The Pecking Order
My School Story Series Side Quest
Previous My School Story Quest: Shady Business
Next My School Story Quest: Bad News Bloggers
Previous My School Story Quest: Shady Business
Next My School Story Quest: Bad News Bloggers
Requirements
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Requirements
Jack Carver is giving Ezra a hard time at his part-time job at Wings Atomica... and Jack wants to talk to the manager!
Wes: What seems to be the problem here?
Jack Carver: You’re the manager?! How did that happen?
Wes: Assistant manager, actually. Can I help you, sir?
Jack Carver: Yeah, you can. This loser was extremely rude to me AND he cheated me outta my wings! I only got forty!
Ezra: I tried to explain that the Fire and Brimstone Game Day Galore has a total of forty wings, five wings in each of our delicious flavors.
Jack Carver: See? RUDE.
Payton: Wes, Ezra wasn’t being rude AT ALL.
Julian: Yeah, he was WAY nicer than Jack deserved.
Danny: Jack was the one who was rude!
Wes raises his hand to quiet the argument.
Wes: Thanks for your input, but I’ve got this.
Time - 9 hours
You and your friends wait in anticipation as Wes squares off against Jack Carver.
Wes: I’m sorry you feel that my employee didn’t act professionally. However, it doesn’t seem like he did anything inappropriate.
Jack Carver: But I just said--
Wes: I’m not finished. The Fire and Brimstone Game Day Galore does indeed only come with forty wings, seeing as how three hundred and twenty wings would be ridiculous.
Jack Carver: But--
Wes: I can get you a many with bigger pictures if the math is still unclear. Or perhaps a children’s menu would be more suitable...
Jack’s buddies burst into a chorus of laughter.
Jack Carver: But Ezra--
Wes: Now, if you can’t behave like a decent human being and not bother the other customers, you’ll have to be escorted from the premises.
Jack Carver: ... Whatever.
Jack leaves in a huff. His friends follow close behind, leaving their table littered with trash.
Ezra starts cleaning off the table as you and your other friends try to recover from the shock of all this new information.
Julian: ...
Payton: ...
Danny: Wes, I still can’t believe you’re a manager here!
Wes: Yeah...
Ezra: Wes is a great manager! He’s fair and hard-working and...
Koh: This... is... AWESOME! I’ve always wanted to have an in here! And now I’ve got two! You guys can hook me up with wings!
Wes: Uh... not quite.
Koh: Not even an extra stamp on my stamp card here or there? I’m so close to a free basket of wings!
Payton: How long have you guys been working here? This is so cool!
Julian: Yeah, man. We didn’t mean to be so shocked. We’re just a little surprised, that’s all.
Wes: Well, I guess it is surprising. That’s why I didn’t want to tell people. It’s a little embarrassing to be working for the Man when I’m so...
Danny: Anti-Man?
Wes: Exactly. And as assistant manager, I’m not just working for the Man... I am the Man!
Autumn: That’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished!
Payton: It’s so great that you guys can juggle part-time jobs AND school. In fact, I think I’ll write a blog post about it for My School Story! I’m sure lots of kids at our school can relate to having a job!
Requirements
The next day, you and your friends are hanging out in the Prep Hangout.
Autumn: Payton, I loved your blog post last night!
Payton: Thanks, Autumn! I was so sad that Ezra and Wes were even a little bit embarrassed about their jobs. What they’re doing is awesome, and everyone should know it!
Nishan: I don’t know how they balance work AND homework.
Julian: I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it!
Autumn: What about you, Danny? Have you ever had a part-time job?
Danny: I’ve never had a job! I’ve never had a job, either.
Julian: Phew! For a second, I thought ALL my friends had secret part-time jobs!
Suddenly, Wes and Ezra burst into the Hangout!
Wes: Have you guys seen Payton’s blog post about us?
Danny: Yeah, we were just talking about it.
Payton: Why? Is something wrong with it?
Ezra: I’ll say! Have you looked at the comments?!
Julian: We have a comments section?
Ezra pulls out a laptop and points to the blog post...
Time - 12 hours
Ezra points to the comments section at the bottom of the blog post.
Ezra: See? Look at what ‘the_dipper’ had to say!
Payton: ‘Wes and Ezra are such losers for working at Wings Atomica, or should I say Wings A-lame-ica!’
Julian: ‘But Ezra is the double-loser because he works for Wes!’
Nishan: ‘How did Wes even get a manager’s position with all his slacking off? Or get hired at all?’
Danny: ‘Who would want Wes in charge? He’s so lazy, he’s gotta be the worst manager ever!’
Payton: I can’t believe someone would write this!
Autumn: This is so terrible! I’m sorry someone wrote this about you guys.
Wes: Well, this wouldn’t have happened if someone hadn’t written about us in the first place!
Payton: Hey! I didn’t do anything wrong here!
Danny: Payton was just trying to share your experiences with other students, especially those who also have part-time jobs.
