It had been quite a while since the Eds had gone to the candy store.
And it wasn't because they were in trouble.
In fact, all three of their lives had greatly improved as soon as they and the other children of the Cul-de-sac had returned home from Mondo a go-go. With the enormous boost in self-esteem and confidence due to the sudden alliance with the other children, Ed and Eddy's grades skyrocketed from the constant F's to B averages. The greatest thing to happen to them, in their perspective, was that the Kanker sisters stopped bothering them. Every now and then they would make little Jimmy cry, or steal Jonny's lunch money, but would not come within twenty feet of the three friends.
But why, despite all of the good things that had happened to them, did their parents forbid them to go to the candy store?
The Black Shades. That's what the police called them.
The Black Shades were a large group of teens that caused nothing but trouble. They suddenly appeared not long after the journey to Mondo a go-go. They would rob banks, sometimes people, and caused nothing but pain to the tiny town of Peach Creek. Over the next six months, the banks in town would be robbed twelve times each, and fourteen people had been killed. Their most noticeable feature, the police would say, was that a gang member would always wear black.
Due to the increasing amount of violence in town, the children of the Cul-de-sac feared for their safety, and spent a lot more time inside. Their most frequent activity together would be to congregate around Eddy's television and watch the news. This is what they were doing at that particular moment. They were currently watching an exclusive interview with the mayor of Peach Creek, who was currently crying his eyes out, begging for the gang to surrender to the authorities so that the town could return to its former glory. This was the moment that Eddy Skipper McGee knew that this was the last straw for him, and that something needed to be done about this gang.
"I HATE those stupid Black Shades!" He grumbled, "First we can't go to the candy store, then we can't go outside, and now they're making the mayor cry like a baby! What's next? Asking kids at school to join them?" The tallest Ed went pale at this. Eddy and the others quickly noticed. "What's with you, Lumpy?" Some color returned to the usually jolly Ed's face and he took a moment before answering.
"I-I think that last part is coming true, Eddy."
"What do you mean?" Eddy asked, with a growing fear inside of him. The last thing he wanted was the possibility of some teenagers coming to their school and asking him or his friends to join the town's biggest threat.
"Haven't you heard the rumors in Geography?" asked Double D, "They have spread to almost the entire campus."
"What is this rumor, Sock-Hat-Ed boy?" Rolf asked Double D, "Rolf would very much enjoy what this whole whisper fest is about." Double D's face went a little pale at this, and Eddy could tell the rumor wasn't good. But Double D quietly stood up, smoothed out his shirt, and turned to face everyone else.
"I'm afraid to say that…the Black Shades do have new members, and they come from…our school." Everyone but Eddy gasped in shock, for Eddy needed one more piece of information before he would start getting worried.
"…But who was stupid enough to join the Black Shades, Double D?" Double D turned pale again.
"I knew you would ask me that, Eddy. Those new members from school…are the Kanker sisters." Silence entered the room and stayed there for a long time.
"Breaking news," the reporter on television interrupted, catching everyone's attention, "The Chief of Police has announced that he is resigning from his position."
"You have got to be kidding me." Eddy thought.
"The Chief of Police will be replaced by Louis Rose of Lemon Brook effective April Second, which is next Saturday. And now to the Weather report." The silence of the children was finally broken by Kevin.
"I can't believe this. Now the Police Chief's quitting. I guess those Black Shades are scarier than we all thought."
"We have hope, at least." Eddy finally said after some thought.
"Huh?"
"That 'Louis Rose' guy better have a good plan to get rid of them."