Here's the next episode, 'Pigeon Man'! Anyway, enjoy!

On a Wednesday morning, I was humming a little bit as I was reading from my latest book in my room when I heard a tapping in my window. I looked up to see a pigeon tapping at my window. I smiled a bit. Must be one of Arnold's pigeons. I opened the window as I noticed a message tied on its leg. I carefully took the message off the bird's leg and opened it up to see... yep, this is Arnold's handwriting, all right.

'Hi Rhonda. I'm planning on taking a few of my friends over to the pier to take a look at Elk Island sometime this weekend. Would you like to come along? I'll be gathering the group at the bus stop near my house on Saturday. Respond back when you can. Lester will be right here waiting with your reply. Arnold Shortman.'

I beamed as I gave a smile. This was the perfect chance to get close to him. And... okay, yeah, it's not technically dating, it's more of a group trip to the pier... but it was still an exciting trip.

I started writing my message.

'Sure, buddy. I love to come! See you at the bus stop on Saturday. Rhonda W. Lloyd.'

I thought about putting in a heart in that note, but I decided against it. Didn't want to come off as too desperate. Anyway, I tied the note on the pigeon and gave a small salute to the pigeon. The pigeon cooed as it started to fly off, on its way to its recipient.

"A very unique way to give letters." I sighed. "But that's why I love him... Arnold has a very unique imagination."

I decided to relax as I laid down on the bed, getting back into my book. I don't know where Arnold got the idea to use carrier pigeons to deliver letters, maybe he's been inspired by either World War II's history or maybe it was from the Harry Potter books. Either way, we were all amazed that Arnold managed to train a few pigeons to keep as pets to deliver letters... in the second grade, no less. Sure, we could mail each other letters, and I've heard of e-mail that's becoming a bit of a recent thing, but we still like to use the carrier pigeons, just so they have something to do. It was pretty fun and unique that way.

Anyway, as I kept reading, I heard the phone ringing as I heard it being picked up. A moment later, I heard my mom calling, "Honey, one of your friend's on the phone! He said his name is Sid."

I blinked in confusion as I got out of bed. "Coming, mom!"

As I went downstairs, I couldn't help but wonder why Sid was calling me at this time. I arrived near my mother as she handed me the phone. I put my ear into the phone as I said, "Hello?"

"Hey, Rhonda? Something I wanted to ask..." Sid's voice said.

I sighed. "What is it, Sid?"

"Well, do you remember back when you had to be pretend-boyfriends?" Sid's voice asked.

Oh, right, I nearly forgot about the... eh, fake dates that me and Nadine set up with Stinky and Sid to get close to Lana Vail. I wonder if they got her. "Yes, I remember."

"Well, you may also remember that you said you owe me a favor. Remember?" Sid's voice asked.

I yelped, suddenly remembering to that previous day.

I sighed. "Sid, one day, in the summer, I MAY call on you for a small favor if we're ever in a small group. If that day comes where we're in said group, I promise I will stick with your team for a long search. I don't know what the favor will be, but just know, I'll owe you a favor if you do this for me."

Sid raised an eyebrow. "Even be my girlfriend for a day?"

"What?" I frowned, then sighed. "All right, fine. Maybe that. Look, do we have a deal?"

Sid said. "All right, Rhonda. We may not be boyfriend/girlfriend in this day, but in that one day in the summer... we definitely will be!"

"Just don't get any ideas!" I frowned.

"Don't worry, I'll worry about the day." Sid smiled.

"That's what I'm afraid of." I sighed.

I gulped. "Oh, right. Yeah, I remember that."

"Great. Anyway, I decided the day. Saturday, you and me are going to be together... for the day!" Sid's voice said in glee.

"Saturday can't work. I'm planning on going with..." I started.

"...Arnold and his group of friends to the pier? Hey, no biggie. I figured you would probably say that. That's where we'll be going out together! Remember, small group... a day of us being together... don't worry, we won't be official, you'll just be... with me." Sid's voice smiled.

I groaned. He just HAD to remember. "All right, I guess that can work. I'll see you on Saturday, then."

I hung up the phone as my mother asked me, "Where are you going Saturday, young lady?"

"Oh, me and my friends are just going to take on the pier. No big deal." I shrugged.

"Just want to be sure." My mom said. "You'll be okay on Saturday, then?"

"Mom, of course I will. I'm with my friends." I sighed. "Honestly, you worry too much."

"Just want you to be careful, sweetheart." Mom hugged me. "You know your father wouldn't want to see his sweet princess all dirtied up."

I sighed a bit. "I know, mom."

