As stated in the summary, this is a bit of an AU. I'm still using the same characters we all know and love, and the same setting, but the way everything happens is (presumably, since I haven't seen the entire series yet) different. I tried to keep it kid-neutral, so there is no swearing, and it isn't overly-melancholy (I don't think, anyway), although there is some violence. It was supposed to be 200 word exactly for each "chapter," but since Microsoft Works seems unable to count, and since I don't know what program to trust, let's say they each have 200-something words. Sound good?


Even with the television cranked up, Eddy could still hear the commotion coming from the garage. He tried to ignore the cries of his brother. He just didn't get it. Some days, their dad was great. But sometimes...when he drank...

The garage door was ripped open; the front one slammed shut a second after. Out in the driveway, the car started. A shadow passed by the living room.

"Bro?"

His brother stopped in the doorway, wiping tear streaks from his face. "I'm getting really tired of this, Eddy. Taking my beatings, and yours."

Before he could even blink, Eddy's brother grabbed his wrist. Eddy cowered.

"Mom said if she was ever gonna come back to this dump, it'd better be spotless! You want Mom to come back, don't you, pipsqueak?" his brother asked darkly. He yanked Eddy up near his face and watched him dangle by his wrist. Mom home meant no more drinking. But Mom was flighty, and things never lasted very long.

Eddy went flying across the room, slamming into the fridge. His brother froze. "…When Dad gets back, this place better be clean. Or else."

When his brothers bedroom door clicked shut, Eddy hurried out the back.


"Jerk," Eddy mumbled, kicking a piece of loose cement. He walked beneath the street lamps, hand stuffed in his pockets. The sky was dark, but summer-dark; he could still hear laughter in the distance. He walked until he could no longer ignore the pain in his lower back, and stopped to rest. A firefly buzzed by him. He swatted at it. "Stupid bug."

"Insect." A boy with giant purple shorts and skinny arms and legs said.

"Bug, insect. Same thing."

"Not true," he said, easily trapping the glowing bug in a jar.

"Whatever."

The boy then stuck his hand out. "I'm Eddward."

"I'm…Eddy. Huh. Two Eds."

"Well, it is the 19th most common name in the United States."

"What are you, a walking encyclopedia?"

"Why, I'm an inventor."

"Aren't you a little young for that?"

Eddward laughed. "Maybe. But I'm going to be one when I get older."

"How come I haven't seen you around? You home schooled?"

"I, uh, I'm not a fan of most outdoor activities, and I'm afraid the other kids don't take very well to me."

"They're a bunch of losers, anyway…Wanna hang out sometime?"

"I'd be delighted!"

"Ok, fine, just don't say it like that."