TEARS OF ED'S RECALL

Eds fic! YEAH!!! I've been working mostly on this lately, so I hope it's good. I'll keep my day job though. Well, I would if I had one. ^^ But be patient. It will be kinda lame for a little while, but it will get better. Much better. It's all about remembering your past and being able to wait for the future and accept it when it arrives. If I get flames, I'll eat them, but they will burn my tongue. A quick note though, I don't own anyone from Ed Edd n Eddy but I do own da ppl who aren't on the show. Thank u. Oh yeah, review if u can. Enjoy! : )

Lennon Karma

Chapter 1

Edspark Dollarsign

hildhood is a chance to absorb the simplicity of the world. But it transforms into adulthood in the blink of an eye; you can close your eye as a child, and open it to see your adult world. Adolescence is the fastest of all. As it takes place, the hours and minutes drag by, but in retrospect, it has flown. It is the same under most conditions. For a captive, moments last an eternity, but to those who are free, a moment lasts only a moment. The short span of adolescence came too soon for three young souls, three young Eds. Two were satisfied to let it reach them in its own time, but the other urged it to come sooner. As the three imagined what would come for them in the years ahead, they were moving from childhood's safe and comforting arms to a time when the doors opened to adulthood; when their lives lay ahead, and every path led home.

A stony silence consumed the once energetic group. The Eds sat together in a quiet tension, looking back with disgust on the past few hours. This day had been no different from any other. A complete failure. Eddy sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. Why did all of his plans end up this way? Nothing ever seemed to work out. Ed and Double-D seemed to share the same feeling. After a day of frantic work and planning, it was now common knowledge that Eddy's brother was not coming home. Resting his chin on his hand, Eddy sighed. "I was so sure that would work. But they found us out again. Just like always."

"Never mind, Eddy." Coaxed Double-D. "It's not like that scam would have brought any money anyway."

"That's not the point! If my brother had come home, we wouldn't be sitting here like losers! We'd be living the life."

"He might have just ignored us. Most of the time, he doesn't even notice we exist."

As Eddy lashed back at Double-D, defending his brother, Ed winced. He hated it when his friends fought. But what could he do? Not much, as every time he tried to solve the problem, he just made it worse. But fighting had always been stressful for him. Ed swallowed hard and covered his ears in an effort to suppress the urge to yell at them to stop.

Eddy stared wistfully at the mirror ball on his ceiling. "I wish we were older."

"What are you talking about?" asked Double-D.

"Older! My brother's in high school and people respect him. Maybe when we're in high school"

"But everyone else would be in high school as well! With the exception of Sarah and Jimmy of course."

Eddy remained unconvinced that older did not equal better. Ed and Double-D were just as happy in middle school, but Eddy wanted more. He awaited the day he and his long-time friends would be "the high school guys" with impatience

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The sun was setting, sending an array of shifting colors across the sky, saffron yellow, to blood-streaked orange, to crimson red. The first summer afternoon was always a quiet one; but every afternoon that followed was bustling with kids celebrating their freedom from the classroom. The cul-de-sac was no exception. Now that it was evening, darkness had come and brought anticipation along with it. Excitement had built up in preparation for how the first day of summer vacation would be spent, and what the following year would bring.

Becoming a high school kid had always been a distant dream, something everyone in the cul-de-sac looked forward to. It approached faster than they knew, but until high school was actually upon them, it was like waiting for Christmas to come. Until this summer. The freshman year was over for them, and they had a whole year of accomplishments and failures to look back on. They also had another summer on hand until they went back again.

Eddy picked up the phone in the kitchen, hoping his dad wouldn't catch him. He wasn't allowed to be on the phone after 10:00 at night, and the clock was already showing 10:38. Still, Eddy bravely continued and dialed the familiar number that belonged to Double-D . The phone rang, and Eddy heard someone pick up the phone. He was determined to keep his voice a whisper; he had only just been freed from being grounded, and he didn't want to be grounded again.

"Hello?"

Eddy: "Is Edward there?"

Double-D: "Eddy, I'm not really supposed to be on the phone this late."

Eddy: "That's okay, neither am I."

Double-D: *sigh*

Eddy: "Soare you ready for tomorrow?"

Double-D: "I guess so. How about you?"

Eddy: "Yeah. Since you and Ed will be there. It will be just like every other year but better! Another summer of scams And we are now high school guys! Think of the cash"

Double-D: "But everyone else is in high school also. Except for Sarah and Jimmy. The classes weren't hard. Next year should be uncomplicated as well."

Eddy: "For you! My brother told me the sophomore math teacher is tough."

Double-D: "Your brother thinks every teacher is tough."

Eddy: "Yeah, but he might be right this time."

Double-D: "I doubt it. Eddy, I gotta go."

Eddy: "I better go too. See you tomorrow."

Double-D: "Bye."