Payton: Exactly. The real bad guy is whoever wrote this mean comment! We need to find them and--
Ezra: But how would we even find them?
Payton: Well, Nishan can look up who it is.
Nishan: Oh no. Not again.
Autumn: Payton! We just went over this with your matchmaking. We can’t make Nishan abuse his administrator powers again, or we’ll lose the trust of the student body!
Payton: I guess you’re right. I’m just so... so mad!
Autumn: Well, maybe we can figure out who it is without looking it up. Who do we know who’d make fun of Wes and Ezra like that?
Nishan: It has to be someone from our school. You need a valid student ID to post or comment.
Autumn: But who at our school would write something like that? It’s so mean!
Wes: Well, whoever they are, it’s not okay!
Nishan: I know what they said was wrong, but who cares what some random, anonymous person said on the internet?
Danny: Try to not let it get to you too much.
Ezra: ...
Wes: ...
Ezra: Fine. I guess there’s not much we can do.
Wes: I’ll let it go. For now...
Payton: Come on, Ezra. We have band practice today, right? Maybe that’ll help distract you.
Ezra: Yeah, yeah. Let’s go get lose in the tunes.
Requirements
Later that day, you and your band are practicing a new song.
Danny: Are you sure you’re okay, Ezra? We can always postpone band practice.
Ezra: Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I’ve already forgotten that troll.
Payton: If you say so...
Ezra: Anyway, I was thinking... what if we changed the lyrics a little?
Julian: To what?
Ezra: Well, let’s just say I was inspired this afternoon, and I think I can really take this song to the next level.
Nishan: Cool! Let’s see what you’ve got. Hit it!
Julian counts you in and everyone plays the beginning of the new song perfectly. Then Ezra steps up to the mic...
Ezra: ‘Did you dip your hair in oil? Cuz it sure looks that way... Did you chicken wings spoil? Cuz it sure looks that way... Internet troll... oh, internet troll... if making fun of me if your goal... you can go DIP yourself in hot sauce!’
You, Payton, Julian, and Nishan all stop playing immediately and an uncomfortable silence falls.
Payton: ...
Julian: ...
Nishan: ...
Danny: Um... Ezra, are you sure you’re okay?
Time - 14 hours
At band practice...
Julian: Ezra, you seem pretty bothered by that comment on Payton’s blog post...
Ezra: Well, you would be, too, if that comment was about you!
Julian: Whoa.
Ezra: I mean, how dare ‘the_dipper’ say that I’m a double-loser for working for Wes? And it’s not like I work for him, you know? He just manages me. No, he assistant manages me! I just want to write back to ‘the_dipper’ and tell them off!
Nishan: Oh, no! You don’t want to do that!
Ezra: Why not?
Nishan: Internet comment sections are a scary place where trolls thrive. Once you engage, they’ve already won. Trust me, I know the dark things that can happen if you feed the trolls.
Payton: I don’t know... it seems like this might be a good opportunity for an open conversation, and that’s what My School Story is all about!
Julian: You’ve gotta stand up for yourself, Ezra. You should reply and explain your side!
Ezra: Hmmm... what do you think, Danny?
Danny: You should let it go! I agree with Nishan. It’s probably a bad idea to reply back to this comment.
Nishan: The commenter is just trying to get a rise out of you!
Ezra: But...
Danny: I know it’s hard to just step back and not let it bother you, but we’ve got your back.
Ezra: I guess...
Payton: Well, either way, we should get back to this new song.
Autumn: Yeah... and maybe go back to the original lyrics.
Ezra: You guys are right. I’ll figure out what I’m gonna do later. All right, let’s take it from the top!
Julian: 1... 2... 1-2-3-4!
The next day, you get a text from Wes: ‘Hey Danny, can you meet me at Spicy Boyz? I wanna talk to you.’
Danny: I wonder what Wes wants...
You head over to Spicy Boyz. You look around the Cajun fast food joint, but you don’t see Wes yet.
Danny: Well, I guess I’ll order before he gets here!
Requirements
You grab your order and find a seat. Just as you sit down, Wes slips into the seat opposite you.
Danny: Wes! When did you get here?
Wes: Hmmm...? Oh, I’ve been here.
Danny: You’ve got to stop sneaking up on me like that! Now, what did you want to talk about?
Wes: Have you checked My School Story lately?
Danny: Not in a few days. What’s up?
Wes: Well, Ezra replied to ‘the_dipper’.
Danny: What did he say?
Wes takes out his phone and slides it across the table. On the screen, you see Payton’s post with comments section beneath:
Danny: ‘Hey Dipper, this is Ezra. And let me tell you... you’re wrong! I am not a loser for having a job, and Wes is NOT the boss of me! I work for Wings Atomica, not Wes Atomica. Wes may be the assistant manager, but he doesn’t even work more than me!’ I can’t believe Ezra said those things. I’m sorry, Wes.
