Girls Are Such A Drag
By Lauren G.
Chapter 1: Time runs out
"Numbuh 1!" Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr. (aka Numbuh 2) called from his room within the depths of the giant Kids Next Door base tree house. Hoagie ran down the hall, his arms full of rolls of paper. He nearly tripped over the stack of stuffed animals lying in the hall.
"Numbuh 1!" Hoagie called, seeing his leader's shining bald head emerging over the top of a laundry basket full of red shirt and khaki pants.
"What is it Numbuh 2?" Nigel Uno (aka Numbuh 1) asked.
"I want to know what I should do with my designs for transport modules." Hoagie asked. "Do you think we should bring them to the moon base with us and give them to the operatives up there for new recruits?"
Nigel sighed.
"Sure, why not?"
"What's wrong Numbuh 1?" Hoagie questioned.
"It's really odd. Us cleaning out the tree house. My birthday is 2 weeks away. It just feels odd." Hoagie was silent for a moment.
"Well, Numbuh 5's birthday is less than a week away. Once one is gone, the new ones will get sent in. We need to clear out all that we can. We won't be allowed back once we've been decommissioned."
"Yeah. Set the plans in the kitchen. I'll box them up later." Numbuh 1 walked to his room with his clothes. Once in his room, he slowly began to fold them and tuck them away in a ratty brown suitcase. KND operatives 1 through 5 were reaching their 13th birthday. Turning 13 meant leaving the tree house. No more missions, unless you count Jr. High as one. Also, turning 13 meant a trip to the KND moon base to be decommissioned. Therefore, they would no longer have the memories of all the rough and good times the team shared. Nigel scratched his head and sighed once again. He pushed his sunglasses back and continued to pack.
Abigail Lincoln (aka Numbuh 5) stared at her empty room. There was nothing but the television, the couch, and the bed. The walls had been stripped of her posters and only dust lingered on the floor. Boxes and a big duffel bag lay behind her near the door. She would turn 13 soon. She didn't know how she would be able to handle it. With her older sister Cree on the wrong side with the Delightful Children From Down The Lane, she was afraid of what would come her way. Abby looked down at the framed picture she was holding in her hands. It was of her, and numbers 1-4. They were out in the backyard and having a good time. At least she would recall that they were still friends after the decommissioning.
"Numbuh 5?" Hoagie asked through her door. He knocked slightly.
"Yeah?" Numbuh 5 called hoarsely.
"Do you need help getting your things to the sky port?" He asked. Abby looked at the pile behind her.
"Numbuh 5 would like that." Abby replied. Hoagie opened the door didn't speak as they hefted her belongings one by one to the sky port to load into one of the hovercrafts.
"You okay?" Hoagie asked.
"Kinda." Abby replied. "I'm gonna miss this place.
"We'll try to hang out the rest of the summer." Hoagie assured her. "I mean, until we're all out."
"I know." She paused. "Where's Numbuh 1?"
"Packing." Hoagie replied, hefting a crate into the bus plane.
"Is it all right if I go see him?" she asked.
"Sure." Hoagie said. "I'll get the rest of your stuff."
"Thanks Numbuh 2. You can get a good workout." Abby slightly smiled at the pilot. He grinned. He had been losing weight and gaining more muscle and it showed well.
Numbuh 5 went to Numbuh 1's room. The door was slightly ajar. Nigel was setting a stack of clothes aside for his time remaining in the tree house.
"Ahem." Abby cleared her throat. Nigel looked up from seat on the floor.
"Numbuh 5... Uh... Come in." Nigel said. He slid his glasses back up.
"Numbuh 5 hopes its okay to talk." Abby said quietly. "Just for a little while."
"Sure." Nigel said. He stood up and sat on the edge of his bed. Abby sat next to him.
"How've you been?" Nigel asked.
"Numbuh 5's been all right." She replied.
