September 5, 1984
Just outside London, England
7:24 AM

"Well?"

I couldn't stop laughing. Tom was going to be starting kindergarten. The school system all the kids in the orphanage went to, demanded that all students wear uniforms. For Year 1 and 2, the boys were made to wear these shorts, knee-socks, and plaid shirts. The hippo didn't look to good in the uniform that was meant to be for tiny little kids.

"AHHHHH!!! I REFUSE TO GO!!!" He threw down the little beanie on his head, also part of the school uniform. He started to get his shirt off, when Miss. Megan came up.

"Thomas Zachery Murphy! The bus will be here in 5 minutes. Button up that shirt now." Tom grunted about how he hated the uniform as he buttoned it up. You never wanted to be the one to get on her bad side, so when Miss. Megan started yelling, you did as you were told. She bent down to pick up the beanie, and placed it on his head. "You look fine. And you are going to do great."

"I don't even wanna go. Ben does, can't we switch?" We looked at her with pleading eyes. I hated that he got to go and I didn't. I knew there was a huge library in the school.

"Boys, not now. Your going to be late Tom. Now get down stairs." Tom mumbled a good-bye and left. I was really upset seeing Tom and all the kids that made fun of me all the time leave. It wasn't fair. I was smarter then all of them.

..................

September 29, 1984
Just outside London, England
3:54 PM

"Hey buddy." I said, as he sat next to me under the tree. He had just gotten done school, and was still in his uniform. I was going to tell him that Miss. Megan was going to yell at him if she saw him sitting in the dirt, but he looked already depressed.

"Hey pal." His tone made him sound more depressed. After awhile, he said, "Why do you like learning so much. It's so hard and useless."

"It's not useless. And it is only hard if you make it hard." I replied, staring him down trying to find out what had happen today.

"We started the alphabet the other day, and everyone got it so quick. Then they started saying it over and over so fast. I couldn't keep up." He looked at his feet.

"Come on." I tried tugging on his arm to get up, and he finally budged. We went up to our room, and I spent hours getting him to learn it. He hated it, and me, and started getting extremely frustrated. But right before our bedtime, he could recite all 26 letters in order. He was really proud of himself, and had this smirk. He was thinking of something, but I was to tired to figure it out.

............................

A few weeks later, Miss. Megan went to the school, because she had a parent-teacher conference right after school that day. The school had called because they wanted to talk with her about Tom.

When her and Tom finally got back, she look furious. "Benjamin, in your room now." All the kids in the room looked happy. For the past half a year, they couldn't go near me, let alone make fun of me, because of Tom. The only reason they left me alone today, was because they were scared about what would happen if they messed with me. But now I was getting in trouble, and they were glad.

As I got up to the room, Tom was sitting on the bed, crying, and Miss. Megan was pacing back and forth. "Sit!" she barked. She was really furious. "Now Tom, say the alphabet!" He just sat there. "I know for a fact that you know it. Ben took a lot of time, and you learned it. He was helped you with the number line, as well as the order of the King and Queen names."

I stared at him. I helped him with all those things. Why did Tom pretend not to know them.

After both pairs of eyes had stared at him for quite sometime, he said, "I don't get it by myself. So I figure if I fail Year 1, I can take it again with you." He finished looking right at me.

"Thomas, you can not just do that type of thing..." Miss. Megan started.

"I don't care and you can't make me do anything." Tom cut her off, staring at her.

"You will be going to school, and passing. No discussions."

...............

September 5, 1985
Just outside London, England
7:24 AM

"Well?"

"You didn't look great in it last year, and you don't look any better in it after growing 4 inches." We laughed. We were both getting ready for school. Year 1 to be exact. After 9 long months of groundings, being told to do homework and practice work all day long, and even going to far as banning sweets, Miss. Megan could not get Tom to pass. I tried a little bit, and didn't talk to him for a week, but inside I was kinda happy. He would have to stay in the orphanage until he graduated. I was scared of being left behind.

We walked downstairs, grabbed our lunch and waited outside. We were quite a pair. I was a small, skinny, turtle, while Tom was this huge, tall, strong hippo. I was the brain and he was the brawn, yet we made the best of friends. "You know, your going to a school where your smarter then even the teacher." He laughed. He had told me a lot that the other kids were smart, but nowhere near me.

It was a long bus ride, having to stop and pick up other kids, and we made it for the first bell meaning get to class. Tom showed me all the places where he had explored. It was pretty cool. He would stop and talk to all kinds of kids, Year 1 students to Year 8 students. They all thought he was really cool, and I felt like a third wheel. We eventually made it to the classroom.

"Ahh, Mr. Murphy. Nice of you to be joining us again." A female rabbit said at her desk.

"She is really mean, and doesn't like me. She says I am too loud." He whispered. We found our seats, and because of our last names, we got to sit right next to each other. There were about 25 other kids in the room. When the bell rang to start class, I was ready to learn.

"Now class. I am Mrs. Ferrymen, and am your Year 1 teacher. I hope you are all ready to learn. This year we are going to be learning the alphabet, the number line, some of the names of the kings and queens, and even start simple reading and math skills. Now this is hard work, but I am sure all of you will get it. Now today, we are going to be coloring name cards so you can put them on your desk. Doesn't that sound like fun?" Everyone but me and the big guy next to me cheered. He sighed, and I hit my head on the desk. This is going to be a long year, I thought.

