First Mutant
By David D. Amaya
Chapter 3
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Cyrus Parkman's Room, The White House 1200 EST. Day 1
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Horsepower calling Checkmate. Over"
"Checkmate Responding on Zulu-Quebec nine-one-seven. Over"
"Kilowatt and Kryptonite to arrive Sandlot, ETA 0800. Report status. Over"
"Horsepower, Sandlot secure. Monitoring station in place. Transit standing by. Over"
"Roger, Checkmate. Good job. Horsepower out."
"10-4 Horsepower. Checkmate over and out."
"Now, that Woodsie flew the cuckoo's nest, let's see what new type of deviltry I can cook up for Agent Dime's first day."
******************************
Agent Ziegler's Office, WHCA Ops 0700 EST. Day 4
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Welcome to your first day of Staircase Duty, Agent Nichols."
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet, Nichols," Agent Ziegler said. "You have yet to prove you should be assigned to this detail, but I have my orders.
"You will accompany Kilowatt to his new school, Sidwell Friends, Codename: Sandlot. Location: Upper Northwest, Washington, DC.
"Kryptonite will be accompanied by Agent Reynolds, A veteran to this detail, I might add. This is a one-man assignment; the school has had other Presidential children enrolled so they are aware of our security measures.
"You WILL be in close contact with protectee at ALL TIMES. Do you understand me, Nichols! You are to be his shadow. That means in ALL OF HIS CLASSES. Then you are to take him straight here after classes finish for the day. Do you read me? STRAIGHT HERE! You are not, I repeat NOT, to screw this up. Do I make myself CLEAR!"
"Perfectly clear, sir," Nichols replied.
"Now get out of here and make sure Kilowatt is ready for school," Ziegler continued. "You will be flying solo on this assignment, so remember DON'T FUCK UP!"
"Yes, sir," Nichols turned to leave.
"One more thing, Nichols," Agent Ziegler called out. "Just because the Director is impressed with your jacket don't mean shit to me, you got that?"
"Got it, sir" replied Nichols as he tried to keep the grin from forming.
'The Director is impressed,' he thought. I like the sound of that, even from Ziegler.
******************************
Cyrus Parkman's room, 0722 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Knock, Knock, Knock
"Cyrus, Are you ready for school?"
"Almost Dime, I'm still putting on my clothes."
"That's 'Nichols,'" he corrected from behind the door. "Do you have everything else?"
"Let's see," said Cyrus as he looked through his backpack. "Folders? Check. Pens? Check. Pencils? Check. Paper? Check. Dork repent? Check. Hemlock poison? Check. Secret launch codes to NORAD? Check. PlayStation Portable ... Hey! Where's my PSP?"
"I said when you are better behaved,'" countered Nichols. "You have not passed the requirements just yet."
Proper grammar and high moral standards, Cyrus thought. That'll change! "Will you go see if Andi is ready yet?"
"Of course. Back in a moment."
Maybe this guy is all right, thought Cyrus. Maybe I shouldn't do this after all.
YEA, OF COURSE I SHOULD!!!
One Minute and 59 seconds later
"Okay, Andromeda," Special Agent Jennifer Reynolds, held the President's eight-year-old daughter as they walked to Cyrus' room. "Let's see if your brother is ready for ... GOOD LORD OF CREATURES BIG AND SMALL!!
Gee, the scream was even better then I hoped for!
For Cyrus, you see was dressed in a tie-dyed Pearl Jam T-shirt, faded blue jeans, a beat-up old pair of Chuck Taylor's and a Seahawks cap turned backwards.
Nichols jaw dropped, while Andi just giggled.
"You look even sillier than the other day, CJ." She informed Big Brother.
"Agent Nichols. Are you not aware of Sidwell's dress code?"
"Of course," started Agent Nichols. "But I ..."
"I thought we got to dress casual for the first day. "Right Andi?" he said while trying to shield the wink from her agent.
"Id'a know," his sister's replied.
