S
Literature
Sheriff ginger in: of gold and nuggets 1884, the wild west. Sunbaked desert and lush woodland, mountains and canyons reaching to the sky, and Everyone knows the great gold rush of 1848, which triggered one of the largest single movements of living beings in world history, but there’s also another event that changed the history of fine dining. It all began in 1849, where what started out as a typical day for a young boy named Tim turned into something that changed history. Tim was out playing at a river near his home, throwing skipping stones or fishing, when he noticed something shimmering in the water. it was golden in color. Thinking he had struck gold, the young lad plucked it out of the water but something was off about this little chunk. It didn’t feel hard as metal, it felt soft and squishy. The surface looked like a million breadcrumbs fused together, it was oddly warm and not soaked despite being in water, and the smell, it’s fragrance was not that of metal, but that of freshly cooked poultry. Curiosity expanding, Tim went to bite down on the unusual chunk but was surprised that it didn’t clink and hurt his teeth, but tore into two like a piece of meat. It even tasted like one too! Chewing and swallowing the morsel, the boy’s taste buds explode in a wave of flavor. That’s when it hit him…this was not a shining gold nugget, but a fully cooked fresh chicken nugget! It tasted just like his mother’s cooking but better since the breadcrumb coating gave it a nice crunch. And there were even more nuggets in the river! Tim scooped up as much as he can in his bag and ran back home to show his family. They too tried out the little tasty chicken chunks and were blown away by the taste. In fact, it was so good that they had them for dinner that night instead of their usual veggie stew and cooked fish. Soon word spread of Tim’s discovery and everyone in town and from far and wide came to get their hands on the delicious, golden meaty treats. It was also discovered that a huge series of underground caverns connecting to the river also housed even more nuggets! Thus the chicken nugget mines were found and From that point on chicken nuggets became just as loved and as valuable as gold. People not only dined on these tasty morsels, but also used them to barter for goods whenever cash was low. And even though they looked unhealthy to eat all the time, they surprisingly had a lot of vitamins, proteins and nutrients as much as they had taste. A doctor’s report stated that adding chicken nuggets to your daily diet could increase your muscles and even lifespan! There were also different variants, there were chicken tenders and fried drumsticks which were as common as nuggets, Chicken patties and Popcorn chicken which were rare, and Chicken dumplings which were very rare. But like what happened when gold was discovered, there came a rise of bandits and thieves who would rob people and places of the precious golden meaty treats. This is where one sheriff would find herself on a case bigger than she could’ve imagined. ———————— Our story begins on a summer day at the town of magenta falls, where everyone was out and about doing their routines. Employees worked at various stores, the postal service rode horseback to deliver mail, children ran around playing and farmers gathering seeds and tending to their livestock. A redhead woman named Ginger hale, the local sheriff of the town, was making her rounds. Being the sheriff, she was well-known and loved by everyone. Well, everyone except the many criminals that made the mistake of trying to mess with her and end up behind bars. Right now it was her lunch break so ginger makes her way to the town saloon. Ginger enters the saloon. The joint was jumping, patrons chilling and chatting, drinking and dining at the bar and at tables, playing poker and betting their money and nuggets, and the pianist tickled those keys with a charming melody. Paul, a long time friend of ginger’s, bartender and owner of the place, was busy serving drinks and meals to customers. In addition to barrels of root beer, bottles of lemonade and tanks of milk, there was also barrels of dipping sauce that Paul would serve in little glass cups before sliding them over to patrons the same way he does with drinks. Ginger takes a seat to greet her friend. Ginger: Hey Paul. Paul: Afternoon ginger. the usual? Ginger: you know it. 20 nuggets and some honey mustard on the side. And as for a drink, your finest sarsaparilla. (Gobbles up some almonds from a bowl on the bar counter) Paul: coming right up! (Pours a frosty mug of sarsaparilla, piles 20 nuggets onto a plate and dispenses a dipping glass of honey mustard) Heard you’re heading out of town for an assignment. Ginger: (dips a nugget and eats) yep, gonna help sheriff blaze with a big case she’s been trying to crack for weeks. It’s about bandits, but it might be something more. As ginger enjoyed her meal, another saloon employee comes out to remind everyone that a show was about to start. Employee: Ladies and gentleman, the McGill saloon is proud to present, you know them, you love them, the girls who put the “happy” in the happy meals, Myrtle and the chicken fingers! The pianist plays as the curtains on stage rise. Three ladies in lovely dresses, feathered headbands and carrying fans named Myrtle, May and Maxine come up and start to sing. Maxine: Some girls are real demure and ask you out for a treat… May: Some girls are just as friendly, nice