Stephanie had gone to the treehouse to think, just before lunch. She had passed Sportacus flipping through town.

"Hi, Stephanie!" He stopped in his tracks when she didn't answer him right away. This was not the same girl that had left the house in such high spirits this morning. "Is everything all right?"

"Hi, Sportacus. Um, there's a new kid in town. Stingy and Ziggy decided to spend time with him instead of playing basketball with me." Her voice was etched with disappointment and she seemed to be a little nervous.

"A new kid, huh. He doesn't like to play basketball?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Apparently not."

"Does the new kid have a name?"

"Stefan. He's a really big kid."

"Is he nice?"

"Well, ... he did share." Stephanie threw her arms out then let them drop to her sides. She didn't want to talk about Stefan anymore. She didn't want Sportacus to think she was jealous that Ziggy and Stingy preferred to spend their time with Stefan.

"What are you doing, Sportacus?"

"I was hoping I would run into you, Stephanie. I wondered if you kids would let me use some of the paint left over from your clubhouse?"

Stephanie looked surprised and smiled at him. "Sure! Do you want some help? What are you going to paint?"

Sportacus chuckled. "I don't need any help, but thank you for the offer. Since I'm staying at the Mayor's house, I thought this would be a good time to get some odds and ends painted inside my airship. It will give the paint time to dry, and I won't have to sleep in the fumes. I anchored it in your Uncle's backyard, though, to keep an eye on it. I don't want it to blow away or have Robbie decide to take it for another spin!" They both shook their heads at that thought.

Sportacus looked at Stephanie with sympathy and became serious. "And don't worry about the boys, Stephanie. I'm sure if you give them a chance, later they will want to play with you again. Growing up can be hard. Sometimes, you end up being the odd one out. But, in the end, real friends come back and help each other. It's friends that help keep life from running you over." He patted Stephanie on the shoulder and she smiled weakly up at him. "I'll see you for supper tonight. Around sunset?"

"Yes, Sportacus."

"Good, it's a date." Sportacus bounded away grinning from ear to ear. His grin was contagious. Stephanie found herself grinning as well.

"Good luck with your painting!" Stephanie called after him. He waved a hand back at her and flipped over a wall out of sight. Her grin faded away. She clenched her hands into fists and took a deep, ragged breath. All she wanted to do was run after Sportacus and throw herself against that solid superhero. She wished she could go back to this morning when she woke up safe in his arms knowing nothing could hurt her. A tear trickled down her cheek. She swiped at it with a fist. Sportacus said growing up was hard.

"It sure is!" and then Stephanie had continued her trek to the treehouse.

Now, it was early evening already, and she had a headache from thinking so hard and being confused. She wasn't just confused about Ziggy, Stingy, and Stefan, either. Sportacus somehow ended up in the mix. And she didn't understand that. What was there to be confused about with Sportacus? She had fun with all her friends, including Sportacus, but just lately...

"Oh, never mind." She shook her head to clear it of her current thoughts. "I wonder if Sportacus remembers that time Ziggy accidentally gave him that candy apple?" She smiled at the memory. "I held his hand to comfort him, and if I let go, he would reach out for me." Her smile got bigger until she realized what had just happened. She shook her head even harder this time. "Good grief! Boys!"

She had skipped lunch and was beginning to get hungry. She knew she would eventually have to climb down, but she didn't want to face that Stefan. She also knew what people said, you have to face your problems. She decided that was what she would do. She would grow up and handle it.

Stephanie stood looking out the window. The sun would be setting soon. She certainly didn't want to face any problems in the dark. There were big, roaring things that could wipe you out in the dark. Stephanie took a deep breath, let it out in a, whoosh, and descended the ladder.

"I have to do this. I have to do this," Stephanie repeated to herself over and over. She had heard the boys yelling and laughing all afternoon. Occasionally, Stingy would drive by in his car with Ziggy running right behind. Apparently, the pop did give you more energy, and Ziggy was talking as fast as his legs were running. There was no sign of Stefan. "Probably standing around talking to himself, since that's what big kids do." Stephanie's voice dripped sarcasm...and hurt. She continued walking with purpose down the street. At the last moment, she decided to take the long way home.

Stefan, aka Robbie Rotten, was stretched out resting on a bench. Stingy wouldn't let either Stefan or Ziggy drive his car. As much as Robbie enjoyed the arguments over the car between the boys, he didn't care for the noise. Both boys had enough pop in them at this point, that it was a miracle they hadn't popped.

Stingy came driving back and pulled his car alongside the bench. Ziggy arrived ten seconds later panting heavily and gasping for breath.