As I decided to go back to my room, I was trying to get back in my mood to read, but I just couldn't. I really couldn't keep focused. How am I going to hang out with Arnold when I have Sid on my back? This is going to be trouble! I had to take time to talk with my friends!

The next day, me, Nadine and Phoebe were seen hanging around at the mall as Nadine said, "Well, it does sound like a bad situation you're in."

"I know." I groaned. "I want to hang close to Arnold, but I owe Sid a favor! What do I do?"

Phoebe paused. "I don't know how much it'll help, BUT... if you can keep both Arnold AND Sid close, it'll technically be BOTH hanging out with them. Give them BOTH equal time."

"Hmmm..." I paused. "That could possibly work."

"It definitely WILL work." Phoebe smiled, putting her hand on my shoulder. "I have confidence in you."

"Anyway, did you hear about Arnold's pigeon yesterday?" Nadine asked.

I shook my head. "No, why? What happened?"

"Well, it was sending a message to Gerald, but it was acting pretty sickly. Gerald and I found him while we were walking together." Phoebe said.

"You two were walking together?" I gasped as I looked at her. "What were you two doing?"

Phoebe glared at me as she said, "I was walking with Gerald to help him with the meaning of Shakespeare quotes. It was not a date."

"Keep telling yourself that." Nadine rolled her eyes as she whispered to me, "It was totally a date!"

"ANYWAY..." Phoebe coughed as soon as we were done giggling madly. "We took him to Arnold, who was talking with Harold, Sid, Sheena and a few other kids for the baseball team to discuss the next game, and Arnold was concerned. That was when Sid suggested the Pigeon Man..."

"The Pigeon Man?" I asked in a deadpan voice.

"I was in disbelief in that story too." Phoebe explained. "Gerald, however, told everyone the fabulous tale of the Pigeon Man himself. In 1969, there was this giant fire at a nearby building and after the fire occurred, about a few pigeons, maybe hundreds of them, moved into the burned building, where a man resided. As usual, Gerald made up the kid theories based on what he might know on Pigeon Man, and I was quick to point out every flaw. The alien theory again, the half-man, half-bird thing, a chicken suit guy who liked birds... for all we know, he could just be a normal guy who likes to take care of birds! And yet, the other kids act like this Pigeon Man is a big deal! But it is sweet that Pigeon Man is taking care of pigeons, whether they were sick or homely."

"Wow." I said.

"Yeah, but Arnold wanted to at least give Pigeon Man a try." Phoebe explained. "I think he's currently over there, checking up on his bird now."

"I wonder if the Pigeon Man can really take care of Arnold's pigeon." I asked.

"Who knows?" Nadine asked. "But if he can, I know that Arnold has plenty of faith."

I nodded. "True. Well, what do you girls want to do today?"

Phoebe and Nadine talked in excitement as we were heading straight into the mall, to hang around and window shop... and who knows, we may be able to get something!

It was around five o'clock PM when the bus came back as we departed out of the bus, I had a couple of bags in my hands as Nadine was holding a small gift basket. I smiled. "What a great day."

"I know." Nadine smiled. "A little mall day is exactly what we needed to relax."

"Yeah..." Phoebe smiled, as she looked up... then her eyes widened as she stopped in her tracks. We noticed.

"Phoebe, honey? You okay?" I asked.

Phoebe said nothing as she pointed up.

Me and Nadine looked to where she was pointing. Up in the sky... uh... how do I describe this... well... I saw a few pigeons carrying some tether ropes holding a man in a pilot suit into the sky.

We just stared in shock for a few minutes. I then said, "Did I just see a man being flown away by pigeons?"

"Yep." Nadine and Phoebe said.

"...Am I dreaming?" I asked as I pinched myself.

"...Nope." Nadine and Phoebe shook her head.

"So, what we just saw was completely real." I said.

"...Yep." Nadine and Phoebe said.

I just stared in shock... before shrugging. "Well then. My mind is completely screwed. How about yours?"

"Our minds are screwed too." Nadine said.

"What did I just see?" Phoebe asked as we continued walking.

"Whatever it was, it's probably this guy's business... not ours." I said as we decided to head on home.

Whatever happened that day... I hope to forget about that the next day. Right now, I had to refocus my mind on other things... like the matter of the small group get-together, involving Arnold and Sid! Could Phoebe's plan possibly work?

There's the forty-first episode! How do you like it? Yeah, for those of you who watched the original episode this was based on, yes, I realize this was a deep episode, and it was a tear jerker as well... but keep in mind, this story is from Rhonda's point of view, so she doesn't KNOW what happened, neither did Nadine and Phoebe for that matter. Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!