"All right?" Numbuh 1 said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. All right as in not doing so well." Abby took off her signature red cap and flipped her braid to rest over her right shoulder. She clutched her cap in her hands and leaned to her left, resting her head on Nigel's shoulder. Nigel sat there, still as a statue, hands resting on his kneecaps. It wasn't until he felt the first tear hit his wrist that he moved his hands to wrap around Abby's shoulders. Abby's pre-teen body softly shook as she cried.
"Numbuh 5 is scared." She whispered.
"I am too. But soon we'll all be together again." Nigel said, trying to steady his wavering voice.
"If you say so Boss." Abby said. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She jammed her hat back on her head, covering her puffy eyes.
"You'll see me off Thursday, right?" She asked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Nigel replied. Abby turned and walked out of the room, pushing it slightly shut after she left. Nigel lifted his sunglasses and rubbed hand over his eyes. He set the glasses back on the base of his nose and wiped his damp hand on the side of his pants.
It was finally and dreadfully Thursday. Kuki Sanban (aka Numbuh 3) handed Abby a grouping of wilting daisies as everyone gathered to see Numbuh 5 go off to the moon base and to come back... A full-fledged teenager. When the Numbuh 86 would return from the KND moon base, she would have the newest Numbuh 5 with her.
"Oy, I'll miss ya Numbuh 5." Wallabee Beatles (aka Numbuh 4 & Wally) said to Abby. He shuffled his feet, trying not to cry.
"Numbuh 5 will miss ya'll. And... And Abby will be back soon." Numbuh 5 said as she stepped into Numbuh 86's ship. Kuki broke into tears and flung herself onto Wally, nearly crushing his neck in the process.
"It's okay Numbuh 3." Nigel told her, taking her gently off Numbuh 4. Wally's cheeks turned pink.
"Come on! We 'aven't got all day!" Numbuh 86 commanded.
"Kids Next Door- Salute!" Nigel shouted. Nigel, Hoagie, Kuki and Wally all saluted Abby as she took a seat inside the ship. The door shut with a hiss and launched with a fiery blast out of the sky port.
The next morning, Abby had arrived back home and hadn't been heard from yet. The other team members welcomed the new Numbuh 5, a tan boy with nerdy type glasses who seemed paranoid about someone being behind him. The team did their best to put up with him. But with Numbuh 1 leaving very soon, no one really paid attention to him.
"Who's next?" Kuki asked quietly at breakfast, 2 days before Nigel's departure.
"I am." Hoagie answered. "Tommy's been scheduled to replace me." He added.
"I'm after you then because Mushi is going to replace me." Kuki said. Wally looked over at Numbuh 3. She had filled out into her big green sweatshirt. The sleeves were still slightly long but you could at least see her hands. Wally felt himself going red as he stared in her chest region. He quickly drew his attention back to his cereal, but he occasionally glanced at her and her long black hair.
"I guess that mean's you're last Numbuh 4." Hoagie said.
"Yeah yeah." Wally grumbled. "All this decommissioning mumbo jumbo makes my head spin." He said grumpily. That ended the conversation.
The send off for Numbuh 1 was much quieter. Kuki gave him a bundle of daisies just like she had with Numbuh 5. Wally and Hoagie shook his hand and as Numbuh 1 stepped up on the ship's ramp, he turned and saluted them.
"I will see you soon. Good luck."
"Good luck." The 3 remaining operatives echoed, saluting their leader. And with that, Nigel was gone. The three stood there staring as the ship rose higher and higher into the clouds.
"Well, I guess I better finish packing." Hoagie said with a disappointing tone in his voice.
"Hey Numbuh 2! Want to play Scramble with me?" New Numbuh 5 asked.
"No." Hoagie said, and pushed new Numbuh 5 out of his way.
"Will you guys?" the little boy asked Kuki and Wally. They silently went to their rooms.
End Chapter 1
Author's Note: Okay ya'll. This is the first chapter. Very serious but it's going to get better once everyone has left. Or, how about, in the next chapter. If you read the summary, this is a Kuki/Wally pairing. Or a 3/4. Enjoy. I'll try to throw in a little 1/5 So if you're a fan, stay tuned. Please review, no trash, recycle.
