Collision Course [+ Additional Levels]

Level Fourteen - Strange Feelings

He saw him shrug. "What else am I supposed to call it? Besides the point, I don't want to leave just because a kid thought they saw a comic bubble pop up beside an orange boy," he said.

"Well, no duh."

"And no swearing in english, either," Jumpman added.

"Wait, what?"

Jumpman gave him a stern look, cutting QBert's protests short.

QBert scowled. "You sure? If I don't have some sort of output, I become much more likely to burst out in..." Then he made a face, laughing a little. "What did you call it again? QBertese?"

"Just make it happen, alright? No swearing in english or the other way. Okay?" Jumpman told him a little tiredly.

QBert rolled eyes playfully. "Fine, mother."

Seeing the line dissipate ahead of them, Jumpman moved forward to the desk, where a familiar man stood behind it. "Come on, Hubert," he said.

He followed him, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Hey, I know that you're, like, a year older than me and all, but that doesn't make you in charge of me."

"Year and a half, actually," Jumpman corrected with a little of what QBert thought was a sly smile as they stepped up to the counter. The elderly man that stood behind it was busy with helping a father with his young son, exchanging bills for quarters.

"Aaaand, there you go! That should be lasting you a little while," the man behind the desk told them merrily, pushing his glasses up on his nose. He leaned forward over the desk to look down at the other man's son. The boy could only be about six years old. He sported a spaceman helmet that was clearly too big for him without a visor. "You're not gonna go easy on yer ol' pal here, are ya? Gonna beat him good?" the elderly man asked him.

The boy smiled, revealing a missing tooth, and nodded, his helmet bobbing in the motion.

Both men chuckled. The father patted his son on the head, and looked up. "Thanks. I love this arcade, and I figured I'd bring him along to show him the place," he said. "Introduce him to some of the games I played when I was his age."

"Why, that's fantastic! I'm sure he'll be having a great time," the other man told him, giving the boy a wink from behind the counter. The boy giggled in response. "Well, you two have a good time now!"

The father nodded to him and turned to guide his son to the games.

Jumpman stepped up to the desk. "Mr. Watterson?" he asked politely.

The elderly man turned to look at Jumpman, and his face lit up. "Jessie! Hubert! Hey, sir!" The father turned in surprise toward Mr. Watterson, who gestured to Jumpman and QBert. "These two youngins here are the ones to keep a watchin' for! These two are retro champions, I'm tellin' ya!"

"Oh, thanks, but there's no need to―" Jumpman began.

"Oh, but there is, sonny!" Mr. Watterson replied jovially. "You boys be the stars at my arcade." To the father, he said, "If your boy there has a question or needs a helpin' with a game"―he pointed at Jumpman and QBert―"have 'im come to these two gentleman: Mr. Jessie, and Mr. Hubert. Don't have 'im comin to me," he said seriously with a shake of his head as he gestured to himself.

The father laughed, and gave him a nod, glancing at the two. "Duly noted. I'll do that," he replied, walking away with his son.

"So, what's it gonna be for you two this wonderful evening?" Mr. Watterson asked, turning back to them and leaning on the countertop with a smile.