Eddy didn't even say goodbye to Double-D; he didn't need to. Every year after the last day of school had ended; the Eds would call each other over the phone. No reason, just because. Eddy had tried to call Ed earlier in the evening, but he wasn't home. He had said something about Sarah graduating from middle school, so he was probably just at her ceremony. Eddy considered calling Ed now because he would certainly be home, then doubted if it would be worth it. When he called Ed during the day, Ed would babble on about nothing, but at night, he rarely spoke. Deciding it was definitely not worth it, Eddy turned on his heel and left the kitchen door, slumped over, actually ready to sleep.

He had been waiting impatiently for his freshman year to end. The chant of, "Freshmen! Freshmen!" had been wearing on his nerves, even though Eddy was not about to let some older guys boss him around. What he really wanted was for his senior year to start. By then, Sarah and Jimmy would be freshmen. So many scams, only 180 days But that was a long way off. Eddy couldn't even remember why he was thinking about that anyway, when he hadn't even thought about the first day of this summer yet. That was next on his list.

Each step to his room was agony. He hoped he would make it to the top, but he wasn't sure if he would or not. So tired. And his parents were already in their room. If they heard him, they might find out he was on the phone. Or worse, picking up where his brother left off but no. They had to know he wasn't like his brother. But they didn't seem to. Eddy shook his fist at the floor. The quieter he tried to be, the louder the floor creaked. His knees were just as bad. Every movement of a knee was followed by a muffled crack.

As soon as Eddy passed through the door to his room, he mindlessly kicked several magazines aside, and fell forward onto his bed. He kicked his shoes off, stretched, and pulled the cord of his lava lamp, turning it on. The green goo inside it would take awhile to start moving, but he didn't want to bother to leave it on that long anyway. Eddy liked his room for the most part. All his things were at his fingertips, and he didn't have to hunt through his entire house to find what he was looking for like Ed always did. When Eddy complained about lost things always being in the last place he looked, Ed told Eddy that nothing was ever in the last place he looked. Eddy was curious to find out how messy, disorganized Ed could always locate his things. Ed smiled and answered, "Oh, nothing is in the last place I look 'cuz I keep looking after I find it." Eddy chuckled at the memory. What did he expect from Ed?

Eddy wandered over in the direction of the record player and popped an old Tom Jones record onto the player. He bobbed his head and danced across the room in the dim light by his lava lamp, slowly removing his shirt. After a few moments of fighting with the buttons, he stood still to unfasten them. Then he pulled the shirt off over his head and threw it in the direction of the closet. He kept dancing to the fast-paced song, all the while wishing he had a girl to dance with him but he quickly shoved that out of his head. There were no girls in his future. With the luck he had had with girls over the years, he wondered if he would ever have a girlfriend.

Nazz was out of his league, plain and simple. He had been lusting after her for years. She was so much more than just the girl next door. Well, the girl down the street. Kevin was her unofficial boyfriend, and the two had been dating on and off for years. Sarah was never part of Eddy's consideration. To him, she hardly even counted as a girl. Not that anyone had ever been *interested* in her anyway. She had gone after Double-D several times, but seemed to have given up pursuing him years earlier. And the Kankers that was experience, but not the kind he wanted. The memory of Lee Kanker kissing him was enough to make him want to forget girls entirely. But still, he couldn't.

The record stopped playing, and Eddy looked at the clock, seeing that it was now after 11. He let his eyes close halfway as he waded through his possessions until he reached his bed. Slowly, he turned and sat, pulling off each of his socks, and throwing them over near his shirt. After the dancing, he was too tired to want to move. Eddy dragged his legs unwillingly onto the bed and crawled up to the pillow-end of his bed. He turned off his lamp, which was bubbling now, and got into bed in complete darkness. Whatever tomorrow brought, he would be ready for it. Or so he thought

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Eddy's consciousness slowly came back to him when he felt a sharp beam of light pouring straight into his eye. Waking up the first day of summer vacation was the best part of his whole year. He rolled over away from the sun and looked at the clock. Eight-thirty? That was early for him. During the summer, he was rarely up before 10. But it was clear and bright, and several blurry figures were moving around in the cul-de-sac. Double-D had to be up already, and Ed may never have even gone to bed. That was a problem Eddy had found with inviting Ed over; he would just wander around until he was too tired to go anymore and just fell asleep wherever he happened to be at the time.

Rays of sun poured through the glass doors of Eddy's room. Rather than go across his entire house, Eddy typically went out through these doors and cut across the neighbor's yard to Ed's house or wherever he happened to be going. Too many times he had been shouted at by his neighbor for doing this, but it didn't stop him from doing it again the next time. Eddy decided that he would be civil today and go around the lawn instead of through it. After all, it was the first day of summer, so he was feeling gracious. Eddy played another record as he hunted for another pair of jeans. Finding them, he jumped into them, threw a shirt over his head, and danced around the room, watching light reflect and flicker off the spinning mirror ball on his ceiling.

Grabbing a pretend microphone, Eddy leaned over forward, mouthing the song's lyrics. He could see himself onstage, surrounded by an audience full of screaming fans. Cameras flashed, girls marveled at how gorgeous he was, Ed stared at him from the window Ed? Eddy plummeted quickly back to Earth from his fantasy world to see Ed's face pressed up against the glass panels. Ed's face was plastered with the mindless smile that was always there, and his raised hand waved back and forth robotically, like a windshield wiper. Eddy scowled at Ed. "Ed! What the fuck are you doing? How long have you been there?"

