A Joke Too Far

Summary
*Dizzy loves playing hide-and-seek with the other machines when they finish a job or have a day off, but during one game, she hides so well that nobody can find her, and it's not long before the others start feeling worried.*

Story
Intro
(Jim is playing with a Rubik's Cube.)
Jim: Hello. Welcome back to Sunflower Valley! I was just having some fun with this. (holds up the cube) Ever seen one of these? It's called a Rubik's Cube. It's a puzzle toy. See, you scramble it up and the idea is to unscramble it so that each of the six sides of the cube has nine squares that are all the same color. (hears Trix's horn) Hey, that's Trix's horn. I wonder what she wants.
(Jim goes to the window, but doesn't see Trix.)
Jim: That's funny. I could've sworn I heard Trix. (realizes) Ohh, I see now. (in a hushed voice) Watch.
(Jim sneaks around the window, and spots Trix hiding behind a pile of wood planks)
Jim: Ah-ha! I see you, Trix! Behind those planks!
Trix: Aw, you got me!
Jim: Yup, I got ya! (laughs, then looks back at the audience) You see, Trix and I have this little game we like to play when things are slow. She honks her horn and hides and I try to find her. It's kinda like playing hide-and-seek. Say, this reminds me of the time where Dizzy was playing hide-and-seek with the other machines and something very surprising indeed happened. I remember it like the back of my hand.