as they can be. Myrtle: Some girls don’t care about chicken, but that girl ain’t me! All: Give us your chicken nuggets, we want a ten piece meal! Give us your chicken nuggets. Myrtle: And what you ain’t got baby, you better steal! (Strokes a lovestruck patron’s chin) All: You can keep your diamonds and your jewels and pearls… Myrtle: They may be fine for all those other girls. But I’ll only hug it if it’s a nugget, so come on baby to my floor! All: Give us your chicken nuggets, crispy and crunchy, yeah! Give us your chicken nuggets! Myrtle: you’ll get them for me, I’ve got a luncheon! The crowd cheers and the girls take a bow to end their song. Ginger loved it when the people she cared about and protected were having a good time. But those happy times would come to a close when she would soon come face to face with the most vile outlaws known throughout. After finishing her meal, ginger bids farewell and heads on her way. ——————————- Before she leaves town, Ginger heads to the general store to get supplies like food and medical stuff, leaves her deputies in charge while she’s gone and hops on her faithful horse, wintergreen, then the two leave town to start their journey. The next town over wasn’t very far, so they got there in just an hour. The town called brimstone was one that ginger knew by heart, it was where she met her best friend and partner in justice, a coyote sheriff named Katie blaze. The two had known each other since they were kids, in fact they treated each other more like sisters than just friends, and went to the same sheriff’s academy together. Easy to say that they were best friends, partners and heroines of their respective towns. Ginger parks her horse at a nearby water trough at the sheriff’s office just as Katie herself came out. Katie: well howdy ginger! Ginger: hey Katie! (The two high five) how are things on your end? Katie: pretty good, though I’ve been caught up in the case lately, those darn criminals are a slippery bunch, more clever than any outlaw we’ve faced! Ginger: what are they like? Katie: well they’re the nastiest bunch you’ll ever know and see…they’re called the venomous five. They’re known for crimes like robberies, kidnapping, destroying properties and even murder. Their leader is Cassidy rattle, a real cold-hearted snake in more ways than one. Cassidy and her gang would often travel via stagecoach they’ve hijacked and would force their victims to drink bottles of venom if they do not comply with her demands. When you hear the sound of rattling, then the venomous five are coming! Other townsfolk gather to tell ginger their horrible experiences. Banker: it’s true, the last time Cassidy was here, she robbed us of half of our stock! Bartender: she threatened to poor venom into my sarsaparilla supply if I didn’t give her anything on the house! Farmer: her gang dyed my sheeps’ wool and tipped over my cows! General store clerk: they vandalized my shop by painting it to look like someone was colorblind! Book store clerk and librarian: they destroyed some of our books! Teacher: they robbed nuggets and sweets from my students, even me! Katie: and that’s only half of the things they’ve been doing lately. I heard that they’re going after one of the biggest nugget mines in the country, no doubt robbing it empty! But that’w where we come in ginger, we’re gonna take down that oversized reptile together! And as for the reward, her bounty is $50,000 in nuggets. Ginger: Count me in! don’t worry everyone, we’ll stop those venomous varmits and bring them to justice! Katie: y’all can count on us! The townsfolk cheer for the two sheriffs. Ginger gets on wintergreen while Katie gets on her own horse, dynamo, and the four head out of town ready to take down the dastardly reptile and her gang. ————————————- The two sheriffs rode horseback down the mountain side and into the vast dessert, racing through the humid heat as the sun beat down on them, the wind blowing against their hair and surroundings in a blur moving by. Ginger: now where to start with the investigation? We should be able to search for some clues of some kind. Katie: correct. And it looks like we don’t have to search far, look up ahead! The two stop their horses and hop off to check out a broken crate full of empty bottles. The bottles had a rattlesnake motif in their design and some of the bottles were broken. Katie: these are the kind of bottles that Cassidy bottles her venom in. They must’ve been here and were in a hurry to get out of here. Thankfully these are empty. Ginger: And look, foot prints, wheel tracks and hoof prints going that way! (Points to the tracks up ahead of them) they must’ve gone that way! But darn it, they look faded. They must’ve erased their own trail. The sound of someone Moaning was heard behind some rocks. The two sheriffs investigate and saw something shocking. It was a man badly injured, or more likely looking ill. Man: Please….help me… Ginger: what happened? man: it was…rattlesnake Cassidy…she….forced venom down my throat…cough cough…grandpa is that you? I’m coming home… Katie: he needs anti-venom! (Pulls out a bottle of anti-venom from her bag) just hold still and drink this. The poisoned prospector drinks the anti-venom and a couple of minutes pass before he started to feel better again. The venom was getting chased out of his body. Man: I feel…I feel great again! I’m cured! Thank you sheriff! Ginger: wow, that is some strong anti-venom. Katie: you can thank dr tonic back in