Wes: It gets worse.
Danny: Worse? Uh-oh!
Wes scrolls down a little and gives the phone back to you.
Danny: You replied already? ‘Hey Ezra, this is Wes, your MANAGER. You think managing you is easy? That I don’t do anything? Well, you’re wrong. I had to work hard to get this job and then this promotion. I work hard every day to keep the schedules organized and the store running when the manager’s not in. And some days, Ezra, I have to work extra hard to teach you easy tasks or make up for YOUR mistakes.’ Wes, this is...
Wes: I know it’s harsh, but they were acting like I don’t do anything! Anyway, I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s not worth it, being Ezra’s manager. It just seems like it’s causing a lot of problems lately...
Danny: Are you gonna quit?
Wes: Maybe... I was thinking maybe I would apply to be a manager here at Spicy Boyz.
Danny: Oh, well, maybe it’d be good to get a fresh start.
You and Wes look around Spicy Boyz for the job applications when suddenly...
Jack Carver: Ooomph!
Danny: Ow!
...you run into Jack Carver!
Wes: What are you going here, Jack?
Jack Carver: It’s a free country! I can eat where I want!
You see Jack sneakily slide a piece of paper behind his back.
Danny: What’s that you’re hiding?
Jack Carver: Nothing. None of your business.
Wes: Is it nothing, or none of our business?
Jack Carver: Whatever. I’m outta here.
Jack stomps away, but as he leaves, you catch a glimpse of the paper behind his back.
Danny: ‘Job Application’? Jack is applying for a job here?
Wes: If he’s applying, maybe I don’t want to work at Spicy Boyz after all...
Later that night, you get a call from Koh.
Koh: Danny, I have some great news for you!
Danny: What is it?
Koh: I just need a few more stamps to get a free basket of wings at Wings Atomica!
Danny: Already?
Koh: Meet me there tomorrow! For wings! Again!
Requirements
You and your friends walk into Wings Atomica and find Koh at your usual table.
Koh: I knew you couldn’t resist more wings, Danny!
Payton: Actually, we’re all a bit tired of wings to be perfectly honest...
Koh: Don’t worry... they’ve got, like, thirty flavors, plus ten different types of dipping sauce!
Ezra comes by to take your order.
Koh: Hey, Ezra. We’d like the ‘Dante’s Inferno’ combo and a basket of the boneless Wingdings.
Ezra: Would you like any of our famous dipping sauces with that?
Koh: Sure... on the house, right?
Ezra: You know it! Whatever yo want, I got you.
Ezra goes behind the counter and comes back with six cups of dipping sauce!
Ezra: Enjoy!
Wes: Ezra! Did I hear that right? You’re trying to give that sauce away for free?
Time - 10 hours
Wes marches over to your table! Ezra looks him cooly in the eye.
Wes: Are you charging these customers for that sauce, Ezra?
Ezra: These customers are our friends, Wes. I can give them free sauce if I want to.
Danny: Oh, it’s fine, we don’t--
Ezra: No, Danny. I insist. If Wes doesn’t approve of me giving back to my friends, well... he can just deal with it!
Wes: I don’t have to deal with it, actually. You’re forgetting that I’m your assistant manager, and that’s against company policy.
Ezra: It’s not like you’re even that great of a manager. I do almost all the work around here!
Wes: Then maybe you’d be happier NOT working here! Is that what you want?
The whole room goes quiet. Wes and Ezra look around to see all the restaurant’s guests staring at them.
Wes: Uhh...
Wes’s boss peeks out of his office and waves Wes over.
Wes: Uh-oh.
You and Ezra exchange a glance as Wes heads into the boss’s office. An awkward silence falls over your group.
Ezra: ...
Danny: ...
Payton: ...
Ezra quietly gets back to work.
Koh: So... does this mean I don’t get my sauce?
Requirements
Wes comes out of the boss’s office and strides over to your table.
Danny: Hey, Wes... everything okay?
Wes: Where’s Ezra, Danny? I’ve got a bone to pick with him...
Time - 14 hours
You try to calm Wes as he searches the restaurant for Ezra.
Danny: What happened, Wes? You didn’t lose your job, did you?
Wes: No, but I was disciplined for shouting at an employee in front of the customers! I’ve spent weeks working my way to assistant manager, and Ezra almost blew it for me!
Ezra comes out of the back room, having overhead your conversation.
Ezra: Like it’s my fault you don’t know how to do your job? Why would you think it’s okay to yell in front of customers?
Danny: (I should probably say something...) Don’t let some anonymous comment ruin your friendship! I mean, who even wrote that comment? It’s clear that they don’t know the real Wes and Ezra... Because the Wes and Ezra that I know wouldn’t risk their friendship AND their jobs just because of some lose online!
Koh: That’s right! What’s more important to you guys... what a random person thinks, or what we think? Because we think you’re being pretty ridiculous right now.