"Hey, Stefan, ... another ... pop?" Ziggy asked. "I'm ... thirsty," he gasped. Robbie reached into the backpack for another pop and handed it to Ziggy without looking at him.

"We're almost out, boys," Robbie replied sadly.

"One more for the road?" Stingy held a trembling hand out toward Robbie for a can. Robbie handed him one, shaking his head as he did so. He glanced at Ziggy and looked closer at him. His left eye was twitching, just short of a wink. Robbie decided he'd had enough free entertainment for the day and stood up.

"Well boys, Stingy, Ziggy, it's been a joy spending the day with you, but I have to go." With that, Robbie made to leave.

Stingy jumped out of his car and leapt at Robbie, grabbing the backpack. Robbie stopped with a jerk and spun around.

"Wait, a minute! What do you mean? You're leaving? Now?" Stingy's voice cracked with emotion, staring at Stefan with wild eyes. If Stefan left, where would he get his pop?

Robbie looked at the sun about to dip below the horizon. "My my, where did the day go? It's going to be dark soon. I'm getting hungry for supper," Robbie cut his eyes slyly at Stingy and Ziggy, "and little boys should be home in bed." Robbie tugged the backpack from Stingy's fingers. Stingy was insulted by the little boys comment, but Ziggy had frozen in place at the mention of it being dark soon. "Of course, if you aren't worried about being out after dark, then there is no problem," Robbie looked directly at Ziggy and continued, "is there?" With that parting shot, the boys watched their new friend saunter off down the street. "See you later, boys."

Stingy stood trembling watching Stefan walk away. The more he thought about Stefan's comments, the angrier he became. "Well, of all the nerve! What did he mean by that? Of course we're not afraid to be out after dark. Only babies are afraid of the dark! Ridiculous!" Stingy was on the verge of a sugar crash. He was trembling badly, beginning to get a headache, was grouchy, angry at Stefan, and tired. Of course, if anyone had asked him, he would have denied it all.

Ziggy on the other hand, had a high sugar tolerance. He was still going strong. He glanced at the sky and saw the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon. His fear of the dark increased. Then he looked at Stingy. His felt anger begin to squash the fear. HE was NOT a BABY! What did Stingy mean by saying that? How could he? Ziggy glared daggers at Stingy's back through twitching eyes.

Ziggy wanted to get back at Stingy. And he would show Stefan what kind of little kid he was! Ziggy, still clutching his last can of pop, jumped into Stingy's car. Stingy turned just in time to see Ziggy jump in. Stingy began yelling at Ziggy and ran toward the car just as Ziggy got it moving. Stingy dived onto the back, grasping onto the edge of the back seat and hanging on for dear life. Now that Ziggy was driving the car, he was not about to stop. If Stingy fell off, then, that was his own fault. Stingy should have let Ziggy and Stefan take turns driving the car earlier. Ziggy took a swig from his pop can and took the next corner sharp. Stingy almost flew off. Ziggy kept driving.

Ziggy felt the rush of the fast car, the pop, the anger. He didn't know where he was driving. He didn't know how long he had been driving. He didn't care. Stingy didn't know if he could hang on much longer.

The final sliver of the sun was dropping out of sight when Ziggy shot the car down the street Mayor Meanswell lived on. Ziggy guzzled the last of the pop, threw the can away as hard as he could, and glanced back at Stingy. Stingy was still yelling at Ziggy, but much more slowly, and with more effort. His fingers were beginning to slip. Stingy thought about just letting go. He was so tired, and every muscle in his body hurt. He was sure he was going to throw up.

Ziggy's eyes were having trouble focusing. His suger high was crashing. He took his eyes off Stingy and glanced back at the road in front of him. "Oh, no! Ahhhh!" He saw a shadow move into the road.

Stephanie was crossing the street to her Uncle's house, walking slowly, head down, thinking. She heard yelling and looked up while standing in the middle of the street.

"Is that Ziggy driving Stingy's car?" Stephanie squinted in the twilight. "Stingy never lets anyone else drive his car." She waited for Ziggy to slow down, but he kept coming. Her breath caught in her throat. Stephanie couldn't move. He wasn't going to stop! Then she heard Ziggy yell. She heard the squeal of the brakes as Ziggy slammed them. The back of the car fishtailed throwing Stingy into Uncle Milford's front yard. Ziggy couldn't believe it. He was about to hit Stephanie! How did this happen? He took his hands off the wheel to cover his eyes.

As the car squealed toward Stephainie, a roaring filled her ears. She braced herself for the impact and screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH..."