Chapter Two Middleton High: Getting the News

The same scene was taking place at Middleton High School at the same time.

The cheerleading squad, eight girls captained by Kim Possible, were practicing a routine when Assistant Principal Steve Barkin came in, holding some papers. He watched until they were finished, not wanting to cause an accident by distracting them.

"POSSIBLE!" yelled Mr. Barkin in a loud voice. "I need to see you a minute!"

Kim came over, wiping her face and sipping on some Gatorade. "Yes, sir?"

"Remember that cheerleader exchange program we talked about a couple of months ago? I've heard back from them. A student from..." he consulted the papers "Monster High School in Oregon will be coming here."

At those words Tara Matthews visibly paled, but hid it quickly and nobody seemed to notice.

"Monster High School?" queried Kim.

"Yes. The exchange is also part of a program to improve relations between monsters and humans. Do you have a problem with that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No sir. But I've never met any monsters," she answered, "Well, not REAL ones, anyway."

"I'm surprised, considering everywhere you've been," he commented. "I have, and they are like anyone else, even if they have some strange abilities and look different."

He shuffled through the papers. "Let's see... the squad needs to pick a volunteer, who will host the student for a week and attend the other school for a week where their volunteer will be host."

She nodded. "That's what I remember."

He handed her a couple of sheets. "Let me know by tomorrow who's going to go. Carry on." He turned and left.

As Kim looked over the papers the other squad members surrounded her.

"A monster is coming here to join us?" asked Hope.

And one of us has to go there and work with them?" asked Liz, "I don't think so."

Tara looked like she wanted to say something, but managed to hold her peace.

"A monster. Probably be another loser. Just what the school needs," said Bonnie, sniffing.

"Bonnie, this will be hard enough for her without you snarking at every opportunity," said Kim.

"Then she needs to stay home," retorted the teal-eyed girl, going into her set pose; arms crossed, hip cocked, and eyes narrowed. "Besides, if she's a monster, she should be able to take it."

"Bonnie, you will be nice to her, or I'll suspend you from the squad so fast your head will spin," said Kim, glaring.

"Hmph," was the only response.

Kim sighed. "Does anyone want to go?"

Everyone exchanged a look, and four shook their heads.

"As if," Bonnie snorted.

"Okay, that leaves me, Jess and Tara. Think about it, and let me know tomorrow," said Kim. "That's it, clean up, troops."

They headed for the showers.

kp/mh kp/mh kp/mh

Tara cleaned up quickly and was the first out of the locker room. She stayed out of sight while the others left, knowing Kim would be the last to leave. She had to turn off the gym lights and make sure the doors were locked.

When the others were gone, the blonde came out of her hiding place, to Kim's surprise.

"Tara? Why are you still here?" the redhead asked.

"I- I need to talk to you about this exchange," she answered.

"Okay, help me lock up, and we can talk," said Kim.

Tara and Kim went around to the other doors and checked. Then they came and sat on the bleachers.

"So, what about it?" asked the teen heroine, leaning back.

Tara looked around nervously, making sure they were alone. "Kim, it's not generally known, but I have monsters in my family. I have a distant cousin who goes to Monster High."

"Really?" asked Kim.

"Yes, I've met her a couple of times. She's a werecat named Torelei," was the answer.

"Oh, did you want to go so you can visit?" the redhead asked, "I'd be fine with that."

"Well, maybe... I need to think about it first, and talk to my mom," said the blonde. "Can I see the papers?"

Kim fished them out of her backpack and handed them over.

The blue-eyed girl read them over. "This is fine." She handed them back.

"Do you think it might be your cousin coming here?" Kim asked, putting them away.

"I doubt it, she's not on their cheer squad any longer," was the answer. "I'm not sure why."

Seeing she was upset, Kim put her hand on her friend's arm. "Tara, what's wrong?"

"Kim, listen. Humans are generally afraid of monsters, not understanding them, nor making any effort to. And a lot of them have poor regard for humans. Going by my cousin's example, she's sneaky and mean, and that just strengthens the stereotype," said Tara.

