Disclaimer: I still do not own Lizzie McGuire or any of the characters. I am still not making any money from this.
As Sam & Matt McGuire left the theater and headed to the car Sam thought about the how much fun they had at the sports memorabilia& collectibles show. They had both found a few of the baseball cards that were missing from their collections. He had even bought a football autographed by Larry Csonka to add to his collection. Although they had been having fun by 3:30 in the afternoon Matt was thoroughly bored and was wanting to go home. Sam had decided to take him to a matinée showing of "Pirates of the Caribbean" so they wouldn't get home too early. Now it was almost 6:30 and he figured it was late enough.
While they were driving home Sam decided he couldn't put off talking to Matt about his pranks any longer. "Matt?"
"Yeah dad." Matt answered.
"I have to ask you to stop pulling pranks on your sister."
Matt gave him a questioning look and replied "Why?"
"They're just getting too dangerous and eventually Lizzie's going to get hurt, that's why. For example that prank you pulled on her yesterday."
Matt thought about the look on Lizzie's face after she had fallen down. That in itself was worth it but she had almost lost her temper too. So far he had been unable make her lose her temper and start fighting with him since they had got back from Rome. Not that he really wanted to get her in trouble but ever since he had learned about the part about no fighting with him or she would be grounded even longer. That was a challenge he simply couldn't resist but so far Lizzie had resisted all his attempts to make her lose her temper. When he was talking with Melina yesterday about it she had suggested using one of those fake surveillance cameras her dad sells as part of the security systems his store has for sale. The idea was to get Lizzie to think that he had taken some embarrassing pictures or video of her and she would lose her temper for sure. It was too perfect a prank not to pull on her and he almost grinned at the thought. He caught himself in time and said "It was just a harmless prank and besides nobody got hurt."
"Matt!" Sam exclaimed sharply startling Matt. He continued in a stern tone to show that he wasn't kidding. "It wasn't just a harmless prank because she could have easily been hurt by that fall and you are lucky she didn't get hurt. Now I'm telling you not to pull any more pranks like that again or you will be in big trouble."
Matt was surprised not only by what his dad just said but also by how he said it. Matt thought about it for a few moments then replied "Sure dad, I won't pull any more pranks like that again." He was grinning inwardly as he said that thinking since his next prank was completely different he was safe.
They rode the rest of the way home in silence. When the arrived Matt rushed into the house fully expecting Lizzie to be waiting to clobber him as soon as he was in the house. Much to his surprise Lizzie was nowhere in sight. "Now where would lizard breath be right now." he muttered under his breath. He could see mom in the living room watching TV so he figured that she must be waiting for him upstairs. He dashed up the stairs two at a time while making as much noise as a herd of wild horses as he went up.
When he got to the top he found the hallway empty and he could see that Lizzie's door was closed. He could hear loud music coming from her room so she could hear that he was home yet. He knew just the thing to do to get her attention though and went to his room.
When he opened his door the first thing he noticed was that someone had cleaned it up for him. Then as he looked for his radio controlled truck he noticed that his computer was gone. As he began to look around frantically he saw that his TV, VCR & DVD player was missing too. After searching his room thoroughly he found that everything was gone, all his toys, movies, books, comics and even his baseball card collection was gone. The only things left in his room was the furniture, his clothes and a bible.
He rushed downstairs yelling that someone had stolen all his stuff. When got downstairs he found that Jo, Sam, Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo waiting for him. As he came to a full stop he saw that Jo was holding the fake camera in her hand and had a very angry expression on her face. Upon seeing that he said "Uh-oh"
"Uh-Oh is right young man." Jo said with a slight growl in her voice. When Matt heard that he gulped loud enough for every one to hear it. Jo continued to say "First of all you owe Gordo an apology because you latest prank didn't get Lizzie, it got me and Gordo instead." She gave him a hard look as he nervously apologized to Gordo. After Matt finished apologizing she went on to say "None of your stuff was stolen . I had Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda help me move it all into the garage where it is going to stay until your punishment is over. You are grounded for a month and during which all of your privileges are being taken away. That means the only places you are going is to school, church, and where ever your dad and I take you. You will not be allowed to watch TV, use the phone, play video games or use the computer. Do you understand me?"
"Yes" Matt answered meekly and quietly.
"What was that, I couldn't hear you."
"Yes, I understand mom." he said louder. Matt could tell by the look on Jo's face that it was best that he shouldn't say anything else right now.
"Now I want you to go upstairs and stay in your room until you are called to dinner." Jo said sternly while pointing upstairs.
As Matt turned to go he saw Lizzie struggling and failing miserably to conceal her glee at his predicament. On his way upstairs he thought to himself 'Just you wait lizard breath, I'll get you for this. I'll get you good when you least expect it.'