Chapter 6: living downsized

Kim walked up to her room with Ron and grabbed the cordless. Putting in the numbers Jason had given her, she waited while the ring tone sounded.

"You know, KP, didn't Jason say he had to work?" Ron asked.

After 3 tones, someone picked up the phone.

"Hello, Wellman residence?"

"Hey, Jason, its Kim."

"Hey! Didn't expect you to call so quickly."

"Yeah well…"

"Isn't that breaking one of the Rules?"

Kim smacked herself in the forehead.

"Listen, Jason, I need to ask a huge favor of your family."

"Okay, what do you need?"

"You know how I save the world on a regular basis and stuff, right?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, earlier this evening, there was an assassination attempt on my life, and my supergenius says I should hide out at someone's house for the weekend to avoid him. Do you think that would be okay?"

"Uh…" Jason faltered. "Let me, uh…deliberate this with my family members." He sounded uncertain. He left the phone for a few seconds, then came back. "Yeah, the rest of the family has no objections. What about your parents though? Wouldn't they go ballistic if they knew you were staying at a guy's house for the weekend?"

Kim hadn't thought of that. "Uh…I'll tell them I'm staying at Monique's."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, well, I live on 526 Jonson street. Just come over whenever your packed and stuff."

"Thanks, Jason. I owe you big time."

"No big."

Kim giggled and hung up the phone.

"So?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, I'll be staying with him for the weekend." She said. "I just hope he doesn't try to pull anything while I'm there. I mean, we don't really know him that well, so we can't really tell what he'll do, can we?"

Ron shook his head. "Kim, I have this weird sense about people. When I first meet someone, I kinda get this feeling…I can't really explain it, but it kinda tells me if they're a jerk or not. I didn't get that when I met Jason, so I think we can trust him."

"I just hope you're right," Kim said uneasily.

"Kimmie! Where are you going this late at night?" Mrs. Possible called at her. Kim was just headed out the door with a rather large duffel slung over her shoulder and her regular school/mission backpack.

"Oh, mom," she said, turning to look at her. "Me and Monique have this big…physics project due on Monday, and I need to go over to her house so we can finish it. Can I stay for the weekend?"

Mrs. Possible frowned. "I don't recall you mentioning any physics project to me or your father…"

"sorry, mom, it completely slipped my mind," she replied. "so can I stay for the whole weekend?"
"I suppose…" Mrs. Possible said, still not looking entirely convinced of the lie Kim was weaving around herself.

"Thanks mom," Kim said, coming over to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be back Sunday night." With that, she walked out the door.

"You sure you can do this, Kim?" Ron asked her for the sixth time as they walked down the street along Jonson street. "I mean, you save the world and everything, but lying to your parents about staying at someone's house?"

"Yes, Ron," she repeated, as she had done the last five times. "My parents don't suspect anything, and I already told Monique that if my mom calls, to say I'm in the bathroom."

"Okay," Ron said, still not convinced Kim was in her right mind. "well, here's 526… wait a sec, this is an apartment building," he said, looking up at the building.

"I guess he lives in an apartment," Kim said, opening the door to the front foyer and walking in.

It looked like your normal apartment foyer: small, cramped, and rather claustrophobic. Standing by the stairs leading up, was Jason, but he wasn't alone. There were two rather large dogs on leashes held in his hands.

"Hey," he greeted them, walking closer. "Hope you don't mind dogs Kim, but they're friendly." Both were rather long and thin, with short hair and pointy noses. One was a dark bluish color, the other tan.

"Greyhounds, right?" Kim asked, dropping her duffel and kneeling down to pet the affectionate tan one.

"Yeah," he said. "Meet my family."

Kim and Ron both looked startled. "You mean this is your family?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," Jason replied. "My parents were famous archaeologists. Died in a landslide about 7 years ago. Left me their entire fortune."

"And you live in an apartment building?" Ron asked, skeptical.

"I prefer the simpler things in life, rather than expensive luxuries." He replied. "why do you think I'm in a public school?"

There was an awkward silence for a few moments. Then, after a few seconds, there was still an awkward silence.

Finally, Jason said awkwardly, "um…well, I guess I'd better show you where you'll be staying for the weekend. Come on boys." He pulled on the dogs' leashes, and they came away from Kim and started walking up the stairs. Jason let go of their leashes so they could continue. Then he bent down and picked up Kim's bag.

"I live in the penthouse, so there's a rather nice view overlooking the town." He said, starting to walk up the stairs. "Come on."

Kim waved goodbye to Ron, then followed Jason up the stairs. After a few moments, they both disappeared from sight, leaving Ron standing alone in the foyer.