Reloading: Kids Next Door mission...
Operation: R.O.O.K.I.E., Chapter Two
Rookie Obtains Opportunies - Kooky Introductory Escapades
Writing Operative: Vtbots
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In the living room -- not the central command center where the Kids Next Door do their meetings, but the actual living room with sofas and couches and a hanging big screen monitor (TV) and stuff (look at the episode Q.U.I.E.T.) -- of the Kids Next Door's Treehouse Headquarters, Numbuhs Two/Five and Three/Four sit in pairs on separate sofas. They watch the leader Numbuh One pace around the nervous intruder sitting on a tall beanbag-like chair. Somehow the leader's slow, calm pace makes the detained boy even more nervous. He fiddles with his fingers, frantically wondering what the Kids Next Door are going to do to him.
"So, you're new to town and decided to play adventure, am I right?" Numbuh One demands in his strong British accent.
Kenny nods timidly. "Yes."
"Mm-hm, and during your game of exploring you happened upon our Treehouse, yes?"
"Yes."
"And you thought you had the right to infiltrate into a place that does not belong to you, nor does it have anything to do with you in the first place."
"Yes... I mean no!" Kenny shakes his head quickly.
Now Numbuh One gets into his face, speaking to him in a greater demanding tone. "Who are you? Are you a spy sent by the enemy!?"
"Spy? Enemy? What?" Kenny mumbles, confused.
"Don't play dumb," Numbuh Four upbraids, jumping out of his seat. "We know you were sent by them to spy on us!"
" 'Them'? Them who!?" Kenny rambles, panicky. "I don't know any 'them,' I don't know who exactly you people are, I don't know the things you do, and... ugh, I don't know what I'm really doing here in the first place! I promise you that!"
"Numbuh One, I think he's telling the truth," Numbuh Three says softly. Numbuhs Two and Five nod in agreement. Even Numbuh Four considers this.
Numbuh One pauses for a long time. Kenny gets slightly annoyed at the silence and decides to have his questions answered, and answered now.
"Just who are you guys?"
Numbuh One looks over his shoulder for a moment. His friends shrug and wave their hands, telling him to go on. Numbuh One sighs and moves away from the intruder's face. He adjusts his sunglasses, then folds his arms behind his back, clearing his throat and furrowing his brows.
"We are the Kids Next Door. We fight for kids' rights and for their freedom from the tyrannical forces known as... adults. I am confident you have had tastes of their constant torment. The way the ice cream man intentionally passes you by and laughs as you stand there confused; the way they tear you away from many television shows because they think you as a kid 'cannot handle it at all,' even though they constantly display their own immaturity; the way they continuously insult your intelligence; the way they force you into a horrible building filled with many other people you may not like, or may even hate..."
"Tchyeah, don't I know it..." Kenny says solemnly.
"Some adults take their oppression too far. Two of them are Mr. Fibb and Mr. Wink, who once extended adult swim so long that kids would never have time in the pool. Another is the Proper Patrol, who used to come out of nowhere to force very uncomfortable formal clothing on us, but they have been disbanded. Then there was an evil scientist who was bent on forever ridding of 'snow days' from school. That is why we, the Kids Next Door, exist: to do everything we can to stop their evil and save kids everywhere from their tyranny."
"And... all those gadgets you guys used back there?"
"Those 'gadgets' are part of the technology the Kids Next Door use. We call it Two-by-Four Technology, since most of our weapons and hi-tech equipment are combinations of 2x4 wood and everyday items. We sometimes even manage to snag 'real' hi-tech equipment, but we prefer making new equipment from our own resources."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on," Kenny interrupts, having a little too much new information to take in, "you Kids Next Door have your very own technology?"
"Yyyyep!" smiles Numbuh Two proudly.
"All right then... If you're against school and you have your own stuff, how do you all get the money and power to run all this, as well as learn new things?" asks Kenny, making a motion to indicate 'everything.'
Numbuh One: "Other kids."
Numbuh Two: "Internet."
Numbuh Three: "Books."
Numbuh Four: "TV."
Numbuh Five: "Magazines."
Numbuh One: "The Kids Next Door have their own bank account."
Numbuh Three: "Hamsters run the power here."
Kenny scratches his head. "Okaaayyy. So... you guys do have names, right?"
"Of course. A-Ahem," Numbuh One wipes the lens of his shades with his shirt and puts them back on. "I am Nigel Uno, but as a Kid Next Door I am addressed as Numbuh One." He holds up an index finger for emphasis.
