And now, for the second part of the episode! Anyway, enjoy!
About a half-hour or so later, inside the park, Nadine was smiling as she was putting on some goggles and preparing her net as she stuck her tongue out.
"Nadine, seriously. We aren't playing paintball." Phoebe said as she got her net out. "We're just showing Sid how he can get his mind off of the things he usually accuses others of doing."
"Hey, it never hurts to be prepared." Nadine said as she turned to everyone, who was now wearing goggles and holding nets of their own. "Welcome, one and all kids, to what I call 'Get Sid's Mind off His Freaky Paranoia' Stunts! The subject, please."
Arnold nodded as he led Sid over to Nadine, who could only give a smirk. "Good, good. Now, Sid, hunting bugs is a very, VERY good way to keep your mind off things like the paranormal or if you have a long, stressful day. If you can capture frogs, I'm sure catching bugs is a cinch for you!"
Sid nodded as he held onto his net. "I think I can catch a few bugs."
"Very good, very good!" Nadine smiled as she put her hands and shuffled them. "Then there is no delay! We will be doing this in team-ups! Rhonda, Phoebe and I are a team! Lorenzo, Lila, Gerald, you take charge!"
"You got it!" Gerald said as Lorenzo and Lila looked ready to wield their nets.
"Arnold, Tucker, you two okay with Sid on your team?" Nadine asked the two boys.
"Of course, butterfly." Tucker smiled. "We'll keep an eye on the kid."
"Perfect!" Nadine smiled. "Remember, your task is to catch as many bugs as possible! The first one to get a good looking bug in your provided jars and reunite back here will be the winner! Got it?"
Everyone nodded as they got their nets ready. Nadine pulled out a whistle as she said, "Ready, set, split up!"
Nadine then blew the whistle as she joined up with Phoebe and Rhonda. "Come on, girls, keep your eyes peeled!"
The girls nodded as they started to run off.
"Come on, Gerald! We're going together!" Lorenzo said, holding Lila's hand as she giggled.
"On my way, rich boy." Gerald said as he followed the two.
Arnold nodded as he and Tucker turned to Sid, who was looking at the net. "Ready to get your mind cleansed?"
"Ready when you are." Sid nodded.
"All right, then. Let's get on the hunt!" Arnold said as he and Tucker started to go out as Sid followed close behind.
"You know, Arnold, the basketball season and the Christmas holiday is coming up." Tucker smiled as the two started walking.
"Oh, has it? I guess I haven't noticed. Things have been a bit busy lately." Arnold said.
"So, what are you planning on getting Rhonda this year?" Tucker smirked.
"Oh, well, I haven't really thought about it. I know it's been almost a few months since she lost her family, but... how do I give my girl something that she would no longer have?" Arnold sighed. "I don't know, Tucker, sometimes, it's been a bit tough. What about you?"
"Oh, you know Nadine, she wants everything in the entire world for Christmas." Tucker laughed. "Banana splits and pogo sticks, she mostly lists those things on her birthday and Christmas lists all the time..."
As Arnold and Tucker were talking, Sid paused as he decided to take a look around on this quiet atmosphere. He smiled as he felt a little more relaxed.
"Maybe Arnold is right." Sid thought to himself as he smiled. "I've been going over my whole life just being paranoid over one thing, then another... I really do need to get out more and take a deep breath of fresh air..."
Sid then noticed Arnold and Tucker were walking a little too far ahead of them. Sid considered calling over to them, but paused. "They seem pretty enarmoured in their conversation... I'll catch up to them in a momen..."
It was at that moment Sid spotted something flying nearby... a red dragonfly with a small tail. Sid, looking in interest, smiled in curiosity as he followed the dragonfly, net at the ready.
"Take it slow and steady, Sid... it's just like catching frogs... one more step..." Sid watched as he carefully snuck towards the dragonfly, who had just landed on the nearby bench. He gave a nod as he jumped up and swiped his net over the bug, catching it. "Ha ha!"
Then, quickly, he pulled out a jar, pulled the lid off, then put the dragonfly in the jar and tightened the lid on the jar as the dragonfly was seen flying around.
"There you are... don't worry. You'll be released as soon as..." Sid started before hearing a screaming sound.
Sid looked up as he noticed something splashing in a fountain nearby. Sid then looked up and yelped as he noticed Curly was balancing himself on top of the fountain, with another figure next to him. The young boy shook his head as he turned around, "No, no, ignore it. Ignore it. Go back to Arnold and don't say a wo-"
"YAHOO!"
