Part 68: Chapter 10-4: The Mysterious, Mysterious Story

Part 10-4: The Mysterious, Mysterious Story

Sister Graaaaace!

Girls, you’re just on time. I need your opinion on something. Do you have any requests for the next church gathering?


Toward The Next Social

B-Both of you… You liked it that much, did you?

Yes, it was great. That last puppet show was so moving!

Same here! I want to see more!

In that case… Maybe we should invite an actual performer in to help us out…

Haha, that sounds like my cue! I heard what you just said, and you can leave this to me!

Huh? What do you mean?



I think we can expect a discount, too. How about I ask him and see what he says?

Yes, that sounds like a good idea. …One thing, though, Pamela, just so you know. I’m very particular about my puppet theatre! Before I was a nun, I was a professional puppeteer, after all.

What?! Really?!

That’s why your puppet show was so good! Finally, it all makes sense!

Hahaha, it’ll be fine. I’m sure they’ll more than satisfy you.

Very well. Let’s give them a try, shall we?

Okay! I’ll go and make the arrangements!

…They must be good, to win Pamela over… I wonder what they are like? I can’t wait to find out! Let’s see if they can move and stir my soul! Hahaha!



I guess her puppeteer blood is getting all fired up! Hahaha, if that’s a thing. Anyway, Lydie… ever wondered how these things get made? Grace’s were of cloth, and…

You know another puppeteer in town who makes very different puppets, right? Let’s go right away!


Pamela’s Request

Hmm, I see. So that’s what you’re into, Mr. Fritz?

Hey, I didn’t say that! I’m talking about puppet-making, that’s all…

Another guest? Shall I let them in?

Yes, please.

Yes? Who is it?



Uwaaaah! P-P-P-Pamela!



A magician never reveals her tricks!

Hahaha, never change. What is it? How can I help?

Good question! I’m here to request a puppet show from you.

I see, you want a performance. Where?

At the church. We hold these church gatherings, and we’d like you to be a part of it.

I knew it. The puppeteer you were talking about was Mr. Fritz!

That’s right. Fritz is the best puppeteer I’ve seen!

Heh, an honor that you think so… Very well. I accept your request. Hahaha! Drossel and I will put on our greatest performance yet, I promise!

Great to hear! I’ll come by again with the details soon. Thanks!

…Hahaha, this is exciting! Let’s start the preparations at once!

Mr. Fritz, we’ll be at the church gathering too.

We’re really looking forward to the puppet show already!

Leave it to us, then! Hahaha!

All’s well that ends well! Crazy laugh aside…



I can’t sleep, I’m so excited for it! Hurry up! Hurry up and hold it!

Calm down, girls. I am almost ready, don’t worry. Pamela has made the request, too. Now we’re just waiting for the puppeteer to be ready.

Uwah! I’m getting all excited waiting for this!

Please! Just don’t forget to let us know!



M-Me too! We’ll flood you out with our tears!

That sounds quite terrible… Hehe, don’t worry. I’ll call you when the day comes, just like before. Just wait until then, please. Alright?

Yes…



Anyway, Lydie! You know how we don’t have enough Coll to go around sometimes? Well, I thought of something that would help a ton!

A Lucky Coin, huh…? Looks like we’ll need some pretty primo ingredients for this one… but you have to invest money to make money, I guess!



Sigh… I guess this is the best we can do for now. Let’s get this done and catch some shut-eye after.

The morning after…


An Awkward Social

Hey, great! We’ll be right there!



I’ve been waiting for you, girls! Welcome to our Open Air Theater!

Open air? So it’s going to be outside this time?

That’s right. Sometimes, a change of pace can be nice. I think the puppeteer will be here soon…

Ah, here they come! We’re over here, Fritz! Drossel!



Sorry for taking so long to get here. We don’t come this way often.

You always chew others out for getting lost, Dad! So you shouldn’t be doing it yourself!

Hey, even I get lost sometimes! Ahem, anyway, we shouldn’t be doing this in front of the client.

Hehehe, let me introduce you. This is the host of our event today: Sister Grace!



It’s been… a while.

What’s this? You all know each other?

Yes… she’s my wife.

Whaaaaaaat?! Which means…

That’s right… And my mom.

I’m sorry, but can you please get ready? It’s almost time for us to start.

S-Sure.

Sister?…

…

One very awkward puppet show later…

Thank you so much! That’s the end of our performance for today!

Ugh… The long-awaited puppet show, and I couldn’t focus at all!

Me neither… This revelation about Sister Grace is just too shocking…

Sorry, Pamela. Can you handle the rest of this?

…No problem.

Mr. Fritz, can we ask… is Sister Grace really your wife?



That doesn’t sound like you!

Well, it’s true. We were so wrapped up in our puppets, we ignored her. We’ve been working to perfect the ultimate puppet show in order to explain our feelings to her…

But having seen her again, I’m not sure we can… She’s living a pretty full life now, isn’t she?

