The next day, Herschel is up before Sticky, talking on his phone as he goes down to breakfast. He had decided that Sticky should sleep in, today being a day off.
"Hello, is this Reese Nougatson's office?" Herschel says into the phone.
"Yes, it is, how can I help you today?" the female voice on the other end says to Herschel. The female voice belongs to Reese's receptionist, Almondine.
"Well, I was wondering if I could see him about what happened at the Fudge Shoppe 400. This is his son speaking, by the way." Herschel says, still walking to breakfast.
"Sure you can, sweetie. Does 10:00 a.m. sound like a good time?" Almondine asks him.
"That time sounds perfect, miss. I'll see him then." Herschel says. "Have a good day, Miss Almondine." he says as he hangs up his phone.
At breakfast, everyone is talking about what happened at Clair's party and how Swizzle would stoop to such a low.
"He was such a jerk to poor Clair." Rancis says as he eats his Reese's Puffs cereal. "If you ask me, I think he should be banned from racing forever."
"Rancy, I wouldn't punish him from racing forever. I'd just suspend him from this race and recommend an anger management class. You know, if he needs an attitude adjustment, I think anger management is the best option. And possibly seeing a counselor wouldn't hurt either." Taffyta says, eating her strawberry pancakes and drinking her strawberry milk. "He needs SERIOUS help."
"He sure does!" Crumbelina yells out, taking a bite of her cinnamon bun.
Minty just sits at the table in silence, drinking her candy apple breakfast smoothie.
"Minty? Are you all right?" Torvald asks, sitting with her sister.
"Should I break up with him?" Minty asks Torvald, a sad look in her eyes.
"Sis, you're better off without him. He's an arrogant jerk and he always has been. He just wanted you to date him for his racing fame and fortune. He's stuck-up and braggy and other things I shouldn't talk about. So, break up with him. You're better off dating someone for who they are and not for what they have." Torvald says, patting her sister's shoulder.
Minty nods as she hugs Torvald. "Thanks for the advice, sis."
"Anytime." Torvald says, smiling. "Just remember, you're better off without him."
Minty smiles as "Sugar Racing Today" comes on, and she watches it with the other racers, thinking about what Torvald said.
"Hello, everyone, I'm Charlie Fizzypop, and this is Natalia Italian-Ice! Welcome to another edition of Sugar Racing Today. Today's top story, should Swizzle Malarkey be banned for the rest of the season?" Charlie says, turning to Natalia.
"Sources say that at the Fudge Shoppe 400, Swizzle intentionally shoved Clair Cremecape into a wall, loosening up his left rear tire, then he shoved Crumbelina Di Caramello's kart around the track like a mere toy, denting it up. Fans were furious as they saw Swizzle committing these track crimes. And just last night, at Clair Cremecape's victory party, Swizzle insulted the creampuff-themed racer, calling him names and insulting him continuously. " Natalia says, reading from a script she has on the anchor desk.
"What do fans say about these incidents? We go live to Kevin Fluggerbutter at The Chiller Bee Shake Shoppe & Ice Cream Parlor." Charlie says as Kevin comes up on the screen.
"Thank you, Charlie. Yes, racing fans here are furious, even angry, at the fact that Swizzle has gone off the deep end." Kevin says, turning to several candy fans who are heavily talking about the situation. "We asked fans this question: Should Swizzle Malarkey race in the Caramel City Classic? Here are a few fans with their answers."
One of Taffyta's heart lollipop fans: "No way! We don't want our racers getting hurt because of him. We'd have a bigger situation on our hands!"
Adorabeezle's peppermint fans: "NO! NO! NO!"
One of Crumbelina's Teddy Graham fans: "He tried to hurt her! Racers like him should be banned from the track for life!"
"And there you have it, folks. It's kind of the same answer, no matter who you ask. On Live At Five, I will be talking to some of Swizzle's fans and his pit crew chief to see their take on this situation." Kevin says. "Back to you, Charlie."
"Thank you, Kevin." Charlie says. "Now, we talk about next week's race at Caramel City. The track there is very long, but effective for racing. This speedway is one of a kind, with a big pit road, and of course the legendary "Caramel Square" finish line."
"Indeed. We'll have more on this race as the race week approaches." Natalia says as she adjusts her jacket.
The newscast continues as the racers watch.
Herschel walks out of the hotel, downing a Pepsi Max and driving off to his dad's office in the SRGP Racing company building.
He arrives a short time later, and gets out of his kart. He walks into the building, which boasts colorful pictures of all the famous racers who have raced in the Grand Prix, big bouquets of lollipops are all over the place, and candy chandeliers hang in several places, lit up with bright lights. Herschel makes his way to the elevator, and goes up to the top floor, which is where his dad's office is. He knows what he wants to tell his dad, and he's confident that his dad will fix the situation at hand.
