Location: Camp Kidney mess hall

Time: August 2, 2006 at 7:30 A.M. M.S.T.

It was another picturesque morning at Camp Kidney. The bean scouts had already awaked from their sleep by Raj's good morning reverie an hour and a half ago. Pretty much all of them were now gathered for breakfast in the mess hall, including Lazlo, Clam, Raj, and Nate from jelly cabin.

Nate: This is the day I've been waiting for, the day of the soapbox race. In thirty minutes we'll be leaving for Prickly Pines to get the supplies needed. I can hardly wait.

Lazlo: I know what you mean. This isn't a new thing for me but I still get all excited about it.

Clam: Race Day!!

Raj: Yes it is one of the best days here at Camp Kidney. Oh last year was quite good. You have seen the trophy we won last year.

Nate: Yea…that has to be the nicest middle place trophy I ever saw.

Lazlo: You should see the trophy Chip and Skip got, it's huge.

Nate: I'll have to go by and see it sometime today. So I take it they were the two victorious racers last year.

Raj: Oh no my friend…they came in last place last year.

Nate: Um…ok…then who exactly won it last year then?

Edward: (coming over from his table behind theirs) That would be me for what it was worth.

Nate: What do you mean Edward?

Raj: What the cranky platypus means Nate is that the trophy he got was rather small compared to the others.

Edward: I don't understand this camp, don't they know the biggest prize goes to the best.

Lazlo: Well…at least it had nice, shiny gold plating.

Clam: Gold.

Nate: You know Edward, it has been said that bigger is not always better.

Edward: (sarcastically) Oh thanks for the lesson ye ole wise and all knowing one.

Chip and Skip then come over to join in the conversation.

Chip: You guys talking bout the race last year?

Skip: Hey Edward, you tell them bout our trophy which now serves as a basin for our dirt collection.

Chip: Hey I thought we decided we would use it as a laundry hamper this year.

Skip: That's a dumb idea, it should remain our dirt basin you dummy.

Chip: You dummier.

Skip: You dummier.

Edward: (sighs) It's amazing I haven't gone completely insane yet bunking with these dung beetle dunderheads. If anyone needs me, I'll be back in my cabin. I'll see you guys later. (he then leaves the mess hall)

Nate: So…anyway I hear that Nina has developed a racer for the event and she, Patsy, and Gretchen are gonna represent the squirrel scouts in the race. Think they really stand a chance.

Lazlo: They might Nate. I've heard that Nina has designed it to be about as aerodynamic as the space shuttle.

Nate: Dang…that means it could get to some pretty wicked speeds on the steepest, downhill grades of the course. Have y'all ever seen it in action?

Clam: One time.

Lazlo: Yes…Clam and I were able to spy on them testing it just a couple days back, the day Raj was showing you the location of the hot springs.

Nate: Yes…thanks again for showing that to me Raj. It is a great spot to relax and reflect on things.

Raj: You are most welcome my friend.

Nate: Speaking of reflection and racing, there's something I'd like to share with y'all. I know most everyone in here was told about how I ended up in this here wheelchair. I would like to tell you three bout the events of that evening in my own words.

Lazlo: You don't have to do that Nate.

Raj: Yes…you are under no obligation to discuss the tragic event that left you physically handicapped.

Nate: I know I don't have to but I want to. I want to be able to talk about anything with y'all as friendly and open as y'all been with me.

Lazlo: Well…if that's what you want then of course we have no objections.

Raj: Yes…but it will have to be quick. We got about fifteen minutes till it's time to leave for Prickly Pines.

Nate: Don't worry Raj. I'll only add the most relevant details. So…here goes: It was about 10:30 or so in early September 2003. I remember that because it was the night before the first day of school that year. Jake had taken me to the baseball game in downtown Atlanta that evening. I enjoyed the game but I don't think I enjoyed as much as riding in his 2002 Pontiac Firebird. I loved that car. After the game, he had found some country roads west of the city and we were having a blast in that car. Just us and the open road, but after awhile we had to start making our way back home to Mableton. I remember telling him that we better stop before the cops stop us. No telling what they would've done to him for driving so recklessly. He informed me jokingly that he was more worried bout what mama would do if he didn't get me home quickly. It was already way past my bedtime. So we were headed home, he was driving much more responsibly at the time, just five, maybe ten mph over the limit. He ended up hitting a pothole and it caused him to leave the road. He panicked and jerked to the left, causing him to swerve into oncoming traffic. He overcorrected again to try and get back into the proper lane but ended up leaving the road again and this time for good. The passenger side got wrapped around what I believed to be a telephone pole. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a tree. Course I don't remember much of the actual accident, just the pole getting closer and then…darkness. I would later wake up in the hospital to the horrible news that I would never walk again.

Lazlo: (a little teary-eyed) That is awful. Yet you have no hard feelings toward Jake for all this, that's truly amazing.

Nate: Well don't be to amazed because I was angry immediately after finding out and you could say I even despised him for what happened to me. That was just due to the overwhelming grief that descended on me after hearing the news. I got over that quickly though when I learned that, though I may be crippled, I could've been dead if it weren't for my bro. My dad told me that the car burst into flames almost immediately after the crash. Somehow Jake never lost consciousness and was able to pull me free before the car became completely engulfed. I was out like a blown light bulb and he knew he had to be careful cause there was obvious brain and spinal trauma suffered by me in that crash. He still bears scars from the burns he suffered on both forearms when he pulled me from the burning wreckage. As far as burns go for me, I have scars on both lower legs. (he shows them the scars which are basically patches where the fur hasn't grown back) I never noticed the burns since I couldn't feel my legs ever again after that anyway. Anyway that's the full story.

Raj: Well it's obvious that you have come a long way since then. I hope retelling those horrible events hasn't put too much of an emotional strain on you.

Nate: No Raj…it actually helps to talk about it now and then to keep any negative thoughts or feelings from settling. I'm so blessed to have such good friends here to share this with.

Lazlo: That you do Nate. We will always be good buddies.

Clam: Great friends.

Nate: Thanks guys. Now enough of all this past events, time to focus on the present. Let's get on that bus and prepare for the race.

The four then make their way to the bus and the discussion then turned to happier things like the plans for hopefully winning the soapbox derby at Camp Kidney.