Chapter 6, Meeting Captain Squash and the Verdict
Location: Yucaipa Park and Playground, April 18, 2014
Peter, Zack, Jesse, Chuckie, Kimi, Phil and Lil were all gathered together at the sandbox once again, while Peter gave the gang, another update on how Tommy was doing.
"Well kids, I can't believe it, but seems it was only yesterday when Tommy broke his leg, and now look, we'll all be going to meet Captain Squash tomorrow, and Tommy, will have his next appointment at the hospital!" Said Peter excitedly, as he pulled out the calendar from his pocket, and showed the kids that there were only two squares left blank with no red x's in them, that day's, and the following day, which had the black dot on it.
"Wow!" Said all of the toddlers in unison.
"I sure hope Tommy is feeling better, the lastest time I saw him, well, it was kind of scary." Said Chuckie.
Everyone gasp.
"Wanna tell the story Chuckie? I was there." Said Peter.
Chuckie took a deep breath before beginning his story.
"It's not the bestest story, but here it goes." Said Chuckie, as his flashback began.
Flashback to March 17, 2014
Chuckie POV
I had gone to Tommy's house for the day with my sister Kimi, and our good friend Peter. Kimi was off playing with Dil, so I decided to go and keep Tommy comfortable over on the couch, since it was the second time he had broked his leg, I mean, made his broked leg worser.
"So Tommy, what do you wanna do today?" I asked, looking over at my bestest friend, lying on the couch, with nowhere to go, or nothing to do.
"I don't know." Tommy replied.
I then picked up the shapes in the wholes toy.
"We could play, put the shapes in the wholes." I said, showing him the toy.
"No." Replied Tommy with a sigh.
I then picked up the clicker off of the coffee table.
"Uh, we could, um, watch some TV." I said.
Tommy nodded, not wanting to do that either.
"Well, I guess we could just, sit here, but seems that's the lastest thing you wanna do." I said.
"It is." Tommy muttered, crossing his arms and slumping back against the pile of pillows that were lining one end of the couch.
"You ok Tommy?" I asked.
"No Chuckie." Tommy snapped.
"What did I do?" I asked, scared I made him mad at me or something.
So I just did the nextest bestest thing I could think of doing. No, it wasn't crying, especially since at that moment, Tommy looked about ready to cry. I went over to him, and grabbed a hold of the hand that was closest to the edge of the couch, and just, sat on the floor, not doing nothing for a while. Tommy stared at me for several minutes, until, he fell asleep.
"Tommy? Tommy?" I called, but it was no use. Tommy was asleep, and nothing I did, would wake him.
So I went into the kitchen, where I found Peter, Kimi and Dil at the table.
"Uh, Peter, uh, I think something's wrong with Tommy. He fell asleep, and won't wake up." I said in a panic, worried for my bestest friend.
"I wouldn't worry about it Chuckie, broken bones can be very tiring, and right now, Tommy needs his rest. Now why don't you join us at the table. We're making animals out of Playdough." Said Peter.
"Oh all right." I said, as I pulled up a chair, and joined my other friends in an afternoon of Playdough fun.
End of Flashback
End of Chuckie POV
"Oh yes, I do remember that afternoon quite well. But I don't think you'll have to worry Chuckie, ever since Tommy and Bobby started on that picture book project about two and a half weeks ago, things have changed. I even remember the day when they started on the project." Said Peter, as his flashback began.
Flashback to April 3, 2014
Peter POV
I was babysitting Tommy and Dil as usual, and as usual, Bobby came over for a couple of hours in the afternoon after he got out of kindergarten, before he had to head home for dinner.
"So Tommy, you ready to start on that storybook today?" Bobby asked, as he took a seat at the end of the couch, and put some paper, crayons and markers out on the coffee table.
"Yeah, I am, but I'm gonna tell you the same thing I tolded my friends way back when we made home movies. I warn you, it's not gonna be pretty. I don't have all of my motor skills yet." Said Tommy.
I overheard that and came into the room.
"When did you make home movies Tommy?" Bobby asked.
"A long time ago." I replied.
"Oh." Replied Bobby.
"And no worries Bobby, Tommy's older now, I think more of his motor skills are developed. Now, you two have fun, and I look forward to reading your storybook when it's all finished." I said, as I went back into the kitchen, and let Bobby and Tommy start working on their project.
