Chapter 52
The Ed boys had been so preoccupied by the events that had occurred out on the basketball court that they barely had time to exchange their books at their lockers. Double Dee was once again panicking as he and his friends bolted towards room 103.
They had just barely made it into the classroom as the teacher was beginning to take roll. The boys took their seats together, behind the newly reconciled Kevin and Nazz. Nazz turned around to her friends.
"Double Dee," said Nazz, "Congratulations dude on getting Marie back. You two deserve each other."
"Thank you Nazz." said Double Dee, "You don't know how much of a relief it is to have Marie's trust once again."
Double Dee paused.
"Ah Marie," said Double Dee to himself in a dream like voice, "How I long to feel your delicate touch."
All of the boys stared at Double Dee, who was surprised that he had just inadvertently let words that were meant to be kept within his mind out of his mouth. Eddy saw a perfect opportunity to tease his friend.
"OOOHHHH!" said Eddy, "I'm sure you really long to feel her delicate touch!"
Eddy began laughing as Kevin slapped him five joining in on the merriment. Nazz simply turned around away from the conversation.
"Boys," she whispered to herself sarcastically, after which she sighed and buried her face in her Cosmo Girl magazine.
Double Dee blushed heavily upon seeing his friends laughing at his expense, as he still did not feel particular comfortable being the butt of a joke that dealt with the subject at hand. Nevertheless, Double Dees reconciliation with Marie had made him feel on top of the world, and his confidence level had shot up drastically. He decided to retort.
"Ha Ha Eddy!" said Double Dee, "At least I long for the delicate touch of my lady friend, and not the touch of my own right hand!"
Double Dee snickered as Eddy sat shocked at Double Dees joke. Kevin began laughing hysterically; his girlfriend Nazz, although not particularly fond of pig headed jokes, couldn't help but begin chuckling as well.
"Dude!" yelled Kevin, "He just trashed you!"
Double Dee and Kevin began laughing at Eddy's expense. Eddy was no longer amused now that he was on bad of a joke, but nevertheless knew that his friends were just playing around with him.
"Ah shut up all of ya!" yelled Eddy after which he grinned.
The rest of homeroom flew by rather quickly, and before the boys knew it the bell had rang indicating the beginning of first period.
"Alright boys!" said Eddy as he parted ways with his two good friends at the hallway junction,
"I'll catch ya later in Bio!"
"Salutations Eddy!" yelled Double Dee.
"See ya Eddy!" yelled Ed as he ran to join Double Dee.
As Double Dee and Ed began making their way towards English class, Eddy was making his way to his first period class, Spanish class. Eddy walked into the classroom and took a seat in the back of the room as he usually did. As he twirled his pencil in his hand to pass the time, he heard the sound of a book bag slam on the floor next to him.
Eddy looked down towards the floor to see a leather back pack sitting near the desk next to him. Eddy's eyes glanced up towards the ceiling, and before he knew it he was in direct eye contact with a pair of blue eyes.
"Hiya shrimp!" said Lee Kanker jokingly as she began sitting down in the chair next to Eddy, "I was feeling kind of generous, so I figured I'd give ya the honor of sittin' next to me this period."
Eddy sighed.
"Whatever ya say Lee," said Eddy, "Just don't get too comfortable!"
"Trust me I won't," said Lee, "I'm just here to make ya look good!"
Just then the teacher entered the room and silenced the class so that she could begin her lecture. As the rest of the class took notes, Eddy leaned into Lee and whispered.
"By the way?" asked Eddy, "How the hell did ya get Marie to come around and talk to Double Dee?"
Lee paused after which she snickered.
"I didn't," said Lee, "You can thank my mom for that one!"
"Your mom?" asked Eddy.
"Yeah," said Lee, "She overheard us arguing over it and called Marie upstairs. She somehow beat some sense into the Marie's head and got her to listen to reason."
"Well that's good," said Eddy, "I'm happy for him and all, but the best thing is that I can steal answers off of Double Dee again now that he's back to reality."
"Hey at least you get something out of it!" said Lee, "Now Marie's gonna be back to parading around the trailer all happy go lucky, never shutting up about "her Double Dee, Oven Mitt, Dreamboat, or whatever the hell else she calls him."
