Kid Blink wiped his shaggy blonde hair out of his face with his sweat- and-newsprint-stained hand. The hot summer sun beat down on him, singeing his fair skin to a bright cherry red. He slapped his dull brown cabby hat onto his head and pulled it over his eyes in an effort to keep the sun off his face. The midday sun was shining so brightly that Kid Blink could barely see two steps in front of him. As he neared the steps of the lodging house, he became aware of the vague figure of a young girl cowered down in front of the building. He squinted his one good eye in an attempt to identify her. He slowly paced towards her, until she finally came into focus.

"Bean!" he called out.

She looked up at him. "Hey, dere, Kid." she greeted him with a hoarse voice. She gently wiped a tearstain from her pale cheek, and took a deep breath, like she was having trouble breathing.

Kid Blink's normally constant grin faded. He sat down next to her and pulled her into a friendly embrace. "What happened, B?"

"I.I.I 'm not really sure," she stammered.

Kid Blink pulled her closer. "Well, can I help you figure it out?"

Bean stared at the ground in a stupor. "I think. I think. I think Race jus' broke up wid me," she was barely able to finish the sentence before she burst into tears.

Kid Blink was shocked. "Ya gotz tah be kiddin' me!

Bean shook her head. "I wish I was."

Kid Blink began to stand up. "I'm gonna get tah da bottom a dis."

Bean pulled on his arm. "No, don't. Please."

Kid Blink sat back down. "Whatevah ya say, Bean."

~~~

Spot aimed his slingshot at one of the four root beer bottles lined up on the edge of the bridge. He shot and missed for the third time that day. "I jus' can't concentrate at all tahday," he mumbled to himself.

"Spot!"

Spot turned around to see who was calling his name. His eyes widened when he saw that it was Jack. "Whaddya want, goil stealah?" Spot snarled at him.

"Jus wanted tah see how me best frien' was doin'!"

Spot muttered a few profanities under his breath and turned back to his marble shooting.

"Whassamatter, Spot?"

Spot concentrated even more intently on his aim. "Whaddya think, Jacky-boy?" Spot spat the words out as if they were poison.

"Look, Spot, I'm sorry about da whole Mooch thing, but I can't help it. I'ze in love."

Spot set his slingshot down and walked away from Jack slowly.

"Spot!" Jack called after him.

Spot swung around. "Lookee heah, Jack. I don't care what da hell yer excuse is. I don't nevah wanna see you around heah again. You oughta be glad Ah haven't soaked ya yet. So jus' get outta heah, alright?"

Jack looked at Spot sadly and began to leave.

~~~

**The Next Day**

"Kira! You have wasted enough time already! You must act now!"

Kira's eyes looked straight into Dmitri's. "Dmitri, their friendship is stronger than I thought. It will take much more than a few dates to rip their friendship apart."

"Then don't rip their friendship apart. Rip THEM apart!" Dmitri's face grew red as he pounded his hand on the desk.

"What are you proposing that I do?"

"Kill them."

"What?" Kira looked shocked.

"You don't have to kill both of them if you don't want to. One should do the trick."

"This is a new low, Dmitri, even for you."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Kira. And I must insist that you stop calling me Dmitri. It's disrespectful. I am your father, after all."