"Well, Agent Nichols make sure that Cyrus is dressed in his blazer," said Agent Reynolds. "We will be waiting in the Reception Room. Come along Andromeda."
"Bye, CJ. Bye Nickels." Andi waived at them then left the hallway.
Nichols turned to Cyrus, who braced for the worst.
"Come on, get changed." he said. "We are going to be a little late, but what the hay, it is only the first day right?"
Cyrus went back into his room, almost regretful of the look on Nichols face.
Yea, sure screwed up that one.
******************************
Xavier Academy for Gifted Youngsters, Snow Valley, Mass 0700 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Xavier Academy. Sean Cassidy, speaking?"
"Hi ya, Irish!"
"Jubilee, lass! How are ye."
"Not to bad. How's things over there?"
"Fine, fine, we all miss ye though."
"Is it all right if I can speak to Paige for a little while?"
"Sure, I'll get her, she'll be thrilled to talk ta ya."
"Hey there, Jubilee" said Paige.
Paige Guthrie was Jubilee's roommate at the academy before she was attacked all those months ago.
It was Paige who found her broken body in that Boston warehouse, and went into hysterical shock. But after Jubilee was released from the hospital and returned to New York with Jean and Scott, they called each other every day.
"Hi ya, Hayseed! How's the rest of the gang?"
"Oh, they're all fine. Everyone says 'hi.' So how are you coming along, Jubes?"
"Better, my memories are coming back. By the way, do you still wake the roosters with that step-aerobic thing?"
"Yea," Paige giggled, but deep down she still missed all those arguments about how she got up so early in the morning, fueled by her passion to lead the X-Men, one day.
"Hey, did you guys catch the news yesterday?'
"What about, Jubes?"
"The President's kid," said Jubilee. "There was this mall-shattering KA-BOOM in DC. Seems a light switch went kablewey on the First Kid."
Paige remembered seeing that as it was the lead story on the news all day long.
"Yea, we saw it," said Paige. " Angelo thought, and I quote; 'He probably made those Secret Service vatos plant that bomb, so he wouldn't have to get those monkey suits.'"
"I could understand that, Page, but when some creep tried to harm a poor defenseless shopping mall, I, like, feel its pain too."
Page laughed. Yep, Jubes is sure returning back to normal, she mused. Whatever that is.
"Who are you taking to, Sweetie?"
"Just 'ol Hayseed."
"Can I speak to her?"
"Sure, Um Paige, 'Moms' wants to talk with you, bye."
"Hello, Paige. How are you today?"
"Oh, just fine, Jean." said Paige.
When Jubilee was coming out of Nero-surgery, Paige and Jean, leaned on each other for support during the toughest parts of Jubilee's recovery, and have been closer ever since.
"Do you know when Jubes might come back to school?"
"Most likely the beginning of the next semester. Right now she is doing real well and is almost 100%"
"That's great Mrs. Summers ... I mean, Jean"
"Is Sean there, Paige? I would like to speak with him."
"Sure, he's right here." She then handed the receiver to the Gen X headmaster.
"Morning, there, Jean," he said.
"Good morning, Sean. Were you watching the news last night?"
"Sure, Jean, Do ye mean the explosion in Washington?" Asked Sean. "It was all over the news last night and even made the front page of the Globe. Seems the agent who helped the Parkman lad is from Boston."
"Yes, we were watching it when it happened yesterday morning." said Jean. "Sean, did you notice anything ... unusual about that explosion?"
"Now that ye mention it, aye, it did look a bit unusual for a power spike." The former Interpol agent replied.
"Sean, the professor says that the President's son is a mutant."
"Are ye sure, Jean?" He asked as the surprise was hard to keep out of the Irishman's voice.
He knew, as did Jean, that there were hundreds of people who's latent mutant abilities manifest itself for the first, and generally unexpected, time every day. But he never dreamed that there would be a mutant living in the White House!
"Jean, what about the President? Surely he ..."
"The Professor doesn't think he knows, Sean," replied Jean. "The President is still out of the country on government business."
