Notes: The most commonly used names I've seen for Kim's parents are John, Marsha or Andrea. But I don't know if any of those are official, so I don't even bother…
Chapter 1: The Girl Next Door
Mrs. Dr. Possible, world-renowned brain surgeon and mother of three, was currently firmly submerged in the latter of her two roles. She was making a fresh batch of peanut butter cookies, one of many ways she had discovered to "trick" her youngest children into eating healthy.
With Kim it was no problem; constantly saving the world demanded a steady diet of only occasional junk food and extreme workouts. Tim and Jim, however, were more likely to end up like Kim's super genius friend Wade: super intelligent and pleasantly plump. Their main source of exercise came from soccer practice and running from their own inventions gone awry, and as their mother, Mrs. Possible was constantly concerned that when and if saving the world depended on the entire Possible family being able to pull off some of Kim's more dangerous moves, several of them wouldn't be able to pull their own weight.
Frankly, though, Kim was so good at her job that she didn't worry as much anymore. At least not about eating healthy. No, her concern was now more for her boys' personal safety, since they insisted on regularly inventing things that blew up or blew other things up. Even now, she had the back door wide open, just in case there was another localized explosion from the backyard.
Which was probably why she didn't notice the little girl standing in the doorway until she turned to make sure the twins hadn't managed any mischief that would make it convenient to have a brain surgeon nearby.
"Oh! Hello there," Mrs. Possible said, clearly startled. "I didn't hear you come in. Do I know you?"
"Nope," the girl replied. "I'm Leila, your new neighbor. I smelled peanut butter cookies."
The girl seemed harmless enough, and clearly she was new in town. "Well, I guess that's my fault for leaving the door open. Would you like to try a cookie?"
"Two would be better," the girl replied at once.
"I couldn't agree more," Mrs. Possible chuckled, placing two cookies on a plate. "How about some milk, too?" Almost instantly, something told her what Leila's response would be.
"Chocolate milk-"
"Would be even better?" Mrs. Possible finished, already pulling out a carton.
Leila grinned her approval. "You're GOOD."
"I like to think so." She placed the cookies and milk on the table, inviting Leila to sit down.
Instead, the girl turned to the door and whistled sharply. "Here, Blue!"
Seconds later, Mrs. Possible's heart leapt into her throat as a small, ugly blue creature bounded into her kitchen, wagging its stump of a tail. To her shock, Leila began to pet the little monster affectionately.
"That's...your dog?" Mrs. Possible hazarded.
"Yup! Isn't he great?" Leila said proudly.
"Was he...in an accident? Or two?"
"More than that." Leila came closer and whispered loudly, "We're not s'posed to talk about it in front of him."
"Of course not." Mrs. Possible swallowed her gasp quite well. "I suppose he'd like a snack, too?"
"No, the other cookie's for him. Trust me, he doesn't need any more sugar than that." She tossed Blue the first cookie before taking the other for herself.
Mrs. Possible couldn't help but notice the way Blue's eyes shifted back and forth, taking in the entire kitchen. For some reason, it bothered her. Or maybe she still hadn't gotten over the way he looked.
At that moment, Tim and Jim ran in, their clothes stained with some kind of motor oil that would probably take three washings to get out. They stopped short upon spotting the new girl and her dog.
"Boys, this is Leila...what was your last name, dear?"
"Hawkaloogi!" Leila said brightly. "We're from Hawaii. This is my dog, Blue!"
"Neat!" the twins said at once, crowding around Blue.
"Was your dog mangled in an accident?" Tim asked, staring at Blue with obvious awe.
"Several," Leila replied smugly.
The boys looked at each other and high-fived. "COOL!"
Mrs. Possible sighed as her boys began eagerly petting Blue, who seemed to be enjoying all the attention. She made a mental note to make sure they washed their hands before they ate. Something told her Blue carried more germs than any other dog alive...or dead.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Leila tugged on her dress. "Yes, dear?"
"I'm really here to see Kim," Leila explained. "Is she home? I need her to find my other dog. She ran away."
"Oh...well, I suppose Kimmie occasionally does missing...persons cases. But I don't know that she's in the habit of finding missing pets."
"Trust me, ma'am. With this dog, you want to know where she is at all times. It's a matter of continental security."
Mrs. Possible blinked. "...okay. I'll be sure to let Kim know when she gets home."
"Thanks!" Leila turned back to the twins. "Wanna see Blue do some tricks? He can pick his nose with his tongue!"