Another splash was heard.
Sid immediately turned to see that the figure that was next to Curly was gone, and water from the fountain was splishing around. Curly gave a smirk as he pulled out a fishing pole and waved it around as he threw it into the fountain and hummed to himself.
Sid groaned as he looked between Curly's location and where Arnold and Tucker were, who had stopped nearby, but was now too deep in their conversation. Sid looked between the two locations as he groaned. "Curse my curiosity."
The long nosed boy immediately turned and started heading towards the crazy kid's location as he hid near a bush and kept a watchful eye on Curly, whose fishing pole was being pulled. From the water, a hand came out and gave a thumbs up. Sid's eyes widened as he tried to look deep into the water, but... all he could see were coins shimmering.
From up above the fountain, Curly smiled as he pulled on the pole and reeled in the line... as all of a sudden, a giant fish had been caught, followed by the two figures as they both laughed.
"We're eating good tonight, lady and gentleman!" The male figure called out.
"WHEE!" The female figure said as she laughed.
Keep holding it, guys! I'm reeling it in!" Curly called out.
Sid's eyes widened in shock as he noticed the fish as he couldn't resist. He had to tell someone as he ran off back to Arnold and Tucker.
"I'm just saying, we should probably keep our eyes peeled for gifts." Arnold explained to his friend. "Tell you what, after school tomorrow, why don't we-"
"ARNOLD! TUCKER!" They heard Sid calling.
The two looked up to see Sid running up to the two as he started to babble incoherently.
"Sid, what is it?" Arnold asked. "Did you see a bug?"
Sid continued babbling incoherently as he pointed in an easternly direction, causing the two to blink. Arnold frowned. "I-I'm not understanding what you're trying to tell me."
"For goodness sake, Sid, use your words." Tucker sighed.
Sid took a deep breath as he said, "I saw something- something th-" Sid groaned. "You know what, it's better if I show it to you!"
"Wh- HEY!" Arnold yelped as he and Tucker were being dragged.
"Does this often happen when you have to look after a paranoid Sid?" Tucker asked.
"All the time." Arnold muttered to himself.
"Look, look over there, loo- wha- where did they go?" Sid asked in shock as he stopped short.
Arnold and Tucker got up as they noticed they were over at the park fountain... which was pretty empty for the most part. "What did you want to show us, Sid..."
"Wh- bu- the fountain!" Sid said as he leaned over and looked around. At that moment, the two teams that had split up had came over in confusion.
"We noticed you three over at the fountain. What's going on?" Rhonda asked.
"Sid thinks he saw something at the fountain." Arnold sighed. "Sid, could you please tell me what you saw?"
"Well... I saw Curly on top of the fountain, fishing! And he pulled up a fish alongside his friends, who were swimming around in the fountain and... the fish was big! Huge, even!" Sid explained as everyone looked unconvinced.
Lila sighed as she jumped into the fountain and walked around in it. "Sid... this water in this fountain is about ankle deep. Nobody can swim in water this shallow."
"Besides, there aren't any fish in these fountains." Arnold frowned. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"I know I saw it! I swear!" Sid said in concern.
All the kids sighed as Nadine put her bug net aside. "Maybe bug catching isn't the right stress reliever or paranoia cure for you..."
Sid groaned, "I'm telling you the truth! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Phoebe took a deep breath as she covered Sid's mouth. "Sid, calm down, please. I think what you need is not exercise of the body... but exercise of the mind."
Everyone turned to Phoebe as Gerald asked, "You have an idea in mind, my main girl."
"Oh, indubitably." Phoebe nodded as she motioned over. "If you all will follow me, I think we'll play another game."
Everyone nodded as they started to go off... Sid looking back one last time in confusion... before shaking his head and walking back. Little did he know that something had emerged from the fountain as Curly, Pudding and Bucky were coming out, Curly with a fishing pole in his hand.
"Ah, shoot. He got away." Curly sighed.
"Oh well." Pudding shrugged. "Well, never mind. My next activity will be a thousand percent safe!"
"Safe?" Bucky asked as he and Curly turned to Pudding in confusion as Pudding smiled with a grin. The two boys looked a little bit unsettled.
And the second part of the third episode is done! How did you guys like it? Next time, a few more antics! Sid's ongoing paranoia has just begun... Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!
