The sideline read, COOPERS TO ACCEPT CROSSWIRE REWARD.

Muffy fumed as she clutched the front section of the morning newspaper, which Mavis had handed her. "And on live TV, no less," she muttered angrily. "That little rat."

As Mavis walked alongside Muffy through the corridor at Uppity Downs, she tried to console the bitter girl over her friend's apparent betrayal of trust. "It's not the end of the world, Muffy," she said encouragingly. "You'll meet another boy. A better boy."

"There are no better boys," Muffy groused. "They're all scum."

"Not all of them."

"Trust me on this one, Mavis," Muffy shot back. "I've known lots of boys. Big boys, little boys, fat boys, skinny boys. Van was the kindest and sweetest of them all, and now I find out that he's a snake like all the rest."

"I know a thing or two about boys myself," said Mavis with an unassuming tone.

"Well, I know everything about boys," Muffy boasted. "The only way you can know more about boys than me is if you've actually been a boy."

Mavis didn't answer, but only smirked. The two girls strolled into Mr. Pryce-Jones' classroom and took seats next to each other, and Muffy continued to lament her fate.

"I was crazy to run away," she reflected. "What made me think I could change my dad's mind? Now I'm in even worse shape." She smiled at Mavis. "Well...at least I've still got you."

Mavis' expression became somber. "I haven't told you this, Muffy, but..." She took a breath. "I'm thinking of changing schools myself."

Muffy gaped with surprise. "Wh-what?"

"I think it would be fun to go to Lakewood," Mavis mused. "Your friends there are really cool. And Binky's kinda cute, even if he is a doofus."

"What's come over you, Mavis?" Muffy marveled. "You're using words like 'fun' and 'cool' and 'doofus'. And Lakewood is too slow for a genius like you."

"Perhaps so," Mavis replied. "But I've been thinking lately...maybe I'd be happier if I went back to being just a normal little girl."

"What do you mean, 'went back'?" asked Muffy.

Mavis opened her mouth to answer, but Mr. Pryce-Jones tapped his stick on the top of his desk to bring the class to order. "All stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance," he announced, turning to face the American flag hanging in a corner of the room.

----

It was a sunny day. The sidewalks were drenched in melted snow as the children congregated on Lakewood Elementary for another day of instruction.

Fern and Binky encountered each other at the bottom of the stairway. After exchanging pleasantries, Binky said to Fern, "Congratulations on winning the audition. You'll make a great Mini Moo voice."

"Thanks, Binky," Fern replied. "And you'll make a great Mini Moo."

"Don't tell anybody," said Binky, shaking a fist menacingly, "or I'll clobber you."

"You won't clobber me," said Fern fearlessly.

Binky lowered his fist. "You're right, I won't," he acknowledged glumly. "But Rattles and Molly will clobber me if they find out."

"I won't tell them," Fern reassured him. "If I reveal your secret, I'll have to reveal mine."

Arthur hurried past them up the stairway as they conversed. He glanced from side to side nervously, as if trying to avoid someone.

Once he had passed through the entrance doors, he was approached by the very person he had been trying to avoid--Francine Frensky.

"Hi, Arthur," she said in a sugary voice. "Are you feeling better?"

Arthur responded to her question by grimacing, putting his hand over his mouth, and charging toward the boys' room at full speed. Francine gazed after him affectionately, muttering, "Silly boy."

----

After an uneventful day of lessons, all of Van's friends were anxious to watch the live telecast of Ed Crosswire handing the reward money to the Cooper family.

All, that is, except for Muffy.

"Don't you want to present the award with your dad?" Mrs. Crosswire asked her as she sat sulking on the couch, watching a Princess Peach rerun on the large-screen television.

"No, Mom," Muffy replied emotionlessly. "I'll just watch it from here."

Mr. Crosswire, who had put on his best suit for the event, shook his head. "It's not like her to pass up a chance to appear on TV," he remarked. "I'd better call the doctor once I'm done at the Coopers'."

