Chapter Two: Wish All You Want

"Okay," said Holly. "Now, which drawer would a t-shirt be in?"

Artemis looked at her blankly. "T-shirt."

"Uh-huh," Holly said. "That's what I said."

Artemis just stared incredulously. Holly sighed.

"Let me guess. You don't have any."

"Exactly," Artemis told her.

"Great. What about sweat pants?"

Artemis looked at her. "Sweat pants?"

Holly groaned. "You don't have those either, I take it."

"Geniuses don't wear sweat pants. Or t-shirts." He added, under his breath, "They don't go trick-or-treating either."

"Okay," said Holly. "So, I'll have to fix that. Get Butler for me, will ya?"

Artemis went over to an intercom and pressed the button. "Butler." The intercom didn't do anything (they would have been able to hear it all over the house if it had). Artemis sighed. "Great."

Holly grinned. "I'll fix that." She went over to the door and opened it. "BUTLER!" she shouted. Then she closed the door. Artemis stared at her in disbelief.

"That is not going to work. In this big house, there is no way that he will hear you."

The door burst open and Butler ran in. "What?" he said, panting. Artemis looked at him.

"But…how did you…" Artemis stuttered. Holly laughed.

"Butler was just down the hall." Then she turned to Butler. "Will you take me out shopping? I need to get Artemis some things."

Butler tried to answer, but Artemis interrupted. "Just a moment. I am going to go too. If you're getting my things, then I am definitely going."

Holly sighed. "Okay, but I warn you, you're not going to like the stuff I'm getting."

Artemis looked annoyed. "Oh? Just what are you getting?"

Holly looked at him. "Stuff for your Halloween costume." Butler snorted and tried hard to conceal his amusement at this. Artemis looked at Butler, now really annoyed.

"Purely her idea, I assure you. Now, Holly, I…"

Holly interrupted. "No, it's going to be a surprise. You stay here and…well, do whatever you do when you're alone. No criminal things, though. Do something constructive, like…um…painting. Or studying."

Artemis looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Studying? What, pray tell, should I study? What do I need to know more about?"

Holly sighed. "Okay, not studying, then. You try thinking of something."

"Now you know one of the reasons I do criminal things in the first place."

"Yeah, whatever. Don't now, though. I'll find out when we get back."

"Suppose I hide it?"

"I'll know, believe me. Now then, Butler, can you take me? I can't figure out your human cars, and besides, people would see me and think I was a child, and the police would come after me, and…well, anyway…"

Butler nodded. "Okay. Behave yourself, Artemis."

Artemis looked at him. "Ah…behave myself?"

Butler looked back. "Yes, behave yourself. You know, what Holly said."

Artemis sighed. "All right, old friend." He turned to Holly. "I really wish you weren't doing this, though."

Holly grinned. "Wish all you want, Mud Boy, you're not getting out of this."

Artemis' only answer was another groan. He had a feeling he would be doing that a lot today.