CHAPTER EIGHT

TALKING PROBLEMS OUT.

Anti-Cosmo looked closer at the picture. He noticed something else.

"Turn the monitor back to Chester," he said to his son.

"Yes, Father," said Foop who did what he was bidden.

Chester was in his trailer and Isaac was in disguise as his watch. Anti-Cosmo noticed a shimmer of energy. He turned toward his son and snarled,

"That's WHY you needed to be monitoring Chester. You see that shimmer?"

"Yes," said Foop, "a bit fearfully.

"That means that Chester has enhanced magic security around him."

"Because of Isaac," asked Foop.

"No," said Anti-Cosmo, "it's from Jorgen Von Strangle. That means even that buff imbecile has figured everything out." He paused and said,

"Change the monitor to Turner and A.J."

Foop did as he was bidden. It showed Timmy and A.J. playing a video game. There was, also, a shimmer of energy around those two.

"This will NOT do at all," said Anti-Cosmo, "right now we can't even get close to those accursed three."

"Perhaps we can kidnap Poof," said Foop, "and lure Turner and his friends towards us."

Anti-Cosmo answered with a magic burst that singed his son.

"Didn't you HEAR what I said," snarled Anti-Cosmo, "Timothy, A.J. and Chester ALL have heavy security around them; that means their godparents and Timmy's godbrother, also, have it around them. This means we can't do antything yet."


Unaware they were being monitored, A.J. and Timmy finished playing their video game. Timmy had won, of course. However, Timmy had just barely won.

"You're getting better, buddy," said Timmy.

"Well," said A.J. "I did learn from watching you, and you ARE the best at it, like I've said before."

"Thanks," said Timmy. Then Timmy turned serious and said,

"A.J. have you been doing okay?"

A.J. was a bit baffled by this and replied

"Yeah, why?"

"Well," said Timmy, not sure how to bring the subject up. He decided to try the direct approach. Timmy cleared his throat and then continued,

"You, Chester and Trixie have been concerned about me and all I went through during the Darkness, but none of you have had anyone to talk to." He paused and then added, "there's nothing on your mind about everything that happened?"

A.J. stiffened a bit and then shook his head and stated,

"You know me Timmy; I'm good at controlling my emotions." The young African-American boy shuffled around a bit nervously and added, "besides there's nothing bothering me."

Timmy may not have been as smart as A.J., but even if you were as dim witted as Cosmo, you could tell it was obvious that A.J. wasn't being completely honest.

"You sure, buddy," asked Timmy, "I mean you've been there for me and helped me."

"Well, that's because you need it more than I do," said A.J., "you go through worse things then Chester and I do, and you're treated worse than we are."

"A.J.," said Timmy, "you all have been through bad things too."

"Yeah," said A.J., "but you're a leader; if you fall, we're all in trouble."

"You really look up to me," said Timmy, "don't you buddy?"

"Well, of course," said the young genius.

"I'm not sure why," said Timmy, "I mean, A.J. I'm far from being perfect."

"Oh, Timmy, buddy," said A.J., "I know that. I'm very familiar with your faults; you can sometimes be selfish, impulsive and lazy. You can also, be thoughtless..."

"You know what," said Timmy a bit wryly, "perhaps we should go back to my good points."

A.J. laughed and said,

"Well, what I mean, buddy is yes I know you're not perfect, but you're basically a good and heroic person. Despite your faults, you're a terrific friend and good at planning strategies out. Your good points far outweigh your bad points."

Timmy smiled a bit and said,

"Thanks A.J., I appreciate that, but friendship is a two way street like any relationship. All of my friends have been really good to me. The least I could do is be there for them."

A.J. looked a bit sad and said,

"Maybe one of your friends deserves to suffer. Maybe he got mad at you because of some stupid superficial reason, like not wishing for a full hair of him." He fought his emotions and said, "Maybe this person then saw his friend be sucked up into what looked like certain death and one of his last memories of him would have been being angry at him for a stupid reason." Poor A.J. looked like he was going to cry.

"Or maybe," said Timmy, "this friend is beating himself up for no reason. Like I told Chester earlier, friends will hurt each other sometimes. I'm just as guilty of being thoughtless to people I care about. I'm hardly one to judge anybody.


"So," said Foop, "what do we do now Father?"

"What do WE do?" said Anti-Cosmo, "You continue to monitor Chester McBadbat, while I talk to my godchild."

Foop visibly winced at the word godchild. He said a little angry,

"Father, why DO you need a godchild, you have me?"

"Which is exactly WHY I need a godchild," said Anti-Cosmo, "You've been a great disappointment Foop. First you defy my orders and go after Poof, and then you try to take on Norm. If you ever want to get back into my good graces, you do what I tell you."

Foop frowned up, but he didn't do anything. He'd learn what happened the last time he defied his father.

"Yes, Father," said Foop, obviously a little disappointed.

"Besides, your Mother's here with you; maybe you two can bond."

"You're DARN tootin', said a hickish voice, and Anti-Wanda appeared. "Look, I've made a bunch of throw pillar sandwiches." She smiled her famous smile with her crooked teeth. "Tarnation, I can't wait to teach 'cha how to eats with your feets!"

Foop looked horrified and glanced at his father.

His father smiled and said,

"Oh yes," said Anti-Cosmo, "so lovely to see such a bonding between mother and son." The blue skinned Anti-Fairy commander paused and then added, "and now my evil little crumpet; I'll be out for bit. Watch over our son."

"I will," said Anti-Wanda, "I'll treat him like my very own."

"I am your own, Mother," said Foop irritatably. Anti-Wanda smiled and said,

"Cha see how bright he is. Just a baby and already he's figurin' things out." Anti-Wand clsed her eyes and cried, "I love him so much."

Wanda grabbed him and put him in a bear hug. Foop looked annoyed, but Anti-Cosmo looked amused.

"Well, my dear family," said Anti-Cosmo, "I'm off. Be BAD!"


Okay, hope I'm not making Foop sound too wimpy. My intention is not that, but I just want to show how truly evil and powerful Anti-Cosmo is. In my opinion, Anti-Cosmo would book no opposition from anyone EVEN his son. He's bound to have been angry for Foop attacking him in Anti-Poof. Please review. I hope everyone is in character.