End of Flashback
End of Peter POV
"And I have to tell you, Bobby's been coming over everyday after school and on weekends ever since then, and they've made a lot of progress on that book. But not only that, I believe Bobby has cheered up Tommy tremendously." Said Peter, as he pulled out a picture of Bobby and Tommy on Tommy's living room couch, working on the book together, and it showed both of them, smiling.
"I'd have to say, that's the first time I've seen Tommy smile ever since his leg broke." Said Peter, showing the other toddlers the picture.
"That's good, cuz I don't want my bestest friend to be sad." Said Chuckie.
"Me neither." Said Zack.
"The only thing left to resurrect is the fact that ever since all of this happened, Tommy and Dil haven't exactly been getting along." Said Peter.
"What do you mean Peter?" Lil asked.
"Don't worry, you'll see what I mean tomorrow when we're all at the mall. Seems I have to keep those boys separated as of late. I surely hope for their sake, Tommy's cast comes off tomorrow, and everything will go back to normal." Peter said with a sigh, just as he saw Chaz, Kira, Betty, Howard, Laura, Dana, and Aunty Celeste, coming up the sidewalk at the park, over to where the gang was gathered.
"Looks like your parents are here to take you home, and I need to head over to Tommy's, and help Bobby walk home across the street, as the schoolbus lets him off at Tommy's frontyard, but it can't come back to take him home." Said Peter.
"Thanks for watching the kids Peter." Said Chaz, as he gathered up Chuckie and Kimi.
"It's no problem, I love spending time with the kids." Said Peter with a smile, as he saw all of the toddlers off with their parents.
"See you all tomorrow at the mall." Peter shouted, as he waved goodbye, and headed off towards Tommy and Dil's house.
Location: Tommy and Dil's house, April 18, 2014
Peter got there and rang the doorbell, where Bobby opened the door.
"Hey Peter, guess what? Guess what? Guess what?" Bobby asked excitedly.
"What?" Peter asked.
"Tommy and I finished up the storybook today, and we can't wait to give it to Captain Squash tomorrow at the mall when we meet him!" Said Bobby.
"Oh I bet you can't, but I'm here to walk you home, so, come on Bobby, let's go. Oh, but hold on a second. Is Tommy around?" Peter asked.
"Uh, his mommy's helping him go potty, but he should be back out here in a second." Replied Bobby.
Just then, Didi walked out of the downstairs bathroom carrying Tommy, through the entry hallway where she spotted Peter and Bobby.
"Oh hi Peter, thanks for coming by and walking Bobby home." Said Didi.
"It's no problem." Said Peter, as he followed Didi into the living room, where she got Tommy resituated on the couch, and his leg propped back up on the pillow.
"Honestly, I hope this is almost over." Said Didi with a sigh, as the exhausted mom slumped down into a nearby armchair.
"No worries Didi, we have Tommy's appointment tomorrow after we all go to the mall for some lunch and to meet Captain Squash, and here's the proof." Said Peter, as he got out the calendar, and marked a red x on that day's date.
"See Tommy? Only one square left, and it's the square with the black dot on it! I told you it would go faster than you thought it would." Said Peter.
"You're right Peter, I can't wait till tomorrow." Said Tommy with a smile.
"Well, I'd better be getting Bobby home, I'll see you guys at the mall tomorrow?" Peter asked.
"We'll see you tomorrow." Said Didi, as she saw Peter and Bobby out the door.
Peter walked Bobby across the street, and Bobby, was in a particularly happy mood. He dropped Bobby off at home, and headed off to Richmoned, Virginia, to have dinner and head to bed himself, as Peter, along with all of his friends, were going to have a big day the next day.
Location: The Yucaipa Mall, April 19, 2014
The Generics, at least, Howie and Bobby, Peter Albany, the Barrows, Wehrenbergs, Tommy Pickles, his brother and his parents, the Finsters, and the Devilles, were all gathered at the mall, waiting in line to meet Captain Squash. Peter had no trouble finding the gang, as there were Tommy and Dil in their double stroller, having one of their many arguments as of late.
"What's your problem Dil?" Tommy snapped.
"You! You're my problem. First, you made me miss half of Goober on Ice, all cuz you went and broked your leg. And ever since you broked your leg, mommy and daddy don't pay attention to me no more. They're too busy taking care of you." Snapped Dil.
"Oh yeah? Do you think I really wanna be in this cast? It was a accident Dil, and let me tell you something. I hate this cast. I wish it was gone! It's uncomfortable, and, it's hot and itchy!" Snapped Tommy.
