Chapter 15

The next morning dawned bright and sunny but unlike the day before this one was going to be a scorcher. Robbie had spent most of the night trying to figure out how to take off the ankle bracelet and attach it to something else. Finally, he had managed to take it off and wrap it around the leg of a chair. But now the hard part was getting it off the chair and putting it back on himself.

Stephanie woke up with a smile on her face. Today was going to be a great day. Everything was going well and the sun was shining. She heard a little rapping on her window. Confused, she turned to the window and saw Sportacus outside. Opening the window, she said,

"You know there are other ways of coming in the house."

"You know me. I like to surprise my dirt eater." He teased. Stephanie playfully smacked him and helped him in off the trellis.

"I'm surprised you still want to be with a dirt eater." She smiled.

"Well, you know there is just something about her. I mean, she's not pretty or smart but she's just…" Sportacus didn't get a chance to finish. Stephanie beat him over the head with her pillow.

"Hey no fair, I don't have a pillow!" He smiled.

"Oh you're going to need more than a pillow to save your sorry behind after that comment." Stephanie continued to hit him. Like a flash, Sportacus grabbed her arm and pushed her back. She retaliated by pulling him down with her. Landing on the bed, the two stared into each other's eyes. Sportacus leaned down and kissed Stephanie. She said,

"You're gonna have to do better than that if you want me to forget that crack." Sportacus was about to make a smart remark when he heard Mayor Meanswell talking through Stephanie's door.

"What is going on in there, Stephanie?"

"Uh, nothing Uncle Milford, I'm just making my bed." She replied nervously.

"Stephanie, you and I both know that's not what you're doing. Can I come in?" Uncle Milford asked. At this, Sportacus' eyes went wide and he started to shake his head in a 'Not a Good Idea' kind of way. Stephanie pointed to the window and quietly Sportacus climbed out onto the trellis.

"Stephanie? Are you listening to me?" Uncle Milford asked. He sounded angry.

"Oh yes. I was just getting decent. Come on in." Stephanie tried to sound calm. Uncle Milford came in to see the room a bit of a mess.

"What happened in here?" He asked. Stephanie had no idea how to explain the mess or the noise.

Robbie was proud of himself. He managed to get the ankle bracelet back on and even figured how to get it off and on easier. Soon his parole officer would be here to escort him to the LazyTown Retirement Home. Walking over to his periscope, Robbie peered out to see his parole officer leaving the courthouse. Quickly he made sure he was presentable and went topside.

The parole officer grimaced as he approached Robbie's lair. He didn't like his job and had a tendency to not follow the rule book. This would make for perfect conditions for Robbie's escape. Robbie greeted the parole officer with a fake smile and his best impression of a cheery good morning. The officer told him to get a move on. The two walked in silence toward the retirement home.

From his perch on the trellis outside Stephanie's window, Sportacus saw Robbie being taken to his community service. He probably would've followed them if Stephanie wasn't in need of some assistance. Quickly he jumped off the trellis and ran around the front of house. Ringing the doorbell, he waited for someone to open the door.

The Mayor opened the door. Sportacus smiled and said that he had promised to take Stephanie out for breakfast and was wondering if she was ready to go. Unsure of what the Mayor would say Sportacus just kept a happy look on his face. Uncle Milford told him to wait and he would get Stephanie. About thirty minutes later, Stephanie came downstairs and quickly grabbed Sportacus' arm and pulled him out the door.

Once at the retirement home, Robbie joined the other volunteers. They were to pick residents up and wheel them down to the Activities Room. It was bingo day and most residents were eager to get down there. The parole officer disappeared and it was Robbie's chance. He crouched down as if to talk to the resident he was pushing in the wheelchair. Swiftly he removed the ankle bracelet and attached it to the wheelchair. After dropping the senior citizen off he left the room and the retirement home.

To Be Continued…