Ed's hand kept moving and his expression didn't change. Calming down a little, Eddy opened the door. Ed looked as if he would fall on his face with the door gone, but kept smiling and waving. After a few more moments of this, Ed turned his head in Eddy's direction. "Hi, Eddy!"

Eddy kept looking at Ed. Double-D had once said that eye contact helps when speaking to someone like Ed. "Ed, what are you doing?" Eddy repeated slowly.

Ed put a finger to his mouth and stared off into space. "I forget. But you looked funny!" Ed stood up straight and laughed his usual laugh.

That was more than Eddy wanted to hear. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ed stopped laughing and demonstrated, "You looked like this!" Both of his large hands clasped around his own invisible microphone, and he bent all the way over forward. Then he stood up, winked a couple of times at no one in particular, and continued repeating Eddy's performance in exaggerated slow-motion. Finally, Eddy grabbed Ed by the wrist, and silently dragged him across the street to Double-D's. "Uh, Eddy, are you mad at me?" Ed asked, with a touch of guilt in his voice. Eddy was still pissed at Ed for spying on him, but Ed's stupidly innocent expression always won his forgiveness.

Releasing Ed's wrist, he responded, "No, Ed." Ed grinned, wrapping his arms around himself. Crap, thought Eddy, what is it about that look? Eddy knocked on Double-D's door, and waited for an answer. Nothing. He knocked again, a little louder, and still nothing.

"Can I ring the doorbell?" begged Ed. "Please Eddy? Oh come on!"

Eddy scowled again. "No! Once you start, you can't stop. We'll just go around back." They maneuvered around the side of Double-D's house, and appeared in the backyard. Eddy was heading in the direction of the screen door, but Ed pointed at a bush.

"Eddy, look." He whispered, pointing. Something red was behind it. Ed and Eddy approached it, to find Double-D with a jar in his hand.

"Hey, Double-D." said Eddy casually.

Double-D jerked his head up, then looked over his shoulder to see Ed and Eddy. "Oh, hello Eddy." He answered. "I'm surprised to see you up this early." Double-D stood, displaying his jar. Inside was a large grasshopper, clinging to the side of the jar. Ed moved in for a closer look.

"I have seen this before, Double-D. It only has a thousand eyes for me."

"Grasshoppers only have three eyes, Ed." Double-D said, correcting him. Double-D squeezed past Ed and Eddy and back across the yard to his house. The other two Eds followed him to the garage, and watched him put the jar on a shelf, amidst many others. Satisfied, Double-D turned around and stood with his longtime friends. At last, the band was back together.

This was a yearly tradition: the Eds would meet up and spend the first day of summer just enjoying the freedom from school and trying to get a little cash, too. Not many people were even out yet, Kevin had completed several laps around the cul-de-sac on his bike and Rolf was feeding his chickens. No one else had made an appearance yet. Eddy crossed his arms impatiently. "Two people! What can we do when there's only two people around?"

"Patience, Eddy. They're certain to come out soon." Double-D justified, hopefully.

"What are we supposed to do until then?" Even Double-D didn't have an answer for that. The cul-de-sac was silent except for the Rolf's chickens, and the sound of Kevin's bike as he shot by.

"Movie?" Ed offered. "We could watch 'Mutant Zombies from Planet Xop'!"

Eddy and Double-D considered. This movie didn't sound like one they had seen more than four times, and it would keep them busy until the other kids showed up. "Sure, why not?" Eddy agreed, finally. The Eds trekked across the cul-de-sac, steering clear of Kevin, and finally reached Ed's house. Ed flung the front door open, and it slammed against the outside of the house. "Ed, was that loud enough?"

"Sure was, Eddy." Ed nodded. Eddy and Double-D passed Ed and stood in the living room. From where they stood, they could see Sarah sitting on the couch watching t.v., but she could not see them. Not that she would have paid much attention if they stood in front of her, anyway. She was half asleep. Ed came galloping in from where he had been by the door. "I shut - - -!" he began, but Eddy had cupped a hand over his mouth.

"Do you want Sarah after you?" Eddy whispered to Ed through clenched teeth.

"Uhno. But I shut the door."

Double-D rolled his eyes, and opened the door to the basement stairs. "Shall we go?" The Eds agreed in silence, each making a beeline for the basement. At the bottom of the stairs, they opened the door to Ed's grungy basement room. His bed was unmade, like always, and the floor was littered with a mixture of garbage and his belongings. For Eddy and Double-D, it was hard to tell which was which. Double-D frowned at the sight of a moldy piece of toast on the floor. "Ed! That is still there? It was there that time we played truth or dare!"

"And when was that, like two years ago?" Eddy snickered, nudging the toast with his foot.

