I do not own any related characters

At exactly 12:00 pm, the kids of 3rd Street School all rushed out of the building and scattered throughout their beloved playground. Some had decided to climb on top of Old Rusty, while others decided to play kickball. Swinger Girl was swinging. The Diggers were digging. Upside Down Girl remained upside down. Everything was going as it should be, including the 6 main kids we all know and love.

"Ah, another great recess," TJ Detweiler said to himself as he and his 5 best friends walked around the playground together. "What shall we do today—football or four square?"

"Why can't we play kickball?" Vince eyed his new sneakers. "I've got a feeling that I'll be kickin' a lot of homeruns today. Look at these new shoes!"

"We already PLAYED kickball yesterday," Gus said, adjusting his glasses. "The last thing I need is another bruised toe."

"Aw, quit your whinin'!" Spinelli shoved Gus in the shoulder. "The only reason your toe got messed up is 'cause of those shoes y'always wear."

"Shoes, shoes. How we love thee shoes. The shoes which shield our 10 little toes from dirt and germs!" Mikey smiled as he bent down to dust off his shoes.

"Precisely, Michael," Gretchen said. "The shoe is an excellent barrier for our bottom flanges. They are not only comfortable, but provide great support for the heel and ankle."

"Oh man," Spinelli groaned. "Are we gonna play, or stand around like a bunch of wusses and talk about shoes? I vote for four square."

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Spinelli," TJ smiled as he brought a bright red kickball over to his friends.

Gus gaped. "Hey, how'd you get that perfect-looking ball?"

"Yeah," Vince agreed. "It looks so round and red!"

"If I am not mistaken, Randall is the person who is usually in charge of the distribution of the balls." Gretchen looked at the ball in TJ's hands. "Miss Finster just appointed him."

"How'd YOU get Randall to give you such a great ball?" Spinelli asked, her hands on her hips."

"Perhaps Randall has emerged from his previous attitude of hatred and unkindness. Maybe he's turned a new leaf!" Mikey never failed to give people the benefit of the doubt.

"Well, that sounds nice and all," TJ continued. "but Randall wasn't by the ball basket. Nobody was."

The group gasped in unison. "He wasn't there?"

TJ shrugged, as if this were insignificant. "Nope. I just reached right in and took it. No big deal. Now let's play!"

He started to walk over to the four square box when Vince stopped him. "Hold up, Teej, something isn't right here."

"Yeah," Spinelli said. She took the ball from TJ and began to bounce it. "Randall's ALWAYS by the ball basket at the beginning of recess. How come he isn't today?"

"Maybe the kindergarteners took him!" Gus exclaimed.

"Or maybe Randall is simply inside with Miss Finster," Gretchen suggested.

"Hm," TJ said. "You guys do make a point. Why don't we ask around?"

"Fine, but we're keeping the ball!" Spinelli held the ball protectively. "It's not every day a kid comes across a GOOD ball so easily."

The 6 friends began to search the playground for any clue as to where Randall might be. 3rd Street School without a Randall was just plain weird. He was always lurking about, waiting to snitch on someone. It was part of the norm.

After a while, the 6 were finished with their search, still empty handed.

"Well, I guess that's that." TJ scratched his head. "I guess Randall's not here today."

"Not here?" Vince said. "But he's ALWAYS here. He's Randall!"

"Yeah, always on the lookout for someone to snitch on," Mikey stated.

"Definitely not a person worth spending our entire recess searching for." Gretchen frowned, while everyone but TJ agreed.

"I agree with Gretch," Spinelli said. "Come on, guys. Let's go do something that's actually worth doing." She started to lead the others off to the four square box, when TJ stopped them.

"Wait a minute, guys! Don't you want to look into this a little more?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

"More?" Gus questioned. "What for? Who cares about Randall?"

"But think about it," TJ tried to reason with them. "Randall never misses a day of school. He's always here, trying to tell on us. Doesn't it seem kinda weird that he's missing today? He could be planning the biggest snitch of all snitches for crying out loud!"

"Oh no," Mikey said. "TJ's right! What if he's blaming us for something we didn't do?"

"WHAT IF HE'S INSIDE OUR HOUSES?" Gus shouted.

"All I know is that something stinks. And I know a rat-faced weasel who's behind it." TJ folded his arms.

"I'm with Teej," Spinelli said. "Randall's probably up to something to make us all look bad!"

Vince gasped. "Guys, the ball!"

Gretchen spoke. "Oh, it's merely a circular object filled with air that is designed for kicking, throwing-"

"No, that's not what I meant." Vince shook his head. "Don't you see? Randall probably set us up! He probably WANTED TJ to take that good ball just so he'd have something to report to Miss Finster!"

Spinelli dropped the ball and kicked it at the nearest trash can as hard as she could. "I hope that little worm is hiding in that can!" She said as the ball made contact with it. It pretty much fell over and rolled away. Randall wasn't in there.

"Oh, man, Vince!" TJ slapped his forehead. "You're right. How could I have been so stupid? I should've recognized that as a trap!"

"Don't feel badly, TJ," Mikey reassured. "You didn't know."

"Yeah, sometimes Randall's just too much," Gus said. "Where do you think he is anyway?"

"Well, there are two people who we've failed to ask that could be beneficial to us in some way." Gretchen punched the buttons on her Galileo.

"But we've asked everyone on the playground!" Gus said.

"Wrong, my friend," A sly smile appeared on TJ's face as he arched an eye brow. "We haven't asked King Bob yet."

"King Bob?" Spinelli frowned. "What makes you think he'll know where Randall is or what he's up to?"

"It's worth a shot." TJ smiled again. "Look, he's the ruler of the playground. He knows everything that goes on around here! And Randall could be planning something HUGE against us. Don't you want to know what it is?"

"Heck yeah!" Spinelli clenched a fist. "I swear, I'll have the Diggers bury him when we find him."

"Yes, and I'll be sure to bore him to death by reading The History of Asphalt to him." Gretchen pushed her glasses farther up her nose.

"I'll kick him to Pluto!" Vince said.

Gus stood a little taller. "Yeah, and I'll…watch!"

TJ smiled. "Tender."

Mikey was doubtful. "STOP! Friends, this isn't the answer; this isn't the way! What if Randall isn't here because he's sick or something? He may not be trying to get us into trouble."

"Come on Mikey," Vince stated. "This is Randall we're talking about."

"That boy is ALWAYS up to some sort of misdemeanor. This time, my friends, we don't know what it is." Gretchen was still looking at Galileo.

"Come on, guys." TJ was now walking off towards Old Rusty. "To King Bob!"