Over the weeks since Wendy had found Randall, her personality had changed from being quiet and shy, to one of more boldness and standing up for herself. Randall had been teaching her some things. At least while she was at school, she had toughened up against her bullies. She didn't use violence, but she did use their words against them to get them to think twice about taking her on. They did begin to back off of her, but she still wished for some humans friends too.

Before long, some of the more shyer kids did approach her and ask if they did want to be friends. Wendy was fine with that. She welcomed the company, and she did stand up for her new friends.

Wendy was so excited she was finally making some new friends that she did tell Randall about them.

"You haven't told them about me, have you?" He asked.

"No, of course not. But they have asked me where I have been learning to become the tough girl I am now. I haven't said anything about you to anyone, as I have promised. I just say I can't reveal my source." Wendy said.

"It's good you're gaining friends. I never had many friends growing up. I was disliked by nearly everyone."

"I know you have a temper, but why should everyone hate you?"

"Just being a reptile. I wasn't always as I am now as you know me to be. I used to be the shy, quiet type, and yet I was so smart. But by college I learned some new ways."

Randall still hadn't told her of why he was out here when he should be back home. He had a feeling it wouldn't work out too well.

But over his time being here with her, he had began to see her in a new light, that human kids weren't all that bad. In fact, they seemed to have much in common with monster kids, just different looks. They went to school, had friends and bullies and had to listen to grown ups boss them around.

Wendy still complained of the shows that her family did, that she hated it. Her family wanted her to be part of it, but she didn't want to.

Randall had yet to even witness one of the family's shows. He tried some encouragement. "It can't be all that bad."

"Come to one and see what I mean." She said. "Next weekend, we are taking our truck to a New Orleans show. You could come. Just you know, stay out of sight."

"I know that. Sure. Why not?" He said.

Wendy had just removed his splint, so he would be able to go and hide out.

…..

Wendy's sister, Jayden, had begun having problems with her current dummy staying in shape. It's head kept popping off when she worked on laughing jokes or trying to make it seem like it was laughing.

A lot of people laughed at her antics and jokes with her dummy, Brian. It had brown, soft hair, wore a yellow shirt and black pants. She loved to hear an audience laugh at her jokes and when she was performing with her special toy friend. She wished her sister would find an act to fit in with the performances.

Tim and Heather had offered to get her a dog many times, but she said no. It was so strange, what kid wouldn't want a dog?

Wendy would now reply, "I have some friends now to hang with. I don't need a dog." She was sticking up for herself when needed, but it was still not understood why she didn't want to be part of the act.

That weekend, the family was packing up for the stuff to take to have a show in the uptown area of New Orleans.

Wendy made sure Randall got into the truck bed. He was under a curtain so he wouldn't have to stay invisible the whole way. He had just been invisible while following and getting in the back.

It was warm that day, but the wind whipping under the curtain did make Randall a little chilly. He would stay in the truck bed until Wendy told him it was safe. He would stay out of sight.

Once there, Wendy hurriedly hopped out of the truck's back seat. It was one of those big red trucks with a back seat. She got to the back and said, "Randall, it's time to get out now." Luckily her family didn't hear her.

Randall vanished and slithered away from the truck to a nearby building with an overhang porch high up. No one was on it and curtains in the windows were closed. But he went to the roof instead. He watched Wendy and her family unpack the truck and set the stage up for their act. He hoped this would be entertaining, much more than sitting in the playhouse at their home.

An audience soon gathered to see what would happen. Randall was a high up audience. He saw Wendy just sitting in the audience too. Every now and again, she would look up at him.

Wendy wished she could join Randall on the roof.

Tim sang a few songs with his guitar and he got some good applause. He also told some jokes, which the audience loved.

Next was Heather's turn. She did a few different kinds of dances and she also got good applause. The family did get money too for their acts.

From Randall's perspective, it hadn't been too boring. Watching it was something new to him and he learned some things. He had never seen humans dance before and was enticed by how a human could move their body, from when he had watched Heather dance.

Last was Jayden with her dummy, Brian. She got all set up and began her act.

Now Randall could see what a 'dummy' was that Wendy had spoken of. He thought that was a bit ridiculous, but watched anyway.

Jayden did well until the jokes and laughing parts came on and when she tried to make Brian laugh, she had hoped wouldn't happen happened. Brian's head popped off, again.

It spooked some of the youngest kids. "Sorry everyone, this just happens sometimes." Jayden apologized. She felt so embarrassed.

Randall couldn't help but laugh at that part. So did Wendy.

Some of the audience left to calm their kids down.

Tim came onto the stage. "That's all for today, folks. Thank you for coming to see us."

The audience all got up and dispersed.

Randall took that as his cue to just watch and see what happened next.

The family began to clean up while Jayden complained. "That was so embarrassing, Dad. You said you were going to get me a new one."