Danny: Remember all the good times the two of you have had?
Payton: I wrote that post to try to bring people together, not tear them apart...
Danny: Friends can’t let the internet get between them. Right, Koh?
Koh: ...
Wes and Ezra wilt under Koh’s withering glare.
Wes: I... I guess you guys are right.
Ezra: I let this anonymous commenter bring out my insecurities and risk my friendship with Wes...
Wes: And I nearly ruined my friendship with Ezra just to prove I’m the boss.
Ezra: I’m sorry that I pushed you to do that, man. Are we cool?
Wes: I was totally out of line, it’s not all your fault. We’re cool.
Koh: About time. You guys are way too sensitive.
Payton: I’m just glad we’re all friends again! I think this calls for a bro hug!
Payton pushes Wes and Ezra together! Wes pats Ezra’s back awkwardly before letting go.
Ezra: You’d better not blog about this, Payton.
Payton: Um... no promises!
Just then, Jack Carver and his friends stroll into Wings Atomica!
Jack Carver: Ha! Sorry to interrupt your hug sesh, boys.
Koh: You again?! Why are you always here?
Jack flashes a grin as he whips out his Wings Atomica stamp card.
Jack Carver: Just filling out my stand card. I’m only one stamp away from a free basket of wings!
Koh: Respect, Carver.
Requirements
Jack’s friends squeeze into a booth while Jack gives Ezra his order.
Jack Carver: Okay, gimme a Big Lad’s Wombo Combo and a basket of Dragon Wings with, like, all the sauces.
Ezra: Could you be more specific about the sauces, please?
Jack Carver: All. The. Sauces.
Ezra: Okay...
Ezra comes out a few minutes later with Jack’s order. He sets the baskets of wings on the table along with ten different sauces.
Ezra: There you go... all the sauces we offer.
Jack dips a wing in five different sauces, slathering it with barbecue, ranch, honey mustard, horseradish, and nacho cheese.
Jack Carver: Come to papa!
He brings the wing to his mouth and tears off a strip of chicken.
Jack Carver: OOH, DADDY LIKE!
Jack invites his cronies to try his dipping combination.
Jack Carver: Trust me. This is gonna rock your world. They don’t call me Jack the Dipper for nothing!
Payton: Who even calls him that?
Wes: Wait a second! The Dipper? It was you!
Time - 12 hours
Ezra: We should’ve known you were ‘the_dipper’!
Jack Carver: You didn’t know it was me? I thought that was obvious! Everyone knows Jack the Dipper!
Nishan: Wait a second, how’d you even get on the blog in the first place? It’s only for students at our school!
Jack Carver: Heh, maybe your friends need to keep their ID cards a little closer to the vest.
Ezra: Well, it doesn’t matter, because your stupid comment can’t come between us.
Wes: In fact, we’d prefer it if you took those wings to go.
Jack Carver: Suit yourself. Catch you later, losers.
Jack and his friends pack up their wings in to-go bags and walk out the door.
A few days later, Koh sends out a mass text! ‘SO CLOSE TO FREE WINGS. MEET @ WINGS ATOMICA. RSVP ASAP.’
Danny: (Here we go again...)
Requirements
You and your friends are back in your old booth at Wings Atomica. Koh brandishes her card at Ezra!
Koh: One basket of the Firestarter wings, please!
Ezra: Nice! Looks like you’ve filled out your stamp card. Ready for your free wings?
Koh: I was born ready.
Danny: Finally...
Koh: Now we can start a new stamp card!
Danny: Oh brother...
Time - 16 hours
Ezra brings you two baskets piled with wings!
Koh: FREE WINGS! FREE WINGS! FREE WINGS!
Payton: What’s the big deal, Koh? These are the same wings you’ve had, like, ten times in the last week.
Koh: But now they’re free!
While Koh celebrates her victory, you turn to Ezra.
Danny: So, how are things between you and Wes? Still cool?
Ezra: Still cool. Actually, he recommended me for the shift supervisor position!
Ezra taps his new badge. Under his name, it reads ‘Shift Supervisor’!
Danny: Whoa, congratulations!
Wes walks by and overhears Ezra telling you the good news.
Wes: Hey man, you deserve it. You’re doing great so far, by the way.
Ezra: Thanks, Wes!
Wes: Now, if you’ll excuse me... I gotta go train the newbie.
Wes holds open a side door for a new employee carrying a bulging trash bag!
Jack Carver: Why is this SO HEAVY?
Wes: Come on, rookie, pick up the pace! You’re lucky we hired you after even Spicy Boyz didn’t want you!
Jack Carver: I’ll show you! One day I’ll have your job, Wes! No one knows sauce like Jack the Dipper!
Wes: Yeah, yeah, but for now, focus on dipping this trash into a garbage can.
Jack Carver: Grr...
Looks like things are back to normal between Wes and Ezra! But what’s next for your school’s blog? Keep playing to find out!
