Chapter 1 – Pop Culture Craze

Tommy turned on the tv and flipped channels to watch to their favourite show Sandy The Seal.

Tommy takes his seat on the couch while Dil sits upside down in usual fashion, the intro begins the show "Need to be quick, need to be quick, need to be quick! Sandy The Seal, he's the best! So watch out for Sandy The Seal!"

Twenty minutes passes by very quickly, the boys mimic Sandy and his arch nemesis Dr. Chicken "I shall get you next time Sandy!" said Tommy standing on the couch looking down at his brother,"It will just be another day, Dr. Chicken!" said Dil

After the closing credits finish, a male narrators voice can be heard on the tv, grabbing the attention of Tommy and Dil they quickly glance back at the screen.

"You have just watched Sandy The Seal, Now you can play him in the all new Sandy The Seal video game by Saga, The evil Dr. Chicken is up-to his devious tricks once again and only Sandy can save the world and his friends… Out in all retail stores next month for only 30.99!"

"We need to get Sandy The Seal video game bro..." said Dil

"I agree D, it looks awesome!" said Tommy

"If we only we had the necessary funds" said Dil

"Even if we put our allowances together it still won't be enough to buy the game" said Tommy

Didi comes through to the living room to give her sons their lunch bags.

"Mom can we get the Sandy The Seal video game please" asked Tommy

"Well…" said Didi

"It can be both our early Christmas, Hanukkah and Birthday presents combined all into one" said Dil

"How much is it?" asked Didi

"Just $30.99 and it comes out next month" said Tommy

"Forget about it! I could buy myself a years supply of yarn for that kind of price!" said Didi

"Please Mom! We really want the video game so badly!" begged Tommy

"If you really want the video game that badly boys, you can both save up your allowances" said Didi

"But Mom… we will be in college by the time we have both saved enough" said Dil

"If you really want to make some extra money then why don't you get a paper round" said Didi

"Having to get up at the crack dawn just to deliver newspapers than have go to school on top that..." said Tommy

"You would get less than minimal wage, I'll ask Dave if I could work for him as a handy man's assistant" said Dil gallantly.

"You can drop that idea this once young man" said Didi

"Why not Mom?" asked Dil

"Your too young, not qualified, untrained and I highly doubt David would risk losing his general contractor licence just to give you a job" said Didi

"Oh man… I would make a handy man's assistant" said Dil

"I couldn't help but overhear you both want to make some extra money" said Stu as he checks in on the boys.

"Go on, we are listening" said Tommy

"I got a lot of projects on the go at the moment, how about after school you and Dil help me out, many hands make light work" said Stu

"We'll think about it Dad" said Tommy

"Okay, suit yourself, offers still on the table" said Stu

The beeping of the bus horn can heard from outside, "Okay boys, your bus is here. you better get going before the bus driver leaves without you" said Didi

Tommy and Dil enter the bus only to be surprised to see their Grandpa behind the wheel.

"Morning, boys" said Grandpa Lou

"Good morning, Gramps" said Dil

"You working as a bus driver again?" asked Tommy

"This is just a one off, I'm just covering today as your regular driver is off sick, I get double pay and my body weight in instant oatmeal" said Grandpa Lou

"You sure drive a hard bargain Grandpa" said Tommy

"I'm a busy man, I took time out of my own personal schedule, I could be finishing off my angry letter to the company that makes my prune juice, it just doesn't taste of enough prunes" said Grandpa Lou

"Yeah… they just don't make prune juice the way they used too" said Dil

"Like the time you wrote an angry letter to the soap company for not making you feel clean enough" said Tommy

"Exactly, now you two go sit with your friends so I can put my foot on the gas, don't want to make you late for school" said Grandpa Lou

"Don't worry, we are not rush to get too school" shouted Savannah sitting in the middle row.

"I have a sworn duty to get you all into school right on schedule and that I shall" said Grandpa Lou

Tommy and Dil walk to the back of the bus where the rest of their friends are seated. Tommy takes a seat next to Alex, Dil takes a seat next to his female counterpart Allie.

"Hey, Tommy" said Alex as he shuffles to the window side to allow Tommy to take a seat.

"Hi, Alex how are you doing bro?" said Tommy

"Good, did you watch Sandy?" asked Alex

"We sure did, we never miss an episode" said Tommy

"This mornings episode was epic!" shouted Phil raising his arms in the air.

Phil puts his arms back down, placing his hands on the seat, Beth sitting next to him touching his hand. Phil starts to blush as both clasp fingers together as they hold each others hand.

