CHAPTER 26: A SNAIL'S PACE

"Hungry?" asked Chef Kawasaki as he handed Escargoon one of the last bowls of crème brulee.

"I don't know…" said Escargoon. "Just give me some raspberry seltzer."

Kawasaki put on a worried expression. "That has sodium in it you know…"

"So does crème brulee," said Escargoon and he got the seltzer and downed the whole thing in one go. "Over the course of my training, snails like me had to learn to tolerate sodium in order to make us stronger for all terrain warfare."

"I see, but I didn't really need to know that," said Kawasaki. "Why are you so daring tonight? Usually you never want to get near my cooking. Heh, nobody does…"

Escargoon chuckled. "Yeah, but its not a big deal no more."

"What's going on?" said Kawasaki.

"Dedede is such a… good guy now. I think he's the best kid I know. Hes so kind and honest… He's like a totally different person. Old Dedede was such a rump…" said Escargoon. "I treated him so rudely at first and now… I may never have a chance to repay for how I acted."

"I t was suitable payback for how he treated you before though," said Kawasaki. That's one way of looking at it."

"Yeah, but not good enough," Escargoon saw Adeleine sitting at a table alone, reading her books. Escargoon got up from his stool and walked over to join her.

"What's the matter, Mr. Escargoon?" asked Adeleine looking up form book.

Escagroon patted Adeleine's hat. "Everything is fine Adaleine. But there's one thing you need to know."

Adeleine rolled her eyes. "Is this another boring war lecture. I've heard about fifty of them from Kit Cosmos today already…"

"It's about Dedede," said Escargoon.

"Oh… that idiot…"

"You need to talk to him and say 'hi' or smething," said Escargoon.

"I don't want to. He is a total dweebface. I would n't be sad if I never saw that billed butthead ever again, you know?"

Escargoon swallowed hard. "Adeleine, you don't understand. That time may come sooner than you think. When the results are in for the last battle, either one of you could be drafted to join the forces. It could happen to anyone here."

"I know that…"

"Then you should talk to Dededede at least once. You'll regret it if you don't," said Escargoon. He got up and left the table. "Don't let your first arguement be your last encounter. You might never see what ends up happening that is good in your futures together."

With that Escargoon left the cafetria and went into the gymnasium where he saw Gus shooting hoops. "Nice throws, boy," said Escargoon with a smile.

"Thanks," said Gus. He shoot another hoops.

"Are you and the others ready?" asked Escargoon.

"We leave in ten minutes. Did you say your 'good-byes'?"

Escargoon sighed. "I did all I could."

"Good."

And so, Gus and Escagroon headed out side in the rain and loaded up a big bulletproof truck. Chief Bookem was in the front seat, singing "Convoy" by CW McNall.

Escargoon got into the passenger seat and putted on his metal helmet.

Good-bye, Kirby High School… Escargoon whispered in his mind.

The car drived off to the battlefields.