Chapter 27: The Contest

Princess was scared.

More scared than she'd ever been in her whole life. And she'd competed in spelling bees, soccer championships, debates, mock senates, mock United Nations, mock trials--she hadn't even felt 1/10th this scared when she'd made her graduation speech in front of all those people. She realized that all those things that she'd done in the past were done for other people, but this was for her. All of her hopes and dreams depended on her actions.

It only made her feel worse when she noticed how many people were lining up outside. And the pain wasn't only rooted in the number of people, but what people. Many of them were people she knew. Almost everyone she'd ever met in this town was out there…well, except for her mother. But she expected that.

But what she didn't expect was--

"Akira Taberu…Chucky, that's Akira Taberu!"

"Who's Akira Taberu?"--Chucky said.--"From your tone, I know you expect me to know who that is, but I don't, I'm sorry, as you know, I've lived somewhat of a sheltered life, and I've spent my time learning about computers and aliens and ghosts and--"

"I don't expect you to know who he is, Chucky, but…I just can't believe he's out there. He's…he's the greatest gluttonist in the world. About a year ago he starting winning every food eating contest in Japan, now he's starting to travel the world, and he's winning everywhere. He's unstoppable." Her heart beat even faster when the realization tickled her. "I wonder if he's going to compete! How could I stop from staring at him enough to eat?"

"Hey Princess, I don't mean to pry, but do you have a crush on him, or is this more of an idol--"

"It's mostly that I respect his work, but he is really cute."

"I am?" That voice.

Princess turned around.

Akira Taberu stood behind her, along with the Cowboy, and a camera crew.

Princess opened her mouth to speak, but she found herself gnawing on a head of lettuce instead that she'd pulled from under her shirt.

"Hope ya don't mind, but we let ourselves in," the Cowboy said.

Princess shook her head and smiled.

"My Uncle told me so much about this place," Akira said. "He's never talked so fondly about a restaurant. And when I heard about your eating contest, how could I resist?"

"Uh…uh…thank you." Princess was glad that she managed that.

"By the way," Akira said, "the Eating Channel is following me around America. They want to make some sort of special about all the contests I compete in. With your permission, I'd like them to include this one as well."

"I…uh…I…uh…" Princess smiled and nodded.

***

Ein lost himself in his cooking--at least, he lost part of himself. The part that remained didn't worry about his problems. He didn't even think about what Daisy said to him either. The strangest part, was that he wasn't even thinking about his dreams. No city, no wife, no children, no Full Life advertisement agency. He cooked, and the part of him that remained was an Ein he didn't know so well. And yet, he felt…what was the word?

No, it didn't matter.

This whole chef, cooking, haunted house dressing thing was just for Princess. He was helping her. That was why he felt good.

There was nothing else.

Nothing.

***

Chucky was worried, because he really liked Princess, and he was afraid that he'd always keep talking and talking and talking when he was around her, and Princess would always keep falling asleep, because he wouldn't be able to stop himself, and then where would they be, because how could they get to know each other, if she kept falling asleep, so it would never work out, if he couldn't control himself, and he doubted that he ever could control himself, because--

***

Ein helped Chucky and Princess set out the hamburgers for Round One, while Sunflower helped the people to their seats.

Sunflower hadn't said anything to any of them since Ein showed up, and he felt bad, but he didn't know what to say to her. All he could do was hope that she and Vincent would be ok after he left for the city. Then, they would be out of his life, pretty much.

"Princess, are you ready for this?" Ein said.

She nodded. "I'm excited and scared, but mostly excited…I think. Anyway, I'm just happy you and Chucky are here. I don't think I'd be brave enough to do this otherwise."

Ein watched the townspeople filling up the room, and strange things happened. Since every seat was precious, people who didn't know each other sat together at tables. They were all talking, laughing. This really wasn't an ordinary place, and it had little to do with it being a haunted house.

"Ein, are you ok?" Princess tapped him on the shoulder.

Ein jumped. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"I guess we should get started," she said.

Ein nodded.

She walked onto the tiny stage, and turned on the kareoke machine. Music played in the background as Princess spoke. "Uh…hello everyone. Welcome to the First Haunted House Dressing Eating Contest." Everyone clapped. "We want to thank you all for showing up, and we're honored that Akira Taberu, the greatest eater in the world, has come here to be a part of our little contest." Everyone clapped again. "Now, uh…I guess it's time to start."

