Day 13, Week 10

Dear Diary,

Today, Modo lost his bionic arm. Well, he didn't really lose it. It got damaged during a fight with Limburger's goons. Usually when this happens I whip out my toolbox and I'm able to fix it. Not this time. It was beyond repair. Modo was pretty depressed.

"How did you get your bionic arm in the first place?" I asked him.

Modo just looked down and away. I could tell it was too painful for him to tell me. My heart went out to the big guy.

"You tell her." Modo told Throttle.

Throttle then placed his antennas which glowed like a burning flame against my temple. Then I saw it. A dark and dank underground lab. I saw my guys dressed like soldiers strapped down to tables. I couldn't move or cry out. I was seeing the past. Throttle's memories. I saw what Modo feared to tell me.

Modo was lying on a table unconscious. Where his arm used to be was rotted flesh. Burnt flesh. I could smell it. It was making me sick. I felt like vomiting. I shut my eyes tight to block out the image. Poor Modo.

Then I saw Karbunkle step out of the shadows towards Modo. He was carrying a bionic arm. He attached it to Modo's empty arm socket. The rest of the flesh from his old arm fell away. Then Throttle pulled away and I was back in the garage.

"So you see why we can't just find another arm. Throttle said.

"Hey, no problem, bro. We just convince the demented doc to build a new one for Modo." Vinnie said.

"Right, Vin. 'Like Dr. Giggles is really gonna listen to us. Get serious." I said.

"I got a plan, Sweetheart." He replied.

I could smell trouble especially when Vinnie agreed to let Greasepit kidnap him and take him to Limburger. Of course, I was right. Karbunkle created a new bionic arm alright. Unfortunately, it was attached to a new robot! Karbunkle had drugged Vinnie and was using his brainwaves to control the robot.

It was the craziest thing. The robot looked and acted like Vinnie. Throttle and Modo tried everything to stop it. But how do you stop something that knows your every move before you make it? Then the robot grabbed them and tried to throw them off the roof of a building.

"Vinnie! Don't! Throttle and Modo are your friends!" I said.

"Charley? Hey, Sweetheart!" He said. Thank goodness the robot had a lot of Vinnie's personality.

"They're not to blame. That cheesehead Karbunkle is." I said. The robot went berserk.

"Karbunkle! Karbunkle! KARBUNKLE!" It screamed.

Smoke was coming out of its ears. It started malfunctioning. It fell to the ground. I knelt by its side. Throttle and Modo stood nearby.

"Hey, bro. Something I owe ya." The robot said, tearing off one of its arms and handing it to Modo. Modo attached the new arm to his empty arm socket. He was happy to be back to action. The robot then shut off.

I wondered what happened to Vinnie when we saw him ride up. He was able to break free of Karbunkle's control.

"Told ya it'd work, Sweetheart." He grinned.

I felt like strangling him for making me worry but instead I gave him a big hug. It felt wonderful to have him back. Till Tomorrow, Charley!

Day 14, Week 10

Dear Diary,

I never realized just how powerful an emotion jealousy is until today. The guys had just come in. Modo's nephew, Rimfire was with them.

"Charley!" They called.

I had just finished changing the oil on a car plus replacing the tire. I was fixing the carburetor on another car. I got from under the car and approached them.

"What's up? You knock over Limburger's tower again? That was be the twentieth time this month."

"Twenty-first. But who's counting?" Throttle replied, chuckling.

"Great news! Manuel invited us to his kid sister's party. It's tomorrow." Modo said," He said it's his way of thanking us for saving him from The Pits."

"I wouldn't mind going if I could see Miss Maribel again." Rimfire replied, dreamily.

Maribel was Manuel's sister who was visiting from Mexico. Ever since meeting and rescuing her from Limburger's baddies, Rimfire was smitten. Modo looked a little worried about his young nephew becoming infatuated with a girl he just met.

"Wanna come, Sweetheart? It'll be a blast." Vinnie asked.

"Okay." I said.

The party as it turned out was called a quinceanera or a coming of age party. Manuel told us it was a special party celebrated in the Latin community. When a girl turned fifteen, she was passing from childhood into womanhood. She was presented with gifts, there were dances, and the girl was supposed to light fifteen candles. The family knew about the mice and didn't scream when they saw them. They greeted us warmly.

"Manuel!" The mice called. Their old friend grinned when he saw them and heartily shook hands with them.

"Where's Maribel?' Rimfire asked, quickly.

"Oh, she's home getting ready. Actually, our cousins are helping her get ready. As a quinceanera, it's a custom for her to be escorted to her party."Manuel replied.

Suddenly, an older woman, Manuel's mother blabbered something in Spanish to her son. Manuel frowned.

"Something wrong, Manuel?" Throttle asked him.

"Three of the caballeros and her escort who were supposed to bring her backed out at the last minute. I hate to ask..." He looked at the guys.

"We'll help." Modo replied.

"You helped us when we were in the Pits. ' Least we can do."Throttle said.

"Thank you, my young friends. I'll show where the fitting room is."

The guys were happy to help till they found out they had to wear tuxes. The one article of clothing that bikers hate. I thought they looked great. But the poor guys looked miserable. Well, the party went great. Maribel looked lovely in her long pink evening gown and matching flowers. She asked Rimfire to start off the first dance which he quickly accepted. Everything was going great till Manuel's female cousins showed up.

Esperanza and Luz couldn't take their eyes off Vinnie. They flocked around him, cooing and giggling.

"Blanco que lindo." They kept saying.

"White and pretty." Manuel said to me,"They've taken a liking to your young friend."

That's an understatement. Vinnie couldn't understand and shyly smiled back. Then Esperanza and Luz began pawing him. I was mad. I wanted them to back off. Both girls began tugging on his arms. They both wanted to dance with him. They looked to see me walking up. Manuel shouted something in Spanish causing both girls to release him and walk away.

I smiled a thanks at Manuel.

"Felt like a pretzel." Vinnie said to me.

"I'm glad those two are gone"

"Sweetheart, don't tell me you were jealous."

"I was afraid you'd forget about me."

"Will never happen." He replied, holding me.

"Then let's dance." I said. It took that one moment in time to realize how much I cared about him.

Till Tomorrow, Charley!