Chapter 8: KABOOM!

I trully tried my own startegies every waking day, however it was an intriging mystery to me. A huge wooden crate was lodged between the corner, a ripped piece of paper was stuck between the splintered wood, I tried to grab it but it was stuck. I shrugged as I went to join the boys in the main room.

To my surpise no one was present. I looked around and even searched Kowalski's lab throughly, Zut, none was here. I shrugged as I walked up to the fridge I grabbed a drink of milk, swallowed it bitterly and walked towards the table.

It felt empty being in the HQ by myself, I tapped my spoon on the table as I perched my hand underneath my chin. My stomach was still digesting my Japanese meal from the other night. I stood up quickly as I heard a shuffling of feet adjacent to me. I peered up and crouched towards the door that led to Kowalski's lab. I peered through the glass that didn't show anything. I sighed as I opened the door a crack and peered inside.

A little shilloute was shrowed in the corner, unable to see anything in the midths of an explosion that erupted my eyesight. I flinched as I opened the door by mistake. I fell inside and peered up at the shadow, I narrowed my eyes as I groaned to myself quitely.

" Rico" He turned towards me with a goofish smile on his face, behind him pieces of wood had been devored into pieces of splinters. A stick of dyanmite was lodged in his hands.

" Why are you blowing stuff up?" I asked, " More importantly where is everyone else?" My eyes searched the perimeter. Rico grunted and explained to me in his languge, I nodded though had no idea what he said.

" Okay" I said slowly enough. I shrugged it off as I was running to my room to grab some clothes. I threw on my outfit I bought a couple days ago at that shop and straightened my hair to match. I walked out of the bathroom and towards the lab. When I returned Rico was still in the corner, the TNT stick was now in his mouth, making the illuison of a lost, puppy dog without an owner. I walked towards him and smiled.

" Hey Rico, if the boys left you would like to come to town with me?" I asked poiletly, after all I never throughly knew Rico in and out and second of all the poor guy was probably all alone. He gave a little "yep" and I concreted and turned him into a human.

Rico was slightly taller then me, by an inch. His black hair was flat excluding the puff of hair that made his Mohawk. He wore a tuxedo with shiny black shoes. Maybe a bit too dazzling for the city, but it would have to do.

We walked out of the tunnel and towards the park, past the tree and into Manhattan's streets. We walked out towards West 50 street. I didn't have an agenda planned in my head, it was a Tuesday morning and I wanted to do something, also I needed to withdrawl from my account, I was almost out of money.

We stopped inside of a Dunkin Donuts shop. It was lodged with a Pizza hut and KFC. I walked to a line and ordered a maple glaze donut, Rico on the other hand was wide eyed at the whole, colorful store, it actually brought a smile to my face. I walked towards a magenta colored booth and sat beside a window with him.

I watched as many people walked by the window. I dunked my donut into drink of coffee I offered to buy for Rico, however he never drank any of it. Rico peered outside and smiled his crazy smile, his scar glittered almost in the light, made me wonder how he got it in the first place. I plopped a piece of donut in my mouth and watched as some crumbs fell onto my lap. I liked the essence of maple off my fingers and looked down the road. I stood up and walked out of the door, Rico followed me towards Avenue of America where I found the Aurora bank.

I withdrawled about 200 dollars from my bank ( Even though I have my bank card I use a limit a week) stuffed it in my backpack and walked out. I must admit even though we just ate I was bit famished. I turned to see Rico was looking curiously at a garbage can, with some admirers watching him coyly, I pulled his hand and started to find a restaurant.

I was on West 55 street until I found a restaurant that both I and Rico could enjoy. A place called Milos that was in the seafood genre, even after eating a Japanese restaurant I still had room for fish. I walked in with Rico we both waited for a seat.

We sat beside a beige colored wall, a cone shaped light dimmly lit the place we sat at. A beautiful boquet of flowers in a glass were in front of us with a white laced table cloth underneath, infering this was a highly expensive restaurant I thought. A young waiter came over to our table and gave us both menus. Rico's glass eyes opened up as he saw the names of fish he reconigzed on the menu. I knew myself I would have to order for him.

I order the scalops, I really enjoyed them even when I was a kid. Rico got the sardines, his face was bubbling with happiness when the waiter walked away. It was then I noticed the two girls sitting behind us. They were whispering to each other and smiling at what I thought was me, instead I noticed it was Rico they were beaming at. I smiled deviously myself as I poked him in the elbow.

" Don't look now Rico, but I think those girls are looking at you" Rico abruptly turned around, to which the girls embarrassed turned around without hesistation. He smiled to himself but shrugged at me. I knew he had Dolly at home with him. I stiffled a laugh about a penguin in love with a barbie doll from a toy collection.

When the waiter returned with our food, he placed our plates respectivly in front of us, then walked away without a word. I grabbed my plate and picked at my scallops, even though they were delicious I distasted the sauce that flavered them. While Rico devored his sardines in minutes. The waiter returned with my bill, I placed the money on the checkbook and walked out of the restaurant. Rico was singing something in his gargled throat, it was a nice melody whatever it was.

The day was still young and after spending 39.05 dollars at Milos I was left with 160.05. I decided to spend it on another day. The afternoon had turned to a bitter cold and the sky had turned to an unplesent, dark grey color. Instead of walking in the cold, me and Rico walked towards a bus stop and took a bus to Central Park. During the ride a couple of rain drops had bounced off the windows until the sprinkles became a downpour on the streets, draining everything in sight. As we approched the deary park, we ran off the bus and into the tunnel. The tunnel was even accepting water, as it seeped through the muddied floors. I passed my room and threw my backpack off my shoulders onto my bed. Rico ran ahead towards Kowalski's lab and into the main HQ room, I followed him.

I noticed the boys were back and that brought a smile to my face. Skipper informed me they were doing some spy work on Julian or whatever his name was, ( apparently he was quiet this day) I shrugged as I sat down at the table and listened to Kowalski's anaylis, Private's cheery voice, Skipper's sterness and of coarse Rico's friendly grunts. I smiled to myself, even without they boys or at least one of them it was a pretty good day.