So.. There have been stories on here for Jimmy and Cindy, Sheen and Libby.. And I thought, what about Carl? There's a certain someone he's had his spectacled eye on for quite a while. So then I thought, what if he got a chance at what he wanted — to a certain extent — at 17?

It was just like any other day for Carl as he was walking home from school with Jimmy.

"So.." Carl began, "how's everything? Everything okay at home? I know everything's okay at school so.."

"Everything's good at home, and everywhere else.. But there's this stupid time machine theory! Leonard from the science club says that it can't be done, but I'll show him who can build a portable Time Booth!" said Jimmy.

Then he just ran off to his lab. Probably to gawk at Cindy's yearbook signature in private, Carl thought. He went inside his best friend's house to wait for him in the kitchen. There he found Mrs. Neutron baking pies like always. Carl smiled. He had always had a monster crush on Judy — uh, Mrs. Neutron… Judy — for what seemed like ages. Now that he was full into his teen years, he realized that he didn't only just have a crush on her, he was in love.

"Hi Mrs. Neutron… Wow that smells great, as usual.." he exaggerated sniffing the air, and she laughed. That boy had always been very complimentary to her. It was nice knowing that she was appreciated by someone. And he had grown up to be such a handsome young man… oh, so handsome… a bit taller than her, freckles all cleared up, all the baby fat turned into lean muscular…

"Where is Mr. Neutron?" Carl said, snapping her back to reality.

"He's away on a business trip all this month. I'm sending him my pies because he doesn't like the ones from the hotel he's at… So how are you?" she said, biting her lip at the thought of him pouncing on her. Part of her mind scolded her for even thinking such things. The other part was hoping for a small escape from being the proper housewife.

"Oh is he now? That's too bad." He said as he sauntered over to the domestic, yet wild, cougar. It was occurring to him that this may be his only chance to have the one woman he desired in the whole world.

He was getting so close to her.

It was getting unbearable to be so close to her and not doing anything. He set his glasses down on the counter next to her hand, still getting nearer and nearer to her.

She felt his heat — and something else… lust maybe? — rolling off him in waves; he blushed a bright red. That wilder part of her mind was hoping he'd do what she thought he was going to do..

He was about to seize the moment when Jimmy came in the back door.

"Hey mom! I need some aluminum plating for the time-hurl mechanism… What are you doing? Hey Carl, I thought you went home already..?"

A much shaken Mrs. Neutron tried to steady herself against the counter, only for her hand to find the still-350-degree pie filling. "AAAH!! JESUS! OW!"

"God mom! Are you okay?? That's a nasty burn… I think I have something for that. I'll go get it."

"NO!" exclaimed Carl. "Umm… I mean I have something with me now. Here's the burn ointment."

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"Thanks for helping me out man," Jimmy said. "Say Carl, why did you have that in the first place?" a little puzzled at his friend's almost boy-scout preparedness. Though he could have guessed..

"Well, my mom makes me carry it around as a 'just-in-case' kind of thing." Said the spectacle-sporting friend.

He knew it. It was either that or one of those "I don't have a problem!" excuses.

"Alright mom, it's great that you're okay and all, but I have to be getting back to the Time-Jump 2000. Awesome name or what? Ha! Bye mom! See you later Carl." And before anyone had time to say anything else, he was long gone.

For a while, there was silence…

Mrs. Neutron was sitting at the table, staring at her bandages. Well, she thought, it was nice to dream. Just not to act…that would make her feel so guilty, cheating on her husband with someone so young — Jimmy's friend even! — it just felt wrong. It made her feel that much more miserable that they didn't even do anything. She would just have to get over these feelings. Somehow, that didn't seem possible.

"Well, I should probably be getting home…" said Carl, lilting his voice like this statement was a question.

This snapped her out of her reproachful musings. "Hm? Oh, yes, you do that. Have a nice day young man." She smiled. To her surprise, his face fell in disappointment.

"Goodbye…Judy." That last part he whispered under his breath as he shuffled out of the door. One day… he thought with a sigh.