"But with those bills before the Senate." remarked Sean still stunned about Jean's statement about Cyrus Parkman. "Do ye suppose he'll push for a repeal of those damnable anti-mutant laws?
"Honestly, I don't know, Sean. The professor is due in Washington at the end of the month for the Senate Hearing on Mutant Affairs, maybe he can gain a private audience with President Parkman."
"Do ye think he'll let his son come here for schooling?"
"That was a possibility the professor has been entertaining, but with the President's hectic schedule and his re-election campaign it will be tough, if even possible."
"I wonder if the lad even knows he is a mutant?" said Sean.
******************************
Sidwell Friends School, Wisconsin Ave,
Upper North West, DC Third Period 1005 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Good morning, class. Welcome to Public Speaking.
"My name is Ms. Brookhiser, and I will be your instructor for this school year.
"As many of you know, he have a 'special' student joining us this year ..."
Oh, man. Not again, Cyrus thought. At least Malia warned me about this!
"Many of you may recognize him from television. Cyrus Parkman, the son of President Anthony Parkman." She reminded her students as she gestured then to applaud.
Gee, I wonder of Chelsea got this reception from D.W.E.E.B. Master Control? They might as well put this to music. he thought through a painted-on smile he used many times before.
"And because of his 'special circumstances' ..."
At least Quarter will get some.
"His 'friend' will accompany his to all of his classes. Special Agent Kordel Nichols."
She gestured to applaud again, but Agent Nichols just sat there, seemingly unfazed.
"All right class. For your first assignment of the new school year, I would like for you all to write a five-minute presentation about an historic figure from Washington who you would like to introduce to the class.
"Tell us something about what the person is like, their background and what you would say or do together for one hour. The assignment is due next month and there will be no extensions for any of you."
A hand shot up from the class.
"Yes, Laurence?"
"Ms. Brookhiser, does that mean that Agent Nichols has to do the assignment too?" The class burst into giggles, but Agent Nichols seemed oblivious to the laughter directed at him.
Oh, man, how many times are we going to do this scene today?
"No, Mr. Flemming, Agent Nichols is exempt.
"Now students, get out your textbooks and turn to page 139 and read the chapter entitled 'Enunciation Pitfalls,' then..."
Another hand shot up.
"Yes Mr. Flemming?"
"If Agent Nichols doesn't have to do this assignment, why do we?" Leading to another round of giggles.
'Cause he packs a 9-mm semi-auto, Dork.
"Agent Nichols has already graduated from Boston College, Mr. Flemming, Now if you will all ... Yes, Agent Nichols?"
"Ma'am that's Boston University not BC," Corrected Agent Nichols. "I was a Terrier, not an Eagle."
"BC, BU, PU," quipped Laurence. "What's the difference?"
"BU won the Bean Pot Trophy in hockey this year again." Nichols shot back.
"Big whoop." Laurence mumbled back.
Oh yea, thought Cyrus. This is gonna be a long day.
******************************
Sidwell Friends, Lunch Period 1209 EST.
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Cyrus reached for an apple to complete his lunch tray and he and Agent Nichols proceeded to an empty table at the center of the lunchroom.
Almost everyone stopped talking and started to point and whisper "Look, that's the President's kid." And it depressed Cyrus.
Looking out the window, he saw a picnic-type bench in the center of the small field.
"Nichols, I think we should dine all frisko today." And he took his tray and headed out the door.
Cyrus sat on the picnic bench, while Nichols sat on top of the table, looking around for any signs of trouble.
"Lighten up, Penney," He told the agent. "No one's gonna snatch me."
Then he noticed a large bruise on his apple. "Poison me, maybe, but not a kidnapping."
Just then they heard a crowd of boys sitting on the table about 30 yards from them, obviously talking about them from the way they all looked up at them every so often. Laurence Flemming did most of the talking.
"Hey, Dime. Do you think you could ... ya know ... get lost for a few?"
"I can not leave you alone, Cyrus," Nichols replied.
"Aw, come on? I won't be alone. 'Sides, Quarter, what's gonna happen anyway?"