town for making the perfect formula. Now then, since the venomous five were here, do you know which way they went? Their tracks faded. Man: they went that way, (points to up ahead) said something about taking over the nugget mines and even kidnapping the Duchess of big bite city to get the deed! Ginger: Duchess of big bite city? She’s one of the wealthiest in the country! Her family does indeed own the deed to the grand mines and her funding for new equipment for prospectors is making work at the mines better. Man: and that’s why you must find and protect her before the venomous five get to her! Last I heard they were searching for the 4 pm train, that’s where the duchess and most of her fortune are being transported on. If you insist on getting to that train, you better hurry. It’s arriving at the next town soon. As for me, I gotta take shelter before those venomous creeps come back! Hopefully my horse didn’t run off too far from here… With that, the two sheriffs get on their horses and find the train. —————————— The afternoon train was making its way to its destination. The passengers were minding their own business reading, chatting, napping or watching the scenery go by. Over at the first class car was where the Duchess of big bite city was relaxing. Judy like Katie and ginger, she was on the large side but bigger than them. She wore a beautiful purple dress with lace trim and bunched shoulders, black boots with purple laces, a jeweled necklace around the collar, a sun hat with fake flowers over her curly updo, a jeweled ring on two fingers and sapphire earrings. The duchess sat in her seat, wide enough for her wide rear, as she read a book and drank some tea. Little did she knew that she was about to get some visitors. Outside, ginger and Katie raced to the train and so did someone else. Ahead was a gang driving a stagecoach with a snake motif painted on it, and the driver was rattlesnake Cassidy herself. She and three of her henchmen leapt onto the train ready to rob and the sheriffs followed after them. The first class car was at the front of the train near the tank engine, so they need to race and beat the venomous five to it. Timing it just right, they jump onto the caboose. Inside, the passengers were surprised and scared to see Cassidy and her gang come in. One of the staff even ran to the tank engine to warn the conductor. Cassidy: alright, nobody move! We’re looking for the Duchess of big bite city for a little “business proposal”. Unless you wanna get a dose of my special bottles venom, y’all best tell me where she is. (Rattles and hisses) The passengers, not wanting to get bit, tell her where the first class car was. She and her henchmen make it through the train, but stop when they hear a gun clicking. Ginger and Katie managed to catch up and were ready to take her down. Katie: rattlesnake Cassidy I presume? You’re under arrest! Cassidy: well if it ain’t sheriff blaze. and is that a friend of yours? Ginger: Sheriff ginger hale, and yes we’re good friends, good enough to take you down and not lay a single finger on the duchess or her deed! Cassidy: worried about her huh? Well You’ll see her soon enough…if you live that long! The rotund rattlesnake fires but the sheriffs dodge. No one else was hurt either but the bullets hit some tea cups and a light. Ginger: Katie, you go after the rest of the gang! Cassidy is mine! Ginger goes after Cassidy while Katie goes after the henchmen. Eventually Ginger follows Cassidy to the top of the train where they hop from car to car and fire at each other. Cassidy: for a hefty gal you’re quick! Ginger: so are you! Cassidy: My swift moves come naturally, and speaking of naturally, what brings you here to my operation and who told you? Ginger: let’s just say a little birdie told me. Cassidy: Well you can tell that little birdie that the deed is mine! The battle continues, the two shooting but missing each other. Katie meanwhile had just knocked out the henchmen. She looks out the window and sees her partner get knocked down and about to lose. Katie: ginger be careful! Cassidy: any last words before you get a dose of venom? Ginger: yeah…duck! Cassidy: Huh? BAM! The snake gets hit with a railroad sign and is knocked off the train! Her henchmen are tossed out the same way and the fourth one driving the stagecoach had left a while back to regroup. Ginger gets back down and Katie pulls her in, squeezing her through the window and into the car. Now that all the crooks were gone, the passengers were saved and applause the sheriffs. —————————— The duchess was so grateful for the sheriffs that she allowed them to have dinner with her at the best restaurant in town once the train stopped there and the two’s horses regroup with them. There The three got to know each other better and had a great dinner buffet consisting of well-done choice cuts, sautéed veggies, potatoes and gravy, fried chicken drumsticks, nuggets and dumplings, and dessert was triple chocolate cake with inch-thick frosting. As they ate, the duchess offers to join on their mission. Duchess: if you have a plan on taking down that snake in the grass, I want in! Ginger: your lady ship, we’re flattered, but wouldn’t your servants and estate get upset if you’re teaming up with the authorities instead of being protected? Duchess: oh they don’t mind, just because I’m a large wealthy aristocrat doesn’t mean I’m incapable of defending for myself. I’ve took on many outlaws with my own hands before, and