The boys were in James's front yard, building a "fort".
In other words, they had laid down sticks and rocks in a square-ish shape, with an opening for a "door". It was impressive for two five-year-olds.
"We need a club name," said Kendall, surveying their handiwork. He bent down, adjusted a stick, and sat next to James.
The other boy flopped back in the grass. He clutched his head as he thought, sticking his tongue out. "I got it!" he exclaimed suddenly, sitting up and running a comb through his hair. Kendall was used to his obsession with his appearance and waited patiently for him to finish and say his idea. James tucked his comb in his back pocket. "We can be the Mighty Duck Club!" he said with enthusiasm. Kendall bobbed his head up and down in agreement. They had watched the movie together at least ninety kajillion times, and their dads had even taught them to play hockey on the same day and same ice. It was perfect.
They sat in their fort, and Kendall ripped a big handful of grass out of the ground and sprinkled it in James's hair. The other boy squealed in horror, only to be echoed by another scream.
A boy riding a bicycle had wiped out in front of the Diamonds' house. He tumbled down the road. Kendall quickly jumped up and ran to help. James followed, but not without hurriedly brushing the grass from his hair. By the time they got there, the other boy was already standing up. "Are you okay?" Kendall asked, concerned. The kid laughed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. My papi makes sure I gots po-tection," he said, pointing to his knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and helmet. He was smiling, and the boys could see a big, gaping hole where his two front teeth should have been.
The sound of a slamming door behind them, made the boys jump. Mrs. Diamond was sprinting from the house. When she got to them, she quickly checked the other kid over. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where are your parents?" she questioned. The little boy opened his mouth to answer, but someone else did it for him.
"Carlos, what happened?" shouted a man running down the street.
"Nothing, papi, I'm fine!" he said as his dad reached him.
"Your name is Carlos?" asked Kendall, his head was swirling. Too much was happening for him to keep it all straight.
"Yep!" he said excitedly. His dad picked up his red Power Ranger bike, which is when Kendall and James noticed something incredible.
"You ride a two wheeler?" they asked, incredulous. Carlos looked about as old as they were, but they hadn't even come near mastering the metal beast yet. They stared at him wide eyed and unbelieving as Carlos laughed.
"Yeah! I learned last week!" he said, clearly proud of himself. He smiled, showing off his missing teeth again. James looked at him weird.
"How did you lose youah teeth?" he wondered out loud.
"I tripped up the stairs," Carlos responded matter-of-factly.
Kendall scoffed, "You can't fall up the stairs, stupid. Only down!"
Carlos shook his head. "Nu-uh. I fell up them and hit my teeth on the edge of a step and they came right out. They even bled and my mama got scared, but I was okay." The boys had no choice but to believe him. After all, he had the missing teeth to prove it! Carlos then proceeded to show them each one of his many Scooby-doo and smiley faced band-aids and tell how he got each one. They sat in the fort while Mrs. Diamond fixed Mr. Garcia up with a cup of coffee.
"Hey," said James, cutting of a particularly nasty story about how Carlos needed stitches in his ankle because he hurt himself playing Monopoly. "Do you want to be pawt of the Mighty Duck Club? You can hang out in ouah fowt," he added, enticing the Latino.
Carlos nodded his head without hesitation. Kendall looked uncomfortable. "James, this club is for best friends only…" he trailed off when he saw Carlos's falling face. He looked like a puppy who had gotten kicked by someone wearing cleats. His big brown eyes looked at him sadly, and his various cuts and bruises only added to the effect. Kendall sighed. "So I guess you're new best friend," he finished.
And that's how the most destructive duo in Minnesota became the most dangerous trio on earth.
Ugh, that was so hard to write. I hope it wasn't boring. I don't really like it, but I didn't want them to meet Carlos in the usual way…
Guys, I had a horrid thought. James is going to have to stop mispronouncing R. I could start crying. BUT DON'T WORRY! It won't happen until the middle of kindergarten and it is still summer. Sniff. THEY GROW UP SO FAST!
Reviews, Requests? Come on guys, I'm making a time line. (I love all your ideas, and they're all going on the BTR calendar)