"Actually, I do not want to know the correct answer, ever."
Cyrus shot him a pleading look. "Come on. I don't know anyone here.
"Please?"
Despite the voice inside him reminding him about Secret Service regulations, the voice that reminded Kordel of his own childhood won out.
"All right," he said sliding off the bench. "I'll be right next to that tree."
Nichols then walked about 20 feet away and pretended not to notice the group walking over the Cyrus' table.
"So, you're the President's son?" asked Laurence.
"Yea, that's me," Cyrus replied, taking a gulp of milk.
"Why didn't you come and sit with up in the lunch room?"
Cyrus took a bite of his club sandwich and pointed at were Agent Nichols was standing, seemingly lost in thought.
"He carry a gun?"
Cyrus nodded while still chewing the bite of sandwich.
"Is it loaded?"
"Nah," Cyrus lied. "What's gonna happen, somebody poison my food? Say anyone want my apple?"
"No thanks. Say, we saw you on TV the other day."
Don't anyone in DC watch Cartoon Network? "Yea, shopping with 'the Mom.' What a drag."
"Saw Nichols, too.
"Looks like he was butt-fuckin' ya just before the power blew. Did he cum too hard?"
Cyrus spit out his milk in astonishment, while the other boys laughed at him.
Agent Nichols couldn't quite make out what they said, but prior experience told him the way he spit out his moo-juice that Cyrus was in for a school yard brawl.
"Yea, that's a good name for you, the First Fag."
Cyrus jumped to his feet.
"Oh look, the fag getting all 'prissy'" Laurence taunted. "What ya gonna do gay-boy, take a slap at me?"
Cyrus drew back his left arm and swung for Flemming's jaw with all his 12-year-old might.
Then was stopped cold by a right hand ...
Agent Nichols' hand. He grabbed the punch just before he got within a foot of the load-mouth boy.
"Yea, looks like the First Fag can't even fight his own battles without his love protecting him."
"Shut your mouth, Dork!" Cyrus yelled while being restrained by Nichols
"And who's gonna make me, your wet nurse?"
"What are you kids doing?" a voice came from behind them.
It was Ms. Brookhiser, his Pub. Speaking teacher.
"You boys better get out of here before I have to call the principal," she told them. "The fifth period is about to start anyway."
The boys ran off, but not before shouting a "See ya First Fag" over their shoulders.
Cyrus wanted to chase after them, to rip their guts out, to tear their heads off and...
"Cool it, Cyrus," Nichols told him. "They're gone now."
"Cyrus," asked Ms. Brookhiser. "What did those boys say to you?"
Cyrus stopped fidgeting. "It's all right Nichols, I'm fine. They were just talking some trash, that's all, Ms. Brookhiser."
"Are you going to be all right, Cyrus?" she asked.
"Yea, yea, I'm fine, I'm fine"
Just then Agent Reynolds and Andromeda walked up.
"You look mad CJ, you okay?" His sister noted.
"Yea, I'm okay, Squirt." he said.
"What happened here?" Agent Reynolds asked Nichols, but Ms. Brookhiser answered for him.
"It seems some boys were teasing Cyrus, while Agent Nichols was derelict in his duty."
"It wasn't his fault, Ms. Brookhiser," Cyrus interjected. "I asked him to give me some space, Agent Reynolds. How am I going to get to know anyone here if no one can get in close?"
"That's not the point, Cyrus," said Reynolds. "We have regulations ..."
"Yea, 'life liberty and the pursuit of happiness ... unless you are the President's kids.'"
"Those boys will just have to cool off a bit," Ms. Brookhiser said. "I will leave you to do your job now, Agent Nichols." then turned to leave.
"Gimme a break. I don't need the protection of the 'Men in Black,'" said Cyrus. " I couldda taken all those chumps myself."
"Be that as it may Cyrus," said Nichols. "They are both right, though. I messed up. I'm sorry Cyrus. That won't ever happen again, I promise."
Oh, great. Just when I was starting to get a little elbow room, some other jerk screws it up!
