Disclaimer: Disney owns all that is Kim Possible. I receive nothing for these stories I write except your reviews and 'all-in-all it's just another brick in the wall'. (Pick Floyd.)
All right people, Listen UP! I'm posting the last three chapters today so this story will be over at the end of chapter 21. I've alreay started the second arc of the story but with the way I write, it won't be done until sometime next year. Meanwhile, I have a few shorter things to post.
Xxxxxx
Goth
Chapter 19
Pleasing Mr. B.
Xxxxxx
"All right people, listen up!" Mr. Barkin barked at the students in first period geometry class. "After roll call I have a brief meeting with four of you. The rest of the class will be free to do as you wish until the meeting is over but you all will keep quiet so we can conduct our meeting. Is that understood?"
After making sure all of the students in class were present and accounted for, the large teacher summoned Kim, Bonnie, Monique and Ron up to the front of the classroom to sit around his teacher's desk. "All right people," Mr. Barkin said in a firm but untypical quiet voice, not wanting to disturb the other students, "show me what you got."
"What would you like to see first?" Kim questioned, spreading out a dozen clear-face folders in front of him. She held one up. "This folder contains all the information on our capital investments. It includes the patents and trademark paperwork, the deed to the warehouse and papers for the box truck we purchased to haul the finished dresses, pants and shirts to the store, the receipts for the cutters and sewing machines along with rental agreement info for the space we're renting from Smarty Mart."
"This folder," Bonnie showed him one that was thicker than the first, "contains a condensed version about the info on our employees. It includes their life and health insurance info, 401K plans and other benefits."
Mr. Barkin briefly thumbed through those two folders before he tossed them back on his desk and growled, "That's all interesting information but what I'd like to see is your sales figures for the weekend. You did open the store on Saturday, didn't you?"
Of course the four teens knew that Mr. Barkin was well aware that the boutique was open for business that weekend. They had seen him in the store wearing a Smarty Mart vest, having been called in to work even though he was on reduced hours while school was in session.
"Yes, we did," Kim said as she dug out the folder with that information and handed it to him. As he opened the folder, Kim said, "As you can see, the first two pages are our projections for sales during the first two days. The last two pages are the actual sales figures for said days."
Mr. Barking flipped back and forth between the four pages, began to scowl and curiously queried, "Why in Sam Hill are the projection figures so much lower than the actual sales figures?"
"I think that was my fault, Mr, Barkin," Monique spoke up. "I based my estimates on established sales figures from the biggest sales days that C B has had at the M M. I didn't take into consideration curious S M shoppers coming in to look around and buy, or the possible name recognition Kim would bring to the equation. No pun intended."
"C B?" Barkin questioned, looking over to Bonnie, Ron and Kim for clarification. "M M? S M?"
"Club Banana, Middleton Mall and Smarty Mart," Bonnie clarified, having finally learned how to decipher Monique-speak after working with the girl over the last month.
"Are you sure those are the only reasons why your actual sales figures are more than triple your estimates?" the ex-army lieutenant asked as he casually paged through a few of the other folders in front of him.
"That's the only reasons we could could come up with, Mr. B.," Ron said, anxiously rubbing the back of his neck in typical Ronnish fashion.
Mr. Barkin laid the last folder down and leaned onto the desk, his hands folded in front of him, as he said, "Actually, I can't think of any other reasons either. You've all done a fine job and get an A plus on this project. You can apply the extra credit to any single class you'd like. Now," he sat back straight in his chair and asked, "when do you think you'll turn a profit at the shop? Two years? Five?"
"Actually, it should happen in about five minutes, Mr. B.?" Ron happily beamed while checking his wristwatch.
"No Stoppable," Barkin growled as he rubbed his forehead with one hand, his normal headache whenever he dealt with the blond boy suddenly showing up. "I mean a net profit, not the gross. A net profit takes into account all of your expenditures verses your overall sales figures."
