Tapper's Decision

"Tapper's Decision" is a mini-story that takes place in the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series.

Story
It has been some years after Tapper had married Siobhan when Empath had visited him in a new house that was set up for him and his family in the Smurf Village. Empath found himself with two baby Smurfettes that were underfoot as soon as he stepped in.

"Mind where you smurf, my fellow Empath," Tapper said with a laugh. "Letting these girls roam where they want to around the house is something me and Siobhan are still getting used to."

"Are you happy that you and your wife have been smurfing daughters instead of sons like Hefty and Handy, Tapper?" Empath asked.

"More like blessed than happy, Empath, but I would not be so quick as to smurf back such a treasure that the Almighty has smurfed me in these two daughters of mine," Tapper said. "They will certainly be a test of my abilities as a Papa Smurf to keep them out of trouble and to train them in the admonition of the Lord."

"And some Smurfs in the village think that raising daughters is more trouble than raising sons, though this smurf might wonder about that," Empath said.

"Aye, I don't think we'll truly have a definitive answer to that question, Empath," Tapper said. "Anyway, I'm glad that you're here because I have smurfed to an important decision after a talk with my beloved wife."

"This smurf senses that you're going to be departing from the Smurf Village with your new family and going to live over on Smurfette Island," Empath said.

"That is precisely what we're going to smurf, Empath," Tapper said. "Siobhan feels homesick for her village and would like me to operate The Lucky Smurfette, which hasn't been smurfing since the two of us got married. And I for one would very much like to smurf on that beautiful island with the Smurfettes that call it their true home. But that's going to mean one thing's got to smurf over here."

"You'll have to hand over operating Tapper's Tavern to another Smurf or close it down altogether," Empath realized. "This smurf knows that Slugger's been itching to smurf his hand at operating it since he won't be smurfing such of his own game now that he's got a wife to smurf care of."

"Slugger is a good Smurf that I would like very much to keep the place going when I'm gone, and I know of a few other Smurfs who would be willing to help him," Tapper said. "He may not make the best sarsaparilla ale, but he's got a way with the customers that I've seen him smurfing him that makes me feel that he's the right choice."

"So have you smurfed it over with him about what you're planning to smurf with Siobhan?" Empath asked.

"I had the foresmurf of doing so to make sure that the transition from my running the tavern to his will be as painless as possible, Empath," Tapper said. "Still, it's going to be hard to leave behind what I've been smurfing in this village with you and all the other Smurfs. It feels like the time has come for me to smurf out into the unknown as a grown Smurf."

"This smurf feels that Tapper's Tavern, not to mention this village, will never be completely the same without you in it, Tapper," Empath said. "This smurf wishes you the best of luck in the new place that you'll settle in."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Empath, though I feel confident that the Almighty will be with me wherever I smurf from here with my family," Tapper said as he gave his friend a hug. "May the luck of the Smurfish be with you for the rest of your days, Empath. I'm going to miss smurfing you here every single day."

"And this smurf will miss your presence here as well, Tapper," Empath said.