Just then a cell phone rang.
"That's Ziegler," Agent Reynolds responded. "He wants a report via the STU-8 in the office. Agent Nichols, look after Andromeda, I'll go and call in."
"No, I shall do it, you watch Cyrus, I will call Ziegler, he probably wants to yell at me some more anyway.
"I shall be back in a moment, Cyrus. ay I borrow some paper?"
"In my bag," he said pointing to here he left it on the table. "Just don't defuse the bomb."
Nichols reached in and pulled out a notebook and departed for the Administration Building.
This is a crappy day after all. It is gonna be a long YEAR!
******************************
Sidwell Friends, outside 5th Period 1300 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"All right students. Line up now. Two lines. Boys on the left, girls on the right. That's it.
"Now, I'm Mr. Baker and I will be your American History teacher. Now it is a tradition that I start each class with a question on the US Constitution. The side that gets the correct answer, gets to be seated first."
Yep, this class, BITES, Cyrus from the back of the boy's line. Why couldn't Malia have warned me about this!
"Now can someone tell me what the 21st amendment to the Constitution says?"
"It repeals the 18th amendment, ending prohibition in 1933," whispered Agent Nichols.
Cyrus hand shot up. "Yes, Mr. Parkman?"
Cyrus repeated Nichols answer.
Correct, Mr. Parkman. I see that your stay in the White House gives you a sense of history, just like it did young Miss. Clinton. Yes students, the 21st amendment is the first and only amendment that repeals a previous one, the ban on the sale of liquor.
"Mr. Parkman, you may lead the rest of the boys to your seats."
"No way I'm gonna follow the gay-boy," came a familiar voice from the front of the line as he reached for the door. "I'm first."
///SPALSH\\\
"WHAT THE SHIT!" Came the cry from Laurence Flemming, just inside the door.
Several students pushed their way to the door to find a metal pail hanging over the door and on the ground was a large amount of red-colored liquid and ice.
The bulk of which had fallen on Laurence's head.
"What is this OUTRAGE!" shouted Mr. Baker. "Never in all my 40 years of teaching has anyone dare to pull a stunt like this!"
Ah, but you have many moons full of teaching ahead of you!] A big grin formed across Cyrus' lips.
"Seems to me that this prank was obliviously meant for Mr. Parkman," Agent Nichols pointed a finger at Mr. Baker
"You call for a janitor to mop up this mess. I will take Cyrus to the principal's office until it is save to return. And you ..." he pointed to Laurence. "You are all wet. Find some dry clothes. Come along Cyrus."
As they turned the corner towards the principal's office, Cyrus was trying not to laugh so hard, that his eyes were bulging out.
Nichols saw this and said. "Very well! Let it out, Cyrus."
Then like a balloon, the President's son burst with so much gut-busting laughter that tears were rolling down his cheeks. Heads popped out of closed classrooms to look, displaying his badge Agent Nichols made the heads return.
When the President's son finally stopped, from exhaustion, Nichols looked him in the eye.
"That wasn't very funny, Cyrus," he told him. "What if that happened to you? I don't think that you would appreciate it if someone dumped a pail filled with Punch on you."
"Well, Ms. Brookhiser did say that he had to Kool-Aid ... I mean, cool off!!"
This is gonna be a GREAT day after all!!!
******************************
Unmarked Secret Service staff car,
Southbound on Connecticut Ave 1538 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"You're looking better, CJ." Said his sister in the seat next to him.
"Yea," he grinned. "This was a crappy day, but it all turned out for the better."
"What happened to brighten up you day, Cyrus?" asked Agent Reynolds from the drivers seat.
"You remember that dork that stepped up to me at lunch? Well, somebody dumped a bucket of punch on him. I mean ALL OVER I mean a total soaking, I mean ..."
"We get what you mean, Cyrus," said Agent Nichols, who was starring at the road ahead of them. "That was not very funny."
"Well, I guess you're right, Nichols. It wasn't very funny. IT WAS HILARIOUS! That stuff will NEVER come out!"
