The chapters are getting longer… :D

Codename: Kids Next Door and all Characters © Cartoon Network

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Chapter 3 - One More Night

The last few weeks of their 2nd grade school year passed by slowly. As the hours of daylight grew, so did the boy's anticipation of the start of their Kids Next Door training. They collected as much information as possible, reading, re-reading, and re-reading again the pamphlet that Abigail had given them. They had read it a total of fifty-eight times combined. Wally's had to be scotch-taped back together on several occasions and most of the text had been worn away from the constant turning of pages.

Eventually the end of year testing had come to an end, and the three friends found themselves watching the clock hanging on the classroom wall eagerly. 2:55. Only five more minutes until the start of summer.

"Aw man, I can't wait until we leave for the Arctic Training Base tomorrow morning!" Hoagie said, leaning over towards Nigel.

"Yeah, we've only got one night to pack our things before we have to be at the bus stop." Nigel replied as he scanned over the article in the pamphlet describing the transportation to the training base…

All kids should report to their assigned bus stop at exactly 8 a.m. All beginning operatives are asked to bring the following items:

-1 suitcase containing warm clothes and any personal items.

-A sleeping bag and pillow

-Notebook for taking notes in class

"I wonder what kind of classes they're going to have."

"If it has anything to do with Math, then I might as well stay home!" Wally said, leaning back in his chair. "I can't tell the difference between a decimal and piccolo!"

"Um… Wally? A piccolo is a musical instrument." Nigel replied, looking at him oddly.

"Well why would they be teaching us about music if it's Math class?"

"Three minutes!" Hoagie chimed in. The other children in the classroom were becoming restless and squirmed in their seats anxiously. Abigail sat quietly in the back of the room, her arms crossed with her red hat tipped low over her eyes. Nigel wondered if she was still going to the Training Base.

Although he would never admit it to Wally and Hoagie, deep down, he wondered if he was making the right decision. All his life he wanted the chance to fight against evil, to prove what he could do, and to use his skills and talent for good. Maybe his friends had been right… maybe he was rushing into this too quickly. But it was too late to back out now; he had already persuaded them into going. It would be bad enough if his own decision turned into a complete disaster, but having to live with the guilt of involving his friends in his bad decision would be unbearable. He could only hope that this wasn't going to turn into a catastrophe.

"Fifteen more seconds!" Hoagie shouted, watching the clock with wide eyes. The entire classroom had gone completely silent. Every eye was turned to the clock as they counted down the seconds in unison.

"10…9…8…7…"Now Wally and Nigel were counting down as well.

This is it, Nigel thought. There're no regrets now…

"3…2…1…"

The school exploded in earsplitting shouts and cheers. Papers filled the air in excitement like giant white pieces of confetti. Even Mrs. Hamilton, who was usually very strict, let out a sigh of relief. The students raced out of the classroom and towards the front doors with loud cheers and laughs.

"Come on, Nigel!" Hoagie shouted over the noise that filled the hallways. "Let's head back home and start packing!"

"I'll catch up to you guys later," He replied, motioning towards Abigail. She was still standing in the back of the classroom. Hoagie nodded understandingly, grabbed hold of Wally and raced out of the school, laughing madly the entire way.

"Those are some crazy friends you got there, Nigel." Abigail said, tossing her backpack over her shoulder.

"Yeah, they are." Nigel agreed. They walked out of the class room and down the hall. They were the only ones left in the school and found the sudden silence a little strange.

"Yeah, but not half as crazy as you. A kid who's never even heard of the Kids Next Door before and he's ready to leave by tomorrow morning? Sounds like you're really determined…" She said with a laugh.

"But how did you know that I was going?" Nigel asked. "I haven't talked to you since that day outside of the school."

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. I mean, anyone who reads that pamphlet every single day in class would not be going!" Abigail replied with a smile. It seemed that Nigel was wrong – she did pay attention in class. At least, she had paid enough attention to realize that they had been reading the pamphlets in class.

