"A beauty pageant?" Marie asked.

"Um, yes, we have realized that you were the only girl who chose not to compete and so we or, rather, Eddy realized that this created the perfect opportunity to become your managers and enter you in this pageant. Of course, we will be willing to create a contract to make sure you will receive a good percentage of the prize," Double-D explained.

Eddy's face dropped and he was about to protest when Marie interrupted, "I don't want any money."

"Well, what do you want?" Eddy asked, suspiciously.

Marie flung her arms around Double-D and said, "I want a date with my sweetheart! No running and he has to stay for the kissin'!"

The horrified look on Double-D's face was intensified when Eddy replied, "Deal!"

"Eddy!!" Double-D cried as he glanced fearfully at her.

"Gravy!" Ed exclaimed gleefully.

"Pipe down, Sockhead," Eddy said heartlessly "Think of the jawbreakers we could get."

"I have and I do not think they amount to the worth of maintaining my sanity," Double-D exclaimed.

"We already got a deal," Marie said slyly "Eddy said so. Now, lemme see that contract!"

Eddy produced a small piece of paper and gave her a pen to sign it with. Marie snatched the pen up and quickly gave the contract her signature. She then put on some cherry-red lipstick on and punctuated the paper with a large kiss-print.

"There! Signed, sealed, delivered," She quipped and, yanking Double-D over to her, she added, "I'm yours!"

Double-D sighed and said, "Well, I suppose we must start to educate you about the proceedings and the expectations of this pageant. If you shall, please come to a meeting at my house after our educational pursuits."

"Okay, see ya there, Baby-cakes!" Marie replied as she darted off to gloat to her sisters.

Double-D's knees began to quiver and he cried out to Eddy, "Why? Oh, why? Eddy, of all the incidents which exhibit your greed and selfishness, this is your most heinous crime ever!"

"Double-D, you always tell me to think about the future," Eddy said, nonchalantly "Well, I think it's totally worth a few kisses to be rolling in jawbreakers for the rest of our lives!"

Double-D replied stubbornly, "If she had pursuing your affection with this proposition I believe you would have replied negatively!"

"Ah, zip it, Sockhead!" Eddy countered "It's only gonna be for a little while. Now come on, we gotta make her….um……whatever ya call it."

"A woman who possesses poise, command of herself, and talent, and thereby becoming the personification of feminine achievement?"

"Yeah, whatever. What you said. How're we gonna learn to do that?"

"Well, gentlemen, I believe the enlightenment we seek on this particular subject may be located within the boundaries of the school library. Shall we?"

And so, the three boys walked along, more or less, for Ed was, at the moment, completely fascinated with a piece of fuzz that was floating down the hallway.

"Ha, ha, ha. Hello, fluffy," he said as he chased it "I want you to be my pet."

Eddy stared at him for a little bit and then said, "Ed, you're an idiot."