"Summer vacation is so boring. There's really nothing to do here. Heck, we're only into the second week." Jimmy sighed.
"You can say that again, Jim." agreed Carl.
"Pft... yeah." joined Sheen as he pulled a wisp of grass and twirled it around with his fingers.
There was a moment of silence as the three boys enjoyed the gentle breeze that blew on Mother's Hill. The three of them just lied on their backs with their faces turned upward to face the sky. Next to Jimmy, lied his faithful robotic canine companion, otherwise known as Goddard.
Suddenly Jimmy interrupted the silence.
"I suppose you're bored, too, huh, boy?" Jimmy asked as he turned his head to look at Goddard.
For an answer, Goddard gave a long whine as if for a yes.
"As for me..." Carl began. " I just need Mrs. Neutron's f-"
Carl stopped talking to notice the weird glances that Jimmy and Sheen exchanged and gave to him.
"I was talking about her cookies." Carl quickly defended.
"Those are pretty good." Sheen agreed.
Jimmy nodded as he watched a butterfly pass by.
"Hey, Jimmy..."
"Yes, Sheen?"
"Can't you come up with some fun invention that Carl and I can play with and that can practically destroy the whole town and gets us grounded for a couple of months?" Sheen asked as he closely examined the blade of grass that he still had.
"Sorry, Sheen, but I'm on a record for not getting into any trouble. It's been three days without any punishment for anything. I'm going to try and keep this up for four more days. Until then, I'm pretty sure that there are other ways to get yourself in troube. Ways that don't regard me."
"But, Jimmy, you know that this summer really bites." Carl said disaprovingly.
"I know, Carl, but things will get better, you'll see." Jimmy encouraged.
Jimmy turned his face towards Sheen.
You've been awfully quiet, Sheen, what's on your m-" Jimmy said. "Sheen... what is that in your eye?"
"Nothing." Sheen quickly answered.
"Sheen, it's right there! What is it!" exclaimed Jimmy as he leaned forward to get up.
It's a blade of grass, okay! It's just some grass!"
"I'm not helping you take that out, you know." Jimmy said as a matter of factly.
During the whole time Carl was sitting cross legged next to Goddard. He was quiet during their little dispute.
"Sheen... I don't know how you got that blade of grass in your eye, but I just want to let you know that that piece of grass carries loads of bacteria that can cause infections or other diseases that will bring pain and discomfort."
"Oh, please, Jimmy. If grass is not clean then why do cows eat it?" Sheen asked with crossed arms.
"What!" Jimmy asked with a confused yet somewhat annoyed look.
"Ha!" Sheen smirked. "I've outsmarted you!"
"No way!" Jimmy shouted.
"Yes way!" Libby sang. "This cd is the best! See, Cindy, that's why it's my new favorite!. This guy may be a newcomer, but he sure can break out the jams!"
Libby was dancing along with the music that was playing on Cindy's stereo.
"Yeah... he's pretty good." Cindy sighed.
Both Cindy and Libby decided to hang out at Cindy's house. Libby had brought a new cd for the two of them to listen.
"Pretty good?" Libby asked. "Cindy, when you first heard the songs on this cd you were jumping all over the place. Is there something wrong with you, girl?"
"Libby, don't be so silly. Nothing's wrong with me." Cindy laughed.
"Well, okay. Wanna listen to the new cd again?"
"Libby..." Cindy sighed. 'It's nothing personal, but I thing that we've been listeneing to that cd way to many times."
"Maybe... you're right." Libby slowly admitted. "Then what are we going to do now?... Cindy, are you listening to me? Cindy!"
Cindy wasn't listening to Libby. She was staring at the floor and playing with her fingers.
"I wonder what Jimmy's doing right about not..." Cindy muttered under her breath.
"Why don't you just ask him. He's right outside walking home with Goddard." Libby advised as she pointed towards the window.
"What? You heard me say that!" gasped Cindy.
"Yup." Libby nodded and smiled. "You really like him, huh?"
Cindy blushed.
"Well... I'd better get a move on." Libby sighed as she turned off the stereo and ejected her cd. "My paretns want me to be home by dinner time."
"Parents..." Cindy smiled as she rolled her eyes. "Sometimes you hait them, but when you really think about it... you can't live without them."
"That is sooo true." Libby laughed as she gave a thumbs up sign to Cindy.
Libby was about to get her back when Cindy got up and ran to get it for her.
"Here you go." Cindy smiled as she handed Libby her bag.
"Thanks." Libby said as she took her bag from Cindy and slung it onto her shoulder.
"I'll go ahead and walk you to the door." Cindy happily said as the two of them walked down the stairs.
"Thanks for having me over, Cindy." Libby said as she headed out the door.
"Any time, Libs. No problem. Call me later on, 'kay?"
"Will do!"
Cindy watched Libby slowly disappear down the street. She sighed as she closed the door.
"Wonder what he's doing right now..." she thought.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Jimmy shouted as he entered his house.
"We're in the kitchen, dear!." Mrs. Neutron replied.
Jimmy sniffed the air and the aroma brought a smile to his face.
"Hmm... apple pie." He said rather satifyingly as he entered into the kitchen.
