The next day, Eddy met Eddward by the fire hydrant. As it turned out, they were only a few houses away. Eddy almost regretted inviting him to hang out. He was a lot punier in the light than the dark. Then again, it wasn't as if people were just lining up to be his friend.

"What's with the hat?"

"It protects me from the sun."

Eddy stared blankly. "Riiight. Well, my house is off-limits. What do you want to do?"

"We could go to mine," Eddward suggested.

"You got any videogames?"

"I have cards. Come on!" Eddward said, grabbing him by the hand. "Oh, this'll be so much fun!"

"I can't wait," Eddy said flatly.

The house was big and immaculate, post-it notes everywhere. If that weren't bad enough, there was an actual "procedure" he had to go through just to get into the kids room. And everything was labeled. He looked at the ground that read: FLOOR. "Floor. Really?"

"Is labeling a crime?"

"Should be."

Eddward blushed. "You're the first person I've ever brought in here."

"That's sad," Eddy remarked casually. "I've had tons of people in my room."

Eddward held up a deck of cards. "Shall I shuffle?"

Apparently, Eddwards parents were very busy, very important people. And because they were so rarely home, the post-it notes were a form of communication between them. That right there was pretty strange, but the guy wasn't that bad when you got to know him. He was nice, at least.

"Can I take these things off?" Eddy asked, indicating the protective booties.

"Leave them on, please."

"Fine." He was bored out of his skull and wanted to go outside, but his back hurt too bad. Probably bruised. He should have checked in the mirror last night before bed, but after trying to tidy up the kitchen, he was just too tired. "Your turn. Hey, pay attention! Are you dusting between turns?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You must be k…" Eddy's older brother's voice echoed in the back of his mind. Wheels began to turn. "We're friends, right?"

"Yes," Eddward answered, peering at his hand of cards.

"And friends do things for each other, right?"

"I guess so." Eddward slapped a card down onto the pile. "What are you getting at? Also, have you any threes?"

"Go fish," he said hurriedly. "Listen, how'd you like to help a friend out?"

"What did you have in mind?"

Eddy plastered himself against the wall, shushing Eddward whenever he tried to speak. If this was going to work, his brother had to be gone. As luck would have it, the coast was clear.

"Allright, come on."

"I thought you said your house was off limits?"

"It was," Eddy said, thinking up something on the spot. "My brother had some friends over. Looks like they're gone."

"You have a brother?"

Eddy strutted a bit. "Sure do. This way, Sockhe-er. Edd. See, my mom's in the hospital right now, and we don't know the first thing about cleaning. She's supposed to come home this weekend, and the doctor says this place has to be spotless."

"Oh, my," was all Eddward said.

"Yeah," Eddy agreed. "So, think you can help me out?"

"I'd be de- Oh! I mean, 'sure,' Eddy."

What a sap! He was even enjoying himself. Eddy relaxed on the couch and watched television. When Eddward asked if he was going to help, he said, "I would, but you're better at it than I am," and Eddward simply said, "oh, ok."

It wasn't until later, when he could see Eddward was no longer having fun, did Eddy actually feel bad.

He zapped a plate of pizza rolls (which Eddward picked at politely, though not very enthusiastically) to 'show his gratitude,' then bid his friend good night. Shortly after, his father showed up.

"Eddy," he said in his usual way. Good old Dad. If only he stayed this way all the time. "You did this?"

"Uh, yup," Eddy lied, forcing a smirk.

"Good job, kiddo." He patted him on the head. "Mom's gonna be surprised. Seen your brother?"

Eddy shook his head.

"Ah, ok. I'm gonna watch TV. Why don't you order a pizza?"

The two of them ate in silence until his brother came home. No one asked where he'd been. Soon it was time for bed. As usual, the first night after a big fight was calm and quiet, and he was finding much easier to get over feeling bad for taking advantage of Eddward. After all, saps deserve what they get. Right?

As Eddward boarded the bus the next day, Eddy wondered how he could have ever missed such a goofy looking hat. He waved, but Kevin was nearby, and so Eddy shielded his eyes and pretended not to see him.