Herschel arrives on the top floor, just as amazed. There's pictures of his dad everywhere, bouquets of Oreo flowers everywhere, and coolers full of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max, and sparkling water. He grabs a Pepsi Max, then he walks up to the receptionist, who's happy to see him.
"Hello, Herschel. Your dad will see you in his office." Almondine says, eating an Almond Joy bar.
"Thanks, Miss Almondine." Herschel says as he steps into his dad's office.
"Hello, son! Good to see you!" Reese says, hugging his son. "How have you been?"
"I've been just peachy, Dad, thanks for askin'. But I assume you know why I'm here, right?" Herschel asks Reese.
"I sure am, son. You want to talk about the situation with Swizzle, am I right?" Reese says, smiling at Herschel.
"That's right, Dad. I want you to take him off the race lineup for the Caramel City Classic next week." Herschel says, sipping his Pepsi Max.
"With all the stuff we saw him do at the Fudge Shoppe 400, I was actually considering that. What he did is against SRGP rules and regulations, and insulting another racer off the track is against the rules as well." Reese says, a serious look on his face.
"So, what are you going to do, Dad?" Herschel asks Reese, taking another sip of his drink.
"I talked with some of the other race directors, and they're all thinking the same thing: Take Swizzle Malarkey's name off the lineup for next week's race, and put him in an anger management class. It's obvious he needs an attitude adjustment. Most of the directors said banishment from the track was also an option, but I think if he's acting that bad on AND off the track, banishment might be an option." Reese says, still serious as can be. "But we'll see before we decide that. For now, we're going to take his name off the lineup for the Caramel City Classic, and I arranged for Almondine to put Swizzle in an anger management class, a one-week course at Sugar Rush University with one of the finest instructors."
"Dad, you're the best!" Herschel says, smiling.
"Son, like I said, what he did was intolerable, and I think what I'm doing now is the right thing to do. I'll call you if anything else happens with the situation at hand." Reese says, smiling at his son.
"All right, Dad. Just call me if you come up with any more punishments." Herschel says, smiling as he throws away the Pepsi Max can into his dad's recycling bin.
"You know I will, son. See you later for our father-son dinner at the Mapleton Gardens Steakhouse, okay? We'll discuss this further." Reese says, smiling.
"All right, Dad, see you later." Herschel says, walking out of his dad's office and toward his kart.
Meanwhile, the news was breaking at Sugar Racing Today, all the racers watching intently.
"Breaking news, everyone!" Charlie says, picking up the script from the anchor desk.
"It seems Reese Nougatson, the head of SRGP Racing, has come up with the proper punishment for the situation with Swizzle." Natalia says. "He has decided Swizzle will not race in the Caramel City Classic, and he is going to take an anger management course at Sugar Rush University during race week."
"All right!" the racers cheer and high-five each other.
"Swizzle is not going to participate in practice sessions for this race as well. He will be banned from the track during the practice races." Charlie says. "We at Sugar Racing Today know Reese has made the right choice."
All the racers are cheering as they finish breakfast, and some are even ecstatic to hear that Swizzle will not be racing in next week's race.
After breakfast, Minty takes Swizzle out to the hotel courtyard.
"You wanted to see me, Mints?" Swizzle asks Minty.
"Yes, I did." Minty says. "I've decided that there's no way that you will change, no matter what anyone tells you."
"So, what are you saying?" Swizzle says, obviously knowing what she's about to say.
"They banned you from next week's race and all the practice sessions leading up to it." Minty says. "And you have to take anger management classes at the university."
"WHAT?!" Swizzle yells out. "I don't believe this!"
"And now you have to believe this. We're through." Minty says, standing up. "I'm going to date someone who isn't just in racing to be famous. I will date someone who likes me for who I am. It's obvious that you made me date you for publicity purposes!" Minty says, storming out.
"That's not true, I dated you for who you were..." Swizzle says, trying to lure Minty back.
"LIAR!" Minty says, turning back to Swizzle. "I was a pawn in your fame game! You made me date you! You forced me to date you because of your racing fame! We were only a couple because you wanted a girl to be part of your little FAME GAME! You never loved ME! You loved that stupid TV camera more than me! Well, you know what, Swizz? IT'S OVER BETWEEN US!" Minty yells, crying her eyes out.
"Mints, please...I'll change..." Swizzle says, hitting his knees.
"I've heard that before, Swizz, and you don't ever change, no matter how many times you lure me back with that excuse." Minty says, folding her arms. "So, I'm going to say this one more time. WE. ARE. DONE!" Minty says, storming away.
Swizzle hits his knees, crying. He's lost his girlfriend and the possibility of being in the Grand Prix, all because his "stuck-up" attitude got him in this situation.