Cassidy is gonna get her rattle tied in a knot when she messes with me and tries to steal my deed! Katie: Well She deserves a little payback for what she did on this train today, and she’s definitely gonna get her butt whooped when we catch up to her. After dinner, the three stay the night at a fancy hotel. ——————————— The next day, Ginger, Katie and the Duchess arrive at the grand nugget mines. These mines were bigger than the regular mines they’ve been to many times before, deeper too, reaching 20 feet below the surface. But while it may seem like a good time to prospect, it wasn’t all that good. The three hid behind some rocks and saw what was going on. The mining team and other townsfolk were imprisoned, chained up and forced to mine for Cassidy’s henchmen and guards who were watching and barking orders. It was truly a sad sight. Katie: oh my god! Duchess: It’s horrible! Even without the deed Cassidy somehow took over the mines. Ginger: no doubt threatened them and even bribed those guards to work for her. That snake in the grass must be stopped no matter what. Follow me, I have a plan. The first step was to free the imprisoned minors. Through a montage The three split up to do their parts in sneaking up behind some guards and taking them out one by one and freeing the minors and townsfolk, who are grateful for the rescue and explained everything. They explained that even without the deed, Cassidy managed to take over some of the grand mines simply via threats and nearly poisoning not just their bloodstreams, but also some of the nuggets and water supply. Now this rattlesnake really must be stopped, all that’s left is to wait for her to arrive for a big surprise… ——————————Rattlesnake Cassidy was making her way through the mines, whistling a tune. After arriving yesterday, she was glad to see work progress on her soon-to-be major mines. But she stopped when she noticed that every single one of her blackmailed slaves and henchmen were gone. Cassidy: Hey! What happened to all my workers? (Ginger appears behind her) Ginger: that’s the least of your problems, scales. Cassidy: you again?! How did you get here before me? Ginger: oh they told me everything, about how the work environment wasn’t up to code, how you bribed some other goons to work for you and how you threatened to poison some of the very thing you’re after if you don’t get it. The last part is weak in your plan, don’t you think? And don’t even think about calling for help, your goons are tied up at the moment. Also your venom supply has been drained, so no need for that either. Cassidy: grrrr, when I’m through with you, you’re gonna go from sheriff to appetizer! The outlaw and sheriff were the only two in the area, ready for the standoff. The others watched from the safety of sheds, caves and trenches. The sun beats down, the two stood there, hands twitching, reaching for their guns. Cassidy: You know how to dance, sheriff? Ginger: I’m not much of a dancer, but I’ll be glad to. Cassidy: Then shut up and dance! (Fires) Ginger dodges the shots and fires back, but Cassidy slithers and rolls. More and more bullets fired until Cassidy rolls down to the ground after her gun gets knocked out of her hand. Quickly, she spies some bright red nuggets, different from the usual golden-colored ones, and chomps them down just as Cassidy picks her up. Cassidy: Now I’ve got ya! (Notices Ginger’s face was red and puffed) huh? (Ginger spits some red, dusty bread crumbs in her face) AAAAAAH! MY EYES! (Lets go and rubs her eyes) what was that?! Ginger: Spicy nuggets with firey breading. Rarest of the bunch. Cassidy hisses and lunges but gets her fangs stuck in a barrel instead, ginger fires some more, the battle goes on until ginger senses the signal and stops, pulling out the deed to the mines. Ginger: Alright Cassidy, you win! I give up. Cassidy: You must be bluffing. Ginger: No really, I give up. You win. (Tosses her the deed) Cassidy: I knew you would come to your senses one way or another. (Unrolls the deed but is confused) huh? “Look above you?” (Looks up) On a stone platform, the duchess jumps off and crushes Cassidy! The two fought but Cassidy was overpowered by the ample aristocrat. Katie throws a barrel down on Cassidy, getting her stuck. Finally, Ginger drop kicks her and she rolls down a hill straight into a cactus field. Minutes later, Cassidy crawls back up, sore and covered in cacti needles. She tries to fight again but collapses. Cassidy: you…haven’t…seen the last of…ugh….(collapses) ———————————— It was over, the venomous five were behind bars, the grand nugget mines and mines everywhere were saved, all thanks to sheriffs ginger and Katie. When they returned to Katie’s town, they collected the reward bounty which was enough to feed everyone in the town for a month, and held a celebration at the McGill saloon. Paul: on the house for the two heroes! (Slides down some sarsaparilla and trays of nuggets and tenders) Ginger: thanks Paul. Katie, I must say that this has been one of the most exciting cases I’ve ever been. That rattlesnake was tough, but she bit off more than she could chew. Katie: And I’m glad you came along for the ride, partner. (Toast both their sarsaparilla glasses and nuggets) All’s well that ends well for the two sheriffs. And As for the venomous five, As part of their jail sentence they were also assigned to community service working on the railroad tracks, meaning they weren’t gonna be causing any trouble for a long time.