By Lauren G.
Chapter 1: Time runs out
"Numbuh 1!" Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr. (aka Numbuh 2) called from his room within the depths of the giant Kids Next Door base tree house. Hoagie ran down the hall, his arms full of rolls of paper. He nearly tripped over the stack of stuffed animals lying in the hall.
"Numbuh 1!" Hoagie called, seeing his leader's shining bald head emerging over the top of a laundry basket full of red shirt and khaki pants.
"What is it Numbuh 2?" Nigel Uno (aka Numbuh 1) asked.
"I want to know what I should do with my designs for transport modules." Hoagie asked. "Do you think we should bring them to the moon base with us and give them to the operatives up there for new recruits?"
Nigel sighed.
"Sure, why not?"
"What's wrong Numbuh 1?" Hoagie questioned.
"It's really odd. Us cleaning out the tree house. My birthday is 2 weeks away. It just feels odd." Hoagie was silent for a moment.
"Well, Numbuh 5's birthday is less than a week away. Once one is gone, the new ones will get sent in. We need to clear out all that we can. We won't be allowed back once we've been decommissioned."
"Yeah. Set the plans in the kitchen. I'll box them up later." Numbuh 1 walked to his room with his clothes. Once in his room, he slowly began to fold them and tuck them away in a ratty brown suitcase. KND operatives 1 through 5 were reaching their 13th birthday. Turning 13 meant leaving the tree house. No more missions, unless you count Jr. High as one. Also, turning 13 meant a trip to the KND moon base to be decommissioned. Therefore, they would no longer have the memories of all the rough and good times the team shared. Nigel scratched his head and sighed once again. He pushed his sunglasses back and continued to pack.
Abigail Lincoln (aka Numbuh 5) stared at her empty room. There was nothing but the television, the couch, and the bed. The walls had been stripped of her posters and only dust lingered on the floor. Boxes and a big duffel bag lay behind her near the door. She would turn 13 soon. She didn't know how she would be able to handle it. With her older sister Cree on the wrong side with the Delightful Children From Down The Lane, she was afraid of what would come her way. Abby looked down at the framed picture she was holding in her hands. It was of her, and numbers 1-4. They were out in the backyard and having a good time. At least she would recall that they were still friends after the decommissioning.
"Numbuh 5?" Hoagie asked through her door. He knocked slightly.
"Yeah?" Numbuh 5 called hoarsely.
"Do you need help getting your things to the sky port?" He asked. Abby looked at the pile behind her.
"Numbuh 5 would like that." Abby replied. Hoagie opened the door didn't speak as they hefted her belongings one by one to the sky port to load into one of the hovercrafts.
"You okay?" Hoagie asked.
"Kinda." Abby replied. "I'm gonna miss this place.
"We'll try to hang out the rest of the summer." Hoagie assured her. "I mean, until we're all out."
"I know." She paused. "Where's Numbuh 1?"
"Packing." Hoagie replied, hefting a crate into the bus plane.
"Is it all right if I go see him?" she asked.
"Sure." Hoagie said. "I'll get the rest of your stuff."
"Thanks Numbuh 2. You can get a good workout." Abby slightly smiled at the pilot. He grinned. He had been losing weight and gaining more muscle and it showed well.
Numbuh 5 went to Numbuh 1's room. The door was slightly ajar. Nigel was setting a stack of clothes aside for his time remaining in the tree house.
"Ahem." Abby cleared her throat. Nigel looked up from seat on the floor.
"Numbuh 5... Uh... Come in." Nigel said. He slid his glasses back up.
"Numbuh 5 hopes its okay to talk." Abby said quietly. "Just for a little while."
"Sure." Nigel said. He stood up and sat on the edge of his bed. Abby sat next to him.
"How've you been?" Nigel asked.
"Numbuh 5's been all right." She replied.