Yes… She might be happier if we just leave her alone.



Oh, Mr. Fritz! Drossel! Are you really sure about that?

Sister Grace is inside the church. I’m sure she has something to say about this…


Grace’s Regrets

It’s about Fritz and Drossel, correct? You girls really are so kind. …Fritz is my husband, and Drossel is my daughter. That is true. And I’m the one who made them unhappy… That’s a fact, too.

Unhappy? You mentioned something like that before. But what do you mean?

The two of them have suffered so much, all because I left them. Fritz and Drossel always looked so happy, talking about their puppets, with me on the sidelines. That made me so lonely, and so sad, that I just couldn’t bear it anymore… Honestly, thinking back on it now, I was just being bitter…

Oh, Sister Grace…

I’m glad to see them looking so happy now, though. That’s all I can ask for. Praise God!

Hold on! Aren’t you going to try and reconcile with them?

After all this time? Impossible. I wouldn’t even know what to say to them. Will you please give them both a message from me? Tell them to be happy.

… Psst. Let’s go home to mull on this, Sue.


Toward Reconciliation and Reunion

It annoys me! Makes me mad, to be honest! Why can’t she just be honest about her feelings? Mr. Fritz, and Drossel, and Sister Grace too! They’re all thinking of each other!

I know. They want to make up! But they can’t get past all of that history… It seems like they haven’t seen each other for a long time. They don’t know what to do.

But it’s so simple! All they need to do is say “I’m sorry”! Share their feelings!

Yep, that’s all. They just need something to trigger the whole thing.

Hmm, a trigger… I think there’s only one possible choice, right?

I bet we’re thinking the same thing! The only thing that can possibly bring them back together!

A puppet show!

It’ll probably be faster to persuade Mr. Fritz. He was hoping to use the show to win her back, after all.

Yeah, I think that’s the best approach. Let’s go and see what he says!

Race you there! Mr. Fritz! Drossel!



Don’t tell me! Monsters are attacking?

Nothing like that! Let’s put on a puppet show!

What? Where’s this coming from?

You need to put on a puppet show. To help you get back together with Sister Grace!

Look, I appreciate the idea… But, like I said, she’s living a full and rich life.

That’s right. We don’t have the right to damage the happiness she has made for herself. So I’m sorry, but we can’t. Sorry if you thought up any ideas.

The happiness she has made…? Sister Grace told us that she made you unhappy by leaving.

What? She said that?

And you two said that Sister Grace leaving you was your own fault, right? Both sides think it was their own fault… You actually want to apologize, don’t you? Deep down, you all want to make up and live together again, don’t you?



That’s why I think, if you can be together, you should! While you still can! Mr. Fritz! Drossel! You’ve finally, finally met up with Sister Grace again! In which case, don’t think about it too much! Just try and make up!

Lydie… Sue…

Of course… Because of your mother… Dad… I don’t think we can win this one.

Yeah, this isn’t like us… Hahaha! We need to use the greatest puppet show here…

And make up with Mom! Thank you, girls. You’ve given us the wake-up call we needed.

Great!

Let’s prepare, then, without letting Sister Grace notice… We need to surprise her!

Hahaha, a big surprise! In which case, we need to touch up the script and the puppets!

Ah… Girls, could you arrange a venue for us?

Leave it to us! I’m sure Pamela can help us sort something out.

Hmm. In which case, let’s make this reunion show a success!

OK!

Pamela is really important here… she knows the entire Weissberg family, and can help us sneak this under Sister Grace’s nose.


Making Up and Manzai

Yes, what is it? Some mischief? A surprise attack? Hehe, I can’t wait!

Hehehe, you’re almost right… More like, a surprise social! Another puppet show to get Sister Grace, Mr. Fritz and Drossel back together!

I see. I’ll help however I can, then!

Great! Thank you, Pamela! Now we need to think up an actual plan!

Right. How about we dress it up like a normal church gathering?

Hey, that’s a good idea… We’ll tell her that we want to organize one ourselves! So we’ll pretend it’s just a church gathering, and then bring out the surprise puppet show!

Great! This will knock her socks off!



Kyaaah! S-S-Sister Grace! I’m not planning anything!

Psst! Girls, it’s do or die! Just follow my lead here. …It can’t be helped if you overheard us. The twins want to hold a church gathering.

Ah, that’s right! You always work so hard on them…

So we wanted to give you a break and let you enjoy yourself once in a while.

Is that so? Well, there’s no need to keep it a secret! But in any case… Very well. I accept your proposal to hold your own gathering.

Great! Thank you, Sister Grace!

Not at all. I’m looking forward to it already.



Nice. Now we just have to wait for Mr. Fritz to be ready…

One thing, twins… Have you decided what it is you want to do?

Do? You mean, at the gathering?



Oh, that sounds hilarious! I can’t wait to see it.

Y-Yeah, that’s right. Ahem! “Young lady, is this the Soleil Street?”