"Well, we'll just have to give extra effort to make it work," said Kim, "Can I count on your help?"

"Of course," said Tara, giving a timid smile.

"Thanks for the heads up, Tara," said Kim, standing.

Both girls grabbed their things and headed for the door.

"Where was Ron today? The squad needs its mascot," said Tara.

"He had detention. Barkin's really on his case lately," answered Kim.

"How's Ron going to take the idea of a monster here?" asked Tara, smiling.

Kim rolled her eyes. "I don't know. He can be accepting about a lot of things, but you never know what will set him off."

Tara giggled. "See ya, Kim."

"I'll see you tomorrow," was the hero's response, and they went their separate ways.

kp/mh kp/mh kp/mh

Kim heard from both girls that evening. Jessica was interested, but couldn't, thanks to relatives coming to town. Tara said her mom had flatly rejected the idea.

That evening Kim talked to her parents about the upcoming exchange. She met them in family room, where her father was reading the paper, and her mom a medical journal. Her brothers Jim and Tim were on the couch, consulting over some pages of blueprints, and keeping an eye on the TV, where a wrestling match between Pain King and Steel Toe was between rounds.

"Well, Kimmie," said her mom, Dr. Anne Possible, "There shouldn't be a problem."

"But I do wish your Mr. Barkin had given us a quicker heads up," added her father, Dr. James Possible. "She's coming this Saturday, right?"

"Yeah, Dad," Kim nodded, "And next Saturday I'll go stay with her in Salem Oregon for the week."

"Sounds good," he replied, and returned attention to his newspaper.

"I'll make sure the guest room is ready," said her mom. She looked down at her medical journal.

Her brothers gave her a sour look, then went back to their project. "Just what we need at this critical point," muttered Tim to Jim. The latter nodded in agreement.

"Um... there's one thing," said Kim, reluctantly, and both parents and brothers returned their attention to her.

Kim glanced around the room, making sure she had everyone's attention. "She's a monster."

"Oh, bad attitude, eh? I know how to handle that!" said her father rolling up the newspaper.

"No, dad. A monster," said Kim. "She goes to Monster High."

It took the Doctors Possible a moment to catch on to what their daughter was saying. Kim could tell when they did by the change in expression. She handed her mom the papers Barkin had given her.

Her brothers had abandoned their blueprints and were staring at Kim.

"Oh..." said Anne. She quickly read the papers.

"Hm. I don't know much about monsters, but I do know there's been a lot of trouble with them over the years," said James.

"Dad, we need to keep an open mind," said Kim, "I'm willing to try this exchange, if it will help make things better."

"That's my Kimmie-cub. Always ready to help," he said with a smile. "What kind of monster is she?"

"I don't know, the papers don't say. But it's not our guest I'm worried about," said Kim, a sour look on her face as she looked at her brothers.

"Ah yes, Ronald. He does panic easily," said her father.

"Understatement much?" muttered Kim.

"If we treat her like anyone else, maybe he'll stay calm," said Anne.

"That's never worked before, so I don't see it starting now," said Kim. "I'll talk to him tomorrow, and he'll have a few days to get used to the idea."

"That's probably the best way to handle it," nodded her father. "You know, come to think of it, there was a program where zombies were tested to be crew for very long-term manned space missions..."

"What happened?" asked the Tweebs in stereo.

"Well, they have the advantage of not needing food, or air and water. That would save a lot of weight. But it turned out their reaction time wasn't anywhere near what it needed to be if there was an emergency."

"Being a brain surgeon, I don't have much respect for zombies," said Anne, "They aren't good for my profession."

"Mom, I doubt there's a zombie on their cheerleading squad, if they don't move fast enough," Kim looked annoyed.

Her mom nodded. "Good point."

Jim and Tim were whispering together.

"Don't worry, we'll make the best of things," said her mom, then added, "You boys will not pester her, understand?"

"O-kay..." they said, crestfallen.

"Be sure you do. I'm serious, now," said James, forcefully.

"Thanks for the support, both of you," said Kim, "This could be important for relations."