Chapter One

It was a bright and beautiful day. The birds were singing their beautiful songs and there wasn't a single cloud in the blue sky. Days like this made Jimmy appreciate life. He fluttered about in the kitchen preparing an array of treats for his guests who were due any moment. He was running a little behind because of the gardening he had done earlier and how he had just gotten so lost in the wonders that were this perfect day.

He was house sitting for his aunt while she was away for the summer on a luxurious cruise of the Caribbean. She lived in a quaint townhouse on the river's edge in the city away from Peach Creek that hosted the college his guests would soon be attending. It would still be almost a week before their dorms would be ready to move into, so Jimmy offered his friends a place to stay so they could get accustomed to the sleepy college town in an effort to make their move more comfortable. He knew his stay at his aunt's was also approaching its end, but he hadn't had the joy of entertaining any guests, and he did love doing so.

He was pulling a tray of his trademark "Friendship Cookies" out of the oven when the doorbell sounded. He resisted the urge to squeal out in delight as the butterflies entered his tummy and threatened to burst out. He skipped out of the kitchen and down the hallway to the front door as someone started pounding on it with their fists. An impatient Eddy, no doubt.

Jimmy had to admit that he was slower to embrace the Eds following the events of that faithful summer. Double D, he didn't have any problems with. Sure, they had disagreed in the past and had even had a rare conflict or two, but he was the easiest to get along with. And Sarah's older brother Ed was just Ed. Not much could be said about the tallest and most rambunctious Ed boy. But his penchant for roughhousing and letting himself get caught up in any manner of things that interested him made Jimmy keep his distance. It wasn't that he didn't mean well, it was just that in the past whenever they had gotten close the younger boy he ended up with booboos.

Eddy was a different story. He was rude, arrogant, and took advantage of people's kindness and generosities. Jimmy had been on the receiving end one too many times to jump at the opportunity to put himself in that situation again. But, after what happened with Eddy's older brother Jimmy saw a side of him that was vulnerable. It wasn't often that people opened themselves up as he had done, and even though Jimmy was slower to embrace the redeemed Eds than his other friends, he had given them a chance.

Double D turned out to be just as eager to help as Jimmy was himself, always making time for those around them. He had helped Jimmy more times than he would care to admit with math homework and science projects. In a lot of ways his eagerness to lend a hand had created a comradery between the two of them.

Ed had proven to be just as much of a help as Double D but in his own way. If Jimmy ever needed anything Ed would be there to lend it, whatever it was, and even if it would put him out in some way. He would always be there with a smile on his face and a caring word on his tongue. That was something Jimmy appreciated. Empathy was a rare mineral among the residents of the cul-de-sac. Most were too oblivious to it to notice when it was needed, and the rest, like in Double D's case, were too awkward to articulate any sort of encouragement.

Eddy had been a strange case since he swore off his scams, the strangest out of his three friends who, by and large, remained the same. Eddy had started out as being reserved. Something no one would have ever assumed was possible for the loud mouthed, short, Ed. He was embarrassed about what happened and not used to being in a broader social circle. So, at the beginning, he would only dip his toe in the pool. But after a while that started to change. The more he felt welcomed and accepted by his peers the more active he had been in their lives. He and Kevin had struck an easy friendship, both liking much of the same things, but his relationship with Jimmy was the strangest.

By the time Sarah and Jimmy had entered high school the rest of the cul-de-sac were upperclasspersons and Sarah herself was caught up in the hustle and bustle of high school life. So, when Jimmy found himself the victim of bullying, he was surprised when it was Eddy who came to his rescue. Since then, Jimmy had confided in Eddy and sought the occasional piece of advice. It was an odd relationship they shared, but Jimmy knew that in many ways it was Eddy imparting what little wisdom he could to a friend and treating a younger boy how he wished he had been treated by his abusive older brother.

Jimmy opened the door with a toothy smile, which had been perfected thanks to his years of extreme dental care. "Now, now. There's no reason for that." he beamed to the three Eds.

"My sincerest of apologies Jimmy. The ride here was most exhausting, and Ed's father prioritized our arrival over making unnecessary stops." Double D smiled.

"Yeah, and I've had to piss for hours!" Eddy shouted, shifting on his feet. His eyes watered as he did the "pee dance".

Jimmy chuckled and opened the door allowing the trio to enter. Eddy sprang forth and rushed down the hallway, kicking up the runner as he went. "First door on the right." Jimmy called out after him.