Numbuh Two smirks and makes a peace sign. "Hoagie P. Gilligan, Jr. is the name; Numbuh Two is my codename. Mechanical genius at your service!"
The bubbly girl smiles sweetly and holds up three fingers from under her long sleeves. "I'm Kuki. But they call me Numbuh Three here."
The tough fighter makes a peace-like sign with both hands, except he uses his index and pinky fingers. "Yo, I'm Wallabee, otherwise known as Numbuh Four. And ya better rememba it, or else!"
Kenny gulps. No way he wants to experience Numbuh Four's ferociousness for himself.
The red capped girl doesn't do much except lean back and hold her hand up like a high-five. "I be Numbuh Five, real name Abigail Lincoln, though I pr'fer Abby. An' stealthy tactics is my game!"
The boy simply scratches behind his head, blinking a couple of times at these strange yet ultra cool kids. "Okay. And I'm... just Kenny Rangsey," he mutters, feeling a little down that he doesn't have anything cool to say about himself.
"Nice to meetcha, Kenny!" waves the Asian girl sincerely. Kenny waves back shyly.
The commander of the team pauses for a second to see if the newcomer is taking all this in. Then he continues. "All right... Kenny. There is a lot more, but I think we have told you enough. Now, you have to promise us you won't say anything about the Kids Next Door at your school."
"Awwwwwwww!" whines Kenny, disappointed. He would have become the most popular kid in school if they were to find out that he met a semi-secret organization of kids fighting against adults!
"Sorry Kenny, but I think you know why."
He knows why all right, at least he thinks he does. Obviously most teachers and other adults won't like anything about this, and may keep their guard up stronger than before, which wouldn't be good for these agents. Then there are the 'goody-goody' type of kids who would do anything adults tell them to. Oh well. That's one chance at being cool shot down.
"Well," Kenny looks to the windows to see the outside changing into the colors of sunset, "I have to go home anyway. Mom's probably getting worried." Then he turns to them and sighs with a smile, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Man, to be a Kid Next Door, doing all this stuff that I've always wanted to do for so long. That kind of life must be great for you guys."
"Yeahhhh, though not everything goes too great all the time..." Numbuh Five says solemnly with her and Numbuhs Two, Three and Four paying extra attention to Numbuh One, who nods in agreement. But Numbuh One's shades shield curious eyes staring into Kenny Rangsey.
"I guess so, but it still has to be a lot better than my life," Kenny replies with equal solemn. Then he smiles a little, waving at them. "Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut 'bout you guys. See ya later... or maybe not."
"Bye-bye, Kenny!" Numbuh Three waves again. Perhaps today is the day they find a new friend after all.
The other operatives, except Numbuh One, share their goodbyes their own way before Kenny leaves out the way they came -- he saw the exit of their headquarters when they detained him.
Numbuh One scratches under his chin, looking out the direction Kenny left. Then he looks to his friends. Then at Kenny, then back again. He takes a deep breath before beginning:
"Hey... guys... um..."
Numbuh Two can already see what's coming and he sits up. "You can't really be serious..." he says, his mouth nearly gaping.
But the leader removes his sunglasses, showing to everyone his eyes. Eyes that automatically inform them that he is very serious.
Numbuh Four immediately shakes his head in disbelief. "No way, no bloody way! Him!? I mean, just look at him!"
"I looked at him all right," the commander says seriously, replacing his sunglasses, "and I can tell he has some potential. I can sense great determination within him. Enough determination to actually want to live this kind of life."
"Are you sure about this, Numbuh One?" the mechanic asks. "I mean, he still hardly knows much about the Kids Next Door, let alone how to fight and everything."
"I am very sure. And we can teach him the ways of our organization. Remember, we were all rookies once."
"Betta rookies than Kenny would eva be," grumbles Four, crossing his arms. It isn't that he doesn't like Kenny or anything like that. He just doesn't like it when people get in his way while he's on a fighting rampage. Numbuh One slows him down enough with his orders; now he has to babysit some newbie, too?
"I say we let Kenny Rangsey be a Kid Next Door," says the dark-skinned girl, leaning back on the couch pillow almost lazily. She just as lazily sets her feet on Numbuh Two's legs like a footboard, much to his slight annoyance. "Numbuh Five senses he can do some good, too. 'Sides, Numbuh Five can't help but feel a little sorry for him. She thinks he might've had it a little rough, and this could be his sanctuary."
