Disclaimer: This story is based upon characters created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle for Disney. Since this story is set 20 plus years later, all the characters under twenty-five years of age are mine.
Don was really pepped up at the game against Lowerton. He broke the school record for most sacks in a single game. Middleton won, 14-7.
The next morning, Middleton high had its annual 'Mutant Awareness' assembly. Anne and Don were asked to sit on the stage with several other notable students.
"Don is taking who to the dance?" Kate Moss asked as they sat down.
"A friend of the family." said Anne, "She works for my mom."
"Don is bound to upset a lot of girls by getting an outsider."
"She's not an outsider to us. We've worked with her on missions."
"Still, an older woman," Kate sounded rather impressed.
The assembly soon started and Mr. Barkin began with a long speech.
"Barkin hates me," Kate told Anne as they listened to the Principal lecture. Her long, straight brown hair glistened.
"What makes you think that?" Anne whispered.
"It's the only reason I'm up here."
"I thought it was because we are team captains," Anne said quietly.
"Not the chess and debate teams," Kate rolled her eyes. "Besides, your brother's not a captain, and he's down there with the other jocks."
Anne glanced down at Don who was sitting next to Cindy. Next to Cindy was Ken Flagg! Anne unconsciously made a fist.
"Ken's the captain," said Kate. "That might be why he and Cindy are up here, but you and I don't have that kind of notoriety around here." She stuck her hands in her pockets and slouched, "I'm on the swim team, but our captain isn't here."
Barkin turned to the students on the stage, "Miss Moss, would you please explain some mutant facts to our student body."
Kate mumbled to Anne as she rose, "He singles me out every year."
Anne watched as Kate walked to the podium. The lights were dimmed and Trenton turned on a projector that was on a cart next to the podium. It displayed slides on the wall behind Anne and the others. Anne couldn't watch without turning her seat, so she just sat there as Kate talked about polluted lakes, rare vibrations, dangerous mutations and the one case of beneficial mutants, the giant roaches at the Middleton landfill.
Anne only half listened to Kate's speech, knowing all of this already. She did notice that the backlight from the projector made Trenton's acne look twice as bad. She tried not to stare, but his face was in a mini-spotlight. It was actually more of a zit-light.
When Kate was done, the lights came back up and she sat back down by Anne.
"Wasn't it your parents that tamed the roaches?" she asked.
"Yeah," Anne nodded. Dad actually used to tell that story at bedtime.
"I guess that explains why you and Don are here," Kate whispered. "But he just hates me."
Once the assembly was over, those on the stage had to wait for the audience to file out before they could leave.
Trenton followed immediately after Anne, pushing the cart before him. At the door, the cart's wheels caught on the carpet's edge. The rear end of the cart tipped up. The projector fell forward toward Anne.
Anne turned and knelt down quickly. She caught the projector on top of her books.
"Thanks," said the A-V kid as he tipped the cart back to get it through the door. Once the cart was all the way in the hall, he took the projector from Anne. "Mrs. Hatchett would have my hide if this thing was damaged," he said as he set it on the cart.
Anne picked up a sheet of paper that had fallen to the floor. A short poem was written on it. So short that she had read all of it as soon as she saw it.
When a pigeon loves a dove, it helps when they both realize that a pigeon is a dove.
"That's sweet, Trenton," said Anne as she handed it to him.
"Trent, actually."
"Huh?"
He smiled, "Trenton is in New Jersey. I'm right here. There's a difference of two letters and a thousand miles."
"Oh," Anne bowed her head. "Sorry."
"I'm used to it."
"Nice poem," Anne changed the subject back. "Where'd you get it?"
He grinned, "I, uh." He looked at the paper and then back at Anne, "Wrote it during the presentation."
"Cool," Anne smiled. "Could you make a copy?"
He seemed quite surprised. "Sure!" He smiled as he wrote it again on the lower portion of the same sheet, then tore it in half and handed her the top section.
"Thanks, Trent." She took it and read it once again slowly as she walked away, before she slipped it into one of her books.
Ron escorted his guests to Pellone Allegre's best booth. These businessmen were eager to see him for some reason.
"Thank you for seeing us before business hours," said Mr. Setai.
"Do itashemashite," said Ron without an accent.
"You speak Japanese?"
"I've picked up a little," Ron smiled.
"We have a proposal for you, Mr. Stoppable," said Mr. Donaldson.
"It would be my honor to hear your proposal," Ron said, starting to feel like he may be impressing these men.
Mr. Setai smiled.
Mr. Donaldson brought out a portfolio. "We are rather impressed with the success of your restaraunt."
"Thank you," Ron tried to say humbly. "I should tell you now, I simply couldn't sell."
"That would be folly," agreed Mr. Setai.
"We were thinking 'Franchise'," smiled Mr. Donaldson.
"Real-ly?" Ron rubbed his chin.
"Mr. Donaldson would open a location in Las Vegas. I am considering Orlando," Mr. Setai nodded.
"You would keep creative control and train the local management," Donaldson opened the portfolio, revealing artist's conceptions of the restaraunt in new locations and marketing and financial charts.
After looking over everything, Ron admitted, "Those are some nice numbers."
"What do you think?" asked Mr. Donaldson.
"It does look tempting," Ron was thoughtful. "I'd like to take this to my 'familial comittee', as it were."
"Understandable," Mr. Setai stood.
"We will await your decision," Donaldson collected some papers, leaving the bulk of the presentation in a folder on the table.
"Thank you for coming," Ron stood and bowed slightly as they left. "I will be in touch."
.
For those that know me, I should mention that I have not inserted myself into the story. I merely thought that my name fit one of the characters.