Princess joined the smidgen of townspeople and Akira at the row of fold-out tables at the front.

Ein noticed then that one of the people at the contest tables was Mario. Ein was afraid Mario was angry at him for making him lose an eye and nostril, but Mario was smiling at him.

"Hello, Ein," Mario said.

"Hello," Ein said. "I didn't know you did eating contests."

"I don't…usually. But this was a perfect opportunity for me to try the cooking of a good friend."

"Oh, thanks." Phew. Maybe Mario had forgiven him after all.

Anyway, Ein walked over to Princess and said, "Good luck."

"Thanks," Princess said.

Ein stepped onto the stage and said, "Go," into the mike, then walked off the stage again.

Princess and the others ate. Devoured.

Chucky and Sunflower served the townsfolk some refreshments that Ein had prepared, but Ein kept his place by the eaters. He was the official judge--although there wasn't much to it, since the winner for this round was the first to finish her or his platter.

He couldn't believe how fast Princess was eating. He thought she'd been fast before, but obviously he'd never witnessed her full abilities.

"I'm done," someone said.

Ein turned his head. That someone was Akira. Akira was already finished.

Everyone else stopped eating.

Princess was only a little more than halfway done with her plate.

Ein stayed frozen for a few more moments, before he remembered his duties. He walked onto the stage and said, "Akira wins Round One. Round Two will start shortly."

Chucky and Princess brought out the new platters for the pickle round, and Ein stepped over to Princess.

"You're doing great," Ein said.

"Yeah, but not good enough," she said, then she smiled. "Thanks again for being the judge."

"No problem."

He had a feeling that Princess just wanted him near her, and that was fine with him. He was proud of her.

***

As Round Two commenced, and everyone was preoccupied, Wall took that opportunity to sneak into the kitchen with his special briefcase.

His cupcakes were perfect. His plan was perfect.

The restaurant would go out of business. Mario would gain sympathy from the townspeople by eating--or at least pretending to eat--Ein's cupcakes. And, Ein would be humiliated. So humiliated that Ein would run away from this town and from Daisy and never come back.

Ein would be hurt by this, Wall knew that, and he felt bad about it. But the alternative--Mario's wrath--would be much worse.

He had to make the switch.

For Ein's sake.

***

Princess ate the pickles and ate the pickles, but they just wouldn't go away fast enough. Akira, however, was an eating machine. She'd watched his work before, but never like this. In person, his greatness was even more…great.

But suddenly, things started going Princess's way. Akira slowed, and Princess caught up, and then she passed him.

And then she won.

Ein stepped onto the stage. "Princess wins Round Two. Round Three will start shortly." He then walked over and patted her shoulder. "Good job."

"Thanks," she said.

She stood and approached Akira.

He smiled at her. "Congratulations."

"You let me win," she said. "You were holding back. I could tell."

"Maybe I was." Akira shrugged. "Although I am a fan of victories, I've grown tired of quick and easy ones. At least now we'll have an exciting Round Three."

She couldn't argue with that.

***

Ein and the others carried in the cupcakes for Round Three.

But just as they were about to set them down at the tables, a blur of black dashed in front of them and grabbed the platters from them.

Ein turned his head.

It was the Ninja.

The Ninja rushed toward the front door, but Wall blocked the entrance.

"I cannot allow you to steal those," Wall said.

Wall punched and the Ninja ducked. Then Wall charged and the Ninja hopped up onto a nearby table. He kicked that table over and the Ninja leapt to another one. Wall kept attacking and the Ninja kept avoiding. All the while, the Ninja held the plates above his head, not dropping a single cupcake.

"What should we do?" Princess said. She looked at Ein like he might actually know the answer.

Ein shook his head.

Wall finally managed to grab the Ninja's arm, but before Wall could do anything--

Old Hobo Joe poked Wall in the back with one pointed finger.

Wall collapsed to the ground, and the Ninja dashed out the front door.

Ein noticed Vincent standing nearby.

"Vincent," he said.

Princess stood up, smiling. "Vincent, you came!"

Vincent nodded. "I wouldn't miss it."

Ein looked over at Old Hobo Joe. "Why did you do that to Wall? He was trying to keep the Ninja from ruining the contest."

Old Hobo Joe shook his head. He pointed to his heart, then out the door.