"Hm, you got a point there," agrees Numbuh Two.
"I still don't know about this..." says the reluctant Numbuh Four.
"Awww, come on! Please, Numbuh Four!" begs Numbuh Three, with big, cutesy eyes and a wide, innocent smile. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeze?"
Oh, no... The Big Cute Eyes attack! It is one of the most hard-to-resist tactics in the book, especially when it comes from cute little bubbly girls like Numbuh Three. The Aussie boy turns away and closes his eyes to fight it, but his body refuses to obey, his head turning back around and his eyes slowly opening up to gaze into Three's own.
'No, I must fight it!' Four tells himself. And he almost does... until Three's smile fades into that of a whimper.
That did it. The boy stops struggling internally and sighs defeatedly. "Awright, awright, he can join us."
"YAAAAAAAAYYYY!!" squeaks the girl, hugging her friend gratefully and dancing around with him as her reluctant partner.
"Hey, lemme go!"
"Kenny's gonna join us! Kenny's gonna join us! Kenny's gonna join us!" sings the jubilant girl.
"Don't get too excited yet, Numbuh Three," Numbuh One tells her. "He still has to say yes. And even if he does, there's still the issue with his mother and/or father."
He presses a hidden button in his boots, igniting the jets.
"I'm going to go find him. Numbuh Five, you are in charge until I return."
With that, Numbuh One flies out a window that is conveniently opened. Moments after he disappears from the scene, Numbuh Two tries to move Five's legs away from his so he can stand up but Numbuh Five snaps her fingers.
"Hey, you stay right there. Numbuh Five's dogs are killin' her, an' you're their perfect restin' spot."
The pilot stays put and grumbles, unsure if he should take that as a compliment or an insult...
* * * * *
Kenny Rangsey sighs as he reaches his suburban household.
"Well, back to boring ol' normal life," he sighs. It's too bad. The Kids Next Door were the coolest people he has ever met, and the things they do... wow.
Shaking his head to tell himself it's over now, Kenny starts his way toward the door, when he hears something in the distance. Looking over, he gasps as he spots Numbuh One flying towards him in what he now believes are jet boots.
"Wow, Nigel! I didn't know your shoes are jet-propelled!" says an impressed Kenny as Numbuh One lands beside him.
"Why, yes, they are," he replies, trying to resist smirking proudly.
"What are you doing here?"
"I am here to give you an offer."
"An offer?" Kenny's curiousity perks up.
"Yes. You see, after you left our headquarters, I've been thinking: 'What would it be like if this new person turns from a normal kid into one of us?' "
"Wh... What do you mean?" Now Kenny's excitement perks up, as if already knowing what Nigel is going to say.
"Kenny, you have a lot of potential, I can sense it. You seem really determined to fight against the people and things that have tormented you mentally and perhaps physically. And, from looking deep into your eyes, you seem reluctant to go back to your current life. So what do you say, Kenny? Do you want to become a Kid Next Door?"
"Whoa, you mean it!? Me? A Kid Next Door!?"
"Yes. But there are some very important things you would need to know." Numbuh One states it in a tone that says 'You better listen and listen good, because I'm serious about this one.'
"First, since we are a group of anti-adult fighters, it is best not to associate with adults. There are some exceptional grown-ups, such as our parents, but you still must be careful. Any adult can be a dangerous threat to us.
"Second, as a Kid Next Door, you are to no longer attend school; even if your friends are there. That is obviously the breeding ground of evil adults. Do not worry about them wondering where you disappeared to-- We have a way to take care of things like that.
"And third... Kids Next Door operatives can not live with their parents. They must either live on their own or with other operatives in their own headquarters."
Kenny absorbs this all slowly and carefully to make sure he doesn't miss anything. He can do the don't associate with adults thing okay. And he doesn't have any 'friends' in school anyway. But the last one... How can he not be allowed to live with his mother? Sure, she's an adult and all, but... he loves his mother. 'But I guess sacrifices have to be made to be a Kid Next Door,' Kenny thinks. 'I guess not living with Mom anymore is one of them. Nigel and the others had to have gone through the same thing.'
He looks toward his home. What would his mother say if he tells her he is 'moving out'? Should he say anything at all? Should he ditch home now?
The red-shirted one studies Kenny's features musingly and nods. "I know; it is a very tough decision to make."
"My Mom... Wh... what should I say to her? I can't just ditch her; she would worry sick about me. She might even try to search for me, and that could be bad for both her and us."