Reaching into his bag, Cyrus found the bruised apple from that afternoon and threw it out the car window.
The car turned the corner just before the fruit rolled into a storm drain, then exploded popping a manhole cover three feet into the air.
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Private office of the President of the United States, The White House 1741 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
///Knock, knock, Knock\\\
"Come in, Agent Nichols."
"I was told that you wished to speak with me, Madam First Lady?" Agent Nichols asked.
Standing from behind the desk which Richard Nixon drafted his resignation, Jimmy Carter signed his daughter, Amy's report cards, and her husband Anthony Parkman signed countless Executive orders, Ariel Parkman, walked around the working piece of Presidential history and coolly regarded the agent.
"Agent Nichols, despite Secret Service protocols, I do not wish to be addressed as 'Madam First Lady.'"
"I apologize... 'Ma'am?'"
" 'Ma'am,' will do in a crunch, but I prefer 'Mrs. Parkman,'" she took to a more comfortable couch near a large television set.
"Agent Nichols, do you know why I sent for you?"
"No, Ma'am. But I would imagine that it would have something to do with your children's first day at Sidwell."
"It is not 'crunch time' yet Agent Nichols. I will let you know when it is. But your imagination is quite correct, it is about my son.
"I received a telephone call from a Mr. Baker." The First Lady continued. "You do recall a Mr. Baker, do you not, agent? Apparently he was appalled to find a bucket placed over his classroom door in a childhood prank, and he had the GALL to blame MY son."
"Mrs. Parkman, I can assure you that Cyrus had absolutely nothing to do with that incident," Agent Nichols explained. "He was on the field until the bell for his fifth period history class. He had absolutely no prior knowledge of that prank."
"Really Agent Nichols?" Mrs. Parkman asked her son's newest detail agent. "Mr. Baker thinks that it was in response to this," She reached with a remote control and turned on the television.
On the screen was a videotape of a 'news magazine,' in the bushes of Sidwell, taping the confrontation between Cyrus Parkman and Laurence Flemming.
Media whores, Kordel thought
Agent Nichols was clearly about 15 feet away, as the group of boys approached Cyrus. All seemingly was well, until Cyrus spit milk all over the table. The First Lady then hit the pause button.
"Agent Nichols, what is your explanation for this OUTRAGE!?"
"Ma ... Mrs. Parkman," Nichols corrected himself. "Your son is new to this school. He told me himself that he has no friends here in Washington, and he asked if I could give him some space so the other children wouldn't feel threatened by my presence. Those boys seemed all right until..."
"Until you gave him his space."
"No, until they called him a ... Made some, rather disparaging remarks towards him.
"All he wanted was to make some friends, blend in, he doesn't want to be isolated from his classmates."
"Are you finished, Dr. Spock?" Mrs. Parkman fumed. "Because you have some nerve Agent Nichols, to speak to ME in such a candid manor!"
"Mrs. Parkman. I believe that you would rather I spare politeness for honesty."
Mrs. Parkman flashed him a stone-faced stare. Almost masculine and defiantly un-First Lady-like.
"You are quite correct, agent Nichols," she finally said. " I would rather people in this city respond with honesty over politeness. My husband does admire a man with more courage than intellect, but you Agent Nichols, seem to have an equal amount of both. Considering what the Director told us of what happened with Senator Crane, I can see why he had Woods removed from this detail in place of you."
"Thank you Mrs. Parkman."
"That was not a complement," she said dryly. "Just an observation, that is all.
"You may go now," She replayed the scene in the schoolyard that afternoon. "By the way Agent Nichols. If Cyrus did not setup that bucket, do you know who did?"
"I absolutely, do not have the faintest idea, Mrs. Parkman." He then left the room.
******************************
Cyrus Parkman's room, 1906 EST.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To: OzΘ USlink. Net
Yo! Oz-ze!
How's de Sound doin' in the absence of the K'Watt??
Things went from way lame to UN-tame here 4 a change.
