Chapter 11

Sportacus awoke and looked around to see what time it was. His clock said it was only a little after nine but it seemed later than that to him. Stephanie was still asleep and Sportacus quietly picked up his sleeping bag. After putting it away, along with his pillow, he tiptoed over to Stephanie and kissed her on the forehead. Stephanie's eyes opened and for a moment couldn't remember where she was. Then she saw Sportacus smiling and she remembered the night before. She smiled in return and got out of bed. Then she began to smell something.

"What is that smell?" She said as she wrinkled her nose up. Then she lifted her arm and caught a whiff. "Oh." She blushed.

"I don't smell so good either." Sportacus chuckled. "I think it was because of all that pushing. My legs hurt and my outfit smells."

"Well then first things first, let's get clean. I can't think straight with all that stench hanging around." Stephanie said, holding her nose. Sportacus nodded and got into his command seat. He poked a couple of buttons and part of the wall came out. Stephanie peered into the hole. Inside was a bathroom!

"Well that explains a lot of things." Stephanie murmured.

"What did you say?" Sportacus asked her.

"I said: What am I going to wear? After I get clean I don't want to put these smelly things back on." Stephanie asked.

"You're right. What you're wearing now might as well be burned." Sportacus joked.

"Real funny, Mister Smells like Stinky Feet. But I'm being serious." Stephanie joked back.

"Well my outfits won't fit you. Is there anyway we can slip back into your Uncle's house?" Sportacus asked.

"Yeah, you can climb up the rose trellis near my window. If the window isn't open, you still should be able to lift it from the outside. My socks and, wait, maybe I better do it." Stephanie said starting to turn red.

"Sounds like you've done that before. Why can't I do it?" Sportacus asked.

"Well it's just that I know where everything is that's all. You would have to search around for stuff. Besides while I'm gone you can get clean." Stephanie hurriedly offered.

"Ok, if you're sure." Sportacus smiled. She said she was sure. Sportacus told her to be careful. She promised she would and took off down the ladder. Sportacus decided to tidy up a bit before jumping into the shower.

"Whew! That was a close one. I wasn't thinking about my unmentionables." Stephanie said as she made her way down the ladder and crept toward her Uncle's house. Hopping the fence, she made her way to the backyard. Once there she began to climb the trellis. Stephanie reached the window with ease. She didn't tell Sportacus that she used to climb down after Uncle Milford put her to bed and look up at the sky. Or rather what happened to be in the sky. She chuckled to herself as she easily climbed in the window. Then making her way around the room she picked up what she needed. Then Stephanie returned to the window and was going to climb out when she realized she couldn't carry her clean clothes and climb down at the same time. Stephanie looked around her room for her backpack. Finding it stashed under the bed she grabbed it and began to fill it with her stuff when she heard footsteps outside the door. Quickly she ducked into the closet and held her breath.

Sportacus was wondering what was taking Stephanie so long. He had finished tidying up and was going to take a shower when he realized almost half an hour had gone by. Should I go after her? He wondered. His crystal hadn't gone off, so she must be ok, he thought to himself. But just to be sure he went over and shouted, "Door!" His viewing door opened into his viewing deck. Grabbing his telescope he peered down at the Mayor's house.

The footsteps went right by her room and Stephanie hurriedly left the closet, put her backpack on, and climbed down the trellis. Then quietly she left the backyard and hopped back over the fence.

Sportacus saw her coming back and went inside to shower. He put his dirty clothes in a pile on the floor and jumped into the shower. The warm water felt good on his sore thighs and knees as he soaped up.

Stephanie climbed the ladder back up to the airship. Once inside she heard the shower still running and sat on the bed awaiting her turn. Soon the water stopped and Sportacus came out of the bathroom with his dirty clothes in hand and a towel around his waist. Stephanie stared at his head.

"What are you staring at, Stephanie?" He asked.

To Be Continued…