"Why don't you just rip it off then, like you did that day at the play place." Argued Dil.
"Why don't you go live with monkeys." Snapped Tommy.
Just then, Peter was in front of their double stroller, very displeased with what he was hearing.
"Ok you two, I think it's time for some separation. Come on Dil." Said Peter, as he got Dil out of his side of the double stroller, and let him ride on his shoulders. He didn't dare move Tommy, as he was positioned just right, with a pillow beneath his broken leg, keeping it elevated and still.
"Now Dil, you need to be nice to your brother. He's hurt, and frustrated." Said Peter.
"But, it's just not the same. Do you know I have to take baths by myself right now? I hate it!" Snapped Dil.
"Well that's because Tommy can't get his cast wet, but don't worry. After we're done here, Tommy's going back to the doctor's, and hopefully, today's the day his cast will be coming off, and things will go back to normal." Said Peter.
"I hope so." Dil muttered.
A few minutes later, it was everyone's turn to meet Captain Squash.
"Next." Said one of the security people, who was in charge of ushering people through the line.
"You're next, go on Bobby." Said Howie.
Bobby looked up at Captain Squash, noticing how big he was, and just at that very moment, he started to feel scared.
"What's wrong? Don't you wanna meet Captain Squash?" Howie asked.
"He's, bigger." Said Bobby in a shaky tone of voice.
"What do you mean, bigger son?" Howie asked.
"Bigger than on TV." Bobby replied.
"Well that's because he's here in person. I bet if you go and say hello, you might just make a new friend." Said Howie.
"No." Said Bobby, as he hid behind his father, no longer interested in meeting Captain Squash.
"Well guys, the gig's up. Bobby's nervous about meeting his favorite hero in the world." Said Howie.
"Why don't we all go get some lunch. Maybe afterwards, you'll feel more like coming and meeting him. Huh?" Peter asked.
"I don't think so." Said Bobby.
All of the families, headed over to a nearby pizza place at the foodcourt, joined several tables together, and sat down together. It was then, that Didi pulled out some lunch for Tommy and Dil.
"Why aren't Tommy and Dil having pizza with the rest of us?" Jesse asked Peter.
"Well Jesse, it's currently Passover, and during Passover, Tommy and Dil can't eat anything with bread in it, so Didi made them modsa pizza square bites, ain't that right?" Peter asked.
"That's right Peter. Here you go sweeties." Said Didi, as she handed Dil and Tommy pieces of modsa topped with tomato sauce and cheese.
By this time, Tommy and Dil were sitting in their double stroller once again, giving one another, the silent treatment, as they ate their lunch.
"So what happened back there Bobby?" Zack asked.
"He was ascared." Said Phil.
"Was not." Lied Bobby.
"I'll admit Bobby, I was a little bit ascared too." Said Chuckie.
"Chuckie? Bobby? It's ok to be a little bit scared sometimes, we all are." Said Peter, as he took a bite of his pizza.
"It is?" Bobby asked.
"Well sure! But when you want to face your fears, well, you have to face them, head on." Said Peter.
Everybody ate their lunch for a few minutes, before Zack spoke up.
"Hey, weren't you gonna give Captain Squash a storybook that you and Tommy made?" Zack asked.
"Yeah." Said Bobby with a sigh.
"Can we hear the story? Please?" Asked Jesse.
"Yeah Bobby, pretty please?" Kimi pleaded.
"Um, ok, if it's ok with Tommy." Said Bobby.
He looked over at Tommy in the double stroller, who gave an approving nod, so Bobby got out the picture book that he and Tommy drew together, as right before Peter showed up yesterday, Didi helped Bobby and Tommy staple the pages together, once it was finished.
"I now present, Bobby Generic and Tommy Pickles Adventure, with Reptar, and Captain Squash!" Said Bobby, as he showed the book to all of his friends, opened up to the first page, and started telling the story.
Since the story was the same as Tommy's dream, presented in the previous chapter, time will be saved here, by not retelling the story. Finally, Bobby reached the end of the book.
"The end." Said Bobby, as he closed the last page of the book.
"Wow!" Said all of the toddlers, as everybody clapped their hands.
"That was a really good story." Said Phil.
"Thank you Phil." Said Bobby with a smile.
"I loved that Reptar also broked his arm, like Tommy broked his leg." Said Lil.
"That was Tommy's idea." Said Bobby.
"I liked the whole thing." Said Peter.