"Then, you just might have to tell her about... us. Explain it to her as best as you can. Who knows, she might understand; my mother did, and so did the others' parents, as far as I know. If your mother doesn't, I don't know what we can do for you then. But if you really want to become a Kid Next Door, then... run away from home, if you have to." He smirks but still retains his serious tone. "After all, disobeying adults is part of being a Kid Next Door..."
[A/N: I don't know if Numbuh One has a father or not; I've only heard his mother in the episode C.A.N.N.O.N., but we never saw her either...]
"Take all the time you need to think about it, Kenny," he continues as he ignites his jet boots. "You know where to find us." With that he blasts away back to the Treehouse.
Kenny looks after him then at his house. He sighs and walks to the door. He gives his house a good, long look. This could be the last time he'll ever see it...
* * * * *
Dinnertime at the Rangsey household is unusually quiet. Especially for Ms. Rangsey. Her waist-length, dark brown hair is tied in a ponytail, and she sports a light blue shirt and darker blue slacks, with dark shoes to match. At first glance, one would think this mid- to late-20's woman is a bit of a tomboy, and she is. Although she appreciates romance and such, just like her son she also loves to see good guys and bad guys kicking butt, whether it's on television or in a book. She has a habit of brightening (or, in some cases, darkening) one's day with her witty and smart-alecky 'humor,' and that is to both Kenny's relief and to his annoyance.
Ms. Rangsey stares into her son, wondering why he isn't touching his mashed potatoes and peas. He is one of the rare kids who doesn't mind vegetables. So why isn't he eating? 'Perhaps it's my cooking...,' she muses. But mother instincts tell her something very important is running through her little boy's mind.
She wants to find out what. But she can't just blurt out her question out of the blue. She has to start out casual... wear him down gradually without seeming aggressive.
"So, sweetie, how was your day?" she asks as casually as possible.
"Oh, um... pretty good, I guess," shrugs Kenny, playing with his food using his fork.
"Pretty good? My, you don't usually say that. Most times you go," and she says this in a mockery of Kenny's voice, " 'Wah-wah, the teacher gave us homework again! Booo, recess was cut short 'cause of a fire drill! Aw man, I almost embarrassed myself in class again!' "
"Mommm...." grumbles her son, annoyed.
"Hey, it's the truth," she laughs. "I'm glad to hear you had a good day in your new school for a change. Anything in particular happen?"
"Um... well..."
This is it. It's now or never. Kenny takes a deep breath, and explains quickly:
"WhenIcamehomefromschoolIranintothesebullieswhoweregonnadosomethingbad
andthentheycaughtmeandweregonnabeatmeupwhentheKidsNextDoorrescuedme
thenIfoughttheirheadquartersandIgotcaughtthereandthentheleadersaidI
canjoinandIwannajoinrealbadand..."
"WHOOOOOA, slow down, young man!" says Ms. Rangsey. "Now, explain it to me again, slowly."
So Kenny tells her his story from the time he came from school to the moment Nigel Uno offered him to be a Kid Next Door like him and his friends, minus the... important rules.
"The Kids Next Door, huh? I think your father told me something about them when you were really little."
"He did?"
"Yes, he did. Pretty much how you described: A rebellious organization of children fighting against adults. They have their own technology and everything. And let me guess, you want to join them?"
"H... How did you know?"
"Simple. I'm your mommy," she smirks. Then she turns serious again. "Now, I still don't know too much about the Kids Next Door. Care to tell me more?"
"Okay. Um, like I said, they fight against adults, especially the really bad ones, they use their own technology, and they somehow get their own money. They use 'Numbuhs' as their codenames; that's N-U-M-B-U-H, not N-U-M-B-E-R."
"You told me those parts already," she says, studying him carefully. "Is there something you don't want to tell me, Kenny?"
'Here it comes... the big ones,' Kenny tells himself. He takes another deep breath, and continues.
"Well, on my way home from the Treehouse, Nigel Uno--Numbuh One--told me that there are some very important things that I would need to know."
"Like?"
"Like... Kids Next Door operatives recommend not to associate with adults, with some exceptions, like parents. But since any adult can be a dangerous threat, I would still gotta be careful around one.
"Also, a Kid Next Door should not go to school anymore."
"Are you saying that they're... drop-outs?" she wonders, raising an eyebrow. "Kenny, I know that the Kids Next Door come up with their own ways to learn new things, but dropping out of school?"