- Julian
- Payton
- Koh
Jack Carver is giving Ezra a hard time at his part-time job at Wings Atomica... and Jack wants to talk to the manager!
Wes: What seems to be the problem here?
Jack Carver: You’re the manager?! How did that happen?
Wes: Assistant manager, actually. Can I help you, sir?
Jack Carver: Yeah, you can. This loser was extremely rude to me AND he cheated me outta my wings! I only got forty!
Ezra: I tried to explain that the Fire and Brimstone Game Day Galore has a total of forty wings, five wings in each of our delicious flavors.
Jack Carver: See? RUDE.
Payton: Wes, Ezra wasn’t being rude AT ALL.
Julian: Yeah, he was WAY nicer than Jack deserved.
Danny: Jack was the one who was rude!
Wes raises his hand to quiet the argument.
Wes: Thanks for your input, but I’ve got this.
Time - 9 hours
You and your friends wait in anticipation as Wes squares off against Jack Carver.
Wes: I’m sorry you feel that my employee didn’t act professionally. However, it doesn’t seem like he did anything inappropriate.
Jack Carver: But I just said--
Wes: I’m not finished. The Fire and Brimstone Game Day Galore does indeed only come with forty wings, seeing as how three hundred and twenty wings would be ridiculous.
Jack Carver: But--
Wes: I can get you a many with bigger pictures if the math is still unclear. Or perhaps a children’s menu would be more suitable...
Jack’s buddies burst into a chorus of laughter.
Jack Carver: But Ezra--
Wes: Now, if you can’t behave like a decent human being and not bother the other customers, you’ll have to be escorted from the premises.
Jack Carver: ... Whatever.
Jack leaves in a huff. His friends follow close behind, leaving their table littered with trash.
Ezra starts cleaning off the table as you and your other friends try to recover from the shock of all this new information.
Julian: ...
Payton: ...
Danny: Wes, I still can’t believe you’re a manager here!
Wes: Yeah...
Ezra: Wes is a great manager! He’s fair and hard-working and...
Koh: This... is... AWESOME! I’ve always wanted to have an in here! And now I’ve got two! You guys can hook me up with wings!
Wes: Uh... not quite.
Koh: Not even an extra stamp on my stamp card here or there? I’m so close to a free basket of wings!
Payton: How long have you guys been working here? This is so cool!
Julian: Yeah, man. We didn’t mean to be so shocked. We’re just a little surprised, that’s all.
Wes: Well, I guess it is surprising. That’s why I didn’t want to tell people. It’s a little embarrassing to be working for the Man when I’m so...
Danny: Anti-Man?
Wes: Exactly. And as assistant manager, I’m not just working for the Man... I am the Man!
Autumn: That’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished!
Payton: It’s so great that you guys can juggle part-time jobs AND school. In fact, I think I’ll write a blog post about it for My School Story! I’m sure lots of kids at our school can relate to having a job!
Requirements
- Wes
- Ezra
- Payton
The next day, you and your friends are hanging out in the Prep Hangout.
Autumn: Payton, I loved your blog post last night!
Payton: Thanks, Autumn! I was so sad that Ezra and Wes were even a little bit embarrassed about their jobs. What they’re doing is awesome, and everyone should know it!
Nishan: I don’t know how they balance work AND homework.
Julian: I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it!
Autumn: What about you, Danny? Have you ever had a part-time job?
Danny: I’ve never had a job! I’ve never had a job, either.
Julian: Phew! For a second, I thought ALL my friends had secret part-time jobs!
Suddenly, Wes and Ezra burst into the Hangout!
Wes: Have you guys seen Payton’s blog post about us?
Danny: Yeah, we were just talking about it.
Payton: Why? Is something wrong with it?
Ezra: I’ll say! Have you looked at the comments?!
Julian: We have a comments section?
Ezra pulls out a laptop and points to the blog post...
Time - 12 hours
Ezra points to the comments section at the bottom of the blog post.
Ezra: See? Look at what ‘the_dipper’ had to say!
Payton: ‘Wes and Ezra are such losers for working at Wings Atomica, or should I say Wings A-lame-ica!’
Julian: ‘But Ezra is the double-loser because he works for Wes!’
Nishan: ‘How did Wes even get a manager’s position with all his slacking off? Or get hired at all?’
Danny: ‘Who would want Wes in charge? He’s so lazy, he’s gotta be the worst manager ever!’
Payton: I can’t believe someone would write this!
Autumn: This is so terrible! I’m sorry someone wrote this about you guys.
Wes: Well, this wouldn’t have happened if someone hadn’t written about us in the first place!
Payton: Hey! I didn’t do anything wrong here!
Danny: Payton was just trying to share your experiences with other students, especially those who also have part-time jobs.
Payton: Exactly. The real bad guy is whoever wrote this mean comment! We need to find them and--
Ezra: But how would we even find them?
Payton: Well, Nishan can look up who it is.