"That is my toast! Get your own!" Ed called to Eddy. Ed picked up the toast and moved it to a shelf by his bed to ad mire it. When he was finished, he opened a cabinet of movies and searched for 'Mutant Zombies from Planet Xop.' The tapes were not in their cases, and none were labeled, so a pile of tapes was created in an attempt to find the right one.

After several minutes of waiting, Double-D finally suggested, "Ed, if you can't locate that one, why not just choose a different one?" Ed's face fell, and he looked despondently at the tapes. He didn't want another tape; he wanted Xop. But considering that the hope of finding it anytime soon was small as it was, he consented and gave up the search. But he wouldn't be happy about it. There was one movie he wanted, and he couldn't find it. He had always been plagued by problems like this. Years ago, he could remember wanting to watch a movie marathon, but the upstairs t.v. didn't have that channel and Sarah hogged the basement t.v. He did get to watch his movies eventually, but not before he was put through more than he wanted to be. Or worse, the day he found out he couldn't see "Robot Rebel Ranch" because he wasn't old enough. And now this. He just hadn't had much luck with movies.

Scowling grimly, Ed grabbed the top tape and thrust it into the video player. Only snow appeared on the screen, and Ed stared at it. "I've seen this show already." He commented, watching it carefully. Through the scratchy crackle of the snow, a voice could be heard. It sounded familiar, but who was it? Slowly, a picture became visible on the screen. It was Ed! But younger. And sitting on a rocking horse. "Aww, look! A cute little kid!" Ed cooed at himself on the screen, completely oblivious to the laughter of his friends.

Little Ed was rocking back and forth happily, repeating the words, "Riding the pony! Riding the pony!" over and over. Eddy and Double-D were in hysterics, but Ed didn't seem to understand that it was him. After several minutes of Ed on the rocking horse, the image returned to snow, and the other two Eds' laughter ceased.

Once he had finally regained his composure, Eddy finally managed to say, "Damn, I wanted to see the rest of that!"

Double-D's hand was still cupped over his mouth, stifling a chuckle. "I concur! Ed, you haven't changed much over the years!"

Ed stared at the snowy screen. Then his head turned to face his friend's. "I'm concentrating on dog heaven." That was Ed all right. It didn't matter to him if no one understood his words. He was apparently in his happy place, gazing at a snowy television and 'concentrating on dog heaven.' He still wore that military green trenchcoat he had worn as long as Double-D and Eddy had known him. But his hair had grown considerably; it had extended from a simple buzz cut to the length of his ears. The copper mass fell in his eyes often, and he would bat it away. He still possessed the lazy eye that gave him the empty-headed appearance it always had, and otherwise his appearance had changed little. Although his face was splashed with a handful of new freckles and he had grown a couple inches.

Over in the big chair, Eddy was sitting upright on the seat while Double-D was left to perch on the arm. Double-D's black sock hat was as much a part of him as it had always been. The other two Eds couldn't even remember what he looked like without it. Double-D chuckled again at Ed's devotion to the snowy television. As he opened his mouth, a glint of light was reflected back. Strands of metal crossed his teeth, in an effort to close the gap that separated the two in front. Admittedly, he would miss it, even though he had agreed to the idea of braces. The black hair that fell from the back of his cap now fell to his shoulders in smooth, straight locks. Eddy had told him that the length of it made him look like a girl, but Double-D had no intention of cutting it.

Eddy sprawled in the seat of the chair, taking up every space that was available. The only marked change in his appearance was growth. Since his preteen days, he had grown to Double-D's height, and looked as though he would pass him. His mohawk-like hairstyle remained, and as always, he was proud of it. Adolescence had had little effect on the aura of any of these boys, so at heart, they were still who they had always been.

At last, a large, fake-looking monster appeared on the screen. Its gaping mouth opened and it proceeded to swallow a city while people screamed in the streets. Eddy sighed. This had to be the lamest movie Ed owned. Eddy seen it before, and it could hardly be called a movie by his terms. For a while, little was said, as all three consented to watching the 'movie.' Then Double-D spoke. "So Eddy, what have you come up with? Any schemes to begin the new summer?"

Staring right through Double-D, Eddy rested his chin on his hand. "I have something. Nothing big, nothing special. But I see the lane. Nature walks! We take people on nature walks for 50 cents!"

This wasn't the best idea Eddy ever had, but it wasn't the worst, either. "Not a bad idea. Shall we start?" Ed was still mesmerized by his movie. Anything moving had that effect on him.

"Nah, we can wait until Ed's movie is over."

Another half hour of poorly animated monsters passed, and finally the movie ended. Ed turned off the VCR, and turned back to face his cronies. "Hmmm. Happy place." He cooed in a deep, contented voice. Eddy slid roughly off the chair, and landed on his feet. The chair shook, almost causing Double-D to lose his balance, but he carefully anchored himself in a sitting position. Carefully, he let a leg dangle over the side of the chair and stepped down to the floor.

Eddy put his hands on his hips, preparing to take leadership of the group again, just as he always had. "Okay, first we need a sign."

Ed was already digging through his closet, and came up with some wood and cardboard. "How about this stuff?"

