Very sorry about the long wait! I've been very busy of late with oneshot requests, travelling, and holiday walks! Sincere apologies! In this chapter, Tex makes a monumentally stupid decision! I hope that you guys like it! 👍

—————

In the dining hall, Willy's Wonderland, at the present time ...

"ABSO-......-LUTELY NOT!" Tex Macadoo roared, his face reddening quickly and his eyes almost bulging from their sockets. The man's teeth were also bared, and his eyebrows were furrowed to their utmost extent.

"NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!" the white-suited businessman added fiercely.

He then became painfully aware of his present facial expression, his volume, and the odd looks that EVERYONE in the room were giving him.

Including the animatronics and the weasel doll.

A classic mistake, where people's mouths react before their brains do ... and extremely common in professional imbeciles.

Tex's face quickly became even redder, and he cleared his throat a couple of times. The restaurant owner hastily brushed his clothes down and smiled weakly, trying to look competent. Which he didn't, by the way.

Willy Weasel, like his crew; was biting back quite a few chuckles at Tex Macadoo's awkwardness and embarrassment. It was a bit of bore really, staying on the stage for most of the time ... but there were always 'compensations'. Like this for instance.

The big animatronic weasel shot a glance at his daughter on her counter, and was further amused by Willimeena's reaction. The little weasel pup had clamped her mouth shut with her paws, shaking with silent giggles.

Thankfully, none of the humans in the hall were looking at the aforementioned doll.

"What I meant to say, Mr. Thornby ..." Tex (who'd finally managed to get out of his state of awkwardness) spoke carefully and slowly to the man in front of him. "... is we don't rent out Willy's overnight for kids' parties."

The white-suited businessman put on an apologetic but shaky smile as he motioned with his hands. "Ummm ... fire code violations and all", Tex finished lamely, and then mentally cursed at himself for his feeble excuses.

He'd never been good at lying when frightened. And boy, was Tex frightened! Who wouldn't be with the devil himself on the nearby stage?!

Mr Thornby, unsurprisingly, wasn't convinced by the restaurant owner's blustering.

"But my grandson, Allister, wants to have a birthday sleepover here", he stated. The aforementioned man was bald, solidly-built, with steel-rimmed glasses, and a posh suit.

His arms were folded, and expression stern. A young, brown-haired boy dressed in a green shirt ... 'Allister' ... stood at Mr Thornby's side.

"Surely, there's some 'wiggle' room with those fire regulations?" Allister's grandfather suggested ... very meaningfully. Willimeena, who was listening, just huffed and rolled her eyes.

Oh great. Another parent willing to 'spend to no limit' for their beloved kid, she thought. Caring, they called it. Spoiling ... was what her dad and extended family called it however.

They had a particular dislike for spoiled, arrogant kids. Hopefully, Tex won't be so foolish as to give into this idiot's demands.

The aforementioned white-suited businessman hesitated for a moment; torn between his common sense ... and his inwardly greedy nature.

On one hand, this could be very financially good for me! Tex thought to himself. I could pay off all of my debts easy with the potential incoming profits! On the other, though ...

Tex Macadoo shot a glance at the enormous weasel robot on his left; and his face instantly became pale and haggard.

Willy Weasel was grinning like there was no tomorrow; full of a sick, twisted happiness that made Tex shudder to his boots. The weasel's daughter ... looked very worried, in contrast.

That blasted rodent looks like his best dreams have just come true, and I know why. I'll wager a dollar to a cent that his fiendish friends are having exactly the same thoughts too!

The restaurant owner then began to sweat nervously. If I let lots of kids near those monsters after closing ti-

"This should cover any permits we may need", Mr Thornby's impatient voice suddenly interrupted the white-suited businessman's terrified thoughts. Tex blinked and came back to present reality, just as a huge wad of notes were shoved into his hands by said man.

"But ... But ... But ..." The restaurant owner's protests slowly died away as he gazed at the huge amount of MONEY in his hands.