"Actually," Kim said as she picked up one of the folders, opened it to the last page and showed it to the teacher, "Ron is correct. Adding in our internet sales figures with the sales at the store, we've more than exceed our capital outlay. We should be entering net profit status sometime this morning even if the sales are lackluster at the boutique today."
"But we'll be back in the red this afternoon when the order goes through for more equipment," Ron said with his goofy grin shining bright. "Mr. Smarty wants us to open three new stores so we had to order more sewing machines and stuff and hire more employees at the warehouse."
"Now let me get this straight," Mr. Barkin incredulously begged as he picked up the capital outlay folder and waggled it at them. "Do you mean to tell me that all of the money you laid out to start up the store was covered by the first two days of sales, plus your internet sales? That's impossible!"
Ron soooo wanted to tell the large teacher that it was a common mistake and to check Kim's name but a ferociously stern look from all three girls made him hold his tongue. They knew Ron all too well.
"Yes, that's exactly what we're saying," Bonnie beamed at the large teacher. "But as Ron mentioned, Mr. Smarty wants to open three more shops in other Smarty Mart stores so we're going to have to increase production. That means we've had to order more sewing machines and hire more employees."
"We almost ran out of product Sunday afternoon as it were," Ron added. "And Martin Smarty wants us to be at the opening of the three new stores in one month so we're gonna have to miss two or three days of school at that time."
"Well," Barkin briefly scrubbed his face with both hands in exasperation, "I suppose if you have to miss a few days of school, then I can't say no since I approved this project to begin with. You've all kept up with your schoolwork so far and you've greatly contributed to the local economy with jobs so I can't say no."
"We will keep up with our schoolwork," Kim assured their teacher with a brilliant smile as she started to stand up and gather the folders on the desk, thinking that the meeting was over with, "and we really appreciate the time you've given us to get this boutique off the ground."
"Sit back down Possible," Mr. Barkin softly barked at the redhead. "We're not quite done yet. I still have a few more questions for you."
"What all do you need to know," Ron inquired in confusion as he also sat back down. "You've seen all of the information we put together about our shop?"
"That's true," the large teacher said as he leaned forward to continue his inquiry. "But I'd like to know what you four are going to do with your education now that you have a budding enterprise that is already paying dividends? You're only juniors in high school. Will you finish here at Middleton High or will you quit your education now... or after you graduate?"
"I can't speak for anyone else," Bonnie said, taking the initiative, "but the boutique was originally my idea. I was looking for something to do after college and, well, I thought with my head for fashion, I'd take some college classes to learn about retail and then start a business. Now that the business is up and running, I know I'll still need to take quite a few classes to learn more about the business end of it, so I'm looking forward to college." She looked over to the other fashion maven at the desk with a smile. "I'm also going to rely on Monique to help me manage the stores now that she's not working at Club Banana anymore."
"I'd like that," Monique said with a kind smile before she turned to Mr. Barkin. "Even as a part time employee, Club Banana was already lookin to send me to their home office to train me as a manager this summer and after I graduated from here. Now I'll have ta go to college for the classes to make sure I know what I'm doing."
"The shop might be in my name," Ron piped up before Barkin could react to Monique, "but that's only because I had the money to start up the boutique." He glanced at Kim who knew what Ron was going to suggest and nodded her approval. "As far as KP and I are concerned, it's Bonnie's business and it'll be put in her name sooner or later. I still want to start up my own restaurant after school but this little project has taught me that I still need a few business classes to know how to run it."
"What about you, Possible?" Steve Barkin asked the redhead.
"My future isn't quite as set as Monique's or Bonnie's," Kim answered as she dared to take Ron's hand in plain sight of Mr. Barkin, PDA rules be damned. "Ron and I still plan on saving the world for as long as we're able. We're getting married this summer after our birthdays but I'm not sure if we'll join Global Justice or remain independent after graduation. I know I'd like to major in law enforcement and international law to round out my education."