Approaching him, Eddy planned to pick the material for his sign with the precision of an expert. He looked over each object in Ed's hands, and pointed at one. "I guess that one's okay. It's the biggest. And I want this to be big!"

"But Eddy, you said this idea wasn't big." Double-D pointed out.

"Sure the idea wasn't big, but that doesn't mean the SIGN shouldn't be!" Eddy laughed. "Ed, got any paint?"

Eddy and Double-D stood shoulder to shoulder watching Ed dig through his closet. Slowly, the noise and motion stopped. "Uh yeah but it's stuck to the wall. I'll get a marker." He soon came up with several permanent markers. "Who wants to color it?" he asked, extending the fistful of markers.

"Why don't you do it, Lumpy? You always do." Ed smiled at Eddy's words. He crouched down on his hands and knees examining the cardboard. Uncapping the red marker, he seemed to be planning carefully before letting it meet the paper. Eddy and Double-D went off on their own business leaving Ed to his work. And Ed was ready. He created thick lines on the paper, which soon formed the oversized, gaudy letters Eddy demanded.

"We'll be back in a few, Ed. You keep working until we get back, okay?" Eddy could see his friend's head nod at his request, bobbing quickly up and down. Eddy and Double-D left for the future site of the nature walks, ambling down to the road end of the cul-de-sac. Kevin had given his bike a rest, and was now talking to Nazz. Johnny and Plank were playing one of their various made-up games, Jimmy was painting a portrait of Sarah, and Rolf was still working. "They're so unaware. I almost feel bad about trying to take their money. Almost!"

They reached the road end of the cul-de-sac, and turned the corner, veering left to the lane. "Eddy, why did we have to come all the way through the cul-de-sac just to get to the lane? Why couldn't we have just gone through the woods behind Ed's house?"

Eddy gave Double-D a shocked glance, not remembering the taboo of the woods behind Ed's house. "Duh! Don't you think we'd be a little close to the trailer park if we were screwing around up there?" Double-D gasped slightly, seeing Eddy's point.

"I forgot how close it was to Ed's house. You're correct. If that's the case, we can't make the trail go up there. The Kankers would see us!"

That was something Eddy had considered. Where could he take the 'tour group' without running into the Kanker sisters? They could turn around, but what was the good of that? It would be so much better to keep going until they ended up back where they started. Another possibility would be turning right before they reached the trailer park, going across the creek, through Peach Creek Estates, and up the road until they reached the entrance of the cul-de-sac again. A definite maybe

That was a good idea. How could Double-D not come up with something like that? Giving himself a mental pat on the back, Eddy suggested the alternate route to Double-D. The brow masked by the sock hat furrowed. It could work. It would be a long way to walk, but it could work. "Yes. That could work."

At the mouth of the lane, Eddy scoured the area for a place to put the sign. "It's gotta be somewhere good, where everyone can see it!"

Double-D looked up high, examining the branches that arched over the stretch of road. Several feet up, a sturdy looking branch spanned the air over the lane. It could hold the sign. "There!" Double-D suggested, pointing. "No one could miss a sign there."

Eddy looked up at the branch. It was high enough. The only problem would be getting the sign up there. "Sure, why not. Just as long as everyone can find the home of the be$t nature hikes ever!" There had to be a way to get the sign up there. Eddy knew he would never be able to climb a tree and carry a massive cardboard sign, and Double-D would be no better. But Ed would be. Ed could climb the tree and hang the sign over the branch. Or was he still afraid of heights? It didn't matter. Afraid or not, Ed would climb the tree.

The plan was becoming increasingly real in Eddy's mind. Uniforms, nametags, the works. "Double-D, we'll need to get guide uniforms and nametags, and we'll need."

Eddy's train of thought was halted when Double-D interrupted. "Don't you think we should see how Ed is doing with the sign first?" Eddy had almost forgotten Ed and his sign. A trip was made back to Ed's house, and Ed was still hard at work. He was crouched down on his hands and knees, his butt up in the air. The other two Eds approached him, glancing over his work. In huge red and blue letters, Ed had scrawled the words:

"ED'S NAYCHER STROLES"

The 'R' in 'NAYCHER' was made slightly smaller than the other letters because Ed had nearly run out of room. 'STROLES' had to be put on a separate line. Marker smudges covered the cardboard. It appeared as though Ed had tried to draw animals around the edge of the cardboard, but not one was identifiable. Currently, Ed was concentrating on writing "50 cents" in the bottom right corner. With a flourish, he proudly continued embellishing his work. Double-D winced at the sight of it.

"Ed! Your spelling is incorrect." Ed stopped what he was doing and turned his head to reveal a face smeared with marker.

"I did it myself!" Ed declared, grinning broadly. Double-D could remember Ed as being the type of kid who just didn't bother to obey the rules of spelling. Spelling was a very creative thing, but Ed was far more creative the day he spelled "faishul." What did it matter? Even though it wasn't right, it was large and noticeable. Plus, anyone reading it could sound it out and figure out what it meant.