"I don't understand," Ein said.

"He says that the Ninja is good," Vincent said.

Ein saw that Mario was desperately trying to make Wall stand up, but Wall obviously couldn't. Ein approached them. "Wall will be ok in a few minutes. I…I'm sorry about all this."

Mario stared at Ein, then walked out of the restaurant, leaving Wall behind.

"Are you ok, Wall?" Ein said.

Wall nodded, but was too numbed to speak.

Ein walked back over to Princess and the others. He looked around and noticed that Sunflower was nowhere to be seen. She was probably in her office. Hiding.

"This isn't over yet," Princess said. "Ein, do you have any other food we can use? Anything that you have a lot of?"

"Umm…" Ein's head puffed out. Yes, he did have something. Something that he had a lot of. But…but…

"Well, what is it?" Princess said.

"It's…olives."

"Ah! I hate olives! It's the only food in the whole world I don't like!"

"I know. I'm sorry, Princess."

Princess's frown melted away, and she nodded. "Let's do it."

"But--"

"Bring them out, Ein. Bring them out."

***

Princess ate the horrible, disgusting, grotesque olives. She focused on her friends. Ein, and Chucky, and Vincent, and Old Hobo Joe. She would have looked at Sunflower too, but she was gone somewhere.

Still, even with the strength her friends gave her, she couldn't eat the olives fast enough. Akira was just too good. She knew she wouldn't win, but it was her dream to. She'd imagined this moment so many times, eating against Akira Taberu, with all her friends watching her, and she would win. She'd make them proud.

But in her dreams, her mother was there too.

When her mother actually walked in front of her and looked down at her, Princess didn't know if this was reality or another dream.

"Mom?" Princess said with her mouth full.

"Yes, I'm here," her mom said.

"I…didn't think you'd come."

"Neither did I. But…this is important to you. I'm rather impressed. You have a camera crew and--"

"So as long as there's a camera crew, then you're proud of me?"

"Princess, please." Her mother stared forward. "I…"

"Mom, I'd love to chat, but I'm kind of in the middle of something right now."

"I know. Keep eating. Perhaps it's better if you just listen."

Princess kept eating, and she still wasn't sure if this was a dream or not.

"Princess, I…" Her mother looked down. "I have something I need to tell you. You'll hate me even more than you already do, but I need…I want to tell you."

"Mom, I don't--"

"Just listen to me. Princess, I…I've always tried to control your life. I've always been scared for you. But…there's something you don't know about. Something terrible I've done. I…I have a spy. This spy knows everything about you. It told me about how Ein encouraged you to follow your dreams. It told me about how Chucky broke your heart. It told me many things over the years. This spy…it's you."

"What?" Princess chewed harder.

"You told me everything, as the Food Monster. When you're asleep, you turn into the Food Monster, and you eat everything you can. All I did was tempt it with some food, and it told me all your secrets. But…I'm never going to use the Food Monster again. I was wrong to do it. I'm sorry."

Princess stopped eating. "Mom…you…thank you for telling me."

Her mom nodded. "I also want to say that…that even if you lose this contest, I know how good an eater you really are. I've seen you as the Food Monster. There's no one better than my little girl." With that, her mom walked away.

Princess felt a lot better. Not hungrier, but better.

Her mom had given away her power, and that meant a lot.

And Princess realized that this power was now inside of her. If Princess could only use this power right now, she'd be unstoppable. But how could she--

"Chucky! Come over here!" Princess said, and she accidentally spit olives all over the people in front of her.

Chucky ran over. "Princess, what is it, are you ok, what can I--"

"I need you to talk to me, Chucky. Talk as much as you can."

Chucky arched an eyebrow. "But if I talked to you like that, wouldn't it put you to sleep, I don't think--"

"I know, Chucky. Talk."

"Well, alright, so, I don't know exactly what to talk about, but I guess any topic is as good as any, unless there's a specific topic you want me to talk about, but I assume that you don't have anything specific in mind, since you just told me to talk, and--"

***

Ein didn't understand. The twenty minutes were almost up and Princess was taking a nap. He didn't understand, that was, until she woke up again.

Princess's eyes were different somehow. She shoveled up the olives from her bucket and swallowed them up like they weren't olives. She shoveled and shoveled and shoveled and--

Akira's cool face transformed into panic. He quickened his pace, but there was no competing with Princess anymore.

