Author's Notes: So, you ever get reintroduced to a show you remember REALLY liking as a kid but never bothered to revisit until YouTube itself brought it back? And then, once you get back in the swing of binge-watching the show, you get this sudden brain rush that makes you want to write tons of stories on it? No? Just me? Well, that was WordGirl. Awesome PBS kid's show and one that literally got resurrected from the dead for me.
And if you think about it, I'm not surprised it vibed with me. It's VERY similar to The Powerpuff Girls. Like eerily so. So much so that I'm not surprised none of the same writers worked on it. They even have a Narrator who acts a real character and breaks the fourth wall. It's the Powerpuff Girls just without the same intense high-octane action, blood, or violence.
Anyway, I'm not kidding when I say I literally just started dropping at least 10 fics on this thing right off the bat. And the one I want to upload first is one that involves a little family bonding with TJ and Becky.
Trick or Treat Trouble
On a blustery October night, while the twinkling stars dotted the inky black sky, Becky Botsford shivered and crossed her arms tightly across her chest in a futile attempt to warm herself as she trudged reluctantly after her brother. Her breath came out in little white puffs that dissipated quickly in the frosty autumn air. She regretted not bundling up more for their Halloween trick-or-treating, or at least wearing a cozy costume like TJ's. Her thin green V-neck sweater and knee-length cream socks were doing little to shield her from the cold night.
TJ, on the other hand, was bubbly and energetic, practically skipping down the sidewalk ahead of Becky in his homemade WordGirl costume. The maroon fabric swished around his legs as he moved, the golden cape billowing out behind him. On his chest, the iconic red Lexiconian star emblem stood out brightly against the golden background of WordGirl's shield. Matching dark red gloves covered his hands, with matching boots on his feet. In one gloved hand, he proudly carried a plastic pumpkin basket already overflowing with candy from their trick-or-treating. In his other hand, he waved a WordGirl action figure through the air, making enthusiastic "Whoosh!" and "Ka-pow!" noises as he imagined epic battles against villains.
"Slow down, TJ!" Becky called out in exasperation, trailing several paces behind her over-excited brother.
"You can't tell me what to do, evildoer!" TJ shouted back defiantly over his shoulder, pausing just long enough to blow a loud, wet raspberry in Becky's direction. "And I still can't believe you didn't dress up as anything. Though I guess your boring regular outfit is a lame costume in and of itself."
"Oh ha ha, aren't you hilarious," Becky replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes at the insult. "Come on TJ, let's just get home already. It's getting late and I'm freezing," she added pleadingly, rubbing her hands up and down her goosebumps-covered arms for warmth.
"Crime never sleeps, so neither can WordGirl!" TJ declared dramatically, striking a heroic pose.
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I—I mean WordGirl needs her rest," Becky quickly corrected herself. "Every superhero has to respect their bedtime, you know."
"You're no fun at all," TJ grumbled under his breath, not watching where he was going. "In fact, I think I'll just— oof!" He suddenly crashed hard into a tall, imposing figure dressed in all black.
Looking up at the person who had knocked him to the ground, TJ saw a sneering, freckle-faced boy with ginger red hair peeking out from under a classic black Hamburglar hat. The hat's white plastic band circled his head, matching the white stripes on his black and white striped shirt. Over the shirt, he wore a sweeping black cape that fluttered slightly in the chilly breeze. Red gloves covered his hands, matching the bright red fabric of his shoes and jester-like tie, both dotted with little yellow hamburger emblems.
The costume clearly identified him as the iconic McDonald's mascot, and judging by his next actions, he was fully embracing the villainous role.
"I'll be taking that!" the boy announced gleefully in an exaggerated sneaky voice, snatching TJ's overflowing pumpkin candy basket out of his hands.
"Geez, way to live up to your costume," TJ remarked sarcastically, still rubbing his sore bottom where he had landed hard on the sidewalk. He quickly scrambled to his feet and demanded boldly, "Now give me back my candy!"
"Why don't you make me, WordGirl?" the boy taunted with a sneer, his eyes scanning TJ's homemade superhero costume mockingly. "Aren't you supposed to have superpowers or something?"