...................................

Thankfully, through out the years, it did get harder; But not by much. As we went into Year 3, we finally were able to buy new uniforms. We could now wear tan slacks and a white button down shirt. When it got cold, we had to wear a sweater vest, but it was better then the plaid short-sleeves and shorts.

Through-out years 1 and 2, Tom seemed pretty popular. Everyone was scared of him his first day, coming in a little kids uniform and everything, but they got over that fast when they saw he was just a nice guy. Everyone knew him, and if you didn't, you had no life. Even the girls, who thought most boys had cooties, wanted to play with him. And with me by his side, he was doing good in his classes. I knew most of it, so I would either read in class or help out Tom.

I on the other hand, was unknown. I just kinda stayed in the background. I didn't show off that I was smart, because I didn't want to leave Tom. We just had this bond that we wanted to stay with each other. I would usually just avoid people, and read a book, only talking to Tom. In my classes, I did fine, except for in gym; I wasn't very coordinated or skilled at any sport. I could deal with the mental parts of school, and help Tom with them. But Tom had to help with the whole physical and social parts. He was so strong and fast when it came to sports. It was really unbelievable.

....................

September 10, 1987
Just outside London, England
10:34 AM

It was a weekend. Me and Tom were sitting under the tree. I was reading a book, and he was just tossing a futbol in the air. The white and black spots would swirl in the air, making a gray color. He was excited, that now we were Year 3 students, we could play sports. He signed up for futbol, wrestling, and baseball. He tried to get me, but I backed away. After two years of gym class, I knew to stay away from any ball-related sports.

A police car pulled up, and an officer and a raccoon popped out. They walked into the house with Miss. Megan. Tom didn't seem to notice, but I knew him. I got up to check something.

"What up, buddy?" he said putting the ball to the side.

"That boy, I think I have seen him before. He was in the newspapers. I think his surname is Cooper."

"So?"

"His family was murdered by a bunch of thieves. The cops said the murderers had no ties to the Cooper family, but why would they want to hurt them?"

"Probably to get money or whatever. You over-think things to much Ben." I looked at him.

"They weren't any normal thieves. They were the Fiendish Five. They wouldn't go after a few hundred dollars and grandma's pearls."

"Jeez Ben, forget about it."

"We should worry about it. Remember only one girl has left in the past two years. Meaning there are 15 girls and 14 guys, and 3 people to a room makes him with us. We are going to be sleeping with that guy, and if he was murderers chasing him, I don't want to sleep with him."

Tom thought about it for a second. "Well then pal, make a time machine so I can go back and not protect you. You had some pretty mean girls beating you up, and I don't want to get into that." He said with a laugh.

He started kicking the ball around the tree, and I sat there, trying to read my book, but to nervous to concentrate.

....................

"Boys, this is..."

"Sly." He said, cutting off Miss. Megan before she could say his name.

"Oh...but of course. This is Sly Cooper. He will be rooming with you. Is that ok with you two?" We nodded. We stood in our room, after Miss. Megan telling us to get in and meet our new roommate. The boy, Sly, seemed really suspicious. His eyes darted everywhere and his grey hair covering his face. Miss. Megan left us alone to talk. His eyes landed on us, checking us out.

"I'm Tom!" Tom said in he's usually happy-go-lucky tone.

"Yeah, she said. Your Ben right?" he said looking at me. I nodded. "That one mine?" he pointed to the bed with and empty bookshelf on top. I nodded again. My bed had all sorts of books and papers. Tom's had all sorts of sports things and snacks. He went over to his bed, placed his trash bag of items on the ground, and fell instantly asleep as his head hit the pillow.

We looked at each other, and quietly left our new roommate. We went back to the tree in the front yard, when I realized I had forgotten my book. "I'll be right back." Tom nodded, and started heading the futbol. I reached the room, and saw through a crack in the wall that he was up. He tricked us to get us out of the room. I heard a snap, and then I saw him holding some sort of weapon. I gasped, and he turned around. He saw me.

He opened the door, as I stood shocked on the steps. "Your pretty quiet. I didn't hear you coming. I guess you forgot your book?" he said, pointing to the blue book I was reading earlier. I nodded. I got a closer look at the weapon. Well, it was more like a staff with a golden hook in the shape of a C on one end.

"Ho...Ho...How did y...you..." I stuttered.

"It comes apart." He took of a part, showing me. "I hide it with my clothes. I didn't think they would allow it. People don't need to know." He said it with such a look, it was like him saying, "Say a word about it, and your dead." I nodded. "Good." He turned around and started to take the whole thing apart, getting 5 pieces of the staff.

I left, half-running, and bumped into Tom outside. He knew I was scared, but I didn't tell him what happen. It would just freak him out. I made a mental note to find out more about this "Sly Cooper" person though.

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Hey...thz for reading and all the reviews...hoping your enjoying

But now it is serious time....now this is for the guys....if you and a bunch of guys decide to walk around in the middle if the night, and see a few girls walking by themselves, please don't scream obstinacies at them and follow them for a mile or two....it scares the hell out of us

Thank you....