"Abby!" A girl shrieked, waving from the entrance doors. She was an asian girl with short black hair tied up into two small pigtails. Her green tank top matched her Rainbow Monkey backpack that was tucked underneath her right arm.

She ran towards Abigail, her arms opened wide. She bounded onto her and trapped her in a tight hug. She let her go after a few moments, laughing happily as Abigail gasped for breath.

"Hiya! Are you Abby's friend?" She asked, looking at Nigel. He hoped that she wouldn't try to jump on top of him next.

"Kuki, this is Nigel Uno. Nigel, this is my friend Kuki Sanban." Abigail said, flattening out her blue hooded-sweatshirt. "Nigel is going to the training base this summer, too, Kuki."

"Really? That's great! Maybe we will see each other there!" Kuki said cheerfully. Nigel was happy to learn that she was also going to the Arctic Training Base. He was starting to feel less nervous.

"Hey, we've got to get going… Need to go home and start packing, ya know." Abigail said, looking at Kuki.

"Oh… yeah. I have to go home and get ready. I'll see you then later, Abigail!" Nigel replied, waving as the two walked farther away down the sidewalk.

"See you later!" Abigail said, "And call me Abby!"

"Bye mister Nigel sunglasses guy!" Kuki shouted back at him, waving a hand furiously over her head. He watched them as they disappeared over the house-lined horizon.

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It was late that night when Nigel finally finished packing his suitcase. As he zipped the bag closed, she looked at the digital clock set on the table next to his bed. 9:53. He yawned as he collapsed onto his mattress. So many thoughts were running through his head… How many other kids were going to show up at the bus stop tomorrow? Would the five of them be the only one who showed up? What if the bus didn't show up at all? He could see himself now, standing at the stop, waiting for days and days until September 1st finally rolled around and they forced him to go back to school.

"Knock-knock!" Mrs. Uno said in a sing-song-voice. She pushed open his bedroom door, holding a small plate of cheese and crackers. "I though you might have gotten hungry, dear, so I made these for you." She said with a smile, placing them on the nearby table. Nigel sat up and ate one of them gratefully. He hadn't had anything to eat since five o'clock.

"Ah, there's my boy!" Nigel's dad said as he walked into the bedroom. He plopped down next to him on the bed and ruffled his hair playfully. "All ready for your first summer away from home, are you then?"

"I'm sure Nigey will have oodles of fun at his little kid's camp!" His mother said, giggling with delight.

"It's called the Kids Next Door, mom." Nigel said, rolling his eyes. His parents could be so lame sometimes.

"Oh, I remember my first summer away from home…" Mr. Uno said, reminicing. "I spent two months stranded on a fishing boat in the middle of the English Channnel! Had to eat my fishing bait to survive. You'd be surprised how good a worm can taste with some seaweed…"

"Well, just be sure to get to bed soon, sweetie. I don't want you to be tired for your trip tomorrow." Mrs. Uno leaned over and planted a kiss on her son's forehead before walking out of the room, Mr. Uno close behind.

"Yes, quite right! We don't want you to be tired on your first day at camp! Sleep tight!" His father said, closing the door behind him. Nigel didn't have to worry about staying awake… just falling asleep. He was so excited that he could have stayed awake into next morning if he wanted to. He flopped back down on his bed, staring at his ceiling fan. He wondered what Hoagie and Wally were doing, and if they would be able to sleep tonight. He thought about Abby and Kuki, and wondered if they were just as excited and anxious as he was. He wondered if every operative felt this way the night before they left for the Arctic Training Base...

As his eyes began to shut, his mind was still racing with thoughts of the Kids Next Door.

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NOTICE:

While I am continuing to write my story, so don't freak out if you see any drastic changes.

Also, I am having a contest! I can't think of a good title for my story, so if you have any recomendations, I would love to hear them! The person with the best title will make an appearance in a future chapter of my story.

Thanks again!