"I sure do!" TJ declared loudly, puffing out his chest confidently. He flexed his skinny arms in what he hoped was a heroic manner, then struck a dramatic pose.
With WordGirl's trademark battle cry of "Word up!" he charged forward, aiming to tackle the candy thief and regain his treats. But the boy didn't budge an inch, leaving TJ to crash painfully into unyielding muscle hidden beneath the striped shirt and cape.
The Hamburglar lookalike stared down at TJ sprawled at his feet with an expression of bored annoyance. Then, in a casual, flippant gesture, he pinched his thumb and forefinger together and flicked TJ directly in the center of his forehead. Despite the seemingly light touch, the impact was enough to send TJ tumbling backward in a blur of flailing limbs until he landed hard once again, this time right at his stunned sister's feet.
"Hey, no fair!" TJ protested loudly, sitting up quickly to rub at the blooming red spot on his forehead where he'd been flicked. "You didn't have to hit me!"
The freckle-faced boy callously ignored TJ's protest and turned to swagger away, only to collide unexpectedly with a human wall in the form of Becky. She had somehow materialized directly in front of him without warning, arms crossed over her chest and an authoritative look on her face.
"I believe my brother asked for his candy back," Becky stated firmly, her voice laced with a commanding tone far beyond her years. Though not currently dressed as her superhero alter ego, she still effortlessly channeled WordGirl's commanding presence.
The boy tipped his head back to meet her eyes, his arrogant expression morphing into one of surprise at her sudden appearance. But the shock quickly faded back into nonchalance as he scoffed up at her.
"Or else what, little girl?" he challenged mockingly, a sneer on his freckled face. "You'll go home crying to your mommy?"
"Hey!" TJ yelled indignantly, jumping back to his feet. "Nobody messes with my older sister except me!" His hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.
The Hamburglar-costumed boy remained utterly unimpressed in the face of the Botsford siblings' united stand against him. "Oh sure, I'm supposed to be afraid of a sissy girl and her even sissier baby brother," he taunted, rolling his eyes.
"You take that back!" Becky and TJ shouted in perfect unison, twin looks of outrage on their faces.
"Don't you two have a Pretty Princess marathon you should be getting back to?" the boy continued to mock, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Well, actually I do..." Becky admitted, briefly tapping her index fingers together shyly. But she quickly shook herself out of it, resuming her commanding stance. "But that's beside the point!"
"Whatever," the boy said with exaggerated boredom, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm outta here." He turned to leave again, candy basket still in hand.
TJ's shoulders slumped dejectedly as the costumed bully swaggered away with his hard-earned Halloween candy.
"Aw man, there goes all my trick-or-treating loot," TJ mourned, looking up at his sister's face. "Thanks for trying to get it back anyway, Becky."
But instead of matching his disappointment, Becky's face held a sly, satisfied smile. "Oh, I don't think he got away with it that easily," she said mysteriously.
She placed a reassuring hand on TJ's slumped shoulder and brought her other hand out from behind her back with a flourish, proudly presenting his pumpkin basket brimming with pilfered candy - not a single piece missing.
TJ's face lit up brighter than a carved jack-o-lantern. "My candy!" he exclaimed joyously, grabbing the basket and peering inside to confirm it was all still there. "You got it back! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Overwhelmed with gratitude, he wrapped his arms around his sister in a fierce hug. Becky laughed and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Don't mention it, little bro."
TJ stepped back, looking at her with awe. "But how did you do it? I didn't even see you take the basket back!"
Becky tapped the side of her nose secretively. "Just a clever bit of sleight of hand," she explained, wiggling the fingers of one hand mysteriously.
"Or maybe a hint of super speed," the Narrator's voice cut in smugly from above.
Becky's eyes darted upward as she pressed a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. "Shh!" she reprimanded the Narrator before turning her attention back to her little brother.
Smiling, they turned and continued their journey home, TJ swinging his reclaimed basket of candy as Becky chuckled to herself. It had been an eventful Halloween, but all was well that ended well, and the Botsford siblings had a new story to add to their ever-growing collection of memorable adventures.
