The next day, I tried to blend in with the other students, trying to get to 4th period, while putting my coat over my head.

But Lucy spotted me, calling out. "Great demonstration yesterday! What were you trying to do, go south for the winter early?"

I stood there, depressed, as she left with a mocking laugh, when I heard Eddy say. "Ah, what does she know? That was the most daring feat any of us have ever seen."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better." I said.

"No, I mean it. That was downright impressive...right?" Eddy asked his fellow Eds through his clenched teeth.

"Why…yes! Yes, it was!" Double D said, going along with what Eddy was planning. "Of course, you'd have a much better chance at success if you use this…the Mega Bouncer!"

He pulled out what appears to be an ordinary pogo stick, in which a round button was put in the center.

Double D pressed the button, making the Mega Bouncer taller.

"Whoa-ho-ho!" exclaimed Eddy.

"Too cool!" said Ed

"As the name implies," Double D explained as he revert the Mega Bouncer to normal size. "One mega bounce out of Bowditch and you're homeschool free."

As he spoke, I stared at the Mega Bouncer, knowing there's still a chance of getting back to Foster City School.

"I'll take it!" I said finally, reaching out for it, but Eddy stood in the way, saying. "Ah, ah, ah, ah. Payment first."

"Payment?" I repeated.

"Eddy!" Double D scolded with annoyance.

"Hey, you know how this works," explained Eddy. "Cough off the dough, by which I mean 25 cents, then it's yours."

"But I don't have 25 cents." I said.

"Then, what's that you're standing on?" Eddy asked, pointing at the ground.

I looked down to see a quarter by my shoe, picked it up, then, looked at Eddy, who held out his hand, saying. "Come on."

With a reluctant sigh, I tossed the quarter to him, saying. "Anything to get out of here."

"Whoo-hoo!" exclaimed Eddy.

"Now, just as a precaution," Double D said as he helped me on the Mega Bouncer. "I insist that you buckle up and wear this helmet. Better to be safe than sorry, you know."

"Just don't make it too high, OK?" I asked while holding onto the handles. "You lnow how I am with heights."

"Gotcha, Nathan." said Ed, who pressed the button so hard…that I went up…and up…and UP!

"Uh-oh." Ed said, realizing his mistake.

"TOO HIGH, ED!" I called down. "TOO HIGH!"

"You must be bad at hearing, aren't you, Ed?" asked Eddy.

"STAY CALM, NATHAN!" Double D called up. "WE'LL GET YOU DOWN!"

But before he could touch the button, the blade of a spear swung through the bottom of the Mega Bouncer, sending me down towards the ground.

Luckily, Ed was able to catch me as I fell.

"Hey, what the…" Eddy said before he and the rest of us found ourselves surrounded by an army of men wearing large black cloaks and tall black hats pointing electrified spears at us.

"Oh, dear." said Double D.

"I'm scared, guys." Ed whimpered as he saw the two Dobermans, Roscoe and DeSoto (from "Oliver and Company") growling at us.

"Shoo. Shoo shoo. Shoo. Shoo. Shoo." Double D said to the Dobermans, only to be snapped at by Roscoe.

"Well…"

At the sound of Kevin's voice, the Eds and I turned to see him walk past the hooded men.

"I see you dorks met the new HMP." he said with a sneer.

"HMP?" repeated Double D.

"That's short for Hall Monitor Patrol." explained Kevin, who held up the wrecked Mega Bouncer. "Now, whose idea was this?"

Not a word came out of our lips when he asked that question.

"It was yours, wasn't it?" he asked me. "Tell me if it was, and I'll go easy on…"

"It was all them!" I blurted out, pointing at the Eds. "They were trying to help me escape from Bowditch!"

"Why, you little squealer! Wait till I…" Eddy said before he was attacked by Roscoe and DeSoto.