"She's like a monster," Vincent said.

Old Hobo Joe nodded.

A minute later, Ein stepped onto the stage. "Princess wins!"

Everyone applauded. Even Akira.

***

Chucky was really proud of Princess, and he wished he could talk to her, but she was asleep, and she apparently wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, since she seemed really exhausted, and even when he shook her a little, she still wouldn't wake up, so he just sat beside her and said--"You did a really good job, Princess, and I'm glad that you're my girlfriend, I'm glad I found someone who doesn't mind that I am who I am, and--"--And Princess said--"I love you, Chucky"--And Chucky wasn't really sure if Princess was awake or asleep, but he said--

He'd finally found the words he'd been searching for. The words that would capture the feelings inside him that just wouldn't stop.

--"I love you too, Princess."

***

Vincent felt good to be here, but very scared at the same time. Not scared enough to run away, however. He decided that he'd never run away again.

"Congratulations on your victory, Princess," Vincent said. He patted her head as she slept. He turned to Ein. "Where…"

"She's probably in her office," Ein said. "Good luck, Jerk Boy."

Vincent nodded, and left the crowd.

He entered Sunflower's office, and found her at her desk, scribbling at something, like he expected. The only thing he didn't expect was her tilted chair. She was tilting back, holding onto the end of her desk as balance. "Hello, Sunflower."

"Hello, Vincent." She didn't look at him.

He walked over to her, and didn't avoid the tile triggers. He made skeletons fall from the ceiling, but he didn't care. "Sunflower, I would like to speak to you about some things. I would like to explain my feelings."

Sunflower didn't speak. She kept staring at her papers.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth about me," he said. "I feared that you wouldn't understand how I suffered in my real childhood. It is a ridiculous thought, I know, to image someone so rich as being unfortunate. At first, when my father threw me out of the house, I was angry and afraid. I didn't know how to live out here. But you helped me. And as I became friends with you and the others, I began to realize just how poor I had been, growing up. Poor to the things that I now feel. These…these feelings inside me, this love…it feels so…expensive. More than all of my possessions combined."

Sunflower's hands slipped and she let go of her desk. She fell backwards and crashed into the wall. Normally, a wall would repel someone in this situation, Vincent assumed, but that section of wall turned out to be only paper thin. Sunflower seemed to have discovered an open doorway into a room they'd never known about.

"Are you hurt?" Vincent rushed forward and helped her up.

"I'm ok." She turned around and looked into the darkness. "Vincent, look."

Vincent joined her in peering into the black.

On the ground, Ratty rested on his…on her side, with lots of tiny baby rats curled up by her.

"Ratty…" Vincent whispered. "So this is where you went." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his tiny stuffed cat. "I wanted to give you this before. Here." He set the cat near the babies and stood again. He heard crying. He turned to Sunflower. "Are you hurting?"

"I…I wasn't…" He wiped her face. "Vincent, I wasn't avoiding you because of you being rich. I've always liked you, when I thought you were poor, and when I learned you were rich. I was just afraid. Because…because, I had a friend named Val. And I used to be a painter. My parents taught me that the world was this wonderful place, and…when Val passed away, I couldn't paint anymore. I ran away from home and from my paintings. I escaped into numbers. I thought it was safe there. I told myself I wasn't going to make any friends, and I especially wasn't going to fall in love…but it all just sort of happened. I didn't want to lose anyone, so I tried not to have anyone important in my life, but…you are important to me, Vincent. I can't hide anymore. Val wouldn't want me too. I…I feel too much to hide." She stared at him for a few moments, then hugged him.

And for the first time in his life, Vincent was given the gift to hug someone back.

***

The phone rang and since everyone else seemed busy, Ein answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Yein."

"Samantha?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Do you want to talk to Chucky?"

"No, you're the one I want to talk to. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for helping Chucky. Many people wouldn't have done the same."

Ein rubbed the back of his neck. "It was nothing."

"I also need to thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all."

"What?"

"My love is free now."

"I don't understand."

"Here. I'll put him on the phone."

There was a rustling, and then a new voice said, "Greetings, Ein. I want to apologize for possessing your friend. Thank you for forcing me out. It's thanks to you that I've allowed myself to move on. I'm no longer trapped. Here's Samantha again."

"Did you hear him?" Samantha said.