Mrs. Possible stopped the boys in mid-cheer. "Why don't you show them those tricks outside, Leila? There's another cookie in it for you."
"You're lucky I respond well to bribes, ma'am," Leila said with a grin. "Okay, boys! March!"
The boys obediently filed out after Leila, with Blue bringing up the rear. He paused in the doorway, giving the kitchen one last long look before bounding away.
Mrs. Possible sighed and began to write a note for Kim. If anything, she would at least meet the new neighbors. She doubted Leila's missing dog was all that serious a matter. Then she thought of Blue, and decided the sooner it was off the streets, the better off everyone was.
Kim had all too readily agreed to stop by Bueno Nacho on the way home. It gave her even more time to figure out how to tell her parents they had another mouth to feed. Although Earl had already proven to be more than capable of feeding himself.
"I'm telling you, KP, this can only be a good thing!" Ron insisted between bites of his Naco Grande. "How many people can say they have a sandwich-ready koala?"
"None," Kim answered confidently, watching Earl demolish his third order of cheese fries. That had been Ron's idea, and apparently his second nature when it came to animals was still in working order. "But I still can't decide how to tell my parents."
"Simple! You can do anything, so you can be a salesperson. You just have to sell the bear!"
Kim sighed patiently. "Ron, koalas aren't bears." She still had her doubts that Earl was a koala, though. Especially when he reached over and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"Focus, KP! We've gotta work on your sales pitch. Now, the first thing we have to work on is the name. Would you name a teddy bear Earl?"
Rufus shuddered and shook his head. "No way!" he chittered.
"I didn't name him, remember?" Kim asked.
"Exactly why you should! This new name will represent the new bond you share with your animal pal! It's gotta be something full of love and friendship! Something that will show the 'rents how great he is! Something like..." Ron stood up, thrusting a fry into the air. "The Naconater!"
"Ron, you just blew your only bid in the name pool. Sit down."
"Aw, c'mon, KP! Look at him naconate those fries! Can you honestly tell me you've got a better name?"
"My parents are not going to take the Naconater into their home. It needs to be something cute."
"I know! Hit 'em with something they already know and love! Rufus II!"
Even Rufus looked doubtful of that suggestion. Earl just stuck out his tongue…which turned out to be purple.
Kim shook her head. "Nice try, but no. He's my...koala, so I'll name him." She turned to Earl, trying to recall everything she knew about him, and then fit it into a proper name.
Ron wasn't finished, though. "Brainstorm! I dub thee...the Chewmeister!" The tapped each of Earl's shoulders with a fry.
Rufus grinned and flashed a thumbs up, showing his approval.
Earl blinked and looked at Kim expectantly.
"I'm calling him Chewie and that's final."
"For short, you mean!" Ron turned to the koala. "You are the Chewmeister! Your mission? Seek out and devour all nacos and fries!"
Kim grabbed the newly-named Chewie as he began to get up, apparently to carry out the mission. She pulled him into her lap and stuffed some fries into his mouth. "Ron, you're turning into a bad influence. Lay off the Chewmeister stuff, would you?"
"Just trying to help out, KP. You'll be thanking me once Chewman Fu is the newest member of the Possible clan."
"I hope so," Kim sighed, and was rewarded with a bright smile from Chewie. "For some reason, I don't want to give him up. And not just because I don't want to go back to Dr. Manimal's lab."
"Animal magnetism," Ron said sagely. "I'm not the only one who possesses it, hard as that is to believe."
"Yeah, the monkey ninjas can barely keep their paws off of you."
"Low blow, KP!" Ron complained.
"You know I'm kidding, Ron. So are you going to be around when I try to sell Chewie to my parents?"
"No can do. Steel Toe is taking on Dan 'Rocket Man' Bolski tonight. Must see TV! Besides, the bear practically sells himself. Just have the 'rents try his sandwiches, and they'll be begging him to stay!"
Kim started to point out again that Chewie wasn't a bear, but decided against it. If he wasn't offended by it, she probably shouldn't be, either. "Wish me luck, then. I just hope they don't bring up that goldfish Jim won at the fair last year."
"Didn't float over so well, huh?"
"Actually, that was the problem: he did. After only two days."
"Yikes!" Rufus squeaked.
Next Chapter: The Possibles have the new neighbors over for dinner, and Kim finds out nothing is sacred to Leila.