The remaining Eds followed suit and while Ed started to look around in awestruck wonder, Double D turned to face his host as he shut the door. "I must thank you again for your hospitality, Jimmy. It was very kind of you to allow us to stay here while we make the necessary preparations for this semester."

"Think nothing of it, Double D." Jimmy smiled. "It's my pleasure." he gestured for the two of them to follow him as he led them into the kitchen. Each of the Eds carried some sort of luggage container. When Eddy sprinted for the bathroom his stuffed full backpack bounced against him, Double D carried a full looking suitcase as well as his signature messenger bag around his shoulder, and Ed carried a large duffle bag that looked like it was so full it would tear at the seams any second.

When they got to the kitchen Ed's attention was drawn to the snacks Jimmy had prepared. He laughed to himself as he ran over to a plate of muffins and made to help himself, but before he could devour them all in a single gulp, he stopped himself and looked up at Double D who wore a stern expression and then to a giggling Jimmy, "Help yourself, Ed!" he said, "There's plenty for everyone." That was all the permission Ed needed before he did just that.

"While I would be more than happy for a refreshment. I would like to set my bags down." Double D said adjusting himself against the weight of his luggage.

"Of course! I'll show you to your rooms." Jimmy beamed. Ed turned his attention up from the sweets and Eddy walked back in to rejoin his friends.

"Swanky bathroom." Eddy said, still looking back down the hall.

"Everyone, if you'll follow me." Jimmy said as he twirled around with a feeling of bliss and made his way for the stairwell.

And so it went for the next few days. Jimmy and the Eds got along quite well, sure there were the occasional hiccups. But nothing Jimmy hadn't expected when he agreed to the deal at the get-go. Eddy would hog one of the two precious bathrooms during the morning rituals, Double D tried to micromanage and makes things more efficient around the house much to Jimmy's annoyance, and Ed was…well he was Ed and his slobbish tendencies still carried over from his youth.

But all in all, it went well, and when the time came for the Eds to say their goodbyes as they lucked out and got the first openings in the dorms the week before the semester started Jimmy was sad to see them go. He did love to entertain.

They had just left mere minutes ago and Jimmy found himself missing the busyness that came with them. But he himself would be returning home soon and starting his junior year of high school. An exciting prospect.

Jimmy occupied himself with washing the last of the dishes that Double D had missed when he heard the doorbell. Eddy must have forgotten something, that absent mind of his! As Jimmy made his way to the door his smile returned. It was silly, he knew, but he was missing the company more and more as the seconds ticked by.

"Forget something, silly?" he asked as he opened the front door. When he did, however, his smile dropped, and his eyes widened. The sight that greeted him was a surprise, to say the least.

The cackles that erupted caused his bones to shake and his body to freeze. In front of him were the three beings that brought him more fear than anything else in existence. The Kanker Sisters pushed past his frozen form and let themselves inside.

"Looky here, girls." Lee, the head Kanker, started, "The twerp don't even know how'ta welcome guests!" she commented with an evil smile, causing the other two sisters to continue their cackles.

"What do you want?" he squeaked.

"We're lookin' for our fellas. We heard through the grapevine that you were keepin' 'em here." Lee said as she scanned the entryway and peeked up the stairs.

The walls were closing in around Jimmy and he only saw one way out, he knew in his heart that the Eds would understand, at least that's what he told himself. Jimmy didn't consider himself the type to sell out his friends, but anyone who had met the young man knew he was the weakest link in the chain of willpower among the cul-de-sac residents. And they also knew it wouldn't take much to break him.

"You just missed them!" he shouted out, seeing this as his only hope. Throwing the Eds under the bus was something he could feel guilt over when he wasn't in the direct line of fire.

"Did we now?" Lee asked. She bore down on him, the sweat now pouring off him as he trembled under her gaze. "Well, you won't mind if we make sure of that, wouldya?" she said giving her sisters a nod. They smiled and disappeared into the house, May headed for the kitchen, and Marie bounding up the stairs, each calling out for their boos. "In the meantime, yous and me are gonna have a little chat. And you're gonna tell me everything you know." she said, her shadow engulfing him as he swallowed hard.

It wasn't all bad when it was said and done. The Kankers took what they wanted and left with the new information they pulled out of Jimmy. But, when his aunt returned, the mess and destruction left in their unstoppable wake ensured Jimmy wouldn't be house sitting in the future.