A few minutes later Muffy's father had departed, and her mother, wearing a house dress and pearl necklace, had taken a seat beside her.

Muffy turned an unhappy face to her mother. "Mom, I don't think I'll ever get married," she said joylessly.

"Well, why not, honey?" asked the concerned Mrs. Crosswire.

"Because boys are scum," Muffy answered. "I thought Van was my friend, but he sent the police after me just so he could collect the stupid reward money."

"I'm sure he had other reasons," said Mrs. Crosswire, stroking her daughter's unbraided hair. "Maybe he'll surprise you. Maybe he'll go on TV and turn down the money. Now be quiet. It's almost on."

As the image on the TV screen changed into the WOOD news logo, Muffy tried to hang on to the slim hope that her mother was right, that Van might prove to be a true friend after all.

The screen showed the inside of the Cooper house. A newswoman with a microphone was introducing the broadcast, with the Cooper family members lined up behind her in an orderly fashion.

"We're coming to you live from the home of Mel and Valerie Cooper and their six children," the newswoman related. "As you know if you've been following our reports, nine-year-old Van Cooper was instrumental in the recovery of Muffy Crosswire, runaway heiress to the Crosswire used car empire. After some deliberation, the Cooper family has decided to accept the reward offered by the Crosswires, which adds up to a handsome $250,000. Before the check is presented by Ed Crosswire, owner and manager of Crosswire Motors, we'll hear a few words from the members of this lucky family."

"Oh, puh-leeze," Muffy mumbled incredulously.

As Mr. Crosswire stood to one side, holding what appeared to be a check in his hand, the newswoman approached Mr. Cooper and held the microphone up to his beak. "I'm Mel Cooper," he introduced himself. "My wife Valerie, and my children, Quinn, Logan, Odette, Van, Dallin, and the baby, Megan." Even Logan was dressed in a shirt, slacks, and a tie for the occasion. "I'm a lawyer by trade. No doubt you're aware that my past activities have brought me into conflict with Ed Crosswire, at least on a professional level. But how I feel about him as a person is another matter entirely. I won't hesitate to say that Ed Crosswire is a pillar of our community. He and his wife and daughter are always welcome in our home."

Muffy's mouth fell open. How could Mr. Cooper say such things of his own free will? Had he been lobotomized?

The interviewer was now holding her microphone in front of Mrs. Cooper. "We've been to Crosswire Motors on several occasions," the woman told the viewing audience. "They have very good deals on family wagons. The salespeople are friendly, and treat us with courtesy."

Muffy's mouth fell open even further. She was certain that the events transpiring on the screen had to be a dream or illusion...

"When I first met Muffy, I didn't like her very much," Quinn recounted. "I thought she was just a snobbish little rich girl. But I've learned since then that she's really a pleasant person, and so are her parents."

"Dude, Crosswire Motors totally rocks," said Logan when the microphone was passed to him. "As soon as I'm old enough to drive, I'm gonna buy a car from them."

Muffy had seen as much as she could bear of the Coopers saying good things about her family for the wrong reasons. "They've sold themselves," she muttered through clenched teeth. "All of them."

"I don't like to think what might have happened to me if not for Muffy," said Odette. "I owe her my life. Thanks, Muffy. I wish you could be here." She then blew a kiss at the camera.

"Oh, I'll be there, all right!" growled Muffy as she pounded her fists on her skirt. Her mother put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer, trying to calm the angry girl.

Van's turn came next. "I'd like to thank Mr. Crosswire for the reward," he said in a slightly nervous voice. "But all I really care about is having Muffy back with us. I love you, Muffy."

Muffy could endure no more. She leaped off of the couch and glared at the TV screen, panting with rage. "Hypocrites! Weasels!" she bellowed. "I'll tear you apart with my bare hands!"

Before her mother could dissuade her, Muffy bolted from the living room and through the front doors of the Crosswire mansion.

"I'll kill them," she muttered furiously to herself as she ran along the street toward the Cooper house. "I'll kill them all..."

(To be continued...)