"It's good to hear that you all plan to continue your education," Mr. Barkin said with a scowl as he warily peered at Kim and Ron's joined hands, "but I have to question your decision to get married even before you become seniors in high school." He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head as if to dispel a bad thought. "But... there's technically nothing the school or I can say or do about it. It's your decision and I have no jurisdiction in the matter."
"Ah, okay," Ron tentatively shrugged.
A wicked smile began to show on Mr. Barkin's face as he stood and said, "But I can offer you two my congratulations and ask to be invited to the reception only. I hate weddings, they're so depressing for a single person like myself. Now, let's get back to geometry."
"We'll let you know where and when the reception will take place," Kim said with a smile as the four teens got up from the teacher's desk and took their regular seats.
"Okay people, listen up!"
Xxxxxx
"This is a very nice jet, K," Bonnie enthused as she ran her hand over the plush leather upholstery of the seat she was sitting in. She, Kim and Ron were winging their way toward England and Fiske Castle. "When did you get your own plane?"
"Ron bought it for me after he received his first Naco check," Kim answered from the wet bar as she poured herself a glass of soda. She put the two liter bottle back in the refrigerator and sat down next to Ron.
"Fortunately," Ron took over the story as he let Kim snuggle into his embrace and get comfortable, "nobody bought it when Drakken stole all of my cash and Middleton airport owed us a favor. I was able to hanger the plane there free of charge for a year until I got my second check. I've had a few guys working on the interior on and off during their free time over the last year and they finally got it done. Do you really like it?"
"The wood paneling goes well with these seat," Bonnie started as she gazed around the interior of the cabin, "and the wet bar, kitchen and entertainment center are a nice touch too but I think you outdid yourself with the inclusion of a bedroom... although I think you should replace the two twin beds with something a little larger."
"No worries," Ron waved off the brunette's concern. "The bedroom was finished and the beds were installed before KP and I hooked up a coupla months ago. I got a king sized bed on order and it should be here by the end of the week."
"Ron was going to give the plane to me next month as a birthday present but Wade let the cat out of the bag when I took the mission call," Kim giggled and gave her boyfriend/fiancé a quick kiss on the cheek. "When we first had the jet, I had mentioned to Ron that he should maybe spruce it up a bit since we were probably going to use it quite a bit for missions that take a long time to get to."
"KP also told me to lay off hiring another Kim-Squad so that meant I could gussy up the cabin a bit."
"Oooo-kay," Bonnie intoned, deciding to let the rest of that conversation drop for the time being and get back to the reason they were in the plane in the first place. "So, why are we skipping out of the second half of the school day and jetting off to England again?"
"We're going after Monkey Fist," Kim replied and watched Ron shiver in disgust before she continued the briefing for the newest member of Team Possible, but Bonnie interrupted before she could.
"Do you mean that guy who was arrested for pretending to be the Lowerton Lemur's mascot during that basketball game our sophomore year?" Bonnie queried.
"That's him," Kim said with a shiver of her own, remembering the time she was almost turned into a monkey. She quickly regained her composure putting the incident out of her mind. "Someone contacted our website and said he has stolen a valuable artifact from some monastery in Japan and we're heading to his castle to get it back."
"A monastery in Japan?" Ron perked up at that tidbit of information. "You didn't say this mission was for a monastery in Japan when you pulled us out of class! Did Wade tell you what monastery?"
"No he didn't," Kim answered with a curious look at the blond. "Wade only said that the artifact was some kind of ancient sword. Why do you ask?"
"Oh Fuji!" Ron despondently swore. "There's only one sword that Monkey Fist would try to steal and that's the Lotus Blade."
"You know all about what we're going after?" Bonnie incredulously begged sitting up in her seat. "Tell us about it. What does it look like? How long is it? Why would Monkey Fist want it?"
"I... I can't tell you!" Ron wailed in anguish as he collapsed back in his seat and covered his face with his hands. He couldn't tell them that the monastery was actually the Yamanouchi School and that he was sworn to secrecy.