A Joke Too Far
One afternoon in the yard, the machines were waiting around for Bob to tell them what their jobs were.
"I wonder what Bob's got for us to do today", Benny said.
"I don't know", Muck said, "but I hope it's nothing too hard."
"Yeah", Roley said, "we've been working hard all week."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to take some time to rest", Scrambler said.
"It would be nice", Scoop said, "but right now, we have to focus on our jobs."
"Oh, alright", Scrambler said.
At that moment, Bob, Wendy, and Moose came outside.
"Morning, team", Bob said.
"Morning, Bob", the machines said.
"What's the job today, Bob", Scoop asked.
"Well, Scoop", Bob said, "you've all got the day off."
The machines cheered with excitement.
"Unreal", Benny said, "a day off!"
"This is amazing", Lofty said.
"Yes, I'm sure it is, Lofty", Bob said, "well, I'll be spending the day fishing at the lake."
"I'll be working in my garden", Wendy said.
"And I'm going to go hang out with Jim", Moose said.
And with that, the three builders went off to enjoy themselves.
"Well, that clears up our schedule", Scoop said, "what should we do?"
Dizzy stood on her rear tires and tried to get Scoop's attention.
"Yes, Dizzy", Scoop asked.
"Let's play a game of hide-and-seek", Dizzy said.
"That's a great idea", Muck said.
"Yeah, let's do it", Scrambler said.
"Alright", Scoop said, "hide-and-seek it is."
The machines all cheered.
"Now come on, fellas", Scoop said, "onwards and gamewards!"
Scoop and the other machines went out to play their game of hide-and-seek.
"Now then", Scoop said, "you all know the rules, no changing hiding spots, and no hiding in Adventure Bay."
"Got it, Scoop", the other machines said.
"Excellent", Scoop said, "now then, I'll count to 15, you all hide, and when you're found, you have to help me find the others."
"You'll never find me", Dizzy said, "I'll hide somewhere you'll never find me."
"Well then, you better start heading in that direction", Scoop said, "because I'm now counting."
Scoop began to count to 15, and all the machines scattered to their hiding places, and Dizzy went over to an area in the forest that was surrounded by many bushes.
"Here we go", Dizzy said, "no one will find me in here."
Meanwhile, Scoop had finished counting to 15.
"Here I come, ready or not", Scoop said.
Scoop began looking for the other machines.
"Let's see", Scoop said, "where are they?"
Roley watched Scoop from his hiding spot, behind the "Welcome to Sunflower Valley" sign.
"He'll never find me back here", Roley said.
But he was wrong, because Scoop soon found him.
"Found you", Scoop said.
"Dang it", Roley said, "I thought this would be a good hiding space."
"Aw, don't feel so bad, Roley", Scoop said, "now come on, let's go find out where the others are hiding."
Scoop and Roley went out to search for the other machines, and soon found themselves at the farm.
"There are a lot of good hiding spots here", Scoop said, "I wouldn't be surprised if any of the others are here."
While looking around, they heard some rustling.
"What was that", Roley asked.
Scoop looked at one of Farmer Pickles' sunflower fields.
"It's coming from over there", Scoop said.
Scoop and Roley went into the field to look around, and found Muck hiding among the sunflowers.
"Found you, Muck", Scoop said.
"Aw man", Muck said.
"Come on, Muck", Scoop said, "let's go find the others."
Scoop, Muck, and Roley began looking for the others, and soon found Lofty hiding behind Jim's yard, Benny hiding on the beach, and Scrambler hiding near the Chapman Bridge.
"Man, this game has been going pretty good", Scoop said, "I think we've almost found everyone."
"Except for Dizzy", Muck said.
"You're right, Muck", Scoop said, "we'd better split up and look for her."
Back in the woods, Dizzy was still hiding.
"This is brilliant", Dizzy said, "no one's found me here."
Then, she heard Scoop and Muck coming.
"Uh-oh", Dizzy said, "someone's coming."
Dizzy stayed quiet while Scoop and Muck looked for her.
"Dizzy", Scoop said, "are you here?"
"Come out, come out, wherever you are", Muck said.
But Dizzy stayed quiet and hidden.
"I don't think she's here", Muck said.
"You might be right, Muck", Scoop said, "let's look somewhere else."
Scoop and Muck left the area to look somewhere else.
"Yes", Dizzy said, "I knew they wouldn't find me in here."
After some more searching, the other machines met up.
"Any luck", Scoop asked.
"No", Lofty said, "I'm afraid not."
"We've been searching for hours, and we haven't found her anywhere", Scrambler said.
"Maybe she broke the rules and changed hiding spots", Benny said.
"Or hid in Adventure Bay", Roley said.
"No, that's not like Dizzy", Scoop said, "she always follows the rules."
"Then where could she be", Lofty asked.
"I don't know", Scoop said, "I think we better tell Bob about this and see if he can help us."
"Good idea, Scoop", Muck said.
Down at the lake, Bob was fishing, and felt something tugging his line.
"I think I caught one", Bob said.
Bob reeled in his line, and found a largemouth bass at the end of it.
"I think this may be a new record", Bob said.
But at that moment, Scoop and the others arrive.
"Bob", Scoop said.
Bob was so startled that he dropped his newly-caught fish into the lake.
"What is it, Scoop", Bob asked.
"It's Dizzy", Scoop said, "we were playing hide-and-seek, but we can't find her anywhere."
Bob was surprised to hear this.
"Oh my", Bob said, "are you sure you've looked everywhere?"
"Yes", Scoop said, "but she doesn't seem to be anywhere."
"This is very strange", Bob said.
The other machines noticed that it would be getting dark soon.
"We'd better look again", Bob said, "and if we don't find her, we may have to call for help."
Meanwhile, Dizzy was still hiding in her hiding spot.
"Gee, it sure has been a while", Dizzy said, "I hope they didn't just end the game without finding me."
Then, she heard Scrambler coming.
"Here comes someone", Dizzy said.
Scrambler came into the part of the forest where Dizzy was hiding with Bob riding on him.
"Dizzy", Bob said, "are you here?"
"The game's over, Dizzy", Scrambler said.
It was at that moment that Dizzy came out of her hiding spot.
"Yes", Dizzy said, "I won!"
But Bob and Scrambler were not very happy.
"Where have you been", Bob asked, "we've been looking everywhere for you."
"Bob", Dizzy asked, "what are you doing here?"
"We couldn't find you during the game, so we went and got Bob", Scrambler said.
"Oh, I see", Dizzy said, "well, I was just in this really cool hiding spot, and..."
"You can explain it to me and the other worried machines back at the yard", Bob said, "let's go."
Bob, Dizzy, and Scrambler went back to the yard, and the other machines were waiting for them.
"There you are, Dizzy", Scoop said, "where were you?"
"We couldn't find you anywhere in the valley", Lofty said.
"About that", Dizzy said, "I found this really cool hiding space behind some thick bushes in the forest, so I hid there."
"I think we went by there during our search", Muck said.
"I think you're right, Muck", Scoop said.
"I guess my hiding spot was too good", Dizzy said, "I'm really sorry I made you all worried."
"It's okay, Dizzy", Scoop said.
"But you should've come out after a while", Bob said, "when playing a game, you should always think carefully about how you play it, or else something bad could happen."
"I know that now", Dizzy said.
"Glad to hear", Bob said, "now, we'd better get some rest."
The next day, Bob, Scoop, Dizzy, and Roley returned to the yard following a job."
"Whew", Scoop said, "that was hard work."
"You said it", Dizzy said.
"I'm going to go inside and get some rest", Bob said, "you guys find something to do, and stay out of trouble."
"No prob, Bob", Scoop said.
Bob went inside, and Scoop, Dizzy, and Roley met up with the other machines.
"So", Muck said, "what do we want to do now?"
"I don't know if you guys want to play this with me after what happened last time", Dizzy said, "but how about hide-and-seek?"
"We'd love to, Dizzy", Scrambler said.
Dizzy was surprised to hear this.
"Really", Dizzy asked.
"Of course", Lofty said.
"Since you won the last game, you get to be it", Scoop said.
"Alright", Dizzy said, "you guys had better hide."
Dizzy counted to 15, and the other machines quickly went to hide.
"Ready or not, here I come", Dizzy said.

Outro
Jim: Well, as you saw, the other machines were worried when they couldn't find Dizzy, and like Bob said to Dizzy, whenever you play a game with your friends, you should be careful about how the game is played, otherwise you'll be playing with fire. This reminds me of a verse from the Second Book of Thessalonians. (opens up his bible) " "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.-2 Thessalonians 3:3".". Well, that's all the time we have for right now. See you next time, and God bless.
**The End**