Double-D strung ribbon through two hole punched in the top of the sign, and Eddy finished making nametags. Once these tasks were complete, Eddy cautiously stepped up to the door of Ed's closet, taking a deep breath. He flung the doors open, and discovered a huge pile of clothes, food, toys, and everything else Ed owned all thrown together. After Eddy had spent several minutes rooting though the pile, Double-D spoke. "Eddy, do we really need uniforms? Can't we just be guides in our regular clothes?"

Eddy didn't think so. He scowled at Double-D and kept looking. "I don't see you looking through Hell's Closet, Sockhead." Eddy muttered under his breath.

At that moment, Ed returned from his trip to the bathroom. He had had only minimal success in removing the permanent marker from his skin. But it was faded enough to not jump out at anyone who looked at him. He was well enough satisfied with his progress, and came out to find Eddy looking through his closet. "Eddy! That's my stuff!"

"Relax, Ed, I just want to"

"Mine!"

"Ed, I believe Eddy simply wants to find us proper uniforms."

Ed paused. "Uh" He looked into his closet, tossed a few objects aside, and came up with some faded things. "I am a brave soldier!" said Ed, saluting. Eddy took one of the things and unrolled it. Camouflage! Dilapidated and pale with so many washings, the pattern had faded to sea greens and sandy creams. Still, it looked like camouflage. And its pallor gave it the authentic, worn in look.

"Precisely what we were after!" Double-D exclaimed. Looking past Ed's head, Double-D caught view of the timer on the VCR. "Ed, is it really 12 o'clock, or did you forget to set the time?"

Eddy squinted at the numbers. "It's not blinking. It must be twelve. Lunch?"

"Certainly." Double-D agreed.

"I'm a happy camper!" Ed cheered, following the other Eds upstairs to find something for lunch.

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Sarah and Jimmy were in the kitchen, standing at the kitchen counter. They were looking at something colorful, which had to be Jimmy's portrait of Sarah. Eddy sidled over, hoping to be able to give it some "constructive criticism." At least that's how he defined it. Eddy looked over Jimmy's shoulder, examining the work. To his dismay, it was an elegant watercolor, not at all poorly done for a ten-year-old. Sarah seemed to sense Eddy's presence behind her. Slowly, she turned around to face him. Although Eddy was bigger, stronger, and older than Sarah, there was something about her that gave her a menacing pretense. Maybe it was her temper. "Eddy," she began in the sugar-coated voice she often used when speaking to Ed, "Get out of my kitchen!"

"Fuck you, Sarah, we're just getting some food. It's Ed's kitchen, too." Eddy's coolness was not taken well. Sarah's face reddened, and her two hard fists tightened.

This was the only thing Jimmy didn't like about Sarah, the way she was so prone to anger. "Sarah, try closing your eyes and counting to ten." The strategy wasn't designed to let Sarah cool off. Its main purpose was to give Jimmy time to plead with the Eds to get out of the kitchen. More than ever before, Ed had become a thorn in Sarah's side, and his presence alone was enough to set her off.

"Have mercy, sister of the damned! We will leave! Just let me find something from the fridge." Ed quickly opened the refrigerator door. "Hello light." He said as he grabbed some food and soda. Then shut the door, "Bye bye, light." He whispered again. The posse of three retreated to the basement to eat, preparing to unleash their first scam of the summer.

The Eds sat on the steps leading down from Ed's back porch and ate what Ed had managed to get out of the fridge. "Stupid Sarah." Eddy muttered, chomping on his apple.

"Eddy, it's not that bad. We could go to my residence for more food if you'd like." Double-D put in, trying to calm Eddy's anger.

Eddy's teeth were gritted, showing that he was not about to just forget it so easily. "It's not about the damn food!" Eddy went on, ranting again. "Ed's ten-year-old sister can boss us around and send us out of the kitchen! How can we call ourselves high school guys when middle schoolers can tell us what to do?"

"Pass the ketchup." Ed's feeble attempt to change the subject went unnoticed by Eddy.

"We gotta do something to prove that we're not kids anymore."

Double-D's quizzical expression met with Eddy's scornful one. "But we are still children. We're fifteen. Well, Ed is sixteen."

Ed ran his sweaty fingers through his hair. "That means I can go to see whatever movies I want!"

Double-D shook his head. "No, Ed. You have to wait another year before you can do that. But you will get your driver's license if you pass the test."

"Aw, Double-D, who cares about that? I want to see movies."

That was long enough for Eddy to be tired of listening to Ed and Double-D talk about cars and movies. That wasn't the point of the conversation. When it looked as if Double-D was about to open his mouth again, Eddy interrupted. "Hey, forget that!"

"There's no need to yell."

"Double-D, just zip it. What are we missing? What do all cool high school guys have that we don't?"

"Guitars?" Ed had always liked watching guitar players on t.v.

"Ed" Double-D sounded more than a little shocked. "That's a good idea. An excellent idea."

"Hello, what happened to being respected?" Eddy had had enough of his friends' short attention spans. "I don't know why I even bothered asking. I should talk to my brother."

"But Eddy, Ed has given me an idea!" Double-D exclaimed, as if it determined the fate of the world.

