When Peter arrived home that afternoon, he knew something was wrong. His son Marco was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. Marco, actually doing homework? Is that even possible?

"Hey, dad," Marco muttered as he walked in.

"Are you feeling alright Marco?" Peter asked.

He shrugged. "Dad, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, son."

"Okay. I'm kinda having a bet with this girl in our grade. Rachel, Jake's cousin. And our deal is we're gonna see if I can go longer without video games than she can without shopping. And since our cable's out, I'm bored. So I was wondering, what exactly did you do for fun in the olden days when you were a kid?"

"Marco, how old do you exactly think I am? Never mind. But you know, I wasn't a kid that long ago, we had TV too. But when I was your age I was only allowed to watch TV one a week."

Marco stared at his father wide-eyed in horror.

"But it was okay. Do you know why?" Marco shook his head. "Because I had something even more fun than television or video games. I loved to read."

Marco could not believe his ears. "Dad, I don't think you understood the question: something fun."

"Marco, reading is great. It takes you anywhere you want to go. And it's better than TV because you get to use your imagination."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Marco, you don't know how much you're missing. You need to read-"

"I read!" Marco protested indignantly.

"Comic books don't count."

"Cassie, you need to buy those shoes for me!"

"What? No!"

"Why not?"

Cassie bit her lower lip. "I don't know. It just doesn't feel right. Isn't it kind of cheating?"

"How is it cheating?" Rachel demanded.

"I think the point was that you're not supposed to buy anything, and I'm pretty sure having someone buy it for you is against the rules."

"Rules? Cassie we're having a bet here! Besides, it has sequins on it!"

Cassie rolled her eyes. She tried to pull Rachel away. "Come on, Rachel."

"But it has sequins, Cassie!"

"No."

"But-"

"No, Rachel!"

"Traitor!" Rachel screamed, she turned to Melissa. "Will you buy them for me?"

Melissa shuffled her feet uncomfortably. "Um...Rachel, the thing here is...I kind of want them too..."

"Don't you dare!"

But it was too late, Melissa had already walked up to the store clerk and bought the shoes. Her shoes.

"My flip-flops!" Rachel cried. "My beautiful, beautiful flip-flops!"

"I'm bored!" Sarah announced.

"Too bad."

"But I'm bored!"

"I said, too bad!"

"But I'M BORED!"

"TOO BAD!"

Sarah looked like she was about to break something, so Melissa offered to take her to the toy shore while Jordan finished up. Rachel reluctantly agreed. "But keep her away from the barbies," she warned.