Chapter Two: The Problem with Bullies
The Couple walked arm and arm to their favorite place, Benny's Ice Cream Parlor. Upon entering the establishment, Theodore opened the door for Eleanor and found a nice table by the window. He pulled out her seat for her, then he took the chair opposite her.
"This is nice, isn't it, Theodore? Just the two of us together."
"Yes, it is," Theodore said. "You look really pretty today."
"Why, thank you, Theodore."
One of the waiters came over to their table and said, "Okay, kids, what can I get you?"
"I'll take a triple hot fudge sundae with lots of whipped cream, please," Theodore said. Then he turned to Eleanor. "What about you?"
"Oh, that sundae sounds great," she said excitedly. "I'll have the same."
"You got it," the waiter said and left to fill their order.
Soon their sundaes came, but for the first time in his life Theodore's focus wasn't on food. It was on the pretty little blond Chipette across from him.
She dipped into her sundae with gusto, but she noticed that he had barely touched his. "Aren't you hungry, Theodore?"
"Oh, yes," he said. "Benny's makes the best sundaes, don't you think?"
"Yes, they do, especially when there's great company to enjoy it with."
Theodore became a little bashful hearing Eleanor say that. She was soon finished with her sundae. He thought he should hurry and finish his.
"Okay, kids," the waiter said when he came back over. "Can I get you anything else?"
"Nothing for me," Theodore said. "What about you, Eleanor?"
"I'm good," she said.
"Alright, young man, here's the check." Theodore handed him the money with a small tip added.
Theodore rose from his seat and helped Eleanor to her feet. He held her hand as they left the ice cream shop together. "Would you like to take a walk in the park?" Theodore asked her.
"I'd love to," Eleanor said.
Down the corner of the ice cream shop in an alleyway there were four onlookers. "Tell me again what we're doing, Brittany?" Alvin asked.
"We're just keeping an eye on them, that's all," Brittany whispered to him. "This is my baby sister's first date, and I want to make sure it goes well."
Alvin just looked annoyed.
"Well, I tried to talk her out of it," Jeanette said.
"A waste of breath," Alvin said. "You can't talk Brittany out of anything." Brittany hit him with his own hat for that. "Hey, what was that for?"
"Nice thing to say to your girlfriend," she said as he took his hat back.
"Would you two shut up before you blow our cover?" Simon demanded.
"Hey, they're heading into the park," Brittany said. "Let's go."
"You're not cold, are you?" Theodore asked Eleanor as they walked over to the duck pond.
"No, I'm fine," she said. "But it was sweet of you to ask."
At that moment a boy nearly half a foot taller than Theodore approached the couple. "Hey, sweet thing?" he directed towards Eleanor. "How about joining me in a soda?"
Eleanor was stunned that this boy would be speaking to her. "No, thanks," she said.
"Hey, why not?" he asked.
"Because if you haven't noticed I'm with someone," she said.
"Who? That wimp," he said, grabbing Eleanor by the arm.
"Hey," Theodore said, coming between them. "You let go of her right now."
"And who's going to make me?" he said, getting up in Theodore's face.
"I-I am," Theodore said. The boy let go of Eleanor, who was now standing behind Theodore. "I won't let a guy like you hurt Eleanor."
"Oh, really, you gonna stop me, shrimp."
"Y-yea," Theodore said, trying to stand his ground.
"Theodore, no, let's just go," Eleanor urged him.
Suddenly the boy grabbed him and tried knocking him down, but Theodore stood his ground. The boy caught him off guard when Theodore heard Eleanor cry out. Before he knew it he was on the ground, his vision blurred.
"Oh, Theodore," Eleanor said, kneeling down to help him. "Are you alright?"
The boy then grabbed Eleanor and tried to drag her away. "Let go of me, you creep!"
"Hey, you heard the lady!"
"Alvin?" Eleanor shouted. The boy then pushed her down on the ground.
"Why don't you try messing with me," Alvin said.
"What's it to you?" The boy asked.
"That's my brother you just hit, you jerk," Alvin said, getting up into the boy's face.
Simon also came out of the shadows. He didn't usually get into fights, but when someone was hassling his baby brother, he would do anything to defend him.
"So, are you going to beat up both of us?" Simon said. The boy looked a little scared, and in a matter of seconds he ran off.
"Hey, you guys, what's going on?" Brittany asked, running up to Alvin and Simon. Jeanette followed close behind.
"Oh, Theodore, are you alright?" Eleanor asked, kneeling down to the place Theodore fell. He looked up at her. She noticed his black eye. "Oh, my poor Theodore. Does it hurt?"
"I'm okay," he said. "But are you? That guy didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No," she said, but then he noticed the bruise on her arm.
"Oh, no, he did hurt you." He rose to his feet, although stumbling a little.
Eleanor picked herself off the ground, catching Theodore before he fell.
"Theo," Alvin yelled, going to his brother's aide. "You alright?"
"Yea, don't worry about me. That bully hurt Eleanor."
"And gave you quite the shiner," Simon said.
"Poor Theodore," Eleanor said, hugging him. "You were so brave. Tell the truth. Does it hurt?
"Only when I blink," he said.
"Well, we should get you home," Alvin said. "Dave will know what to do."
Once they returned home, Theodore's eye was really starting to hurt. Eleanor stayed vigil until Dave had returned from his errands.
"Hey, you two, I thought you were on a date today."
"We were, but something happened," Eleanor began to explain, but then Dave noticed Theodore's eye.
"Oh, my! Theodore, what happened?"
Alvin and Simon came back into the living room with a raw steak. "Some stinkin' bully, that's what?" Alvin handed the steak to Theodore and put it on his swollen eye.
"Is that true, Theodore?" Dave asked.
"Yes, Dave. He tried to hurt Eleanor so..."
"Okay. I don't need to hear anymore. I think you should go to your room and get some rest."
"Alright, Dave," Theodore said. He turned to Eleanor, feeling pretty down. "Sorry our date got ruined, Eleanor."
"Oh, no Theodore," she said. "It wasn't ruined. You're my hero."
"Thanks for saying so, but it's not true."
He got up from the couch and climbed up the stairs to his room, feeling like a failure.
Well, I know that this ended a sort of on a sad note, but there's always next chapter. Theodore's got a plan to get back at the bully. He just hopes that Alvin will help him. Please, review if you like. I'd love to hear your input.
