Chapter 10
The night had come and gone in what seemed like a flash. It was 7:45 a.m, and the sun was currently shining brightly over the cul-de-sac.
Even though it was still quite early, the cul-de-sac was already devoid of activity. Double Dee had left for school early this morning, as it was lab day in chemistry. One of Double Dees most revered extra-curricular activities was assisting the chemistry teacher in preparing chemical samples for the students to use during the day's lab exercise. Accordingly, he had left for school earlier than usual this morning.
The three Kanker sisters had decided to leave for school earlier than usual as well. Lee had desired to utilize the school copy machines to run off papers that would eventually be used to execute her plan to win the school talent show; naturally Marie and May were recruited to assist her. May however had requested that she be dropped off in the business district, as she had her own agenda.
Ed and May had made morning plans prior to saying their goodbyes the previous night. They were currently finishing up a breakfast date at one of the well known coffee shops in the business district. The lovable oaf and his goofy girlfriend put on quite a show for the patrons, as they woofed down three plates of eggs, sausage, bacon and toast (each to themselves) in record time.
Eddy's morning was quite different than all of his peers. He had spent two hours in Lee's room last night, listening to Lee complain about her arch nemesis, as well as explain her idea for the talent show. Lee's act, of course, involved Eddy's participation, a fact that the stout Ed boy was not happy about once he found out the details. Nevertheless, the couple did part on good terms, as they spent the last fifteen minutes of the night laughing, playfully flirting, and talking of memories past.
As a result of the chain of events that occurred the previous night, as well as his lack of sleep the previous night, Eddy had immediately crashed onto his bed as he entered his room. Unfortunately, he had neglected to set his alarm, and none of his peers were present to check up on him.
While the giant Douglas fir that acted as the center piece for the Rethink Avenue Christmas Display was no longer illuminated due to it being daytime, the Suns rays reflected brightly off of the large star that served as the capstone. The sun eventually reached a position where the beam was reflected directly into Eddy's bedroom window, striking his face.
The beam of light caused the adolescent to stir. He opened his eyes, sat up in bed, yawned and stretched. The boys groggy eyes turned towards the clock sitting on his night stand, which currently read 7:50. The boy smiled slightly, after which he laid back down in his bed, intent to re-immerse himself in a world of dreams.
Not more than two seconds after he laid back down, Eddy's body jolted up to a sitting position. The now wide-eyed boy had finally realized that in the midst of the chaos of the previous night, he had forgot to set his alarm and overslept.
In a panic the stout boy jumped out of bed, and quickly ran into his "closet of dreams". He chaotically stripped himself of his bed clothes, applied deodorant, and donned his signature yellow sweater blue jeans combination. After a quick comb of his hair, the boy grabbed his back pack, put on his coat, and hastily made his way out the door and into the chilly morning air.
Eddy realized that would never be able to make it to school on time by walking, and would require an alternate mode of transportation if he wanted to avoid disciplinary action. After a few seconds of brainstorming, he suddenly recalled a similar situation earlier in the year, in which Double Dee had saved himself, Eddy and Ed from lateness by employing his triple rider bicycle (referred to as the "Ed-Mobile" by Double Dee, much to Eddy's embarrassment). It seemed that it would once again come in handy for this particular situation.
Eddy bolted across the street and into Double Dee's yard, on his way to the solitary blue shed where the Ed mobile was kept. After a few seconds of fumbling with the latch, he flung the barn doors open with a smile, only to see empty space. Well, almost empty space, for where the Ed Mobile was usually parked, sat a single piece of 8.5 X 11 paper with a note, which Eddy promptly picked up and read.
DD
Hope ya don't mind we borrowed your bike. We needed to get to school early to get first cut at the copy machines and didn't feel like walking. You understand ;)
We'll bring it back this afternoon!
- AK X 3 :)
"Damn it Lee!" yelled Eddy to himself, after which he tossed the note back onto the floor of the shed. He briskly exited back into the cul-de-sac.
Eddy, believing he had exhausted all other options, made the preparations to attempt to run all the way to school. However, just as he was about to take his first stride, he heard the sound of a wooden door closing. He turned around to see Kevin leaving his house, on the way to his garage to retrieve his prized chrome low rider bike.
"Yo Kev!" yelled Eddy, "What are ya still doin' back at the cul-de-sac? School starts in ten minutes!"
"Hey dork," said Kevin, "I always leave at this time. Talk about perks of riding your bike to school, you get there faster so you don't have to wake up as early."
"Yeah whatever," said Eddy, "Listen can ya give me a ride, I'm going to wind up gettin' detention for a week if I don't show up on time for school today!"
Kevin paused, after which he delivered Eddy a sarcastic smile.
"You're lucky Nazz has cheer this morning," said Kevin, "That spot behind me is usually hers, but I'll let ya have it just for today. And don't get any funny ideas, if ya ask again, I'm going to start charging ya!"
Eddy punched Kevin playfully.
"Whatever Shovel Chin," said Eddy, "Thanks, I owe ya pal!"
The two boys began making their way towards Kevin's garage, as Eddy decided to continue the conversation.
"So you're still ridin' old reliable?" said Eddy, "How long have you had it?"
"It was my dads when he was a kid," said Kevin, "My baby will be thirty years old this year, and she's still ridin' strong."
"Ever think about an upgrade?" asked Eddy, "Ya know, shocks, pegs, the works?"
"You kiddin'?" said Kevin, "My baby is a classic! Banana seat, sissy bar, ape hanger handlebars, ya can't beat it!"
"Whatever ya say," said Eddy.
"I'll admit she is aging though," said Kevin, "She needs a new seat cover, a new chain, and a full chrome polish. I haven't been able to give her the love she deserves with school and all, but when winter break comes, she will be restored as good as new."
Eddy and Kevin finally reached the garage, at which point Kevin reached down and grabbed the handle.
"No matter what though, I ain't ever trading her in. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her."
Kevin lifted the garage door with a smile, anxious to see his prized bicycle. Unfortunately, Kevin's smile did not last more than an instant, as he laid eyes on the interior of the garage. The garage was populated by various fixtures including Kevin's fathers tool bench, a few packs of jawbreakers given to him by his factory, and various automotive parts. However, the space typically occupied by Kevin's silver bicycle was empty.
Kevin, in a panic, entered the garage and began pacing around. He hastily moved some of the junk that occupied the garage in a futile hope that the bike was buried underneath.
"My bike...it's gone" said Kevin rather softly.
Eddy watched as Kevin exited the garage, in a distraught state that was atypical of the usual "cool" and cynical Kevin. The red-hatted boy fell to his knees, lifted his hands to the air, and shouted at the top of his lungs, with a volume that seemed to be capable of setting off car alarms all the way in the business district.
"WHERE'S MY BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKE!"
