Author's Note:
Well folks, we've gone back to Flim-Flam and his friends. This time, they're facing an old enemy and must take a stand!
Let's begin!
Our story opens up at Calloway Academy, where we see Baxter and Jamal having a conversation.
"I'm telling you, Jamal, I can easily run across the obstacle course in fifteen seconds flat or less." Baxter said.
"Okay, well why don't we see about that?" suggested Jamal. "I bet you three graham crackers and a cup of lemonade!"
"You've got a deal." Baxter smirked.
Just then, Colonel Calloway barged into the recreation room.
"Soldiers! Front and center!" He shouted.
The cadets all stood front and center.
"Sir, yes, sir!" They saluted.
"At ease, cadets." Calloway said. "I've noticed that most of you have been going a bit faster on our obstacle course trainings. For that, I commend thee. However, I find that it may be getting easy for you to run fast and so, I am going to assign you to a more challenging course."
"Challenging? I don't like the sound of that." Pierre thought.
The colonel took the boys into the dark and stormy outdoors, where he presented them a brand new course.
"Gentlemen, welcome to Level 5 course." He said. "In this, you will run through tires, climb over an eight foot tall wall, swing over a deep hole, climb a really long set of monkey bars above a spiky platform, and crawl underneath a very low set of wires."
"Hoh boy." Grunt thought.
"Now get going!" Calloway blew his whistle. "You got twenty seconds! Go!"
The boys quickly ran the obstacle course, but they only managed to keep falling and covered in mud and wires.
"That was too easy!" Calloway shouted. "Now you gotta do it in fifteen!"
The boys all hastily tried to run the course in fifteen seconds, but they only got tangled in the set of wires.
"Come on, you maggots!" The colonel barked. "My mother can make it through the course in half the time and she's got a walker!"
The boys struggled to get to the end of the course, having to rely on each other's own weight to carry them. Just then, they stepped in some mud and began sliding to the finish line, crashing into a bush.
"Get up, ladies!" Calloway shouted. "You gotta run at least three more laps!"
"Sir!" The boys went back to training.
Soon enough, the boys had finished their mandatory training seminar and it was time for them to finally go to bed.
"Alright men, lights out!" said Calloway. "We've got some serious training tomorrow! After all, General Payne is going to be here and I expect everyone to be true soldiers!"
"Sir, yes sir!" The boys saluted.
"At ease and sweet dreams." Calloway turned off the light and left the room.
The next morning, the cadets were once again awaken by the trumpet fanfare.
"Alright men, get up!" said the colonel. "Time to run twenty laps around the school before breakfast!"
"Sir, yes sir!" The cadets saluted.
"Now move it!" The colonel barked, prompting the cadets to quickly change into their shirts and shorts.
As soon as they were dressed, the boys began running their laps, even fast than usual. After running, they went into the mess hall for some breakfast, but they couldn't quite get to eating it, due to them catching their breath.
"Gee...Calloway sure is being a lot more strict than usual..." Flim Flam huffed.
"Yeah...he must be really excited for General Payne to get here..." Logan added. "I get that he's an important guy and all, but why is he getting so worked up about him coming?"
"I heard it's because he's retiring, so Calloway is trying to suck up to him to get his job." Pierre said.
"If that's the case, I wonder who will take over the academy?" Flim Flam wondered.
Later that day, the whole academy had gathered up for a big assembly with General Payne.
"My fellow soldiers, as you may have heard, I am stepping down and I need someone to take my place as general." He announced. "Someone who is honest, brave, wise, noble and true. Someone who has had years of training and experience!"
"Indeed he does!" Calloway thought.
"...someone who was born on December 18th, who enjoys fly fishing, tuna fish sandwiches, and keeps a lucky horseshoe in his back pocket!" General Payne continued.
Calloway looked in his back pocket and kissed his lucky horseshoe.
"It's for all these reasons and more, that it's my honor and privilege to announce our new general...Lou Strickland!" The General finished.
"Say what?!" said the cadets.
Calloway was especially shocked by the announcement.
Strickland walked up onstage with a smug grin on his face.
"Hello Calloway, it seems we have the same birthday." He smirked.
"Lou doesn't have much military experience or training, but he is my son-in-law and he needed a job." said General Payne. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to retire in Florida!"
"This is beyond messed up." Pierre whispered to Flim. "Strickland isn't married."
"Never mind about him being married." Flim Flam whispered back. "He's not even in the military, so it's beyond messed up that he will be taking up that position as a general that sudden only because he's supposedly Payne's son-in-law."
"Everyone, I know what you're thinking!" Strickland spoke into the microphone. "You're wondering how I can work for a man this handsome? Well you'll just have to get past that."
"I already did..." Logan mumbled.
"You may also be wondering, how can a man who has never worked in a military service run one?" Strickland added. "Well don't worry! I'm going to make some great changes around here."
Strickland rubbed his hands together and grinned evilly.
Author's Note:
Oh no! Stricklands back and it appears he means business! What could he be up to? Stay tuned!