OH MY GOSH!!!! You would NOT believe it! As I was writing this Benny And Joon fan fiction - The Proclaimers "I'll be (500 miles)" just came on the radio!! It's like a sign or something! OK, this chapter is a bit boring, but PLEASE stick with it, (hopefully) it will get better . . . honest! - Also, a special thank you to all those people who have take the time to read my dodgy story - AND review it. PLEASE - Keep it up! THANKS again. Now, on with the story . . .

"Ruthy, you know, we've got to be more careful. I thinks she's starting to suspect something! I mean yesterday and all, that was really close!" Sam nervously bit his lip, and started to fiddle with his hat.

Ruthy placed her cup of tea on the glass coffee table and looked at Sam, gazing deeply into his eyes. "Sam sweetie, it'll be all right. I bet she didn't even taken any real notice of us. Even if you were supposed to be at work, she'd probably assume you were just relieved on short notice."
Ruthy paused to place a comforting hand on Sam's lap. "So calm down, relax. She won't know . . . until it's too late!" Ruthy said with a mischievously coy grin. Sam immediately brightened. He placed his hat firmly on his head, gave a small nod, and bent over to pick up his cane. "Thank you Ruthy, I think I feel a little better now. Uh, would you mind if we met up again a little later?" Sam inquired hopefully. "Of course I wouldn't mind!" Ruthy replied playfully with a small wink.

Joon poked her head out the door, just as she heard Sam leaving Ruthy's apartment. 'Hmmm, he's been spending a lot of time with Ruthy lately' Joon thought quietly to herself. 'Well, she's our friend, and Benny's partner in itemhood. So why does it feel so strange...' Joon's current train of thought was broken as Sam came in to view.
Joon leaped backward into their apartment and immediately went back to concocting her breakfast smoothy.

"Oh, uh, hi Joon! I didn't know you were up!" Sam tossed his hat onto a rung on the hat stand, and eased onto the kitchen stool. He picked up the two shiny silver spoons sitting next to him, and started to perform a clanging rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the breakfast glasses.
For some unknown reason, this morning, Joon just couldn't bear to tolerate Sam's . . . 'music' - no matter how sweet or whimsical it was.
She immediately seized the offending spoons from Sam's grasp. Sam's face fell. 'It's never bothered her before, hmmm. Was I out of tune?'
Sam quietly excused himself and trudged towards the bedroom, shoulders slightly slumped, feeling a little hurt. Joon instantly felt guilty. 'What is the matter with me? she thought helplessly.

Meanwhile upstairs, Sam sat on the edge of the dresser, staring at his small photograph of Buster Keaton. 'What should I do Buster? You would know what to do. I don't know how much longer I can stand this. I hate lying to Joon - but I've just got to see Ruthy!'
Dozens of thoughts and emotions were swimming wildly around Sam's head, causing him to topple off the edge - literally. "Ouch!" Rubbing his knee tenderly, Sam limped amusingly towards the door and shut it gently, not wishing to annoy Joon any further.

* * *

Sam was determined to see Ruthy. Later that night, while Joon was painting in the other room, Sam crept quietly to the refrigerator. Once there, he inspected its contents. Staring back at him were three gigantic tubs of tapioca. Sam gulped uneasily at the sight. With shaking hands, he picked up the tubs and placed them on the table. Sam sat down and stared at the massive tubs with determination.
'This is kinda drastic, but at least I'll have a reason to see Ruthy. Hmmm, just think - it's kinda like in 'Cool Hand Luke', when Paul Newman's gotta eat all those eggs . . . Except it's tapioca' Sam thought, in an attempt to reassure himself. Sam put on a brave face, as he courageously picked up the spoon and began to gulp down the mammoth tubs of tapioca.

* * *

After the final mouthful, Sam thought he would explode - "Monty Python's: The Meaning of Life" style!
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh" Sam groaned softly. Sam slid from the kitchen chair and stumbled out into the living room to watch a Chaplin short - hoping it would take his mind off his . . . er, slight stomach ache.

After allowing about 20 mins for the tapioca to go down, Sam knocked on the door of Joon's art room - as she liked her privacy when painting, and told her "Joon, we're out of tapioca".
Joon spun around to face Sam and frowned with confusion. "No we're not. There's three huge tubs in the fridge!" Sam looked away sheepishly. Exasperated, Joon got up and stalked towards the kitchen. "I could have sworn there was! What happened to them?"
Sam, once again stared to fiddle with his hat. "Oh, er . . . I don't know." Joon could not believe it, she was positive there were three tubs - gigantic ones! 'There goes my mind again, I guess'. All this talk of tapioca was making Joon a little peckish.
"Say, how about I go get some more?" Sam suggested as he grabbed his cane and dashed outside before Joon could say anything. Once outside the building, Sam rushed over to the bushes and . . . (you- know-what). Feeling slightly better, but looking like a smashed rummy, Sam made his way down to Ruthy's diner.

Just as Ruthy was locking up, Sam stumbled into view. "What on earth happened to you?!" came Ruthy's alarmed voice, racing over to Sam's aid. "Tapioca" Sam replied weakly.
"Well come on Sam, we better go back to my place" . . .