"Um, Jimmy..." Mr. Neutron began.
"What!" Jimmy jumped as he screamed. "I didn't do it!"
"You're not in trouble, Jimmy." Mrs. Neutron laughed. "Now, how about a slice of fresh apple pie?"
"I'd love some, mom." he answered.
"Have a seat, son." Mr. Neutron said as he patted the space right next to him.
Jimmy walked over and sat next to his father.
"Do you like the great outdoors, Jimbo?"
"Well... It's all okay... I guess."
"The smell of fresh log cabins and pines..." Mr. Neutron sighed as he sniffed the air.
"Honey, let me do the talking." Mrs. Neutron sighed as she handed Jimmy the slice of pie. "You see, dear, we know how much time you spend in your lab... who know's doing what... and you hardly spend any time outdoors."
"Mmmmhmmmmm..." Jimmy nodded in response as he stuffed his mouth with pie.
There were a bunch of crumbs around his mouth.
"So... your father and I..." Mrs. Neutron paused as she reached over for a napkin and began to wipe Jimmy's face. "We took the liberty of signing you up for summer camp."
Suddenly, Jimmy's eyes opened rather widely and he gruffly pushed his mother's arm away from his face.
"You sent me to summer camp!" Jimmy swallowed. "Summer... camp!"
"Jimbo, you'll have tons of fun. You'll make some new friends." Mr. Neutron encouraged.
"Besides... I think this will be good for you... and you think that your summer is boring, don't you?" asked Mrs. Neutron as she nodded.
"True..." Jimmy sighed. "But do you know if any of my friends are going?"
"We're not sure, dear. But what do you think about the idea?" asked Mrs. Neutron.
"I don't know, mom... I'm kind of a... speechless. When does this thing start?" Jimmy asked.
"Tomorrow, Jimmy." answered Mr. Neutron.
"Tomorrow!" Jimmy screamed as he jumped from his seat. "I'd better start packing!"
Jimmy made a mad dash to his room. Below, in the kitchen, his parents could her the door to Jimmy's room close.
"You thing he's excited, Sugarbooger?"
"I suppose so..." Mrs. Neutron smiled. "You know, Jimmy will be gone for three weeks. We;ll have the whole house to ourselves..."
For a few moments no words were spoken, as for the lights... they were dimmed down.
Jimmy walked around his room. Goddard was lying on his bed when suddenly he walked over to Jimmy with a booklet in his mouth.
"What's this, boy?" asked Jimmy as he reached to grab it.
Jimmy began to flip through the pages.
"Huh... this is the brochure for the camp, isn't it?... There's a list of stuff to bring... no cd playes, video games... yadda yadda... whatever. Goddard, I'm going to camp for a few weeks." He glanced at the date list on the booklet. "Yeah... exactly three weeks. So... you wouldn't mind doing the packing for me... would ya?"
Goddard whined.
"Please... I'll give you a crunchy lugnut..." bargained Jimmy.
Goddard thought about the offer for a few seconds and ran to get Jimmy's duffle bag.
"Thanks, boy." Jimmy said as he jumped into his wooden swivel chair and spun around a few times. "Huh... I wonder if anyone's on right now."
Jimmy grabbed the mouse and clicked the AIM icon on his computer.
"Huh... no one's on and Carl's away... no... he's back."
rock3t boy: Carl, my parents are sending me off to some camp.
llamaluvr: ditto
rock3t boy: What's the name of your camp?
llamalvr: gunrey mt.
rock3t boy: Huh... I've got a pamphlet... That's the same one as mine.
llamaluvr: may b we'll b in da same cabin
rock3t boy: Maybe... hey, is Sheen going, too?
llamaluvr: yez he called me a few min ago
rock3t boy: I guess this won't be so bad. You guys are going too.
llamaluvr: r u all packed
rock3t boy: Yup... well, Goddard is doing the packing for me.
llamaluvr: u no dat u don't have 2 type all da words out rite
rock3t boy: Yes, Carl. I do.
llamaluvr: k
Suddenly the phone rang.
rock3t boy: I'm going to go now.
llamaluvr: k c u tomorrow
Jimmy signed off and pushed himself around in the chair to reach the phone.
"Hello?" Jimmy answered.
"Hey, Jimmy..." a timid voice greeted nervously. "It's me, Cindy."
"Oh! What's up?"
"Not much. I'm just packing up my stuff for camp."
"You..." Jimmy began. "You're going to Gurney Mountain, too?"
"Yeah-wait... How did you know the name of the camp?" questioned Cindy.
"Just call it a wild hunch." Jimmy sighed as he helped Goddard zip up the packed bag.
"Libby is going to... so are a few other people in our school." Cindy said. "I think that this camp will be... nice."
"Yeah... just hope it is." Jimmy dryly said as he tossed a lugnut to Goddard.
"Jimmy! Be optimistic." Cindy encouraged as she threw some clothes around. "What do you thing will be waiting for us there?"
"Jimmy! Dinner!" Mrs. Neutron called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Coming!" Jimmy shouted as he put his hand on the phone.
He lifted it off the reciever to go back to talking to Cindy. "Listen... I've... got to go... but as for whatever will be waiting for us... we're just going to have to find out tomorrow."