Kim could see that Ron was really torn up over something, more than likely about what he couldn't tell Bonnie and her. She knew Ron could keep a secret, he already knew a few very juicy ones concerning herself, so she reasoned that Ron had probably been sworn to secrecy about the sword among other things. When he'd come back from that one week exchange program in Japan, Ron had only told her that what he'd experienced over there had been the same old thing. She'd thought he meant that he'd experienced the usual school grind. But now that she thought about it, his red jersey had been a bit torn and ragged and that usually only happened when Ron was very active; like mission intensive active.
Kim got up out of the seat and knelt in front of the blond boy. She laid her hands on his legs and cooed, "Ron, I know you're keeping whatever it is a secret, and I understand. If you can't tell us then we'll get by without knowing."
"Thanks, KP," Ron said with extreme relief showing on his face. "I wish I could tell you but..." He was cut off by the four familiar tones of the Kimmunicator.
Kim thumbed it on and asked, "We're in the middle of something here Wade, what's the sitch?"
"I have a call for Ron from the person who requested this mission," the tech guru said without preamble, "and he want to talk to Ron in private."
"Put him through," Kim said as she handed the small PDA sized device to her fiancé.
Ron took the Kimmunicator in hand and moved to the cockpit of the jet before he took the call and saw an old, Japanese gentleman looking back at him. "Master Sensei?"
"Stoppable-san," the old man greeted with his usual stern face, "It is good to see you. As you have probably guessed, you are needed once more to retrieve the Lotus Blade But, I know you are not traveling alone on this quest. I have heard that you and Miss Possible are to be wed soon so I am relieving you of your promise to keep the secrets of Yamanouchi from your future bride. We would also be honored if you and Miss Possible would come for a visit this summer, after the wedding, for further training."
"Thank you Master Sensei," Ron exhaled a heavy sigh of relief before he became a bit pensive. He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked back over to the two girls, sat down and said, "but there's another person with us right now that's become a part of the team. Her name is Bonnie Rockwaller. Can I tell her too?"
"That is an interesting conundrum," Sensei said while stroking his beard in thought. "I would say that you may tell her about the sword, but nothing else. If Miss Rockwaller is truly a part of your team then she is also invited to journey with you this summer to Yamanouchi and she would be brought on board at that time."
"Are you okay with that?" Ron asked the brunette who was sitting beside him.
"I am," Bonnie said with a sly grin, "but only if Hiro will be there this summer. He as the guy who took your place when you went to Japan."
"Hirotaka will be at Yamanouchi when you arrive," Sensei answered with a small chuckle. "If you are the same Bonnie that he could not stop talking about after he returned from Middleton, then I am sure Hirotaka will brave Kami himself to be there."
"Kami?" Bonnie questioned the blond boy.
"That's the Japanese name for God," Ron replied with a lopsided grin. He quickly added, "But it also means paper and hair, depending on how you use it."
"You are correct, Stoppable-san," Master Sensei said with a small twitch of the mustache, hiding his amusement. His normal stern face took over as he said, "But now you should be focused on retrieving the Lotus Blade. Yori will meet your plane when it lands and assist you like last time. She is most anxious to renew her relationship with you." Sensei bowed just before his image disappeared from the screen and Wade's popped back up.
"I guess you have some things to talk about right now," the pudgy tween said from the Kimmunicator with a broad smile before his image winked off.
Ron opened his mouth to start telling the two girls all about the Lotus blade, it seemed to be the thing to do, but he stopped with his mouth agape when he saw the looks coming from Kim and Bonnie.
The downright angry looks.
"Yori?" was all Bonnie asked in a harsh tone.
"Relationship?" the fiery redhead inquired with emerald eyes burning bright.
"Ho-Boy!" Ron nervously sighed. They still four hours left on the flight to England and he knew he wasn't going to get any time to take a nap, or more, with the two irate girls breathing down his neck.