“On my soul it is!” Hahaha!

Hahaha! That’s funny! I can’t wait to see more!

…Phew, it worked out somehow… Thank you so much, Pamela.

Hehe, no problem. One thing, though…



Uwah, no need to rub it in… I’m really embarrassed already!

A few days of practice and puppetry and penning later…


The Mysterious, Mysterious Story

Hahaha! We’ve made the ultimate puppets, and the ultimate script!

Really? Great! We’ve got the venue ready.

It might be a bit sudden, then, but let’s do the show tomorrow! The sooner, the better!

Well said. Tomorrow it is!

You should be looking forward to it as well, girls. Part of it is based on you!

Hehe. See you later!

Right. We have to let Sister Grace know!

Yeah!



Right, Sue. Are you ready?

Perfect! Off we go!



Ah, Sister Grace. Sorry for all the rush.

Oh, I don’t mind at all. This is your gathering, after all.

Hehehe! Good luck with your comedy routine!

Thanks! Ah, it looks like it’s time to start. We’ll see you later!

Gentlemen and girls! Boys and ladies! Welcome, everyone!

Calm down… ahem! We’re here to thrill you with our comedy, but first! We’ve called in two special guests! Here we go!



What’s this!

We’ve been called in by our hosts to put on a show for you today! For the most important person in our lives!

…!

Without further ado, then, let’s get started! Take it away!

Listen now, to our story of the friendship between four alchemists.
One is a kind girl who met a living book. Another, a lively girl who dreamed of the outside world.
And then, two twins, living together as they keep their promises to their departed mother.
The footsteps of home, in which they tread. The endless dream, for which they aim!
Do not blink, for fear of what you’ll miss! This is our ultimate tale. Its name…



Oh…!

Ohhhhhhhhhhh…!!!

Once all was said and done…

Ah! I’m exhausted! We had to do our comedy routine in the end, too!

That was unexpected, but the audience loved it, so that’s what really matters.



What! I didn’t think anyone would notice. I can’t believe you saw that!

I saw it too, actually, although I just covered for it.

Haha, you’re still not quite there yet. Your ad-libbing was so obvious!

Gah! As strict as ever, Mom…

Only because my love of puppet theater is as strong as your own!

Hehe. Come on, Sue.

Yeah. We need to go and practice our routine!

It’s too late for that now! Hahaha!

…Right! Firis! Later, we oughta drop by the Weissberg House and congratulate them for a job well done.

Yes! Especially since we were the stars of the show, in a way…


The Final Encore

A Mysterious, Mysterious Story! It was so great! You based it on us, too! It made me really happy.

We should be thank you you. You two live such rich and interesting lives! The perfect material for the ultimate puppet theater!

You said it, Drossel. The mini Plachta and new full-size Firis really worked well, too.

Haha! That Firis puppet suddenly coming out like that really surprised me!



Really? You didn’t? Well, it’s all for the sake of great entertainment. I hope that’s alright.

I guess she is one of the stars… I suppose I don’t mind.



Yes, to tell them how much we loved their show at the church. I’ve been their biggest fan for years!

Me too! It was so moving, we just had to thank them!

Hey, so you were in the audience? …Hold on! That means…



Ah… Ah! You can just forget all that!

Hahaha! Fritz, Drossel. The story about these two was really good, too, wasn’t it?

Yes. Whatever lies in their future, I’m sure they’ll be very happy. That’s why I ended it with a full-blown happy ending! Hehe, I’m very proud of that script.

You should be! I’m proud to have you as my daughter, Drossel!

Thanks, Dad! Now, seeing as you’re all here…

I know exactly what you’re thinking. Time to put on an encore performance!



Hold it, Firis. Don’t make fun of us!

I want to see the puppet show, but I’ve had enough of the stage for now!

Hahaha, no worries. Sounds like we’re up, Drossel!

You can count on me, Dad! Let’s move these folks right out of their seats!

Let’s!

Later that day…

It doesn’t matter how many times you ask! I’m not going to budge!

Please, Fritz! I know we can work something out!


The Puppeteer’s Deal

Now you’re just getting carried away. It’s not like this is a matter of life or death!

Oh, but it is! My life would be completely different! So… please! I’m begging you!



No! She’s an important part of the show. I can’t give her to anyone… yes, even you!

Ugh… Very well.

Phew, have you finally given up? You are normally so calm and collected, honestly…

How about this!



I do run a shop. Firis won’t take my charity, so it just piles up!

Pile away! No matter what you offer, I’m not going to sell…

I’m not asking you to sell her. I’m asking you to make me a new one! This is more than enough money, surely? Or would you turn down a paying customer, Fritz?

…Hahahaha! I give up. I can’t beat you, clearly. Very well. I’ll use this money to make you the ultimate life-sized Firis!

Yes! I can hardly wait!

…Boy, she hasn’t changed a bit, either. Firis is lucky to have someone who cares for her so much.