"The Kids Next Door have ways of taking care of stuff like that. So don't worry!"
"Mmmm."
"And here's the biggest rule of 'em all. A Kid Next Door cannot live with their parents."
"What...?"
"Yeah. They either must live on their own or live with other operatives in a headquarters. I think it makes sense. I mean, if you were part of an anti-adult organization, would you still want to live with your parents and do everything you're told, when you're against that stuff in the first place? So, if I were to become a Kid Next Door, I may not be here much anymore... if at all."
Ms. Rangsey lets out a long sigh and shakes her head. "Not living with your own mother anymore..."
"I know, Mom, I don't want to leave you, either. But if that's one of the things I have to do to become a Kid Next Door, then... I'll do it."
"I still don't know, Kenny," says Ms. Rangsey as calmly as possible. "I mean, children fighting against adults? Dropping out of school? Moving away from parents? I can't let my baby be part of a... a... delinquent society!"
"The Kids Next Door are NOT delinquents, Mom!" he snaps. "And I am not a little baby anymore!"
"You're going to use that tone of voice against me, young man?" Ms. Rangsey demands, her calm demeanor starting to dissipate.
"Yes I am!" he replies sharply, taking his mother aback.
The young mother sits there stunned for a moment. Then, as she begins to rise from her seat, she says sternly, "Now listen, Ke--"
But Kenny jumps out of his, whipping his finger toward her. "No, YOU listen! All my life I was shy, quiet, even sometimes a bit of a scaredy-cat, I'll admit. It's because of this that I thought I could never do something good out there! I thought I could never have friends; I thought I could never be able to teach bad people a lesson; I thought I could never even make myself actually happy! I mean real happy, not recess happy!
"That is, until I met the Kids Next Door. They... they are everything I've always wanted. They have friends all around, they fight against bad kids and especially bad grown-ups, and they still have fun while they're at it. And they seem to enjoy it too, unlike what most grown-ups would say about their 'jobs.'
"Sure, it's kids vs. adults, and maybe the kids are a little bad for fighting against them, but you know what? Adults are bad themselves, if not worse. No, they ARE worse. All they seem to care about is money and war, killing or even murdering other people for stupid reasons: Wanting to look good on TV; a difference in opinions or beliefs; to get someone else's natural resource; to get someone's clothes... CLOTHES!! And what about some of the grown-ups who make life miserable for little kids? Trying to take away snow days forever; trying to take away their fun for no particular reason; constantly finding ways to keep them from seeing important stuff and forcing them to read cookie-cutter books or watch lame-o, corny 'educational' shows that do nothing but make it seem like the world is all merry, when it's NOT! And then there are those grown-ups who do things far, far worse to kids... There are rarely any good grown-ups in this world anymore."
Sad yet angry tears leak out of Kenny's eyes, but he continues.
"Perhaps that is why the Kids Next Door formed. To not only fight against grown-ups, 'specially ones who do those terrible things, but to have a shot at bringing some form of peace to this world. Something 'important' adults keep promising but NEVER DO; always turning back around and doing all the things I just said, those liars. With the Kids Next Door, perhaps adults might actually learn something. And even though a Kid Next Door may someday... grow up... at least they will be a good adult who will continue to try to keep this planet peaceful. So I'm going to be a Kid Next Door, to fight against evil people and finally having some kind of purpose out there, and that's final; whether you like it or not!"
With that declaration, he whirls away from his mother, his face stained with tears, and storms to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Ms. Rangsey sits there... stunned, amazed, surprised... all sorts of emotions course through her body. She is not sure whether to be this or that or this and that. One thing she is sure of though; Kenny certainly wasn't his usual self that moment. Usually he is quiet and semi-unconfident with himself. Yet there he was, speaking his mind without a care about the consequences. She smiles a little, a proudness in her son growing stronger than before.
She contemplates Kenny's entire speech for a long, long time. Then she looks to a nearby framed portrait of her husband, smiling his cool, confident smile with eyes that reveal a certain something that explains where Kenny had gotten what his wife has seen in their son. She turns away from the picture with a deep sigh and shakes her head.
* * * * *
Kenny Rangsey stuffs the rest of his clothes into his large briefcase and shuts it tight. Then he proceeds with his personal possessions, such as his comics and games ('They'd have to have game systems up there, right?' he thinks) and... his Supersockem Girls 'action figures.' A cartoon show he secretly loves to watch but would not admit to liking it, for obvious fear of embarrassment. He opens up another briefcase and puts them all in there.
