Chapter 2

The room was silent, broken only ocassionally by a loud snoring thatemanated from a large gorilla sprawled across a hammock in a corner of the room. The only other sound, hardly audible was from a faint buzzing across the room, which came from the alarm clock or rather the wreckage of the alarm clock as it had been smashed a few minutes before. Turning over fitfully in his sleep, this gorilla was sleeping peacefully, but that wouldn't last much longer.

Unaware to this gorilla, an intruder was sneaking into the room. Stealthily, through the shadows, avoiding the light filtering through the blinds, came this trespasser as he came closer and closer towards the slumbering gorilla, infiltrating the room with ease. Finally, gazing up as he was poised next to the hammock, ready to strike and with what sounded almost like a war cry, this furry invader pounced upon his larger foe with reckless abandon.

Caught in repose and by surprise, the gorilla jacknifes up on the bed with a loud hoot and laughter, thrashing on the hammock s he almost tumbles off the hammock. Without mercy, however, the intruder continues to tickle him as he thrashes around on the bed. The gorilla brings his massive arms up as he focuses through blurry eyes on this interloper, making out a red ballcap and a red shirt with yellow stars as he goes on the offensive, fingers tickling his attacker's sides as he erupts in a yelp of surprise and hooting laughter as he finally shouts out his submission, "Stop, DK!" as Diddy leans backwards.

Finally, Donkey Kong stops tickling his younger brother as his eyes finally focus with a grin, waking up as he catches his breathe after a few more chuckles. Diddy, however, continues to laugh as he almost topples off the bed and is rescued at the last second by Diddy's intervention who brings him up at the last second back safely onto the hammock.

"What time is it?" Donkey Kong manages to ask, looking over at his younger brother.

Finally breathing normally again, Diddy looks around the room and frowns a bit, "You broke your alarm clock again. That's why I had to wake you up!" as he hoots with pleasure at being able to wake up his older brother.

"Well, I appreciate the wake-up call, Diddy!" as he laughs, pushing himself out of bed as he reaches over, taking his brother's cap off as he heads towards the bathroom. With a laugh and an indignant "Hey!", Diddy lunges off the bed as he goes to retrieve his ballcap.

Donkey Kong pulls his brother into a big hug, "Good morning, bro!" as Diddy hugs his brother tightly back, grinning as he uses the opportunity to snatch his red ballcap, one of his prized possesions, back and onto his head.

Leaping to the floor, Diddy watches as his brother heads towards the bathroom and as the door closes, the look in Diddy's eyes makes it evident that he adores his brother.

Donkey Kong shoots out of the bathroom minutes later, grabbing a redtie with the letters "DK" across the bottom of the tie as he runs on all fours down the stairs, moving with surprising speed for a creature his size. Landing at the bottom of the stairs, he looks around as he shouted, "You didn't tell me it was this late, Diddy!"

Looping the tie around his neck as he frowns, hearing a guffaw from the kitchen as Diddy responded, "Well, you didn't ask. I thought you knew, bro!"

Donkey Kong knew that Diddy would never purposely make him late as he entered the kitchen, the air thick with the smell of bananas as he could only shake his head, picking up a handful of bananas as his eyes looked around with suspicion for a moment.

"Where's Tiny?" Diddy asked, gazing at Diddy who was swinging from the overhead light for a moment by his tail.

"Right here!" squeaked a familiar voice, leaping up as Tiny Kong snatched a banana from the bushel that Donkey Kong held in his hand and then darted away to the other side of the room in safety. Standing there, looking small and dimunitive as ever, she flashed one of her smiles that would melt a heart of stone. Her little frame was clad in a pair of blue overalls and a multi-colored cap fastened snugly around her head, with only her blonde pigtails spilling out to the side as she stood there, "Good morning, Donkey!"

Grinning as he responded with another "Good Morning!" as Donkey Kongadjusted his tie, walking to the window as he watched the snowflakes fall to the ground and then down the street, he could see Pauline. Donkey Kong knew it was her. He could tell by the way she stood there, the familiar bookbag and coat as a rush of adrenaline flowed through him for a moment, while Diddy watched her standing blissfully at the bus stop.

Blushing slightly as he noticed Diddy and Tiny looking at him as he wassuddenly painfully aware of the fact that he hadn't showered this morning. Dashing to the bathroom as he pounded along the floor, almost shoveling the bananas in his mouth as he headed to the downstairs bathroom, in a frantic attempt to make himself look presentable.

"Donkey!" Diddy and Tiny yelled in unison, obviously needing him forsomething as he roared back, "Hold on!"

Looking in the mirror, he smoothed down his hair slightly, ensured that his tie was on straight and for a finishing touch, added some cologne. Then, with a final swish of banana flavored mouthwash, he was ready for the bus stop and more importantly, Pauline.

With a grand flourish, he swung open the door as he picked up hisbookbag and dashed into the kitchen amid the continued shouts of his two younger siblings, "What do you guys need? I really have to get to school.".

"We know!" said Diddy with a nod.

"Look!" Tiny added as her petite hand pointed with an outstretched finger out the window. Eyes widening, Donkey Kong lunged towards the window, gasping as he watched the yellow school bus pull away. Looking closely, he saw Pauline settling down into a seat across from an individual wearing a distinctive red work cap as his eyes narrowed, knowing it was Mario as he pounded his fist on the wall in anger.

"Why didn't you two tell me?" he shouted, whirling on them as he pounded his fist again on the table, the table wobbling slightly under the force of his fist.

"We tried!" the two of them yelled pitifully, as Donkey Kong gazed at both of them, his glare softening as he tried to smile, breathing hard to get his temper under control.

"I know you did." Donkey Kong said gruffly, giving them both a smile to tell them he was alright.

Enveloping them both in a hug and a kiss on each of their foreheads, he called out, "Have a good day!", then slammed the door with enough force to make his siblings wince printed down the sidewalk, almost slipping on the ice but recovering gracefully as Donkey Kong also headed in the direction of Brooklyn High School.