Me, Sprig, Polly, and Anne went grocery shopping for Hop Pop this morning. "Hey, Hop Pop, we got the groceries." Anne announced. "Couldn't buy much since we barely have enough money." Polly said. "But, we got what we can afford." I added. "Feeling any better, Hop Pop?" Sprig asked. Hop Pop has been depressed ever since we lost the stand. "Ever since we lost the stand, I just felt, well, lost." Hop Pop sighed. "I was fine the first couple of days, but now it's really starting to catch up to me." "Well, maybe this'll cheer you up." I said as I pulled out a flyer that said, 'Grub and go, now hiring.' "Grub and Go is hiring greeters, all you gotta do is smile and be friendly." Sprig explains. "Just another job for me to lose." Hop Pop groaned. "See, you're a natural." Sprig encouraged. "Now head out there and get back in the game." Anne added. "Let me go!" Hop Pop cried as Sprig got him off the couch. "The couch is the only one who understands me!"

Later that day, I was reading my book when suddenly, Hop Pop comes home with a smile on his face. "Guess what, kids!" Hop Pop announced. "You passed the interview?" Anne asked. "You have a job?" Sprig asked. "You finally proposed to Sylvia?" I asked. "Nope, I'm running for mayor!" Hop Pop exclaimed. We all were confused. "Don't you see, kids, if I win this election, I'll prove once and for all that Hopediah Plantar ain't no loser!" "Oh, no, if he loses, he'll be more down than ever." Anne whispers to us. "And we just got the couch cleaned." Polly added. "But if he wins, we'll get the old Hop Pop back." Sprig explains. "And he won't have to deal with much frog abuse." I added. "Wait, is that like your catchphrase?" Polly asked. "I guess it is." I replied. "Hop Pop, we're all in!" "Really?" Hop Pop asked. "Aw, kids, I won't let you down." "Politics are the worst." Anne complained. "Yeah, the monster fights are pretty cool, though." Polly added. "The what now?" I asked.

Hop Pop and Mayor Toadstool were dressed in tracksuits for some odd reason. "You made a powerful enemy today, Hopediah, toads have run uncontested for decades." Mayor Toadstool said. "This is a disgrace." "The only disgrace is you as mayor." Hop Pop argued. "Welcome to the official mayoral trials, where the candidates try to win your vote." Albus announced. "I'm suddenly very interested in politics." Anne said as she blows a horn in Sprig's ear. "Okay, Anne." Sprig said. "That's enough." "Our first trial is about strength." Albus explains. "The first candidate to mount the beetle wins!" A giant, spiky beetle came out of the cave as the first trial began. Hop Pop had a strange technique that won him the first trial. The crowd cheered for him.

Albus brought us to a giant nest with baby birds. "The second trial is about sensitivity." Albus explains to the candidates. "Can you figure out what these hatchlings need?" "I know what these dumb birds need, money." Mayor Toadstool scoffs as he gave money to the babies, which resulted in them attacking him. Hop Pop feeds the babies and makes them happy. "Aww!" I squealed. "That's how he fed us when we were babies." Sprig explains as the mother returned.

Albus brought us into the woods for the next trial. "Being mayor is a lot like being dropped in the woods naked and forced to find your way home." Albus explains. "So that's what we did." Hop Pop came out of the bushes with a few bugs leading the way. We all cheered for Hop Pop as he waved goodbye to his friends.

Later that rainy night, Hop Pop was preparing for the final trial. "Excited for the final trial tomorrow, Hop Pop?" Sprig asked. "Not really." Hop Pop sighed. "I know I've been doing well, but if I mess up tomorrow, it could cost us the election." Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, it was Toadie. "Mr Plantar, an anonymous associate would like to speak with you." He said. "You mean the mayor?" Anne asked. "No comment." Toadie replied. "C'mon, man, you only know, like, one person." I retorted. "I said no comment!" Toadie snapped.

Hop Pop just came back from talking to Mayor Toadstool. "Hey, Hop Pop." Anne greeted. Hop Pop sighed. "So, what did the mayor want?" I asked. "If I lose on purpose, Toadstool will give us the stand back." Hop Pop replied. We all gasped. "What?" Anne exclaimed. "You've got a real chance to win." "He'll also make us rich, we'd be set for life." Hop Pop explains. "Oh, in that case, take the deal." Polly suggested. "Polly!" Anne and Sprig exclaimed. "We were all thinking it." Polly retorted. "Polly's right, guys." Hop Pop sighed. "It's just too good to pass up." "Well, whatever you pick, we'll be behind you, dude." I said. "All the way." Sprig added. "Thanks, kids." Hop Pop sighed. "Looks like I've got some thinking to do."

The next morning, we went to City Hollow for the fourth and final trial. "Ladies and Gentlephibians, you know the candidates, you've seen them fight monsters, but for the final challenge, you'll see them fight, each other." Albus announced. "Boxing, their final trial is boxing?" I asked. Someone rings the bell and the fight begins. Hop Pop was doing amazing, until Mayor Toadstool knocked him down. Hop Pop was getting up. Hop Pop was the strongest I've ever seen him and gave Mayor Toadstool a KO! We all cheered, Hop Pop was gonna be the mayor.

We met at the center of town to hear the election results. "With 88 votes, 100% of Wartwood, Hopediah Plantar!" Albus announced. "And with 22,000 votes, the entire rest of the valley, Mayor Toadstool!" The townsfolk frowned and left. Hop Pop sat on the steps of the City Hollow and frowned. "Hey, Hop Pop, you okay?" Sprig asked. "Yep, I've never felt better." Hop Pop replied. "Really?" I asked. "You know you lost, right?" "I may have lost, but I stood my ground and fought for something important and that feels good." Hop Pop explains. "Hopediah, may we have a word?" Wally asked.

The townsfolk walked us over to the marketplace to show Hop Pop a brand new stand. "We all pitched in and built you a stand." Felicia said. "For giving us something better than produce..." "Hope." Wally added. "You made us all proud." Mrs Croaker commented. Hop Pop started shedding tears in his eyes. The sign said 'Plantar & Grandson & Granddaughter & Humans'. "I may have lost the race, but I'm back at the market with all of you." Hop Pop cried. "And that makes me a winner."