Next up, 'Harold the Butcher' AKA this episode is in the background since Rhonda is not involved in it and thus, I'm telling a new story! Anyway, enjoy!

"No kidding?" I said surprised as I was walking with Arnold the next day. "Harold really has to go to work for a week as a butcher?"

"Pretty much." Arnold nodded.

It pretty much confirmed what Deep Voice said in my head, then, I thought to myself. I turned back to Arnold as he asked, "So, how did everything go with your parents?"

"Oh, they went pretty fine. It's nice to spend some time with them, even if they do go to some fancy parties." I said as I walked with him. "At least the jazz recital we went to after was enjoyable."

"I know what you mean, jazz does seem to calm nerves." Arnold said as we entered the park. "You know, sometimes, I'm a little envious you have parents."

"What do you mean?" I asked, curiously. "Your grandparents take good care of you, don't they?"

"Of course they do. I think they're the best grandparents I ever had." Arnold smiled... then sighed. "But... sometimes, when it comes down to it... I really wish I could actually meet my real parents... I don't quite recall who they were, since they left me with my grandparents when I was really young... hopefully, someday, we'll reunite and meet up..."

I noticed Arnold was sighing in sadness. A little determined, I hugged him a little to comfort him. "Don't worry, buddy. I'm sure wherever your parents are, they're really proud of you."

Arnold smiled a bit. "Thanks, Rhonda. You're the best friend a guy could ask for."

I nodded. "Any time, buddy."

We kept walking until we reached the park, where we met up with Tucker, Nadine, Gerald and Phoebe. I nodded to my group of friends as I said, "Okay guys, ready for a little team badminton?"

"You're going down, boys." Phoebe said as she held up her racquet.

Pretty soon, we were into teams... girls on the right side of the net, and boys on the left side. As we were doing some swings, I started conversing. "You know, it's really great coming here and hanging with you guys. Doing something new and different... I mean, how rare is it we play badminton."

"Really rare, if I do say so..." Tucker said as he hit the birdie back, as Phoebe got it over.

"Yeah, ever since Tucker's been here, he's been hanging out with us a lot more!" Gerald said. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."

"I'm glad you're hanging around with us, Tucker, it really does feel like we have a complete trio of boys..." Arnold said before he turned to our team. "No offense."

"No, none taken..." I said, hitting the birdie over to Arnold. "Though it really does make this a good, balanced team."

"Indeed." Nadine said as she hit the birdie in her own way, as she went into a dream-like state. "Sometimes, it's not who you play, it's who we enjoy playing with."

Tucker gave a small smile to Nadine as Nadine gave a short smile back. Those two would be so adorable together, I thought to myself. "Well, girls, boys, we better get this game started, because..."

I smirked as I hit the birdie and Tucker tried to hit it, but he missed and the birdie fell. "I believe that is one to zero in our favor..."

"Oh, I'll get you off..." Tucker said as he picked up the birdie. "My serve!"

And thus, Tucker hit the birdie as Nadine hit it back. Gerald then said, "Hey, you girls still entering the go-kart tournament next week?"

"We're still talking about it." Phoebe said as she focused on the birdie, hitting it towards Arnold. "But we are thinking about entering for sure."

"Great!" Arnold said as he hit the birdie to me, as I hit it over to Gerald. "Because we have enough money to buy some parts for our go-karts, and with some help, we can work together to make some great karts!"

"Awesome!" Nadine said as Phoebe hit the birdie back to Tucker.

"Yeah... I still haven't found a partner for my go-kart yet, but I'll find somebody for sure!" Tucker said as he hit the birdie over to me, as I hit it to Gerald. Gerald tried to swing, but he missed.

"Two to zero, our favor." I smiled.

Gerald frowned as he picked up the birdie. "You are on."

Gerald then threw the birdie up and hit it over to Phoebe, who swung and hit it over to Arnold. Nadine then said, "Hey, sometime this week, you want to go to Dino Land? We haven't been in quite a while... and it is Kids Day this weekend..."

"Where all the kids come in for free?" Tucker smiled as he hit the birdie. "We're there!"

"Sure!" Arnold said.

"We could use some entertainment!" Gerald smiled.

"Awesome!" I smiled as I tried to swing at the birdie, but I missed as it hit the ground. "Well, awesome for the amusement park thing, not awesome on the birdie."

"Two to one." Gerald smirked.

"Okay..." I said as I swung and hit the birdie over to Tucker.

"Yeah, I'm sure the other kids over there will be excited to go to Dino Land." Arnold said. "After a slow month, we all need that break!"

"Cool! I heard there's a new roller coaster that just got opened to the public! We've got to at least try that!" Nadine smiled.

"Gee, sounds fun..." Phoebe said nervously as she hit the birdie over to Arnold, who missed.

"Three to one, our favor." I smirked.

"Fair enough." Arnold said as he picked up the birdie and started swinging again, hitting the birdie to Nadine.

"Nervous, Phoebe?" Gerald asked.

"Maybe a little, but I'm thrilled at the same time." Phoebe said, hitting the birdie over to Tucker as Tucker swung and missed.

"D'oh, I missed!" Tucker groaned.

"Hand the birdie to us!" I smirked as Tucker threw the birdie to me. "Match point."

I threw and hit the birdie over to Arnold as Arnold started hitting it. I said, "Hopefully, Harold will be finished with Mr. Green's butcher shop punishment by then... Harold couldn't possibly miss the chance at riding a roller coaster!"

"I'm sure Harold can be released pretty early." Gerald said as he swung and hit the birdie to Nadine.

"Cool." I said as Nadine hit it to Tucker. Tucker then hit it to me as I swung, but missed.

"Four to two." Tucker smiled.

"Yeah, yeah, still match point." I said as I threw and hit the birdie over to Gerald.

"Well, we'll see what happens. In the meantime, let's just have our fun." Arnold said.

"I know I'll be counting the days before we go to Dinoland!" Tucker said as he hit the birdie to me.

"You said it!" I smiled as I hit the birdie over to Tucker as Tucker tried to swing... but he missed as he fell down, the birdie hitting the ground.

"Ahem..." I looked toward the boys. "We win."

"Good match, girls..." Arnold smiled.

"Rematch?" Nadine asked as Tucker got up.

"You're on!" Tucker nodded as Arnold and Gerald got ready.

"Okay..." Phoebe said as she handed the birdie over to Gerald. "Your serve."

And so, we played some more badminton for the rest of the day. It was really pretty fun just to be with the guys and the girls, and we counted the days until we could reach Dinoland. I didn't know what happened with Harold and his butcher shop punishment, but oh well. I'm sure it worked something out, as Deep Voice put it.

And there is the sixty-first episode! How do you like it? Yeah, I will admit, it's a little different, but hey, it's probably okay for the most part!

The line that Tucker said, "D'oh, I missed!" is Wario's saying in the first two Mario Party games.

Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks! And don't forget to check out and add to the TVTropes page for this story!