The smoke arrives before dinner.
Episode 1 ended with perfect order. The tongs had clicked. The plates were clean. The guests believed in the system.
Then Captain Char lifted the lid and saw one corner of the grill grates that looked suspiciously like last weekend.
“Who forgot to clean the grates?” whispered Tonga-San.
Before anyone could answer, a gray spiral rose from the grill. It curled into two eyes, a grin, and one tiny smoky hand pointing directly at Captain Char.
Panel 1: The Puff
The grill coughs. Not a heroic sizzle. Not a confident aroma. A cough. The kind of cough that makes neighbors close windows.
Panel 2: The Goblin Appears
Smoke Goblin rises from between the grates, wearing a crown made of old burger crumbs. “I have been summoned by neglect,” he declares.
Panel 3: Guest Panic
Burger Boy shields the buns. Madame Marinade rescues the sauce bowls. The Ketchup Twins pretend they had nothing to do with anything, which means they definitely did.
Panel 4: Tonga-San Teaches
Tonga-San glows and points to the grill brush. “Preheat. Scrape. Clear grease. Control heat. The Smoke Goblin feeds on shortcuts.”
Panel 5: Captain Char Recovers
Captain Char moves food away from the smoky zone, lowers the drama, and finally cleans what should have been cleaned before the party began.
Panel 6: The Goblin Retreats
The smoke thins. The guests breathe again. Smoke Goblin sinks back into the grill, muttering, “I will return when someone ignores the drip tray.”