"Yeah," Ein said. "How did this happen? How could Dante go…where you are?"

"I don't know for certain," Samantha said. "Perhaps he really was a ghost and with this he had the power to come to my world. Perhaps he was just an alternate personality inside of Chucky. Maybe Chucky programmed him into my world, freeing himself of that personality forever, giving me a chance to love. I don't know how, but I'm happy. I always felt like I was trapped in a strange world; that I'd be happier somewhere else, but not anymore. Thank you, Ein."

"Uh…you're welcome."

***

Vincent sat down and watched Sunflower talking with Princess and Chucky and Old Hobo Joe and Ein. He'd never felt this way before, and he no longer wanted a Hobo Army. He no longer wanted to attack his father's house and show his father his pain. He wanted to thank his father for allowing him such opportunity for this new life.

And right then, his father approached him. His father looked different. Different clothes. Different smile. "Father? What are you doing here?"

"You left home and I thought…I hoped that this was where you went. Vincent, I…I know I'm not a very good man."

"Dad, that's not--"

"It's true, Vincent. I'm not a very good man, and I haven't been a very good father. But I'm trying to change. I know the son is supposed to look to the father for strength, but…I look at you, and…" He put a hand on Vincent's shoulder. "You are my strength."

"Dad, I…"

His father then took a checkbook out of his pocket. "Vincent, I want to give you something."

"Dad, you don't have to--"

"I know I don't have to, but I want to give you some money. Your inheritance."

"Are you dying?"

"No, it's nothing like that. I just don't want it anymore."

"I don't need any money, dad."

"I know. But I believe that you could put this money to much better use than I." He held Vincent's hand in his both of his, and left behind the check.

His father walked away and Vincent was left behind with a lot of feelings and…a lot of money. What would he do with all this?
"Peon, do you want some?" Vincent said.

Old Hobo Joe shook his head.

He looked around, and his eyes rested on Princess.

Well, he knew what he could do with some of it. That was, if Princess still needed a sponsor.

***

These would be his last few moments in the restaurant, with Princess and everyone else. Ein felt a little sad of course--that was expected--but his dreams were still strong. He was going to go.

"TIME TO GO, EINNY-POO!" Grandma hopped onto a table and grabbed his arm. "THERE'S A NICE YOUNG LADY WHO WANTS TO SEE YOU!"

"Let me go, Grandma."

"THERE'S NO TIME FOR DILLY-DALLYING RIGHT NOW! DESTINY IS WAITING FOR YOU!"

"I don't want to see Destiny right now."

"YOU NEED TO SEE HER! SHE'S STUNNING!"

"Grandma, no."

"YOUR GRANDMA KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU!"

Something inside Ein popped. "No, Grandma! I don't want Destiny! I need to get back to my friends! Anyway, I'm in love with Daisy!"

Grandma stared at Ein for a long while, then lowered her megaphone. "There you are, Einny-Poo."

"What?"

"There's the little boy I knew. I've been yelling at you for days with this megaphone, I knew you could hear me."

"Grandma, what are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know. I can see it in your eyes. You're waking up."

"Did you remember to take your medication?"

"I knew you were still there somewhere. Especially when you started cooking again. I remember all those summers you spent at my house. We cooked together all day, everyday. You'd rather cook than play with your toys. I remember when I caught you cooking alone at night. Sometimes you fell asleep with the ingredients all over you. I couldn't even count the times when I found you covered with rats that were eating you clean. You always cried when you had to leave, because no one would cook with you at your house." She sighed. "I started traveling the world when your Grandpa died. When I left you, I guess you forgot your love for cooking. But I never forgot that little boy. You know, you probably don't remember him very much, but your Grandpa was a lot like you. He was clumsy. He had a head that puffed out like a watermelon. He was a very strange man, but I loved him the more for it. I'm sure if he saw you here, cooking at this restaurant, with all your friends around, he'd be very proud."

"Grandma, I…I gotta go."

***

Ein didn't like how he was feeling. This wasn't his usual nervousness that would puff his head out. In fact, his head felt perfectly shaped, without the least bit of puffiness at all.

He went into the kitchen to be alone.

But he wasn't alone.

Mario stood there, angry, clenching his fists. Right when he seemed to be ready to explode, Mario fell to his knees. "Why? Why can't I beat you?"

Ein didn't have an answer.

