CHAPTER 3: DESPARATE MEASURES
Peppermint Patty and Franco went to Thibault's house to cheer him up. They heard he was still a wreck after the kidnapping and wanted to see what they could do to 1) get him out of the house and 2) open up to them about his problems. It wouldn't be an easy task, as Rattler tried the same thing and failed. And she was his girlfriend.
They rang the doorbell and Chandler answered it. "Oh hello, Patricia and Franco," said Chandler.
"How are you, Mr. Watkins?" asked Patty.
"I've been better, to tell you the truth," sighed Chandler. "My brother did a number on my son. He hasn't left his bedroom, unless it was to eat, go to school, or use the bathroom."
"That is terrible, sir," said a concerned Patty.
"We would like to help," said Franco.
"Sure, what have you got to lose?" said Chandler.
"Exactly!" said Patty. And the teens walked to Thibault's room. Chandler knocked on the door.
"Thibault, you have company," Chandler announced.
"I'm in no mood for anyone," Thibault retorted.
"Come on, Thibault!" said Patty. "Chuck's not this stubborn! Open up!"
After a few minutes, he finally opened the door to his room. "Well, come on in! Excuse the mess, though." And they went in. He wasn't lying. Thibault's room was messy, due to him throwing clothes on the floor that he changed out of.
"So what is it, Patty?" asked an impatient Thibault. "If you're going to try to talk me into stepping out, forget it! Unless I'm going to school or the doctor's office, I'm never stepping foot out of this house again! I'm actually glad you are here, though, because it saves me from calling you when I can give you the news to your face."
"What news?"
"I'm quitting the team."
"You're WHAT?!"
"I'm never leaving this house again, so why should I be on a baseball team when I won't be outside to play it?!"
"But you love baseball, Thibault! More than you love your girlfriend!"
"I will still watch baseball on TV; I just won't be playing it."
"So you're going to sit here in this house because your blockhead of an uncle kidnapped you?! You're just going to throw your who life away over that?! Yes, Max kidnapping you was awful and it sucked big time, but he's locked away now! He can't get to you anymore, and even if he got out today, eyes will be on him and if he comes ANYWHERE near you, or pays someone to do so, he's going back to prison! Take my word for it, Thibault! You are safe! No one is targeting you for any kind of kidnapping scheme concocted by your jerk uncle. And even if he tried to do that, no one is risking prison time for him. I don't think he has that kind of clout! So are you going to go out, or what?!"
Thibault thought for a moment.
"Well?"
"I'll pay you to bring me some Joe's to eat."
"And I thought Chuck was hopeless!" Patty then left, along with Franco. But he had one thing to say to Thibault.
"Thibault, mein freund," he began, "don't let your uncle dictate your life." And he followed Patty out. Thibault thought about those words. His uncle was the reason he had stayed shut in his house. He made him scared to go out. And if Thibault was scared, his uncle, despite being in prison unable to get to him, had already won. It was then that he got up and chased after Patty and Franco, who were halfway out the door.
"Guys, wait!" They turned around. "Let me call Holly first and then we can double date at Joe's."
"What do you think, Franco?" asked Patty.
"Yah!" said a happy Franco. And Thibault called Rattler and told her to meet him at Joe's Café so they and Peppermint Patty and Franco could double date.
At Rattler's home, where Cobra and Dominick were also over, she said crying happily, "My Tee Wee's back!"
NEXT CHAPTER: CAT'S GOT YOUR TONGUE?