Nishan: Oh no. Not again.
Autumn: Payton! We just went over this with your matchmaking. We can’t make Nishan abuse his administrator powers again, or we’ll lose the trust of the student body!
Payton: I guess you’re right. I’m just so... so mad!
Autumn: Well, maybe we can figure out who it is without looking it up. Who do we know who’d make fun of Wes and Ezra like that?
Nishan: It has to be someone from our school. You need a valid student ID to post or comment.
Autumn: But who at our school would write something like that? It’s so mean!
Wes: Well, whoever they are, it’s not okay!
Nishan: I know what they said was wrong, but who cares what some random, anonymous person said on the internet?
Danny: Try to not let it get to you too much.
Ezra: ...
Wes: ...
Ezra: Fine. I guess there’s not much we can do.
Wes: I’ll let it go. For now...
Payton: Come on, Ezra. We have band practice today, right? Maybe that’ll help distract you.
Ezra: Yeah, yeah. Let’s go get lose in the tunes.
Requirements
- Julian
- Nishan
- Payton
Later that day, you and your band are practicing a new song.
Danny: Are you sure you’re okay, Ezra? We can always postpone band practice.
Ezra: Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I’ve already forgotten that troll.
Payton: If you say so...
Ezra: Anyway, I was thinking... what if we changed the lyrics a little?
Julian: To what?
Ezra: Well, let’s just say I was inspired this afternoon, and I think I can really take this song to the next level.
Nishan: Cool! Let’s see what you’ve got. Hit it!
Julian counts you in and everyone plays the beginning of the new song perfectly. Then Ezra steps up to the mic...
Ezra: ‘Did you dip your hair in oil? Cuz it sure looks that way... Did you chicken wings spoil? Cuz it sure looks that way... Internet troll... oh, internet troll... if making fun of me if your goal... you can go DIP yourself in hot sauce!’
You, Payton, Julian, and Nishan all stop playing immediately and an uncomfortable silence falls.
Payton: ...
Julian: ...
Nishan: ...
Danny: Um... Ezra, are you sure you’re okay?
Time - 14 hours
At band practice...
Julian: Ezra, you seem pretty bothered by that comment on Payton’s blog post...
Ezra: Well, you would be, too, if that comment was about you!
Julian: Whoa.
Ezra: I mean, how dare ‘the_dipper’ say that I’m a double-loser for working for Wes? And it’s not like I work for him, you know? He just manages me. No, he assistant manages me! I just want to write back to ‘the_dipper’ and tell them off!
Nishan: Oh, no! You don’t want to do that!
Ezra: Why not?
Nishan: Internet comment sections are a scary place where trolls thrive. Once you engage, they’ve already won. Trust me, I know the dark things that can happen if you feed the trolls.
Payton: I don’t know... it seems like this might be a good opportunity for an open conversation, and that’s what My School Story is all about!
Julian: You’ve gotta stand up for yourself, Ezra. You should reply and explain your side!
Ezra: Hmmm... what do you think, Danny?
Danny: You should let it go! I agree with Nishan. It’s probably a bad idea to reply back to this comment.
Nishan: The commenter is just trying to get a rise out of you!
Ezra: But...
Danny: I know it’s hard to just step back and not let it bother you, but we’ve got your back.
Ezra: I guess...
Payton: Well, either way, we should get back to this new song.
Autumn: Yeah... and maybe go back to the original lyrics.
Ezra: You guys are right. I’ll figure out what I’m gonna do later. All right, let’s take it from the top!
Julian: 1... 2... 1-2-3-4!
The next day, you get a text from Wes: ‘Hey Danny, can you meet me at Spicy Boyz? I wanna talk to you.’
Danny: I wonder what Wes wants...
You head over to Spicy Boyz. You look around the Cajun fast food joint, but you don’t see Wes yet.
Danny: Well, I guess I’ll order before he gets here!
Requirements
- Spend 170,000 coins
You grab your order and find a seat. Just as you sit down, Wes slips into the seat opposite you.
Danny: Wes! When did you get here?
Wes: Hmmm...? Oh, I’ve been here.
Danny: You’ve got to stop sneaking up on me like that! Now, what did you want to talk about?
Wes: Have you checked My School Story lately?
Danny: Not in a few days. What’s up?
Wes: Well, Ezra replied to ‘the_dipper’.
Danny: What did he say?
Wes takes out his phone and slides it across the table. On the screen, you see Payton’s post with comments section beneath:
Danny: ‘Hey Dipper, this is Ezra. And let me tell you... you’re wrong! I am not a loser for having a job, and Wes is NOT the boss of me! I work for Wings Atomica, not Wes Atomica. Wes may be the assistant manager, but he doesn’t even work more than me!’ I can’t believe Ezra said those things. I’m sorry, Wes.
Wes: It gets worse.
Danny: Worse? Uh-oh!
Wes scrolls down a little and gives the phone back to you.
