Chapter 6:

Doomie parked outside the Talent Agency- a massive, awkwardly constructed brick building. It's top-most floors were veiled by thick, grey clouds.

"Wait here, Doomie," Lydia told the cute, yellow car. "I'll be back with Beetlejuice…..I hope."

Lydia then ran through the glass doors and up to the reception desk.

"Uh, excuse me," she said, struggling to peer over the countertop that reached higher than her up-do.

The blue-skinned face of a pretty young ghoul in a beauty pagent dress and sash-which read Miss America- looked over the counter and down at her.

"Oh, hello there, young lady," the ghoul smiled politely. "How may I help you?"

"Um, I was wondering if you seen a ghost named Beetlejuice come in here?" Lydia asked hopefully.

The receptionist checked a list on the clipboard.

"I'm sorry, but there's nobody here by the name of Beetlejuice," she responded.

Lydia decided to try again. If it didn't work this time, then she didn't know what else to do.

"Okay, what about M.C. Hammerhead?"

This time, the receptionist didn't bother to check. A bright smile flashed on her face as she wheeled her chair out from behind the desk. It was then Lydia noticed that the receptionist was missing her entire lower half. The receptionist then pushed Lydia towards a door that had a large, gold star on it. 'M.C. Hammerhead' was etched into it in neat, fancy letters.

"He's right in here, darling. But if you want his autograph, you have to get it quick! Mr. Hammerhead is a very busy man."

"Yeah, I bet he is," Lydia sneered as the receptionist wheeled away.

Lydia knocked on the door, which opened automatically just as she did. Lydia's eyes widened upon seeing the dozens of make-up artists, servants and agents all swarmed around one area. Lydia didn't have to guess on who was the center of all the attention.

"Beetlejuice?" Lydia squeezed through the mass and saw her best friend reclining in a make-up chair. But he was no longer his original self. Instead he was…..

"Hammerhead, babes. Call me M.C. Hammerhead," the rapping shark answered in a stuck-up tone, not even bothering to look up at Lydia, which infuriated her.

"Beetlejuice! It's me!" Lydia cried, startling everyone but Hammerhead.

"Me who?" This time, Hammerhead looked up and nearly fell out of his chair. "L-Lydia! W-what are you doing here?" he chuckled nervously.

"I'm here to get you!" Lydia replied angrily, placing her hands on her hips. "You promised me yesterday that you would help me with my talent for the talent show!"
Hammerhead scratched his head. "Talent show? What talent show?"

By now Lydia was boiling mad. She grabbed Hammerhead's vest and practically yelled into his ear.

"THE PEACEFUL PINES TALENT SHOW!"

Hammerhead's eyes spun in separate directions as he was dazed from the intensity of Lydia's scream.

"Oh, that, talent show. Sorry babes, I forgot."
"Yeah, I bet you're sorry." Lydia rolled her eyes.

"Hehe….well what are we waiting for, Lyds," Hammerhead led Lydia towards the door.

"Now that's more like it," Lydia said, relieved.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss," a sly voice stopped them.'

A short, grey skinned, brown suited man (or creature) appeared before them. His broad, thick-lipped mouth dripped with oozy, green slime.

"Chester Slime?" Lydia and Hammerhead exclaimed in unison.

"I would love to be your manager, Mr. Hammerhead," Chester said.

"Manager? You mean…..someone who does all the dirty work and I get all the glory….and money?" Hammerhead's eyes became dollar-signs.

"That's right," Chester nodded. "Of course, you'll need to sign this here contract."

Chester Slime held up a managing contract.

"Careful, Hammerhead," Lydia whispered. "Contracts can be tricky!"

"Ah, don't worry, babes," Hammerhead waved her warning away. "I know what I'm doing."
"That'll be the first," Lydia remarked.

Hammerhead then put a fin around Chester's shoulders.

"Listen, Chester Slimebucket," he said. "I'm not signing anything till I know what I'm signing for!"

"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Hammerhead. This contract merely states that I become your manager and receive 10% of all trades."

"10%, eh? I like that deal!" Hammerhead rubbed his fins together greedily.

He produced a pen and was about to sign his name, but Lydia snatched the contract away.
"Hey, babes! What are you doing?" Hammerhead gasped.

"Contracts also have fine print that you need to watch out for," Lydia responded as she began reading. But Chester Slime snatched it out of her hands roughly.

"No one likes a nosy brat," he snarled, snapping his fingers.

Before she knew it, Lydia was snatched up by two, enormous brutes that were security guards.

"Take the trash out, boys," Chester Slime smirked icily.

"What? No! I'm with him! Beetlejuice!" Lydia looked at her friend for assistance.

She gasped, horrified, upon seeing Hammerhead not paying any attention to what was happening just three feet behind him. He was too absorbed in signing the contract.

Meanwhile, a yelling Lydia was being tossed out of the agency. She got up in time to see the guards slam the door shut.

Lydia frowned, a tear rolling out of her eye.