*peeks around corner* uh…hey guys! How've ya been? He he he…Okay, so I've been gone for a while but it's only because I've been so busy writing other stories and…well, there's really no excuse, I guess. But I still hope you'll enjoy this new chapter!

June-Kevin's Announcement

When Castle walked in one morning in late June, he found Kate, Javi, and Lanie attempting to console a distraught-looking Kevin. He strolled up to them, asking what was the matter.

Kevin looked up when he talked, his bright blue eyes swimming with tears as his chin quivered. "My parents are sending me to Catholic school," he whimpered, setting his chin down on his folded arms. Kate wrapped her arms around his shoulders, resting her cheek on his head.

"It's okay, Kevin," she said, "we'll still see you every day. It's not like you're going to boarding school."

"Yeah," Javi agreed, "and it's not like we won't have the whole summer to play, anyway. Plus the weekends and holidays…you'll get sick of us by the end of September, I promise."

"Really?" Kevin asked, looking up at his best friend. Javi nodded affirmatively.

"Of course, bro," he said, "what are friends for?"

Kevin smiled, sniffling slightly, before frowning again. "But, I don't like nuns either," he moped. "They scare me. The ones in Sunday School are always yelling at us."

"They won't be so bad," Lanie promised. "I went to a Catholic Preschool and the nuns were really nice there. I'm sure they'll be the same at your new school too."

"You promise?" Kevin asked.

"Definitely!" Lanie insisted. "Now stop your moping and let's get back to enjoying our last few days of school. Mr. M says he's got a surprise!"

Kevin nodded, wiping the remnants of the tears from his eyes as he stood, allowing Kate to give him one more hug before each of them took their seats. Castle patted his back as he passed him, giving him an encouraging smile as he took his seat next to Kate.

Montgomery was at the front of the class, writing something on the board. When he'd finished and moved aside, they saw exactly what it was.

"END OF SCHOOL YEAR PARTY!" the board read and Montgomery gave them a large smile.

"It's that time of year again," he started, "the time where we will all have to say our goodbyes and head on to our next adventure in life. For you, it will be second grade, where you will begin learning about the world around you, and geometry," Montgomery shuddered, "good luck with that. And, for me," he added, "it will be in the sixth grade at Gramercy Junior High just a couple miles from here, where most of you will be going once you graduate from JFK. I hope to have you all in my English class. Especially our own resident storyteller, Mr. Castle."

Castle grinned from his seat and gave Montgomery a double thumbs up, making the man laugh.

Kate rolled her eyes next to him.

"But, before we get there," Montgomery continued, "I suppose we'll have to have some sort of celebration before the year's out. So I was thinking; how about everybody brings something that they, or their parent or guardian, has cooked up and we have one last hurrah before we all have to say goodbye for the summer? How does that sound?"

The class cheered and Montgomery chuckled. "I thought you might like it," he joked. "Okay, now I have a signup sheet up front here, so everybody get in line and sign up to bring something. Don't sign up for something that's already being brought, alright? I could do without a roomful of chocolate chip cookies. Be original with your ideas. Now, come on up!"

Castle was the first one at the sheet, signing up to bring his own creation of gummy bear brownies that his latest nanny, Margot, had taught him to make. He would have to remember to ask his mother to buy gummy bears and brownie mix on their way home.

Kate was right behind him, signing up to bring her mother's rainbow cookies, which she only made for special occasions (or when Kate was having a bad day). This was most definitely a special occasion.

Javi and Kevin fought for the pencil next and while they were fighting, Lanie stepped around them and signed up to bring ginger snaps from her auntie's bakery. They were to die for and she knew everyone would love them.

Javi won the fight for the pencil and signed up to bring marshmallows, his favorite junk food.

Kevin went with the old standby of chocolate chip cookies that he could get his eldest sister to help him make.

After each and every person signed up to bring something unique, Montgomery had them all do writing and math exercises until it was time for lunch, informing them on their way to the cafeteria that the party would take place on the very last day of school, only a week and a half away, and he looked forward to trying everything they had to bring.

When the day of the party arrived, parents arrived with their children, helping them bring in large trays of snacks and assorted drinks into the class. Johanna had prepared four dozen cookies and placed them at one end of the table. Castle's brownies had been placed next to Kate's cookies, with a little notecard proclaiming that they were his invention and that they contained gummies. Javi, Kevin, and Lanie all had containers in the same area and placed them in a group.

One by one, food was placed on the table until it was completely full. Montgomery walked down, putting on of each thing onto a plate until he had everything. He then turned to the class and said, "Let the Hunger Games begin!" and watched as twenty little bodies raced towards the table with grabby hands, shoving as much food onto their plates and into their mouths as they could while their teacher looked on in amusement.

Last minute decision that this story will take place in the present time. I hope y'all don't mind. Please REVIEW!