Danny: You replied already? ‘Hey Ezra, this is Wes, your MANAGER. You think managing you is easy? That I don’t do anything? Well, you’re wrong. I had to work hard to get this job and then this promotion. I work hard every day to keep the schedules organized and the store running when the manager’s not in. And some days, Ezra, I have to work extra hard to teach you easy tasks or make up for YOUR mistakes.’ Wes, this is...
Wes: I know it’s harsh, but they were acting like I don’t do anything! Anyway, I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s not worth it, being Ezra’s manager. It just seems like it’s causing a lot of problems lately...
Danny: Are you gonna quit?
Wes: Maybe... I was thinking maybe I would apply to be a manager here at Spicy Boyz.
Danny: Oh, well, maybe it’d be good to get a fresh start.
You and Wes look around Spicy Boyz for the job applications when suddenly...
Jack Carver: Ooomph!
Danny: Ow!
...you run into Jack Carver!
Wes: What are you going here, Jack?
Jack Carver: It’s a free country! I can eat where I want!
You see Jack sneakily slide a piece of paper behind his back.
Danny: What’s that you’re hiding?
Jack Carver: Nothing. None of your business.
Wes: Is it nothing, or none of our business?
Jack Carver: Whatever. I’m outta here.
Jack stomps away, but as he leaves, you catch a glimpse of the paper behind his back.
Danny: ‘Job Application’? Jack is applying for a job here?
Wes: If he’s applying, maybe I don’t want to work at Spicy Boyz after all...
Later that night, you get a call from Koh.
Koh: Danny, I have some great news for you!
Danny: What is it?
Koh: I just need a few more stamps to get a free basket of wings at Wings Atomica!
Danny: Already?
Koh: Meet me there tomorrow! For wings! Again!
Requirements
- Koh
- Ezra
You and your friends walk into Wings Atomica and find Koh at your usual table.
Koh: I knew you couldn’t resist more wings, Danny!
Payton: Actually, we’re all a bit tired of wings to be perfectly honest...
Koh: Don’t worry... they’ve got, like, thirty flavors, plus ten different types of dipping sauce!
Ezra comes by to take your order.
Koh: Hey, Ezra. We’d like the ‘Dante’s Inferno’ combo and a basket of the boneless Wingdings.
Ezra: Would you like any of our famous dipping sauces with that?
Koh: Sure... on the house, right?
Ezra: You know it! Whatever yo want, I got you.
Ezra goes behind the counter and comes back with six cups of dipping sauce!
Ezra: Enjoy!
Wes: Ezra! Did I hear that right? You’re trying to give that sauce away for free?
Time - 10 hours
Wes marches over to your table! Ezra looks him cooly in the eye.
Wes: Are you charging these customers for that sauce, Ezra?
Ezra: These customers are our friends, Wes. I can give them free sauce if I want to.
Danny: Oh, it’s fine, we don’t--
Ezra: No, Danny. I insist. If Wes doesn’t approve of me giving back to my friends, well... he can just deal with it!
Wes: I don’t have to deal with it, actually. You’re forgetting that I’m your assistant manager, and that’s against company policy.
Ezra: It’s not like you’re even that great of a manager. I do almost all the work around here!
Wes: Then maybe you’d be happier NOT working here! Is that what you want?
The whole room goes quiet. Wes and Ezra look around to see all the restaurant’s guests staring at them.
Wes: Uhh...
Wes’s boss peeks out of his office and waves Wes over.
Wes: Uh-oh.
You and Ezra exchange a glance as Wes heads into the boss’s office. An awkward silence falls over your group.
Ezra: ...
Danny: ...
Payton: ...
Ezra quietly gets back to work.
Koh: So... does this mean I don’t get my sauce?
Requirements
- Wes
- Ezra
Wes comes out of the boss’s office and strides over to your table.
Danny: Hey, Wes... everything okay?
Wes: Where’s Ezra, Danny? I’ve got a bone to pick with him...
Time - 14 hours
You try to calm Wes as he searches the restaurant for Ezra.
Danny: What happened, Wes? You didn’t lose your job, did you?
Wes: No, but I was disciplined for shouting at an employee in front of the customers! I’ve spent weeks working my way to assistant manager, and Ezra almost blew it for me!
Ezra comes out of the back room, having overhead your conversation.
Ezra: Like it’s my fault you don’t know how to do your job? Why would you think it’s okay to yell in front of customers?
Danny: (I should probably say something...) Don’t let some anonymous comment ruin your friendship! I mean, who even wrote that comment? It’s clear that they don’t know the real Wes and Ezra... Because the Wes and Ezra that I know wouldn’t risk their friendship AND their jobs just because of some lose online!
Koh: That’s right! What’s more important to you guys... what a random person thinks, or what we think? Because we think you’re being pretty ridiculous right now.
Danny: Remember all the good times the two of you have had?
