Beauty and the Chimp: chapter 9

Later that night, Rebecca opened the door and looked all around. No Mojo was in sight, or Grim like he had promised. She then walked past a curtain out of her room where there were two servants, namely Grim and Mandy behind it, but Rebecca kept walking along.

"Oh, no..." Mandy said.

"Oh, yes!" Grim was eager.

"Oh, no!" Mandy hiccupped, sounding like she actually had emotion in her voice. She then opened the curtain, but still had a sour look on her face. "I'm impressed Grim, you had gotten me before, but you did well for a man of your social status."

"We're married, let's not spoil it." Grim embraced her face with his hand, then looked to see Rebecca wandering about the castle unattended. "Mother of Cerberus, she's emerged!"

Rebecca descended down the stairs and was searching for the kitchen. Even if she declined dinner, she was starving for some good cooking about now. While there, Madame Foster was putting Mac to sleep after they put away most of the kitchen equipment.

"Come on, Mac boy, into the cupboard." Madame Foster said.

"But I'm not sleepy." Mac protested with a yawn.

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not." Mac shook his head, but fell right asleep as Madame Foster locked him up.

"I work and slave all day long!" a pirate voice came from a crimson red chimp with green eyes, a blue short-sleeved shirt, blue pants and a black belt and a white chef's hat. "And for what? A culinary masterpiece gone to waste!" He was Mr. Krabs, the castle's chef.

"Oh, stop," Madame Foster whacked her cane on his hand. "It's been a long night for all of us."

"Well, if you ask me, she was being stubborn!" Herriman walked over, wiping his hands on a napkin. "After all, the Master did say 'please'."

"But if the Master doesn't learn to control that temper, he'll never break the-" Madame Foster was cut off once Mr. Herriman noticed Rebecca walk in.

"Splendid to see you up and about, Miss Rebecca!" Herriman greeted with a smile and gave a loyal bow. "I am Mr. Herriman, head of the household."

Grim ran over and kissed Rebecca's hand.

"And this is Grim." Herriman rolled his eyes.

"Enchante, miss." Grim smirked and continued to kiss Rebecca's hand.

"If we, there's..." Herriman tried to smack sense into the skeleton. "Stop that! Anything we... please! Can do to make your stay more comfortable?"

"I am a little hungry." Rebecca replied.

"You are?" Madame Foster looked at her, then at Mr. Krabs. "Hear that? She's hungry! Start the fire! Bring out the silver! Wake the china!"

"But the Master said-" Herriman whispered.

"Oh, pish posh!" Madame Foster glared at her imaginary friend since childhood. "I'm not about to let the poor child go hungry!"

"Alright, fine..." Herriman groaned. "Glass of water, crust of bread, and-"

"Herriman, I'm surprised at you," Grim looked at Rebecca with a welcoming smile. "She's not a prisoner, she's our guest! We must make her feel welcome here! Right this way, mon." Grim took Rebecca's hand to go into the dining room of the castle.

"Well, keep it down," Herriman warned. "If Master finds out about it, it'll be our necks!"

"Of course, of course," Grim went out the double door, hitting Herriman into a pot of goo. "But, what is dinner without a little music?"

"MUSIC!?" Herriman splashed into the pot.

A spot light came on Grim as he stood on the table with Rebecca sitting across from him.

"Ma chere, mademoiselle," Grim greeted. "It is wit deepest pride and greatest pleasure dat we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as da dining room proudly presents: your dinner."

Rebecca smiled as she was about to get dinner and a show.

Grim: Be... Our... Guest
Be our guest
Put our service to da test!
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, Becky and we'll provide the rest

Soup du jour! Hot hors d'oeuvres! Why we only live to serve!
Try da gray stuff, it's delicious
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!
Dey can sing, dey can dance

After all, miss
Dis is France!
And our dinner is never second best!
Go on, unfold your menu

Take a glance and then you'll be our guest
Yes, our guest
Be our guest

More chimp servants came and handed food platters for Rebecca. The girl took some of the samples each and ate as they went by. Herriman was in some pie and got burnt as it became a flambe.

Chimps: Beef ragout! Cheese souffle! Pie and pudding en flambe!

Grim: We'll prepare and serve wit' flare of a culinary cabaret
You're alone and you're scared
But da banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complainin'

While the flat wear's entertainin'
We tell jokes
I do tricks, with my fellow chimps

All: And it's all in perfect taste you can bet!
Come on and lift your glass
You won your own free pass to be our guest!

Grim: If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest!

Herriman tried to stop the madness once he got himself cleaned up. He then rushed over and the spot light shined on him as Grim continued the song and Herriman looked like he had stage fright and looked anxious in front of Rebecca.

Grim: Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon

"Get off!" Herriman hissed as the skeleton held him.

Grim: Ah, those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly those good old days are gone
10 years we've been rusting
Needing so much more dan dusting, needing exercise, a chance to use our skill!

Herriman flew from Grim's grip into a pile of gelatin and Grim jumped on the spoon to free him and splatter him all over the wall.

Grim: Most of the days we just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat and lazy
You walked in and oopsie daisy!

Madame Foster: It's a guest, it's a guest!
Sake's alive, well I'll be blessed
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed!

With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dears, that's fine with me
While the cups do their soft shoeing
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing

I'll get warm, piping hot!
Heaven's sake! Is that a spot? Clean it up!
We'll want the company impressed
We've got a lot to do
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guest!

All: She's our guest!

Madame Foster: She's our guest!

All: She's our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request
It's been 10 years since we had anybody here
And we're obsessed!

With your meal, with your ease, yes indeed
We aim to please
With the candlelight's still blowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going

Course by course! One by one! Til you shout, 'enough I'm done!'
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now let's eat up!

Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Please be our guest!

The show was done, complete with champagne fireworks. Rebecca smiled and clapped at her entertainment. "Bravo! That was wonderful!"

"Yes, thank you," Herriman smiled and looked that the clock said 9:15. "Thank you, Miss Rebecca. "Good show, oh my goodness look at the time. Now, it's off to bed, off to bed."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly go to bed now," Rebecca replied. "It's my first time in an enchanted castle."

"Enchanted," Herriman chuckled. "Who said anything about this place being enchanted?" He then turned to Grim and the two held a chicken fight as Rebecca watched.

"I kind of figured it out for myself," Rebecca chuckled. "I would like to look around if that's alright."

"Oh, would you like a tour?" Grim offered.

"Master Grim, I don't think that's such a good idea," Herriman told the skeleton in a hushed tone. "We can't let her go poking around in certain places if you know what I mean."

"Perhaps you'd like to take me," Rebecca poked Herriman in the stomach. "I'm sure you know everything there is to know about the castle."

"Well, actually... Yes... I do..." Herriman smirked, bashfully.