"All right?" Numbuh 1 said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. All right as in not doing so well." Abby took off her signature red cap and flipped her braid to rest over her right shoulder. She clutched her cap in her hands and leaned to her left, resting her head on Nigel's shoulder. Nigel sat there, still as a statue, hands resting on his kneecaps. It wasn't until he felt the first tear hit his wrist that he moved his hands to wrap around Abby's shoulders. Abby's pre-teen body softly shook as she cried.
"Numbuh 5 is scared." She whispered.
"I am too. But soon we'll all be together again." Nigel said, trying to steady his wavering voice.
"If you say so Boss." Abby said. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She jammed her hat back on her head, covering her puffy eyes.
"You'll see me off Thursday, right?" She asked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Nigel replied. Abby turned and walked out of the room, pushing it slightly shut after she left. Nigel lifted his sunglasses and rubbed hand over his eyes. He set the glasses back on the base of his nose and wiped his damp hand on the side of his pants.
It was finally and dreadfully Thursday. Kuki Sanban (aka Numbuh 3) handed Abby a grouping of wilting daisies as everyone gathered to see Numbuh 5 go off to the moon base and to come back... A full-fledged teenager. When the Numbuh 86 would return from the KND moon base, she would have the newest Numbuh 5 with her.
"Oy, I'll miss ya Numbuh 5." Wallabee Beatles (aka Numbuh 4 & Wally) said to Abby. He shuffled his feet, trying not to cry.
"Numbuh 5 will miss ya'll. And... And Abby will be back soon." Numbuh 5 said as she stepped into Numbuh 86's ship. Kuki broke into tears and flung herself onto Wally, nearly crushing his neck in the process.
"It's okay Numbuh 3." Nigel told her, taking her gently off Numbuh 4. Wally's cheeks turned pink.
"Come on! We 'aven't got all day!" Numbuh 86 commanded.
"Kids Next Door- Salute!" Nigel shouted. Nigel, Hoagie, Kuki and Wally all saluted Abby as she took a seat inside the ship. The door shut with a hiss and launched with a fiery blast out of the sky port.
The next morning, Abby had arrived back home and hadn't been heard from yet. The other team members welcomed the new Numbuh 5, a tan boy with nerdy type glasses who seemed paranoid about someone being behind him. The team did their best to put up with him. But with Numbuh 1 leaving very soon, no one really paid attention to him.
"Who's next?" Kuki asked quietly at breakfast, 2 days before Nigel's departure.
"I am." Hoagie answered. "Tommy's been scheduled to replace me." He added.
"I'm after you then because Mushi is going to replace me." Kuki said. Wally looked over at Numbuh 3. She had filled out into her big green sweatshirt. The sleeves were still slightly long but you could at least see her hands. Wally felt himself going red as he stared in her chest region. He quickly drew his attention back to his cereal, but he occasionally glanced at her and her long black hair.
"I guess that mean's you're last Numbuh 4." Hoagie said.
"Yeah yeah." Wally grumbled. "All this decommissioning mumbo jumbo makes my head spin." He said grumpily. That ended the conversation.
The send off for Numbuh 1 was much quieter. Kuki gave him a bundle of daisies just like she had with Numbuh 5. Wally and Hoagie shook his hand and as Numbuh 1 stepped up on the ship's ramp, he turned and saluted them.
"I will see you soon. Good luck."
"Good luck." The 3 remaining operatives echoed, saluting their leader. And with that, Nigel was gone. The three stood there staring as the ship rose higher and higher into the clouds.
"Well, I guess I better finish packing." Hoagie said with a disappointing tone in his voice.
"Hey Numbuh 2! Want to play Scramble with me?" New Numbuh 5 asked.
"No." Hoagie said, and pushed new Numbuh 5 out of his way.
"Will you guys?" the little boy asked Kuki and Wally. They silently went to their rooms.
End Chapter 1
Author's Note: Okay ya'll. This is the first chapter. Very serious but it's going to get better once everyone has left. Or, how about, in the next chapter. If you read the summary, this is a Kuki/Wally pairing. Or a 3/4. Enjoy. I'll try to throw in a little 1/5 So if you're a fan, stay tuned. Please review, no trash, recycle.