Take a peek at "Hard Line" 2nite B-4 you read the rest of this, OK???
Come on Oz? Good things come to those who are patient!
Yea, Secret Agent Chump stopped me from making dork chops out those clowns. :-e
Their leader (you could tell that he was the one that had a thought and got crowned king) got a K-A baptism though. :-
King Nothing walked into US History and instead ran into a rainbow of fruit flavor!! 4 real man! Somebody did the 'Ol bucket-full-o'-water-over-the-door bit, with a fruit twist!! :'-)
Used Kool-Aid and Ice! Oh Yea!!
Man I wish I could shake the hand of the devious mind who thought of that!!
A knock on the door brought his feeling of joy to a halt.
"Cyrus, can I can come in?" asked Agent Reynolds.
"Sure just keep an eye out for my death traps."
"Cyrus, Agent Nichols forgot to give this back to you this afternoon," she said as she handed him the spiral-bound notebook that Nichols had taken out of his bag at lunchtime.
"Thanks, by the way, Agent Reynolds, where is he?"
"Getting chewed out, I would assume," said Agent Reynolds. "He should have never left your side, Cyrus."
"It wasn't his fault! It was that jerk, Flem-wad!"
"That wouldn't have happened in the first place if he did his job."
"I asked him to give me some space," he argued. "How am I gonna make any friends here if he is all over me like a bad haircut."
"But Cyrus, We have regulations ..."
"Regulations ... that is all anyone ever says to me here! There is a regulations forbidding me to see my friends from back home, so I don't have any anymore! There's regulations against reading comic books at the Library of Congress. THEY WERE INTENDED FOR THE FIRST KIDS!!
"There's regulations barring this, There's regulations against that! At least you get days off from being my warden," Cyrus shot back. "When do I get credit for time served here in the Executive Penitentiary!"
"But, Cyrus ..."
"But nothing, just get out of here!"
As Agent Reynolds closed the door, Cyrus threw the notebook at the closed door.
When he got up to retrieve it, he saw an impression on the first black page, just passed his English notes .
Curious, he grabbed a crayon from his art desk and lightly rubbed the page.
It reviled a handwritten class schedule of Lawrence Flemming, along with a blueprint of the pail gag.
Notes on the bottom of the page even told the answer to the 21st Amendment.
Although it was clear that it has been scribbled off the original page, he could see, like a master painter signing a masterpiece, the letters;
KN.
"I'll be damned," exclaimed Cyrus.
Shaking the notebook out slipped an opened packet of Tropical Punch flavored Kool-Aid.
"Wondered how he knew what flavor the punch was!"
Another knock, another anti-Double-O Zero statement.
"If I told you once, I told you girl scouts a zillion times, I HATE THIN MINTS!"
"Cyrus, it is Agent Nichols," said the voice from behind the door. "May I come in?"
"Sure, Nichols," he said putting away the notebook.
"I just wanted to apologize for my actions, or rather my inaction.
"I just spoke to your mother. She saw that bit on the news, and I think she better understands your situation."
"Hey, As long as that spaz Flem-wad got his that's all," said Cyrus. "By the way, Reynolds gave me back the notebook."
"Good," said Nichols. "But like I was saying, I violated regulations and you were humiliated. I shall try to give you some breathing room, but I promise you, that will NEVER happen again."
"It's kewl, Nichols," he said extending his right hand.
Agent Nichols took it in his and shook it firmly.
"Good night, Cyrus."
"Nite, Nichols."
As Nichols closed the door, he returned to his E-mail;
Hey Oz, just found out who did the pail detail on His Royal Arrogance.
Looks like the K'Watt has a new partner to do battle against the forces of D.W.E.E.B. (The Dumb Washington Evil Executives of Boredom)...
And me thinks, he carries a badge =)
Yea, life in D.W.E.E.B.-vill may have just gotten better, now if only I can get my PSP back!
Yours 'Till Puget Sounds,
KillowattΘ Acme. Whitehouse .gov
End of Chapter three
© David D. Amaya 2007