"An idea? From Ed? Ooh, I don't know how I'll contain myself!" Eddy smirked in a mocking tone.

"Guitars!!!" Ed said again, louder this time, and strumming violently at an invisible instrument.

"Precisely, Ed. What he indicates here is that we should start a band!"

Eddy seemed to almost consider it. Then his face became serious again. "Hey, what happened to the nature walks? We were working on that all morning!"

"Well, maybe half an hour this morning." Double-D corrected.

"That doesn't matter! It's what we were doing before and we should stick with it!"

"Guitar for Ed!" yelled Ed again, jumping up and strumming again at his invisible instrument. His coppery hair shook fluidly from side to side.

"Eddy, we could simply do the nature walks now and form a band later."

A thoughtful expression formed on Eddy's face. "Maybe you're right again, Sockhead." Double-D smiled, recalling his old namesake.

"Of course. Prepared to enter the nature walk business, gentlemen?"

"Nature walks! Look, it's a birdy!" Ed exclaimed, flapping his arms. Eddy nodded and stood up, stretching his arms to their full extent. The Eds marched off to the lane for the grand opening of "Ed's Naycher Stroles."

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

"Nature Strolls! Only 50 cents a walk! Let us, the Eds, be your guides to the world of nature!" Eddy called, cupping his hands to his mouth. Surely everyone in the cul-de-sac could hear him.

"Mind you, we carry free sunscreen and insect repellent as well. Safety first!" Double-D called after Eddy's voice. His voice didn't carry nearly as far, so no one would have heard him, even if they had cared to.

"I am Ed, famous gecko hunter!!!" Ed declared, pointing to himself, and examining every inch of the ground nearby himself.

Double-D raised his eyes to the heavens, pleading, "I only ask to be able to understand him for one day. That's all."

"Kroi-kee!" Ed had discovered a caterpillar inching up a tree. "Gecko."

Eddy ignored Ed's antics, saying, "It's probably just something he saw on t.v. Damn, where are they all? I know they heard me. I saw Rolf look."

"No, that was most likely because of Ed's exclamations." Ed still watched the caterpillar with simple dedication.

"Why did I get stuck doing this? It's your fault we're here, Double-D!"

"How, may I ask, is it my fault? It was my suggestion to start a band!"

"You didn't stop me!" Eddy and Double-D shot comments back and forth. Ed pretended to be well absorbed by his caterpillar, or gecko, as he knew it. When really, the arguments bothered him more than his friends knew. The reason for the effect was unknown, but ever present. Each of their fights brought a nervous lump to Ed's throat, and a tightening knot to his stomach. Something had to loosen it, or he would burst.

"Ed's Naycher Stroles?" Ed was brought back to reality by the sound of a new voice, that of Kevin. "This should be good." Eddy and Double-D were too absorbed in their "conversation" to hear Kevin, but Ed was alert.

"Hello, there. Welcome to ED'S NAYCHER STROLES!" Ed greeted Kevin with a wide grin plastered on his face.

Kevin's skin had tanned considerably over the years, and he now had such presence that he made Ed feel small, even though Ed stood several inches taller. The football jersey that Kevin wore added to the aura. Although Rolf was also on the team, it wasn't the same thing. Kevin saw it as a source of power. He was on the football team. That was his identity. He had a presence that no one else in the cul-de-sac had.

At his side was Nazz, just like always. As the verbal battle between Eddy and Double-D decelerated, Eddy had to take the time to wonder what she saw in Kevin at all. Her hair had grown a little, and came to chin length. She was giggly as always, never seeming to take anything seriously. Still, every boy in the cul-de-sac envied Kevin when he entered the high school gym for the homecoming dance with her on his arm

Curiously, she looked up at the sign, mouthing the words silently as she read them. "Come on Kev, it could be fun!" Nazz was well aware of her power over Kevin. Anything she wanted from him was hers.

"Sure." He sighed, then turned his head quickly from the sign back to Nazz.

Eddy rolled his eyes, whispering to Double-D, "He's whipped. My brother says if you let a girl take over your life"

Before Double-D could answer, another voice took over. "Ed's Naycher Stroles? What's that, Plank? Plank says, 'This is the stupidest thing I've seen since creek cruises.'" Double-D turned his head to find himself face to face with Plank. Johnny moved Plank aside, and continued, "I want to go! Plank's just grouchy because I made him get up early." Double-D nodded, extending a hand for Johnny's money. Johnny had changed little over the years. Plank was still his ever-present soul brother, and it looked as if that was never going to change. There was something comforting about the unchanging friendship between Johnny and Plank.

Kevin and Nazz handed over their money as well, Eddy eagerly tossed it in the jar. Double-D approached Ed, watching him studying the caterpillar, which had now crawled onto his arm. "Ed, may I suggest you inform Rolf, Sarah, and Jimmy about this? They might wish to accompany us."

Ed looked doubtful. "I don't think Jimmy likes these." He shoved his arm into Double-D's face, displaying the furry white caterpillar.

