, Ollie. I owe you one."
Olivier smiled at Anne. "no problem, Annie. We're a team."
Anne smiled, but then looked at Sprig one last time. Giving him a facial warning. "Seriously Sprig: Knock it off."
Anne and Olivier then returned to the kitchen together.
Sprig then looked out the window at Ned's Food Truck,
and stroked his chin as he pondered the situation further.
He was certain he could do 'something' to help...
...He just needed to change tactics.
[Later That Night..]
Oum Boonchuy walked out of the kitchen and into the Dining Room, holding some disinfectant spray and a washrag.
However, she was mildly surprised to find an exhausted Olivier Clawthorne
laying against a chair, the tables ALREADY cleaned so well, they practically sparkled like a Diamond.
"Did you do all this?" spoke Oum, approaching Olivier.
"ye-yeah...I wanted to h-help Anne out with her extra chores." spoke Olivier, breathing heavily.
Oum put her cleaning supplies down, and grabbed a drink from a fridge.
"here." said Oum, handing Olivier a drink. "you must be thirsty."
Olivier took drink, opened it and gulped it down. "TITAN, that is so refreshing."
"You didn't have to do all of this." said Oum, as she sat down near Olivier.
"I know...but I didn't want Anne to be overworked because of Sprig's antics."
Oum scowled at the mention of the pink frog. "Is that boy ALWAYS so ill-behaved?"
"no, sometimes he's only mildly annoying." joked Olivier.
When Oum didn't chuckle, Olivier sat up and got serious.
"joking aside...Sprig has a good reason for acting the way he is."
"There is NEVER a good reason for bad behavior." said Oum (in full *Mom Mode.*)
"I mean, didn't his parents ever teach him any manners!?"
"I'm sure they tried to...before they were killed."
This statement immediately silenced whatever anger Oum still had for Sprig. "say, what?"
Olivier frowned. "I shouldn't be the one to tell you this...but Sprig doesn't have any parents.
They died long ago...so long, that Sprig can barely remember what they look like."
"what happened to them?"
"They were eaten alive by monster sized Herons." said Olivier, bluntly.
"It's also how Maddie lost her mother, too. Now she only has her dad and three baby sisters."
"that's awful." said Oum, feeling sympathy for both of the frog children
(even Sprig, who just a moment ago she was angry with.)
"That's just Amphibia." said Olivier. "Everything CAN, and WILL kill you.
And it's so common to lose friends and family there, that most are pretty numb to it."
"goodness. How in heavens name did Anne EVER survive in that place!?"
"I wonder that myself sometimes." spoke Olivier, briefly thinking back to his time in Amphibia.
"It certainly helped that she was taken in by the Plantar Family...which brings us back to Sprig."
Oum was silent as Olivier continued to speak.
"look...I get how frustrating he has been today." began Olivier.
"But I can't fault him for wanting to be part of your wonderful, loving family."
"but...he still has his sister and grandfather."
"But, NOT a Mom, or a Dad. which Anne DOES still have." countered Olivier.
"And I can understand that...a little too well for my liking."
"what do you mean by that?" inquired Oum.
Olivier sighed sharply as he thought back to his own past.
"You already know that I was technically adopted by my "mother." continued Olivier.
"That she found me as a baby, hidden within a hollow tree in a woods that one night."
"yes."
Olivier looked at the Thai Woman. "How did I get in that tree to begin with?
Did someone hide me in their prior?, and if so...Why?, WHO?"
Olivier rubbed his temples, exhaling again.
"I never doubted that moth-Edalyn, loved me as if I were her real kid." continued Olivier.
"But...I would be lying if I said I never wondered who my real mother was. OR, even who my father was.
Sprig once asked Anne: "Is it possible to miss someone you never knew?", and well...that question also haunts me."
Oum frowned, feeling empathy for both Sprig and Olivier.
"I guess because I had a mother in my life already...it never bothered me THAT much." continued Olivier.
"But, if I was in Sprig's situation. I think I might also be desperate to have the same kind of family Anne has."
Olivier then looked at Oum...and exhaled again. "Forgive me if I am overstepping my boundaries...
but I think you SHOULD be more motherly towards Sprig (perhaps even Polly, and Maddie as well.)
I am technically as much a 'guest' in your home as the Frogs are, yet you've treated me like part of your family.
and while I appreciate that...A LOT. I don't think it's fair to give me special treatment, and not them."
Oum paused as she pondered this for a moment. "I suppose that makes sense.
The woman then exhaled sharply. "okay...I'll shave off Anne's chores, and...TALK to pink-Sprig."
Olivier smiled...and so did Oum. "you are quite wise for a child your age...I am impressed."
"sooo...you're not upset over the whole "Olivanne" revelation, then?" asked Olivier, nervously.
Oum frowned. "I am...still wrapping my head around it. It isn't everyday that a mother witnesses
her only daughter merge her body with her boyfriend, and turn into a literal different person."
Olivier looked away, awkwardly.
"but...if "fusing" means you can protect her better, then I suppose I am okay with it." said Oum, finally.
Olivier widened his eyes. "heh. never thought about it that way before." mused the Witch Boy.
At that moment, the door swung open...and Ned rushed in.
"Hey, Mrs. Boonchuy! I'm here to discuss those recipes!"
Both Oum and Olivier scowled. "he's persistent, I'll give him that." spoke Olivier.
"NED. I really don't have time for your nonsense tonigh-" said Oum.
Ned looked confused. "Um...but your note said-"
"Note?, what note?!"
Ned shows a note that he had. Olivier was the first to take, and read the note.
He then reacted by angrily glaring in utter disbelief.
Without saying a word, he handed the note to Oum who read it aloud:
"Neddy, come to my restaurant right away. Let's discuss my recipes. Mrs. B."
Oum then glared with the same intensity as Olivier. "Mrs...BEEE!?"
The Thai Woman then crumpled the paper, and growls as her anger rises
(("PINK FROOOOOOOOOG!"))
[End of Part Twenty-Six]