But someone did. "Because I wouldn't let you, dad."

It was Waitress Girl. Daisy. She was Mario's daughter? Ein never knew.

"Daisy," Mario said. "It couldn't have been you."

Daisy set down her backpack and pulled out a black costume. "It was me."

"How…how could you do this to me?" Mario said.

"Because, dad," Daisy said, "I didn't want to be like you. You're a criminal, your parents are criminals, my great-grandparents were criminals. I've chosen my own path. The only reason I started working at the restaurant was to get close to your computer. I didn't want you to get in trouble, so I managed to hack inside and find out your plans. That way I could prevent you from doing the bad things you were planning. Dad, I didn't want you to get in trouble. I want to help you."

He was silent for a long while, then--"You must think I'm a terrible person."

"No, dad. Everyone has goodness. Some people just don't know what to do with it." She walked over and placed a hand on her father's shoulder. Then she looked over at Ein. "Ein, I hope you can understand now why I said no to you before. I really like you, but…I knew, if you really got to know me, you wouldn't like me back. I'm a superhero, after all. I know that you want a normal life, and I'm not going to be the one to stand in the way of your happiness."

Ein stood there, in silence. She was right, wasn't she? He wanted a normal life, a normal wife. He wanted to take the advertising job and move away from all this strangeness. This whole cooking thing was just a way for him to help his friends. It didn't have anything to do with him.

Then why…why did he feel so…so…

Ein realized then that he'd been possessed just like Chucky, only he was haunted by something other than a ghost. He thought about his old visions. How he imagined Daisy as his perfect wife, a perfect mother to his perfect children. In his visions, she was soft and sweet. But now he saw her for who she really was. She was a super hero. She was like the rest of Ein's life. Strange.

His old visions shattered, but…

But he liked her even more. He liked her strength and her willpower and her yearning to do good in the world; to understand people; to show compassion rather than simple judgements. He liked all of his friends and their strangeness, their weirdness, their not-normal. He tried to imagine his life without it all. Without his own abnormalities. He hadn't cooked just to help Princess and the others. He cooked because he loved it. There was a part of himself that was afraid of this craziness around him. But he didn't have to be afraid of this strange world anymore. It was in this world that friendship and love existed.

And he was part of it.

"I would be honored," Ein said, "if you would go on another date with me. You, and the Ninja, and any other part of you that you have inside."

***

Ein left the kitchen and entered a room of happy people. People he knew. Princess and Chucky talked together, Vincent and Sunflower, Grandma and Old Hobo Joe, even Destiny and Wall. It seemed like the strangeness of this place had brought everyone together.

He noticed someone standing in the corner, taking pictures.

And he walked over. "Professor, what are you doing here?"

"I thought this would be a good opportunity to say goodbye to my best student. I know you're leaving soon."

"Actually, Professor Apple, I'm going to have to pass on the advertising job. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I understand."

"You do?"

"Of course. I quit that very same agency to come here. I teach part time, but that's just to pay the rent. I really quit my old job so I could spend more time with my photography. That's what I really love." She held up her camera. "Say cheese."

Ein smiled but not because of the cheese.

He walked back over to his date. "So," Ein said, "what were in those cupcakes anyway?"

Daisy smiled and shook her head. "You really don't want to know."

"But I do. I want to see what you saved me from."

"Trust me, Ein. You don't want to see it."

Ein grinned. "Hey, I just remembered. We couldn't carry all of the platters. There's still one left in the fridge."

"Don't do it, Ein. You'll be sorry."

But Ein ran into the kitchen and was about to grab Fridgy, when Fridgy said, "GRRRRR!"

Fridgy bounced up and down toward Ein.

Ein ran and Fridgy followed. He thought he'd be safe when Fridgy ran out of cord, but when the cord was yanked from the wall, Fridgy kept bouncing. Ein guessed that Fridgy had some sort of battery pack that it'd been storing up energy in.

So Ein kept running. He ran out the kitchen, then out the front door. Fridgy followed. Ein dove out of the way, and Fridgy headed away from the restaurant, leaving Ein alone.

Everyone in the restaurant came outside and watched.

"Ya want me ta hog tie him fer ya, Mr. Chef?" the Cowboy said.

Ein shook his head. "No. Let him go."

And so the Fridge, with Ein's embarrassment locked up deep inside, bounced off into the sunset.