Sportacus couldn't sleep. He couldn't figure out what to do about Stephanie leaving. He didn't want to lie to Stephanie's parents about her getting hurt. That wasn't the right thing to do to solve the problem, and he knew that. He could understand that Stephanie's parents wanted to see her, but he didn't understand what he would do without her.
Sportacus got out of bed to get an apple. That always made him calm and happy. He looked at a picture of Stephanie. That only made him sadder. Suddenly, he had an idea. He knew what he wanted to do. He wondered if Stephanie was awake….
It was 3:00 in the morning, on the dot. Sportacus was talking to himself, over his idea. Something, though, was bothering him in the back of his mind. It stalled him. Then he remembered.
"Maggie, don't phone your friends until the nighttime ends!" Those were the words of his mother, when he was about twelve or thirteen. He had always obeyed her words. Sportacus somehow managed to remember how exasperating he must have been when he was a foolish teen, calling girls in the night, calling his friends to tell what they had said…..but Sportacus had to call Stephanie. This was different. He couldn't hold back. It was driving him crazy!
He picked up the receiver from the wall and dialed her number. He had butterflies in his stomach. It rang hardly once, and Stephanie picked it up.
"Hello?" Stephanie sounded wide awake. When she heard his voice, she really perked up.
"Stephanie, I can't figure out what to do. We can't lie to your parents. And I have no idea how to persuade them to come here. They won't. They already want you there. I'm not your dad, so I can't make the decision. You can try, try at least. Just don't lie to them or they'll think I'm a bad influence." Sportacus wasn't satisfied. He hadn't got the words off his chest that he wanted to.
"Oh, no, you're the best influence I've ever had. I can't think of anyone better. And plus, my parents aren't really strict. They know about you. I've told them. And they think it's great!" Stephanie in a way had totally lied. Her parents knew about Sportacus, but did they know of how close their friendship really was?
"We just…. can't lie."
Sportacus and Stephanie talked another two minutes. When they finally hung up, Sportacus was overwhelmed with emotion. Stephanie was excited, yet embarrassed. All in all, still, they hadn't come up with something.
Sportacus could only lie down and drift to sleep feeling that for two weeks he was going to have to, as a superhero, save his loneliness.
But Stephanie, she was happier. Nothing could ruin her happiness. If she was happy, the whole world was smiling in the sunshine!
As Stephanie was falling asleep, she muttered happily, "Boys….", and laughed a small laugh.