The No Hug Zone/Part 2

A short while later, Empath was left guarding the tavern by himself while Tapper went in to check on Grouchy and see if there was anything that he wanted. At that point, Brainy and Hefty were just passing by.

"Well, I didn't think the star-faced showoff would be smurfing the role of the bouncer at Tapper's Tavern, especially when it's closed," Hefty said with some amusement.

"Say, Empath, what are you doing here on Hug-A-Smurf Day all by yourself?" Brainy asked.

"Yeah, and where's Grouchy?" Hefty asked. "I haven't smurfed him around the village."

"Grouchy is currently safe and unavailable right at this moment, my fellow Smurfs," Empath answered.

"You're not trying to keep Grouchy from being hugged on Hug-A-Smurf Day, are you?" Brainy asked.

"Knowing Empath, that's probably what he's smurfing," Hefty said.

"Tapper officially made his tavern a No Hug Zone today," Empath explained, "so unless you have some important business in it, this smurf would suggest that you two would move along peacefully."

"You mean the tavern is off-limits, right?" Hefty asked.

"That isn't fair, Empath," Brainy said. "This is Hug-A-Smurf Day, and Smurfs should be able to hug whoever they want to whenever they want to on this day. Papa Smurf isn't going to like this one bit."

"How long do you think you're going to keep other Smurfs out of the tavern just to protect Grouchy, Empath?" Hefty asked.

"It will take this smurf all day just to make sure that Grouchy is safe from the hug-muggers, Hefty," Empath answered.

"Oh, really, Empath?" Brainy said with some disbelief. "I bet Jokey is probably smurfing on some way to smurf past your security."

"Let's not smurf that prankster any ideas, Brainy," Hefty said.

"Jokey is welcome to try getting past this smurf, Brainy, though I highly doubt that he will succeed," Empath said.

"We might as well get going Brainy, if Empath isn't going to let us smurf Grouchy a hug," Hefty said.

"Patience, Hefty, a little patience," Brainy said. He then gave Empath a hug. "You don't know how much this means to me to smurf my own half-brother a hug."

"This smurf appreciates the sentiment, Brainy," Empath said. "How about you, Hefty?"

Hefty looked rather reluctant as he pondered the question. "Well...okay, but don't think this means that we're friends or anything."