Payton: I wrote that post to try to bring people together, not tear them apart...
Danny: Friends can’t let the internet get between them. Right, Koh?
Koh: ...
Wes and Ezra wilt under Koh’s withering glare.
Wes: I... I guess you guys are right.
Ezra: I let this anonymous commenter bring out my insecurities and risk my friendship with Wes...
Wes: And I nearly ruined my friendship with Ezra just to prove I’m the boss.
Ezra: I’m sorry that I pushed you to do that, man. Are we cool?
Wes: I was totally out of line, it’s not all your fault. We’re cool.
Koh: About time. You guys are way too sensitive.
Payton: I’m just glad we’re all friends again! I think this calls for a bro hug!
Payton pushes Wes and Ezra together! Wes pats Ezra’s back awkwardly before letting go.
Ezra: You’d better not blog about this, Payton.
Payton: Um... no promises!
Just then, Jack Carver and his friends stroll into Wings Atomica!
Jack Carver: Ha! Sorry to interrupt your hug sesh, boys.
Koh: You again?! Why are you always here?
Jack flashes a grin as he whips out his Wings Atomica stamp card.
Jack Carver: Just filling out my stand card. I’m only one stamp away from a free basket of wings!
Koh: Respect, Carver.
Requirements
- Danny
- Payton
- Koh
Jack’s friends squeeze into a booth while Jack gives Ezra his order.
Jack Carver: Okay, gimme a Big Lad’s Wombo Combo and a basket of Dragon Wings with, like, all the sauces.
Ezra: Could you be more specific about the sauces, please?
Jack Carver: All. The. Sauces.
Ezra: Okay...
Ezra comes out a few minutes later with Jack’s order. He sets the baskets of wings on the table along with ten different sauces.
Ezra: There you go... all the sauces we offer.
Jack dips a wing in five different sauces, slathering it with barbecue, ranch, honey mustard, horseradish, and nacho cheese.
Jack Carver: Come to papa!
He brings the wing to his mouth and tears off a strip of chicken.
Jack Carver: OOH, DADDY LIKE!
Jack invites his cronies to try his dipping combination.
Jack Carver: Trust me. This is gonna rock your world. They don’t call me Jack the Dipper for nothing!
Payton: Who even calls him that?
Wes: Wait a second! The Dipper? It was you!
Time - 12 hours
Ezra: We should’ve known you were ‘the_dipper’!
Jack Carver: You didn’t know it was me? I thought that was obvious! Everyone knows Jack the Dipper!
Nishan: Wait a second, how’d you even get on the blog in the first place? It’s only for students at our school!
Jack Carver: Heh, maybe your friends need to keep their ID cards a little closer to the vest.
Ezra: Well, it doesn’t matter, because your stupid comment can’t come between us.
Wes: In fact, we’d prefer it if you took those wings to go.
Jack Carver: Suit yourself. Catch you later, losers.
Jack and his friends pack up their wings in to-go bags and walk out the door.
A few days later, Koh sends out a mass text! ‘SO CLOSE TO FREE WINGS. MEET @ WINGS ATOMICA. RSVP ASAP.’
Danny: (Here we go again...)
Requirements
- Wes
- Ezra
You and your friends are back in your old booth at Wings Atomica. Koh brandishes her card at Ezra!
Koh: One basket of the Firestarter wings, please!
Ezra: Nice! Looks like you’ve filled out your stamp card. Ready for your free wings?
Koh: I was born ready.
Danny: Finally...
Koh: Now we can start a new stamp card!
Danny: Oh brother...
Time - 16 hours
Ezra brings you two baskets piled with wings!
Koh: FREE WINGS! FREE WINGS! FREE WINGS!
Payton: What’s the big deal, Koh? These are the same wings you’ve had, like, ten times in the last week.
Koh: But now they’re free!
While Koh celebrates her victory, you turn to Ezra.
Danny: So, how are things between you and Wes? Still cool?
Ezra: Still cool. Actually, he recommended me for the shift supervisor position!
Ezra taps his new badge. Under his name, it reads ‘Shift Supervisor’!
Danny: Whoa, congratulations!
Wes walks by and overhears Ezra telling you the good news.
Wes: Hey man, you deserve it. You’re doing great so far, by the way.
Ezra: Thanks, Wes!
Wes: Now, if you’ll excuse me... I gotta go train the newbie.
Wes holds open a side door for a new employee carrying a bulging trash bag!
Jack Carver: Why is this SO HEAVY?
Wes: Come on, rookie, pick up the pace! You’re lucky we hired you after even Spicy Boyz didn’t want you!
Jack Carver: I’ll show you! One day I’ll have your job, Wes! No one knows sauce like Jack the Dipper!
Wes: Yeah, yeah, but for now, focus on dipping this trash into a garbage can.
Jack Carver: Grr...
Looks like things are back to normal between Wes and Ezra! But what’s next for your school’s blog? Keep playing to find out!