Plushies on Parliament
Chapter 27: A Plushie Proposal
After the Bell Centre debacle, Brenda was more determined than ever. "If we can conquer Canada, the Plushie Party will become unstoppable!" she declared, her eyes sparkling with manic energy.
“We didn’t ‘conquer’ anything,” I pointed out. “We were chased out by security and a very angry Zamboni driver.”
“Details,” she said, waving me off.
Juan, now wearing a Canadian flag as a cape, nodded solemnly. “We need to hit the heart of this country. The capital. Ottawa.”
Hargrave groaned. “Why am I still babysitting you lunatics?”
“Because you care,” Brenda replied sweetly, patting his cheek.
I sighed. “So what’s the plan now?”
Brenda grinned. “We’re going to Parliament Hill. And we’re bringing the plushies.”
Chapter 28: The Plushie Parade
The next morning, we arrived in Ottawa. Brenda had somehow commandeered a parade float left over from a winter festival, and by commandeered, I mean she stole it. It was shaped like a giant snowflake and had been hastily decorated with plushies tied to every available surface.
“Behold, the Plushie Party Express!” Brenda announced, throwing her arms wide.
“It’s hideous,” Hargrave muttered.
“It’s art,” Juan countered, draping himself dramatically over a stuffed panda.
We rolled up to Parliament Hill, Brenda on a megaphone shouting, “Join the Plushie Party! A plushie for every Canadian!”
Security guards watched us with a mix of confusion and irritation as we parked the float in front of the iconic Peace Tower.
Chapter 29: Plushie Pandemonium
Things escalated quickly.
Brenda began throwing plushies into the small crowd of tourists, yelling, “Hug your way to happiness!”
Juan, meanwhile, was leading a chant: “Plushies! Plushies! Plushies!”
I was trying to hide behind a life-sized stuffed giraffe when Hargrave grabbed my arm.
“This is going to end badly,” he hissed.
As if on cue, a Canadian Member of Parliament happened to walk by. Brenda, spotting her opportunity, rushed over and shoved a plush moose into his hands.
“This is our proposal!” she declared. “Make plushies the national mascot of Canada!”
The MP stared at her in disbelief. “What?”
“Think about it,” Brenda pressed. “Plushies unite people. Plushies bring joy. Plushies could even replace currency!”
“That’s… not how government works,” he said, backing away.
Chapter 30: The Mounties Arrive
Before Brenda could launch into another tirade, a squad of Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived, looking distinctly unimpressed.
“Ma’am, is this your float?” one of them asked.
“Of course!” Brenda said proudly. “We’re spreading the word about the Plushie Party.”
“You’re blocking access to Parliament Hill,” the Mountie said sternly. “And littering. And possibly violating some sort of parade permit law.”
Juan stepped forward, clutching his warthog. “The plushies must be avenged!” he bellowed, hurling the stuffed animal at the Mountie.
Chaos erupted.
The Mounties tried to confiscate the plushies, which only enraged Brenda. She began pelting them with stuffed penguins while yelling, “You can’t silence the Plushie Party!”
Hargrave and I made a break for it, but not before I saw Brenda climb onto the float, waving her megaphone like a sword.
Chapter 31: A Narrow Escape
Somehow, we managed to avoid arrest. Hargrave, ever the reluctant hero, commandeered a tourist bus and whisked us away from the scene.
Brenda was breathless with excitement. “That was incredible! Did you see how many people took plushies? The movement is growing!”
“You mean the movement to have us deported?” I muttered.
Juan, unfazed, held up his warthog triumphantly. “We’ll be back, stronger than ever.”
Hargrave, gripping the steering wheel tightly, glared at us through the rearview mirror. “You people are unbelievable.”
“And yet you’re still here,” Brenda said with a wink.
Chapter 32: Onward to Toronto
As the bus barreled down the highway, Brenda began plotting her next move.
“Toronto,” she said decisively. “It’s the biggest city in Canada. If we can win over Toronto, we’ll be unstoppable!”
I buried my face in my hands. “Please tell me you’re not planning another plushie parade.”
“Of course not,” she said with a grin. “This time, we’re going straight to the top.”
“Meaning what?” Hargrave asked warily.
“Meaning we’re going to crash a Maple Leafs game,” she declared.
I groaned. Hargrave swore under his breath. Juan hugged his warthog.
And so, our ridiculous journey continued.