* Chapter 2 *

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Merton suddenly felt a chill down his spin and the cold and clammy hands wrapped themselves around his neck. Merton jumped up just in time before the hands could get a good grip. He spun around only to see a familiar figure. The creature was tall and dresses in a long black robe. In one hand he had a long stick with a sharp curved knife on the end. Merton jumped back as he realized who it was. He Tommy and Lori had already battled him.

"Hey I remember you! Y-your death!" Merton yelped.

"Yes, I'm death and if I'm correct your Merton Dingle." Death said in a low and unpleasant voice.

"W-what are you doing here? I thought we got rid of you… or at least made a deal with you." Merton said in a shaky voice.

"I made a deal with Tommy Dawkins, your little song for his life. But you! You broke that promise! You tricked me!" Death said now angry.

"W-what do you mean I broke the promise? I didn't do anything." Merton pleaded.

"You switched the songs! You gave me the wrong one! So I thought that I would come back and instead of the song, well let's just say I'll be taking your life instead. Muhahhahahaa!" Death rumbled as a bolt of lighting flashed and the street lights flickered.

" Um…. Heh heh, wouldn't you prefer to talk about this first or at least let me buy you an ice cream cone or something instead of going ahead and killing me? I hear Rocky Road is pretty good!" Merton said in fear of loosing his life and especially on his birthday.

"Um… No but I'll tell you what. Since it's your birthday, I'll take your life tomorrow so that you can live the rest of the day, and your life in fear! How does that sound?" Death said cruelly.

" Scary, but fair! Hey wait a minute! You're the only one who remembered my birthday! Not that it's a good thing for the only person to remember is death himself but…" Merton said whimpering yet excited that someone had actually remembered.

"Yes well…Than it's done! See you tomorrow." Death said as he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Still in shock Merton turned around and dashed for the lair hoping that Tommy and Lori were still there. When Merton finally reached his house he ran down the stairs to the lair and was just about to open the door when Tommy opened it before he could. Merton fell right into Tommy knocking them both to the ground.

"Merton!" Tommy said as he realized what had happened.

"Huh? Oh, sorry Tommy." Merton said as he stood up

Merton reached out his hand and helped Tommy up from off the ground.

"Why are you is such a hurry? Were have you been? And… why are you out of breath?" Tommy questioned.

"Well I just got back form the park, ran all the way home, and I did all of that because I just ran into death!" Merton yelled trying to catch his breath.

"WHAT! You ran into death! What did he want? He wasn't looking for me again was he!?" Tommy said looking a little bit confused.

"No, he was actually looking for me." Merton said, still trying to breath.

"What! Why would death be looking for you!" Lori said as she sat Merton down on the chair next to her.

"Well… Heh heh , remember last time we battled against him and instead of taking Tommy's life he took one of my songs?" Merton began to say.

"Yah so?" Lori questioned.

"Well at the last minute I switched the song with an other one and well he found out and now he wants to take my life!" Merton said now horrified of the thought of dieing.

"Well were is he? I'll go and wolf him up for you little buddy!" Tommy said is a small but strong voice as he began to wolf-out.

"Well I'm not exactly sure. He said he was going to kill me tomorrow, because…" Merton said as he was cut off by Tommy.

"Not that I'm complaining or anything but why tomorrow?" Tommy questioned.

"Well he said tomorrow because he was actually the ONLY one that remembered… "Merton said as he began to pout.

"Remembered what?" Tommy and Lori asked together.

"He was the only one how remembered that…. That it's my birthday today." Merton said as he looked sad.

Tommy and Lori's eyes widened as they looked at each other. They quickly looked back at Merton shyly not able to look directly at him.

"IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY!" Tommy and Lori both yelled.

"Yah! And it has been all day, but oh no I couldn't expect the two of you to remember knowing that I'm sooooooooo annoying and how I make you mad." Merton sad angrily.

"What? What do you mean?" Tommy asked.

"What do I mean! What I mean Tommy is that all day you, Lori, Becky, My parents, everybody forgot it was my birthday today and at lunch I was mad at both of you for not even saying anything to me. A little "Happy Birthday Merton" would have been nice you know. You both blew me off after school and you didn't even bother to call! When I went to the park I heard you and Lori talking, and I heard you Mr. Wolfy pants say that I was annoying you and that I was mad at you for no GOOD reason! You were mad at me!? No, shouldn't I be mad at you! Wait you know what…. I am mad at you!" Merton screamed, feeling relived that he had finally got that off his chest.

"Merton… I'm, I'm sorry buddy. I had no idea. Is there anyway I can make it up to you?" Tommy said feeling guilty.

"Yah anything you want Merton" Lori said as she too began to feel guilty.

"Umm… ya I think you guys can do a couple of things actually. Number one, maybe finally say happy birthday! Number Two, Kick deaths butt before I die tomorrow, and oh yah number three, never talk to me again after this how thing with death is over!" Merton snapped.

"Come on Merton! I'm sorry! Lori is too. Look I can do number one and two but I can't do number three. You're my best friend. Please, please, please forgive me!" Tommy began to plead as he and Lori both got down on there hands and knees.

"Please Merton forgive us! Look were sooooo sorry that we forgot about your birthday but we promise that we'll make it up to you! We'll double, triple; quadruple the amount of fun and presents for your birthday! Just please forgive us! We'll even get you a cherry slushy!" Lori begged.

"Well, when you hear someone say that they'll give you lots and lots of presents and a cherry slushy witch just so happens to be my favorite it does make you feel good, but no! I will not accept a bribe!" Merton shouted.

Tommy and Lori got up from the floor and sat Merton down on his Bed. They looked at each other and Tommy counted to three.

"One, two, three!" Tommy said as he pointed his fingers as he counted.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Merton, Happy birthday to you!" Tommy and Lori both sang together in almost perfect harmony.

"You look like a turkey, you smell like one too!" Tommy began to sing as Lori struck him hard on the shoulder with her fist.

"Tommy!" Lori shouted, as she began to raise her fist for another punch, but slowly lowered her hand when she turned to face Merton only to see him smirking, trying hard to hold back his laughter.

"Hey, see I made him laugh!" Tommy said excitedly.

"So do you forgive us Merton? Maybe even just a little?" Tommy asked.

"Well, maybe just a little tiny spec of a smidgen, but that turkey thing's gonna cost ya!" Merton said and he used his fingers to show how little he was actually talking about.

"Thanks buddy, and we really are really, really sorry!" Tommy said starting to feel a bit relieved.

" Yah well, you two are my best friends and what would I do without you guys… and besides can you imagine you too if you didn't have me around! You guys would be a mess!" Merton said as he began to feel better.

"Hey!" Lori yelled, as she realized what Merton meant.

"I guess we deserve it, and besides, he's got a point. We all need each other at some point!" Tommy said trying to sound all insightful.

"Yah! And speaking of needing you guys at some point, I kind of need you guys to help me get rid of death!" Merton said now remembering his little encounter.

"Yah, what are we going to do?" Lori asked a little unsure.

"I don't know but I guess my birthday will have to be put back on hold until we get this thing settled!" Merton said as he looked at the two of them.

"No way! We get this settled tonight and we party afterwards! Come on, let's go kick some death butt!" Tommy shouted as he pulled on his friends hands and yanked them out the lair heading towards the park, hoping that death would still be there looking for more innocent lives to take.