"I can't wait for next weeks episode" said Alex

"That Dr. Chicken is such a scoundrel, I know he will find another way to defeat Sandy, I am sure of it" said Chuckie

"I have you now Sandy, there is no escape!" said Allie mimicking Dr. Chicken

"Sandy The Seal... That's all I have heard from Alex and Allie since I woke up this morning!" said Beth

Sitting from behind Phil and Beth, Lil agreeing with her rant. "Tell me about it Beth, That's all Phil has been talking about since the show first aired"

"I enjoyed it, It's made in Japan and I love anime, me and Chuck have been watching it since the show began" said Kimi

"That's right, we've never missed a single episode" said Chuckie

Phil still holding hands with Beth, "How come you don't watch Sandy?" asked Phil

"I'm just not big on cartoons but I'm willing to give it a watch" said Beth

"Great, I can promise you will love it" said Phil

"As long as I get to watch it with you" said Beth

"Who else would I watch it with" said Phil

Beth cosying up even more with Phil, rest's her head on his shoulder, prompting Allie to make noises feeling grossed out at the PDA the two are displaying.

"Gross!" said Allie

"It will happen to you one day" said Beth

"Don't count on it, I'll never get a boyfriend… boys are just gross..." said Allie

"If you say so..." said Beth

"Do you think I'm gross?" asked Dil as he smiles.

"You are not gross Dilly, definitely not" said Allie smiling back

Dil looks at Allie the same way Tommy looked at Kimi when they went bowling.

The bus arrives at Jim Jr High, the students get off to start another day of school, Tommy, Dil and Allie are the last to get off.

"Grandpa, is there any chance you could advance both our Birthday presents. Ideally in cash?" asked Dil

"That depends Scout, what's it for?" asked Grandpa Lou

"We want to raise enough money to buy Sandy The Seal video game by next month" said Tommy

"I love that show, I like to keep up with what the young ones are watching. I was watching the rerun last night" said Grandpa Lou

"This mornings episode was awesome!" said Tommy

"Don't spoil it for me Tommy, I couldn't watch it as I had to drive you lot too school" said Grandpa Lou

"So what do you say Gramps, can we get our Birthday presents early?" asked Dil

"Well… let' met have a think about it first" said Grandpa Lou

"Thanks, Grandpa. You are the best Grandpa in the whole entire world!" said Dil

"That's very true but don't be telling that to your Grandpa Boris!" chuckled Lou

"Get moving you two!" shouted Chuckie standing with the rest of the gang outside.

"Alright keep your glasses on Chuck, we are coming" said Tommy

"Have a good day at school kids, I am now off to meet Pip for a tennis match" said Grandpa Lou

"My Grandpa will take you to the cleaners" said Allie

"We'll see about that young Allie" said Lou as he taps her head. As Tommy, Dil and Allie both get off, Lou waves goodbye to the gang before driving off.

"I miss having your Grandpa as our bus driver" said Phil

"Lou used to work as the school bus driver?" asked Alex

"Grandpa did it for a brief spell" said Tommy

"Did he quit?" asked Alex

"He wanted to take vacation leave for three months so he could join Grandma Lulu on vacation in Brazil, school wouldn't allow it so he decided not too turn up and he got let go as a result" said Tommy

"Why was he driving the school bus today?" asked Beth

"It's a one off, I guess they couldn't find anyone else to cover" said Tommy

"That makes perfect sense" said Alex

The gang enter the school, everyone goes to their respective lockers, feeling curious about Lulu. Alex asks Tommy more about her.

"Does your Grandma do a lot of travelling?" asked Alex

"Yes, Grandma has been travelling all over the world" said Tommy

"Does she travel solo most of the time?" asked Alex

"Yeah she does, Grandpa Lou doesn't like long haul flights or air-plane food for that matter" said Tommy

"His trip to Brazil was a rare occasion then?" asked Alex

"He hadn't seen Grandma in a good while, he wanted to surprise her" said Tommy

Meanwhile at the other side of the hallway, Dil and Allie are retrieving their stuff out of their lockers. Dil noticing fellow students passing by wearing Sandy The Seal clothing, humming the theme tune and resiting lines from the mornings episode.

"Man, Sandy The Seal is so popular" said Dil

"You can say that again" said Allie

"Are you getting the video game when it comes out?" asked Dil

"Yes but I won't lining outside amongst the herd of nerds" said Allie

"How are you going to get the video game if you don't go to the store?" asked Dil

"We will not even have to go to the store, you'll find out in good time" said Allie

"I don't know what are you are plotting there Allie but I like it!" said Dil

Dil hears the sound of a cell phone coming from the front pocket of his shorts.

"Seriously! Aunt Charlotte is still planting cell phones!" said Dil

"Dude that is just creepy..." said Allie looking dumbfounded.

Dil begrudgingly answers the phone.

"CP… I thought we had already discussed about this" said Dil

"Dil it's important, I need to see you soon as you finish school and bring Allie with you. I have a special mission for you both" said Charlotte

"Okay fine, see you after school" said Dil as he hangs up.

"What does she want?" asked Allie

"Wants us both to come to her house after school" said Dil

"Did she give a reason?" asked Allie

"Nope, nothing part from she's got a special mission for us both" said Dil

"Screw it, I'll come with you. It sure beats having to watch the lovefest between Phil and Beth, Alex and Lil at my house" said Allie

The School bell rings, they go to their first class of the day. Dil can't stop thinking why Charlotte wants him to meet her after school as she had previously threatened Dil with her lawyers not so long ago…

End of Chapter 1