"Thank you. I liked, that I could cheer Tommy up. I saw him there, all sad and alone, and I kept thinking, how would I feel if I had to sit around all day, with my leg in a cast. I wouldn't feel very happy either. And when Tommy told me about that dream he had, I knew just what to do. Making that picture book, was not only something exciting and new for Tommy and me to do together, but it would be a great way to pass the time, till it would be time, for Tommy's cast to hopefully come off later on today." Said Bobby.
"Bobby? Do you know what you showed there?" Howie asked.
"No dad, what?" Bobby asked.
"You had empathy for Tommy." Said Howie.
"Empathy?" Bobby asked, confused.
"Yes Bobby, it means, being able to put yourself in Tommy's place, and being able to understand how he was feeling at the time. You could tell that Tommy was unhappy with that cast on his leg, so you did everything in your power, to cheer him up, and you know what? I think you're a wonderful friend to Tommy. You all are." Said Howie, as he took the last sip of his drink.
"So Bobby, do you think you're ready to go meet Captain Squash now? And give him the picturebook you and Tommy made?" Peter asked.
"Come on Bobby, remember what we tolded Marty in our storybook. If you wanna make friends, you've gots to say hello! And I'll be right there with you." Said Tommy.
"You will?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah!" Said Tommy with a smile.
"Ok then, let's go meet Captain Squash." Said Bobby, as he hopped down from his spot at the table in the foodcourt, and led the way to where Captain Squash was.
Good thing they headed back over to where Captain Squash was, as it appeared he was about ready to leave. Bobby got up to where Captain Squash was, looked up at him, took a deep breath, and began.
"Hello Captain Squash, my name is Bobby, and these are all of my friends. I've been a fan of your show for a long time, and I introduced these friends of mine to you when I moved here last fall, and made all of my new friends." Said Bobby, as he turned around, and pointed to all of his friends.
"Well hello Bobby, what a pleasure it is to meet you." Said Captain Squash.
"Tommy here, broke his leg. So I've been keeping him company, and while I did, we made this picturebook for you." Said Bobby, handing Captain Squash the book he and Tommy made.
"Oh wow! A picturebook, for me?" Captain Squash asked in surprise.
"Uh huh?" Said Bobby.
Captain Squash thumbed through the book, looking at all of the pictures.
"And wow, you even included Reptar in here, another personal favorite of mine. I recently met Reptar at a convention. Leo, the guy who plays him, has been teaching me how to iceskate to the best of his ability." Said Captain Squash.
"Really?" Bobby asked.
"Yep. And I think, we have here, several heros. That's right Bobby, you and all of your friends, have all been kind enough to this young Tommy person, to keep him comfortable while his leg healed. And, I hope your cast comes off soon." Said Captain Squash.
"Oh I think it will. He's gonna be heading to the doctor's soon to get an x-ray done." Said Bobby.
Just then, Didi looked at her watch.
"We don't have much time kids, Tommy's appointment is in half an hour. If everyone is gonna get a picture with Captain Squash, we need to get it done now." Said Didi.
"Well then, let's take the photo then. Come on, everybody gather around Tommy, and I'll stand in the middle." Said Captain Squash, as everybody gathered around Tommy and Dil's double stroller, and posed for the picture.
"Ok, everyone say heros!" Said Captain Squash.
"No! Everyone, say friends! Because friends are even more important than heros." Said Bobby.
Just then, everyone put on their biggest smiles, and the photographer snapped the picture.
"Thank you everyone, for coming and letting me meet a whole bunch of great fans. And thank you for my picture book Bobby. Whenever I look at it, I'll think of you, and all of your friends and biggest fans out there. And as a token of my appreciation, I want to give you these." Said Captain Squash, as he handed everybody a ticket.
"What's this?" Peter asked.
"You've all been invited to the premier of my first ice show ever, Captain Squash on Ice! It will be at the Coliseum next Saturday!" Said Captain Squash.
Bobby and all of the toddlers, cheered excitedly.
"Wow! Thank you Captain Squash." Said Bobby.
"You're welcome Bobby. Only the best, for the true heros in the world, better known as, friends. Well, I'd better be going, got another rehearsal for my upcoming ice performance." Said Captain Squash, as he waved goodbye, and left the photo booth.
"And we'd better be going too." Said Didi, as she gragbbed hold of the double stroller, and started pushing it towards the exit of the mall, Stu and everybody else, following close behind.
