Episode 64: Blue Christmas

CHAPTER 1: NO CHANGE IN SIGHT

It had been a month since Thibault's uncle Max had went to prison for his kidnapping, and yet, Thibault was still suffering from severe PTSD. He was afraid to venture out of the house, unless he had to like when he went to school. And when he was there he stuck close to his friends and girlfriend Rattler like glue. And when he was with his father, he didn't stray far from him. Although Thibault knew that Max himself couldn't get to him being locked away, he thought that he had goons on the outside keeping tabs on him. During the time he was at home, he would call a friend over to pick up some food from Joe's Café and bring it back to him. As payment, he let the kid keep whatever change was left.

Rattler, for her part, was worried about Thibault. He went from being pretty outgoing to a virtual shut-in due to Max kidnapping him. While she expected him to be out of it for a while, he seemed determined to stay in as long as he could, only leaving if he had to. She was at her own wits end. She was talking to Cobra, Dominick, Lucy, and Schroeder about it at Joe's.

"I'm really worried about my Tee Wee, guys," said a worried Rattler. "He hasn't been out once, unless he had no choice. And even then, he's looking over his shoulder."

"I also noticed the change in his behavior after the whole kidnapping," said Dominick.

"Has he went to counseling?" asked Lucy. "I can offer some help if he needs it."

"Thanks, Mamba," said Rattler. "If he can stay out long enough, I'll send him your way."

"Meanwhile, I have problems of my own, I'm afraid," sighed Cobra.

"What's going on?" asked Schroeder.

"Mallory keeps trying to steal Dom here," fumed Cobra, holding on to Dominick's arm like her life depended on it.

"She's STILL trying to get back with you, Dominick?!" asked a bewildered Lucy.

"She is," sighed Dominick. "She can't seem to get the hint that I'm with Sylvia now!"

"It sounds like Charlie Brown's sister Sally's obsession with my brother years earlier," said Lucy. "Cobra, Rattler, you remember the pit in Monte Woods on Valentine's Day?"

"Don't remind us, Mamba," groaned Cobra.

"When Linus and Eudora were first dating," Schroeder told Dominick, "Sally, who harbored a huge crush on Linus, was extremely jealous of their relationship, and she and Eudora were best friends. It all came to a head Valentine's Day weekend when Sally tricked Eudora into Monte Woods where she dug a hole and shoved Eudora in it, keeping her there until she was able to woo Linus to be with her."

"It backfired royally," Cobra continued. "This was after Python's death and the confrontation with the Lizard Ladies. We were cleaning up our graffiti that we did at Rattler's school and we always took a shortcut through Monte Woods. We heard Eudora calling for help. Had we not been there, she probably would have froze to death out there."

"It took a while for Eudora and Sally to make peace, but they eventually did and are besties again," Lucy finished.

"And now Mallory, as it seems, is going down that same path Sally did," said Dominick.

"Only thing is, she's NOT going to throw me into any pit, or whatever she may have planned in that sick head of hers!" growled Cobra.

"You have any more problems with her, Cobra, let me know," said Rattler, ready to fight. "I may be going through some stuff with Thibault, but I will still have your back!"

"Thanks, Rattler," said Cobra.

"That goes for me, too, Cobra," added Lucy. "I personally don't have an issue with her, but if she's harassing one of my friends, I'll slug her, just the same!" And the kids continued to enjoy their meal and discuss the Thibault issue. Rattler wasn't sure what was going to happen with her boyfriend.

NEXT CHAPTER: COMMAND PERFORMANCE