With a shake of his head, Double-D continued. "Maybe I should rephrase it. Tell Sarah, Jimmy, and Rolf about the nature strolls. But let me take the caterpi-- um gecko for you." Gently, Double-D removed the insect from Ed's arm, and placed it back on the tree. Ed ran back to the empty cul-de-sac, and the remaining Eds were forced to wait for his return. Ed leaned back and ran off around the corner into the cul-de-sac.

Shortly, he returned with Rolf running after him. "This sounds better than white onions!" Rolf exclaimed, following Ed to where everyone else was standing.

Once Ed reached Eddy and Double-D, Eddy scowled. "Ed! Where's Jimmy and Sarah?"

"Uh They couldn't come. Sarah said, 'No way, you retard.' I think maybe she's busy."

A look of sympathy for Ed formed on Double-D's face, but Eddy's only concern here was the shortage of kids. Double-D couldn't help but notice this. "Eddy, we don't need everyone's participation. In fact, it would almost certainly be easier with fewer people."

Although it was obvious that less kids meant less cash, Eddy had to agree that there was logic behind Double-D's words. "Okay, but we better get going." Eddy stood on a nearby stone and turned to the group: Kevin, Nazz, Rolf, Johnny, and Plank. "Hey everybody! We're just about to set off on the first Nature Stroll, which will be led by Ed, Double-D, and of course, my self. So prepare to enjoy the splendor of the wilderness! Onward!"

Eddy hopped down from the stone, and marched off down the lane. Ed and Double-D followed with the group. Only Johnny seemed to have any interest in the nature walk, as the others saw the trail for what it was, the lane. Hoping to spice it up, Ed pointed out various insects, and describing their "mutant powers."

Even Eddy himself was beginning to see the pointlessness of his scam. How had this idea even shown itself? He could easily admit to himself that this was not one of his better scams. Although money had come from it, what was the good if it wasn't any fun?

Occasionally, Eddy would point out some "important landmark," such as the Siamese twin trees. It was really one old tree that had been split by lightning in a storm one day. Or the "rock that looks like Sarah", for which there was no explanation. Little was said for a long time, until the time had finally come to turn right and cross the creek to avoid the Kankers and the trailer park.

Eddy veered right and motioned for the crowd to follow him. Most looked bored and tired of walking, with the exception of Ed and Johnny, who were absorbed in being gecko hunters. The creek was slow and shallow here, despite being quite wide. Eddy stepped out into the water. Nazz took one look at the water and instantly wanted to turn back. "These shoes are brand new. If you think I'm walking through there"

"Why do you refuse the water, Nazz-girl? This is far better than the water to be had in the old country." Rolf said, looking at the water. He gave Nazz a playful push in the direction of the creek. Her sharp squeal pierced the natural quiet, and everyone's hands immediately cupped over their ears. "You have wounded the ears of Rolf!"

Kevin was tired of standing in water halfway up his calves waiting for Nazz, so in one swift movement, he picked her up. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and around his baseball cap. Eddy watched Kevin doing this, wishing more than anything that he could be Kevin.

Johnny jumped into the water, sending it splashing over Ed and Double-D. He laughed hysterically at the new source of fun he had discovered, and at the sight of sopping wet Ed and Double-D. He kept opening his mouth to speak, but was always overtaken with a new spasm of laughter. Double-D reaching up to his head to wring the water out of his hat almost caused him to lose his balance. Finally, between chuckles, Johnny managed to gasp out, "Are you a little wet?"

Johnny's laughter was contagious, as Ed had managed to catch it. He too was absorbed by Johnny's innocent fun. Double-D didn't see the humor in it at all. His expression was grim, yet stolid. Don't go off, Double-D, he told himself. Whatever you do, stay level-headed. That would have worked had Ed not copied Johnny's antics. He jumped into the water, sending a wall of water flying. Now it was Ed's turn to laugh nonstop. Johnny's face became serious, and he looked at Plank. Plank had been soaked by the wave, and had swollen up. "Oh no! Plank, you must be allergic to something to swell up like that!"

Carrying swollen Plank, Johnny continued on his way, as Double-D stepped cautiously into the water. Eddy, Nazz, Kevin, and Rolf were waiting at the other side. "A joke is never as funny the second time you hear it, Ed." Double-D scolded Ed, walking past him.

Ed's face formed a serious expression, but finally, all Ed could say was, "I don't get it. It's all gravy." And continued to the other side of the creek.

Eddy had instructed the group to stay put and wait for Ed and Double-D while he tried to form a path to Peach Creek Estates. He paced down the edge of the trees, looking for a suitable place to begin clearing. A few yards down, he found a pile of stones, and near it, an open space in the trees. Poking his head around the corner, Eddy turned and explored the path, to see if it indeed led to Peach Creek Estates. Eddy maneuvered through several twists and turns before he could see the other side. A large sign marked, "Peach Creek Estates" was clearly visible from where he stood. His concentration was so absorbed by the sign that he was only just noticing the girl sitting on the grass only a few feet away. She certainly couldn't see him masked in the trees, but she was in plain sight. Who was she?