Willimeena mentally facepalmed at the look of greed that quickly replaced Tex's previous scared expression. Her animatronic family, on the other hand, were positively jubilant!

"I suppose ... certain arrangements could be made", the white-suited businessman remarked, grinning crookedly as he counted the notes in his hands. "And when exactly are you looking to have this little shindig?"

"Tonight, of course", Mr Thornby replied bluntly, pleased at the other man's sudden change of mind. Tex blinked in surprise at that statement.

"Tonight?" Eager beaver, isn't he? Cripes, I'd best get everyone together on this ... we haven't got much time to do it!

"I gotta tell Jed!" the restaurant owner muttered, turning and walking quickly towards the left side corridor. Mr Thornby just sighed, and then took hold of his grandson's hand.

"Come along, Allister! We'll be back at 8, Mr. Macadoo! I expect everything to be ready!" the solidly-built man called after the retreating Tex Macadoo.

Allister, on the other hand, was looking back at Willy Weasel. To the boy's astonishment, the animatronic weasel waved at him ... seemingly on its own. Allister waved back ... and then quickly tugged at his grandfather's hand.

"Grandpop, Willy waved at me!" Mr Thornby only glanced briefly down at him.

"That's nice, boy", he said, with disinterest.

———

In the restroom, 5 minutes earlier ...

The restroom door suddenly slammed open as Jed strode in.

"Hey, ......! You done in here?" he barked, his eyes scanning around the room. "I got some boxes need moved in the back ... whoa!"

The mechanic started a little as his gaze suddenly found the dead intern; propped up in the corner, by the mop and bucket. Jed whistled slowly as he looked up and down at the macabre scene.

"Impressive!" It was ... in a sick, twisted and disgusting way. On the wall, next to the intern, someone had painted a little figure holding a balloon, in red (a Banksy caricature).

"I'd know Arty's work anywhere", the mechanic muttered as he looked at the painting for another second. Jed then sighed and turned back to the dead intern.

"I TOLD them to stay away from the help", the man grumbled as he began to clean up. Maybe next time, I'll ask Willimeena to ask them not to do this again. She seems to have more of a knack to persuading them than I do.

"Better get this cleaned up before Tex sees it. He'll have a ...... aneurysm!" Jed quipped sarcastically as he mopped the floor with a vengeance.

Sometimes, the mechanic grew a bit tired of some of Jerry's crew's more 'reckless' antics.

———

2 minutes later, just after the visitors leave ...

"Jed? JED! Where are you?" Tex Macadoo called, the irritation clear in his voice. The white-suited businessman was now standing in the doorway of the 'Siren Sara's Enchanted Forest' room.

His hands were on his hips in a frustrated posture. Tex had been through most of the rooms of the restaurant, and hadn't found a trace of the slightly bolshy mechanic.

For Christ's sake, where's that blasted mechanic when you want him?! he thought.

Suddenly, the white-suited businessman heard the pitter-patter of tiny, soft feet behind him. They stopped, and then Tex felt little paws quickly seize his feet and jerk them off the ground. The restaurant owner crashed to the floor instantly, and lay there groaning.

"Oww!" He suddenly felt a little weight on his chest, and looked up. "What the ... hell??" Tex stuttered, blinking in surprise. "Willimeena?"

The said weasel pup was indeed sitting on his chest; giving the man a narrowed and fiercely cold glare. It was an expression that Tex had seen on Jerry's face a few times ... when something had happened to REALLY upset him.

Seems like Arabia's really unhappy ... I hope that she doesn't set her dad on me!!

"Mr Macadoo, we need to talk. Now!" the weasel doll spoke tersely and briefly. The restaurant owner gulped, and then smiled weakly at the possessed toy.

"Err ... delighted to do so, my dear ... but I actually need to fi-"

"NOW."

Just curious, what are people's opinions of Tex at this point? Vote and comment if you like it! 👍