He pauses when he comes to a picture of his family. His mother, his father, and himself when he was little. He sighs. Even though he hardly knew his father, him not being here makes him a little sad, especially for his mother. 'Oh Mom... what have I done to you?' he says inwardly, regret filling his heart. He carefully puts the picture in his briefcase and shuts it.
Finished. With almost everything gone it looks like a ghost room in here. He takes a breath and proceeds to open the window.
"I'm sorry, Mommy... But... I have to do this. Not just for me. Not just for other kids. But for you as well..."
"Perhaps I'm the one who should be apologizing."
Startled, he whirls around to find his mother at the door. He expects her to be glaring dangerously at him, but instead she's... smiling.
Thinking this could be some kind of trick, he quickly snatches his briefcases, albeit with some difficulty. But he won't let that stop him from escaping through the window.
"Where are you going? Certainly my baby's not thinking of walking all the way up there carrying those heavy things?"
"I'll manage," he says softly.
"But I think it would be better if I drive you there myself."
Kenny halts right there in his tracks. He slowly turns around, facing his mother, and looks at her strangely.
"You know," Ms. Rangsey begins, walking towards her only child, "that father of yours always wanted to fight for what he believed in, too, and he wouldn't let anything stop him. And you know what? That's one of the major things I loved about him. I thought you didn't inherit his stubbornness, but I guess you did get a little of it."
"Oh, Mom... I'm sorry I yelled at you," says Kenny sadly, a tear sliding down his cheek.
"No, it's okay. You are right; we do live in a crazy world run by crazy adults. It's like children appear more mature and maybe even smarter than they are. If the Kids Next Door can really do the things you say, then I would really love to see that. Seeing you happy is what I really care about, and if the Kids Next Door can really make you happy, then I shouldn't get in the way, huh?"
"You... you mean...!?"
She smiles sincerely. "It's eating me alive like a flea eats a dog, but... yes."
Kenny stands there, shocked and yet very ecstatic. He doesn't know what to say... except...
"You're the bestest Mommy ever."
Dropping his briefcases like yesterday's news he jumps into his mother's arms, hugging her tight. She smiles and does the same, kissing his little forehead.
"I'll miss you, though," she says sincerely.
"I'll miss you, too."
"Actually, I meant I'm going to miss you calling me the greatest," she smirks. Kenny looks at her and she responds with a 'just kidding' wink. Kenny shakes his head and sighs.
"I'm really gonna miss you, Mom..."
* * * * *
Later that night, at the Treehouse living room...
"Come on, baldie! Do it!" Numbuh Four shouts to the large flathead monitor television. "Give Derick Mishoff that move of yours!"
"No way, Numbuh Four," says Numbuh Five. "Mishoff will send his goons to stop that cold rock guy."
"No he won't, 'cause those other guys took care of his cronies. Uh-oh, uh-oh, here it comes... BOOM! Yeah! That'll be the last time Mishoff'll screw anybody!"
"No it won't, man," Five says with a snap of her fingers. "He always comes back. He always does."
Numbuh Two shakes his head at their antics. How can those two get so much excitement from a wrestling show? Perhaps he ought to watch it sometime and see where the magic comes from.
He stares at Numbuh One pacing around the room, waiting for... 'him.' He's been doing that ever since he came back. The mechanic worries a little; what if Kenny doesn't come back? Numbuh One could be doing this all night!
Numbuh Three, however, is zero percent worry and one-hundred percent jubilant. She hums a happy tune while playing with her Rainbow Monkey dolls. 'It'd be really nice if Kenny does join us,' she thinks. 'I think he'd make a great tea party guest.'
Wanting to ease Numbuh One's tension, and also wanting to stop his annoying pacing around, Numbuh Two goes over to him and taps on his shoulder.
"Come on, Numbuh One, he's not coming."
"I am very sure that he will come, Numbuh Two. I gave him all the time he needs."
"But you can't just stand around waiting for him. C'mon, let's eat already, I'm starving."
Numbuh One slowly nods; the team pilot is right, maybe Kenny will not come back tonight. If ever. Plus, his growling stomach convinces him he better eat, and eat now.
"All right, Numbuh Two. Go set up dinner with the usual plates for five..."
"Better make that six, Numbuh Two," comes a voice in the doorway. All eyes turn to a smirking brown-haired boy carrying two briefcases. Setting them down he casually says, "I didn't get a chance to finish mine."
* * * * *
TO BE CONTINUED...