Disclaimer: I own NOTHING of ANYTHING having to do with LazyTown. Besides, I teach so I have no money to sue for anyway. (I do have a lovely picure of Mr. Scheving, sans shirt, which I downloaded, printed out, and put on my icebox. Just to brighten my mornings.) Now that I've promoted all my fifth graders to sixth grade, and the end of school stuff is done, I thought I'd try my hand at a fic with chapters. R&R, please&thank you

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"Oh my, oh my," Mayor Meanswell mumbled as he read what appeared to be an important letter. He looked at the calender on his desk and did a double take. "But that's tomorrow!" He shook his head looking back and forth from the letter to his calender. Then his eye caught the picture of his niece, Stephanie, and the Mayor began moaning louder.

That was how Bessie Busybody found Mayor Meanswell when she arrived at work. "Milford, whatever is the matter?" Bessie asked the Mayor as she placed her purse and cell phone on her desk. She walked over to stand next to the Mayor and put a calming hand on his shoulder. "Has something happened?"

"Oh, Miss Busybody! I was looking in my desk for a pencil when I came across this official looking letter. It must have slipped into the drawer by accident."

"Well, what is it? Is it important? Who is it addressed to? Who is it from? From where was it sent? Have you ..." Bessie rambled on not pausing for breath. Finally, Mayor Meanswell interrupted her.

"

"Miss Busybody!"

"Yes, well..."

"The letter is an invitation for mayors and their secretaries to attend a dinner and conference." The Mayor resumed shaking his head.

"Why, Milford, it sounds so exciting! When are we to go? I must go shopping for a new outfit, and get my hair done, and ..."

"Tomorrow evening, and it is quite a distance away." The Mayor involuntarily took a step back away from Bessie Busybody as he waited for the information to sink in.

"WHAT?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Busybody, I wouldn't be able to go anyway. Who would take care of Stephanie?" The Mayor looked slightly relieved when he remembered Stephanie. He tried out a smile of apology on Miss Busybody who appeared to be standing in a state of shock. When he didn't get a response from Bessie, his smile faded until it disappeared completely. "I'm sorry," the Mayor repeated in a whisper.

Bessie drew in a deep breath, then became a whirlwind of activity. As she snatched up her cell phone and began dialing numbers she spoke to the Mayor.

"Don't be ridiculous, Milford. Of course we're going! You will take care of anything needing immediate attention this morning, and be ready to leave on the train tonight. I will take the rest of the day off to buy a new outfit and have my hair done." Bessie began speaking into the phone. "Yes, I need to make an appointment to have my hair done THIS MORNING!"

It was now the Mayors turn to appear to be standing in shock as he listened to Bessie.

Bessie grabbed the letter out of Mayor Meanswell's hands and glanced at it. "I will make the necessary arrangements, Milford. Just leave everything to me."

The Mayor finally began thinking again. He knew there was something he should mention. He knew Bessie would indeed take care of everything, but there was something...

"Stephanie!" the Mayor exclaimed.

Bessie looked around thinking Stephanie had actually walked into the building. She didn't see anyone, just the Mayor looking suddenly panicked. Bessie finished making her hair appointment and closed her phone. She looked at the Mayor and waited.

"I can't go because of Stephanie. I think I mentioned her earlier, come to think of it. I simply can't leave my sweet, little, niece home alone. What if she should get sick or hurt? No, we can't go, Miss Busybody," the Mayor stated. He stood up straight and tall, sure that he had a solid argument for not going.

Bessie stared at the Mayor a moment. She was not, NOT, going to let this opportunity to spend some time with Milford away from the daily grind of the local government, slip away.

Bessie slowly grinned at the Mayor, allowing it to slide across her face from ear to ear. Mayor Meanswell watched that grin work its way across Bessie's face and felt himself begin to tremble. Finally, Bessie spoke and the Mayor knew he had lost the argument for staying home to take care of Stephanie.

"Sportacus."