"So I did. Go check the truck. It was going to be a surprise for when we got home." Tim said.

"Really? Where did you get it?"

"Here in town."

Jayden went to the truck and found a leftover trunk in the back. She pulled it out and opened it up. Inside was a creepy looking red headed dummy. It said Slappy on the top box lid.

Wendy thought it dumb that she was seeing her sister get a new dummy. He was creepy looking.

"Thanks, Dad." Jayden said. Tim was happy with her response.

Jayden picked Slappy up and saw a card in the pocket. She thought it was like a business card, but instead it was some weird words and she read them aloud. They all thought it weird.

"Funny language to be on a business card." Jayden said.

"Always surprises to be found. But now, let's load up and go home. Our job is done here for today." Tim said.

Jayden gave her new dummy a hug, only missing the eyebrows and eyes looking angry or an evil grin on Slappy's face. He was put back in his box for travel back home. They had no idea this dummy had come to life.

Once everything was packed up and ready to go, Randall climbed down from the rooftop, invisible. He climbed in and once again, got under the curtain. He was ready to go too. It had been a busy day.

Getting the new dummy had cheered Jayden up big time. She just wished she could have used him before that humiliating event at the show right in front of everyone.

At home they all unloaded the truck and Wendy told Randall it was safe to get out first. He headed back to the playhouse, unseen.

Jayden happily took the case up to her room and took Slappy out of his case. Slappy did take a good look around himself. The girl began to try to get a new routine started with him. Then it was time for dinner and she sat him on a bench where he would stay when she had other things to do. Though the dummy had other plans in mind.

The nights had been particularly warm lately, so Randall was staying out in the playhouse. He only came into Wendy's room when it was cold or chilly out. Wendy had once again, brought him some more food out there.

Tonight, some certain events began happening. By now, with no signs of the creature, Tim had picked up all his traps and Randall was free to wander as he pleased, but staying away from the trash.

That night, Slappy snuck off the bench and went to cause some trouble. The youngest kid could possibly take the blame for his antics. He had heard some of the things they said to her.

He took a paintbrush and went and painted on Jayden's door and on Tim's guitar. His eyes had grown used to the dark. He put the brush by Wendy's door and went back to Jayden's room to the bench.

In the morning, as usual, Wendy got up and went out to give Randall his breakfast. She didn't even know of the damage caused last night.

"I know I don't like the look of Jayden's new dummy. He's so creepy."

"You have me, let her have what makes her happy."

His friendship with her had softened some things about him over the past several weeks.

"Yeah, I know, but he's still creepy." Wendy said. "I have to go now."

"See ya."

Wendy went back to the house to get ready for school and have her breakfast, but she found her parents and sister mad at her. They showed her what had happened. Some nasty words were on Jayden's door, too nasty to say. And on Tim's guitar.

"You are going to spend tonight cleaning up these messes, young lady." Tim said angrily.

"But I didn't do them, Dad."

"So who did?" Jayden demanded.

"I don't know, but I didn't do it." Wendy said.

"That's enough. Go get ready for school." Heather said.

Wendy was mad her family didn't believe her. She hoped Randall hadn't done that. But he had been outside. She would talk with him later.

When she got home, she went straight for the playhouse. "Randall, you weren't in the house last night, were you?"

"No. Why?"

"When we went to bed last night, everything was fine, but we all woke up this morning and there was nasty words written on Jayden's door and on my dad's guitar. And now I have to spend the evening cleaning it all up."

"When I'm in your house, I'm only in your room, remember? So no, it wasn't me."

"Then I wonder who did it."

"I might be able to find out if you let me in."

"That would be great, but let's wait another night and see if it happens again, if something happens again."

Randall was okay with that, but he didn't want to take the blame for anything he didn't do. Then he heard Wendy called to the house.

"Gotta go."

"Good luck."

Wendy spent the most of the rest of the evening cleaning up the messes. She wasn't even allowed to have dinner for this punishment and no going out to her playhouse.

It was only after she was sure that she snuck out of her room and went down to the kitchen and got some food from the fridge. Slappy had heard footsteps and stayed for a moment.

The door opened and closed. The girl had gone outside. The dummy was quick and quiet on his feet. He was in her room and saw her going to the woods. She had something in her hands. Just what he could use to his advantage.

He went downstairs and broke Heather's cheerleading sticks and put them through the guitar strings and went back upstairs. This was about the time that Wendy came back in.

She had shared a bucket of chicken with Randall. She had been hungry going without dinner. On her way back up, she didn't notice the damaged things of her parents. She would find out in the morning.

Slappy was happy hearing all the chaos the next morning. He thrived on it.

Wendy may not have always been happy with her parents for doing what they did, but she knew better than to mess with their stuff. She ended up being grounded.