Chapter 20
A few hours had passed since the boys departed the tree farm, and the twilight hours had once again hit Peach Creek. Although it was a little after five o' clock, due to the days becoming increasingly shorter as December progressed, the sky had altered it 's color palette from blue to a beautiful hue of orange and pink.
The Van Bartonschmeers had just completed their dinner routine, leaving Nazz to spend the rest of the evening as she pleased. Unfortunately, due to her and Julia's unexpected encounter with Jonny 2x4 as Captain Melonhead the previous night, her evening activities had already been set in stone.
Nazz made her way out of her house through the back door, and proceeded through the backyard towards the gate leading into the lane; the best course of action to remain undetected during her journey to Jonny's house. As Nazz walked down the lane towards the gate to Jonny's yard, she began to ponder her decision to keep Kevin's Christmas present a surprise. That afternoon, Kevin and Nazz enjoyed each others company over a planned lunch date. Due to the bike being presumed missing, Kevin's playful flirting and characteristic sarcastic wit was replaced with non-stop talking about his bike, complete with borderline tearfulness. Nazz began to wonder if it was really worth keeping the secret, as she would have to deal with Kevin's depressed state, as well as play along with Jonny's superhero charade until Christmas.
Nevertheless, Nazz passed into Jonny's yard and made her way to the storm cellar door acting as an entrance to the melon cave. While Jonny imagined an elaborate entryway consisting of a series of watermelon shaped stairs, and a large intricate, technologically advanced base of operations, the melon cave in reality was much less impressive. It consisted of a modified section of Jonny's basement, accessed via the storm cellar doors and a short wooden ladder.
Nazz approached the door, kneeled down and knocked three times. A few seconds passed, after which a small sliding door built into one of the door leafs opened. The small door was only large enough to occupy a single individuals eyes, and seemed to act as an observation port for providing "security clearance" into the melon cave.
"Who goes there?" said Jonny, his eyes peering through the small slot.
"C'mon dude, it's Nazz." said Nazz, "Can I come in, it's cold out here."
"Very well," said Jonny, after which he closed the observation panel and unlocked the cellar doors. "You may enter the melon cave."
Nazz rolled her eyes, after which she reached down and proceeded to open the door and begin the climb down the ladder into Jonny's basement.
The Melon Cave consisted of a small section of unfinished basement. A large hand drawn map of Rethink Avenue, with surveillance points marked with multicolored push pins, hung on the wall over the washer and dryer. On the other side of the room, a poster displaying the "Watermelons Creed" written in large, printed letters, hung from the rafters. In the middle of the room was a large swivel-style office chair, which happened to be Captain Melonheads personal throne. The hero was currently sitting within the arms of the chair, his back turned towards the entrance of the lair.
Nazz observed her surroundings as she walked through the poorly lit basement space, at which point Jonny's voice rang out from the chair.
"Welcome to the Melon Cave," said Jonny in a mysterious sounding voice, "I trust that you're alone?"
"Yes, I'm alone," said Nazz in an annoyed tone.
"So you've come to pay your debt to society by becoming a crime fighter," said Jonny, after which he rotated toward the chair to face Nazz revealing himself dressed in his full Captain Melonhead attire, "Being a crime fighter in Peach Creek isn't easy, are you sure you're ready for the challenge?"
"Sure, I guess so." said Nazz as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Very well," said Jonny as he stood up off of the chair, "It's time to bestow upon you a new identity, an identity that all of those who dare commit injustices will learn to fear."
Jonny reached toward the ceiling and took hold of what appeared to be a pull string used to open window blinds. The string was run across a series of pulleys attached to beams on the ceiling, eventually leading to a cylindrical structure surrounded by red curtains on the far side of the room.
At that moment, Jonny pulled string, causing the red curtains to open. Standing behind the curtains was an old mannequin that once belonged to Jonny's mother, currently being used as a model for Nazz's superhero costume. The mannequin wore a green mask, not unlike that worn by Zorro, overtop of it's eyes. On it's body was a one piece woman's swimsuit, colored in a hue of yellow-green. Green gardeners gloves were placed on it's hands, and a pair of white cowgirl boots adorned it's feet. Next to the mannequin was a crude drawing of Nazz, standing with her hands on her hips as she donned the costume, colored poorly with colored pencils.
"Citizen Nazz," said Jonny, "I officially dub you, the Harlequin Honeydew."
An appearance of disgust appeared on Nazz's face as she laid eyes on her new superhero costume.
"Gee Jonny," said Nazz, "I don't know, I'm allergic to spandex. Maybe I can just hang out in the tree house in my normal clothes and keep watch on the cul-de-sac from there."
"Don't be a fool H.H." said Jonny, "We can't risk revealing our secret identities to our enemies, we would endanger our families!"
Jonny walked towards Nazz and placed his hand on her shoulder. He leaned towards her, adopting his usual happy go lucky voice, and began speaking with a smile.
"Either way, I know your lying cause that's your old bathing suit!" said Jonny, "Julia brought it over earlier today. You should thank her, she helped me design the costume for ya."
Jonny giggled as Nazz ground her teeth.
"Jules..." said Nazz under her breath in an annoyed tone.
Jonny began walking back towards the center of the room, assuming the character of Captain Melonhead once again.
"No time to waste H.H.," said Jonny, "Let's get you changed into your costume, recite the watermelons creed, and get moving on our surveillance. I'm assigning you the duty of Haventhought Way! I'll be waiting for you up in Melon Tower, I know you won't disappoint."
Jonny climbed the ladder leading out of his basement and disappeared into the backyard, allowing Nazz some privacy to change into her costume.
Nazz sighed, after which she reluctantly began the process of changing into her costume. As she removed her shirt, she looked towards the ceiling with an aggravated expression and uttered a single statement to herself.
"Kevin, you owe me big time for this."