"Hey, I wonder if we can find Captain Squash's baby, and take it to him at the ice show." Said Phil.
Lil, Chuckie and Tommy all laughed, Bobby, Jesse, Zack, Kimi, Peter, and Dil all gave them confused looks, unaware of what they were talking about. Only Chuckie, Tommy and Lil understood Phil's joke.
Soon, everybody was outside the mall, and they split off in different directions to their cars, while Peter road with the Pickles to the hospital, as they all headed for Yucaipa Hospital, for Tommy's next appointment.
Location: The Yucaipa Hospital, on the afternoon of April 19, 2014
Everyone made it there just in time for Tommy's appointment. Doctor Harvey was the one to meet with Tommy that day.
"So, how are we doing little guy?" Doctor Harvey asked.
Didi went on to tell Doctor Harvey that they had been keeping a close watch on Tommy ever since his leg broke worse a second time, and that Tommy had been very good, staying still, and only moving if he had help from one of the adults.
"That's good, that's good! So Tommy, are you ready for your x-ray?" Doctor Harvey asked.
Tommy smiled and nodded, so Doctor Harvey got him out of his twin stroller, and took him back to the x-ray place, where just like before, they lay him down on the table, covered him up with the apron, and took another x-ray of his leg.
A few minutes later, the x-ray was done, the picture was developed, and it was time, for the moment of truth. By this time, everybody had gathered back in the examining room.
"Everyone? I have wonderful news!" Said Doctor Harvey, as he put the new x-ray picture of Tommy's bones on to the screen.
"Hey look, his leg, it's no longer broken." Said Bobby.
"That's right. Tommy is all healed, and that means, we can take the cast off." Said Doctor Harvey.
Tommy let out a huge giggle.
"Are you ready to get that cast off Tommy?" Asked Doctor Harvey.
Tommy was so excited, it took three adults to hold the squirming two-year-old toddler down, while Doctor Harvey saw to removing his cast. No sooner had he removed the cast, than Tommy had leaped down from the table, and started running all over the room, excited to be able to walk, or in his case, run again.
Just then, Lucy Carmichael, and Taffy, dressed in a candy striper's uniform, walked into the room.
"And I thought Tommy would need some physical therapy and intervention post getting his cast off." Said Howie.
"Oh no, Tommy is quite young. Two-year-olds are known to bounce back more or less, immediately from such injuries. It's us older folks that tend to need more intervention post a break like that." Said Lucy, as she walked into the room.
"Hi minis, and hi Tommy. So glad to see you again, and glad your leg is all better. And for all of you minis, I have a treat for all of you! Ice cream cones for everyone!" Said Taffy, as she put a tray of several flavors of ice cream in cones down at the toddlers level. Bobby and all of the other toddlers, each grabbed an ice cream cone, and started gobbling them down faster than someone could set off fireworks.
"I bet you feel really good now huh Tommy." Said Chuckie.
"I sure do Chuckie." Said Tommy, as he took a lick of his vinella ice cream.
Just then, Dil eyed his brother, and walked over to him.
"Hey Tommy, I'm sorry." Said Dil, giving his brother a hug, only to get strawberry ice cream all over his shirt.
"It's ok Dilly." Said Tommy, returning the hug, only to splatter some vinella ice cream in his face.
Soon, all of the toddlers were having an ice cream fight, as they were throwing ice cream in one another's faces, and having a blast in the examining room.
Once everybody had finished their ice cream, and the adults had cleaned up what of it they were now wearing in those hard to reach places, Peter had an announcement.
"Surprise! How would all of you kids like to continue the celebration of Tommy being all healed of his broken leg, with a sleepover at the castle of the Confederacy?" Peter asked.
"We'd love to!" Said Zack.
"Yeah!" Said Bobby.
"Come on guys, let's go." Said Tommy, as he ran out of the examining room, down the hall of the hospital, everybody else, following behind, hardly able to keep up with him.
"Uh guys? I'm glad Tommy's all better, but I think he was easier to keep up with when his leg was broked." Said Chuckie, who was starting to run out of breath, as he ran to catch up with his best friend.
All of the other toddlers laughed, as everybody chased Tommy outside of the hospital.
Later, Peter took all of the kids to Richmond, Virginia, where they had a wonderful time at the sleepover, happy to have Tommy back, and everything, back to normal.
The End
Author's Note: There'll be an epilogue, which will be the next and final chapter to close out this story, so stay tuned.