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It was closing time, and half of the Pizza Time Players had gone home.
Crusty and Pasqually were the only other two left, outside of Chuck of course.
The big C had become more irritated and irate during showtimes, and especially today, the rat was always breathing down their necks, (outside of Pasqually who would actually insult him back. Leading to him showing some respect for the Italian chef)
Crusty had finished wiping down one of the party tables when Chuck approached, a lit Cigar in his mouth.
“Oh!” Crusty turned around in surprise, “H-heya Big C! Y-you good?-“
“Ya missed a spot, nitwit.” Chuck cast an intimidating shadow over the frightened feline, Crusty had never seen Chuck this angry before.
“Oh I’ll go-“
“Shut it. I’m not done talking.”
Crusty immediately sat down on one of the dining room chairs obediently.
Pasqually walked in, glaring at Chuck, “Hey, boss! Leave the cat alone eh?”
“I’m not in the mood spaghetti.”
“And I’m not in the mood to deal witchu either! Now leave Crusty alone!”
“Fine.”
Chuck begrudgingly spoke, before then turning away and walking off.
“What’s wrong with the boss?…” Crusty sheepishly asked.
Pasqually shrugged, the Italian man was sick of dealing with screaming children, and having his pizzas smeared on the walls.
Chuck took a shaky drag of his cigar, his chubby body trembling before speaking.
“Henny’s been actin’ weird, she won’t stop building a weird nest in my office.”
“How long has this been happening for Big C?” Crusty asked.
“About 3 ta 4 weeks now…. I keep tearin’ it down, but she builds it back up. Gets annoyin’…”
Pasqually chuckled slightly, his moustache twitching softly.
“What’s da joke Pasqually?”
Chuck asked rather bluntly, his face visibly irritated.
“Oh-a-nothin’ boss..”
“I can tell when somebody’s lyin’….”
Chuck leaned over, the big rat towering over the tiny Italian before him. Chuck blew smoke directly into Pasqually’s face, leaving the man wheezing/coughing.
“What’s da joke,” Chuck jabbed his chest with his index finger; “Funny man…” Chuck asked threateningly.
“Y-Y’know she-“
“She what? Use ya woids Pasqually…”
“She might be laying eggs…”
Chuck's snout fell slightly, his whiskers twitching with slight horror and confusion.
“W-what?!”
“Yeah…. That’s why she’s nesting, boss.”
Chuck instantly rummaged in his vests pockets, rummaging for a quarter, he stepped towards a nearby payphone, he fumbled for a bit until a quarter emerged.
He thumbed the quarter into the slot, and dialed his home phone. And soon enough a soft female voice picked up.
“Yes? Who’s—Bawk, Bawk!—This?”
“Chickpea sweetheart, the boys are tellin’ me your ‘boutta drop a few.”
“Chuck I’m just—B-Bawk!—getting comfortable in your office.”
Chuck looked as if 100 pounds had been lifted from his shoulders, he smiled slightly.
“Alright, I’m glad there Hen.”
After exchanging a few phone kisses, Chuck hung the phone up, and turned to the other two.
“False alarm, now, clean this place spotless before I get back…”
Chuck's voice was low and threatening as he turned and left for his office, he opened the wooden door and stared at the weird mishmashed nest Helen had made.
The rat sat comfortably in his chair, being grateful that it wasn’t true.