It started out as any other day starts out, get out of bed, get dressed, brush hair and wash face. Except this time when I went downstairs to have breakfast, instead of being greeted by just my little brother, I was greeted by pretty much everyone on my street.

"Hi?" I said, looking at everyone. "Having a party?"

"Hardly." One of my neighbors said with a slightly panicked look on his face. "This psychopathic man came in with our houses with a bunch of armed men stating that he was in fact taking over our neighborhood."

"What did this psychopathic man and his men look like?" I asked casually. Hmmm….I had a feeling I knew what was going on.

"Hm. Well….The only way that I could describe him is colorless as milk and scary beyond any imagination."

"And his men wore black coats of some sort." Another neighbor piped up.

The other neighbor nodded. "Yes, and then he brought us all in here to keep us contained, so that his men could make sure we stayed in line."

And, indeed, when I looked around my living room and TV room, they were occupied with a few men in black coats of some sort.

"Black Jackets." I snapped my fingers. "Well, I guess we should just remain calm and see what happens…Maybe I can figure out a plan of some sorts….Why don't we have a snack while we wait for whatever is going to happen, happen?" I pulled out a box of Cheerios and we all got bowls and milk and munched happily on them.

As we masticated the cholesterol lowering cereal, one of the Black Jackets ambled his way over. I knew it was the notorious Basta from his white shirt, red flower and foxy face.

"What are you doing?" He asked curiously.

"Eating Cheerios…." My neighbor said slowly

"Can I see?" Basta asked, holding out his hand.

My neighbor slowly handed him the yellow box of Cheerios.

Basta examined the box for several seconds, then turned it upside down and let the contents spill out all over my kitchen floor.

We all silently stared at the floor with confused looks on our faces when Basta suddenly pointed a finger at me. "You. Pick it up." He commanded.

I felt my mouth drop open. "What?"

"Pick it up." He said again, and grinned naughtily as he watched me bend over and up the tiny O's of cereal.

When I was done cleaning up his mess, he winked at me and then rejoined his men.

My brother appeared next to me patting my shoulder sympathetically. "That was rather odd."

I nodded. "We have to think of somehow to get rid of them!"

A smirk spread across his face. "I think I have a plan…." So all of my neighbors gathered around and my brother whispered his brilliant plan.

We were all in place, ready for action.

I slowly walked out toward the Black Jackets. "Oh!" I said suddenly. "I feel faint!" Then I artfully and gracefully fell to the ground in a faux fainting spell.

"Ocrap!" Basta exclaimed jumping up and running over to me, crouching over me slapping my face to wake me. "Wake up! Wake up!" he whined.

I remained still, though it was hard. Don't move. Don't move. I thought to myself. Only a little longer…..

Suddenly my brother popped up behind Basta. "Yeeeehaw!" He shouted as he brought a vase crashing down on the head of Basta, who promptly slumped over, very much unconscious.

At the same time, all of my neighbors ran at the Black Jackets yelling and screaming like crazy people.

The Black Jackets took off running, not sure what to do since their man in charge was down for the count.

"Huzzah!" We all shouted in chorus, having defeated the Black Jackets by working together, and with that threat gone we all sat down and finished our nutritious snack of Cheerios.

The End.