The two teenagers giggled at each other's jokes, a remarkable action considering their violent past together. Eddy decided to push forward with another joke.
"Yeah you should have been there for the best one!" said Eddy .
Eddy told Lee about the jokes he had made in homeroom towards Double Dee about his "intimate" life with Marie. Eddy had slightly modified the story in order for it to look like he had made Double Dee the butt of the joke instead of the other way around.
The joke prompted laughter between Eddy and Lee, and disrupted the class. The teacher was not a pushover, and before they knew it, "Ms. Kanker and Mr. McGee" were invited to the language office to share a lunch detention together.
As Lee and Eddy were having a good time in their spanish class, Double Dee had taken a seat in the front of the classroom next to Ed. Ed was currently drawing crude pictures of monsters from a movie he had seen the previous night in his notebook, while Double Dee was organizing his books on his desk.
May Kanker-Lonergan, who shared an English class with the two boys had just walked in, carrying her pink book bag. The single pink strap passed over her shoulder and down her chest to connect to the bottom of the bag. The bright pink color stood out against the beautiful green color of her sundress.
May would have made an attempt to sit next to Ed if he wasn't already at the end of the row. She instead bypassed his row to take the seat directly behind him. As May walked passed Ed, she blushed while she held her hand up and waved her fingers at him
"Hi Ed!" said May using her adenoidal voice in a long drawn out tone.
"Hi May!" yelled Ed enthusiastically.
Ed stared into May's eyes as she walked past him and took a seat behind him. As soon as May was out of view, Ed turned to Double Dee.
"Um Double Dee?" asked Ed .
"Yes Ed," said Double Dee. "When May walked by, my tummy started feeling all wiggly inside," said a concerned Ed.
Double Dee took a look at his best friend and then turned his attention to the row behind them. May was sitting directly behind Ed with her cheeks resting on the palms of her hands. She was staring dreamily at the back of Ed's head as she did so. Double Dee chuckled to himself.
"Well Ed," said Double Dee, "I must admit that I know the sensation that you are currently feeling all too well."
Ed turned around in his chair and locked eyes with May. May quickly became embarrassed and blushed while looking down towards her desk. Ed felt a wave of warmth pass through his cheeks as well after which he quickly turned around away from May. Double Dee grinned as he watched his friend succumb to the same feelings that he felt whenever he was around Marie. He was glad for May that she was able to begin to show Ed her true colors.
The slightly awkward moment was broken by the arrival of the teacher, who began giving her lecture. The class was currently discussing the chapter of the book that they were supposed to have read last night. The teacher lectured on the chapter for a few minutes before she decided to allow the students to pair up for a class assignment.
Ed leaned towards Double Dee, and was about to ask him to work with him when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Ed turned towards his left and looked up into May's blue eyes.
"Hiya Ed!" said May, "Looks like we have a writing assignment."
May leaned in close to Eds ear while blushing.
"Can I be your partner?" asked May as she smiled.
May blushed as if waiting for an answer. Ed turned around to Double Dee, seeking guidance from his brainy best friend on the situation he was being presented with. Double Dee motioned with his hands for Ed to go with May. Ed turned around and stared at May for a few seconds before he reluctantly got up out of his seat and followed May to a pair of empty seats to work with her.
Double Dee smiled as he stood up to attempt to find a partner for his assignment. He had always worked with Ed on all of his English assignments due to being his good friend, even though Double Dee had always wound up doing all of the work. He had not been out of his desk for two minutes when he felt a hand grab his shoulder.
"Hello Ed Boy!" said a high pitched voice with a Norwegian accent. Double Dee instantly recognized the voice and turned around to see Rolf smiling. "Rolf requests that you assist him with this babble babble English, as your previous assistance has made Nana proud of this son of a shepherd!" said Rolf, "Come now, we must begin!"
Rolf pulled Double Dee down and sat him down in a desk on the far side of the room. Rolf followed suit and quickly took the desk next to him.
"These days hearken Rolf back to his time of learning how to spin the yarns using these bizarre words. The great Nano….."
As Rolf began telling yet another one of his long drawn out stories about his family, Double Dee began working on their assignment all by his lonesome. As he wrote the paper, he periodically glanced across the room at May and Ed, who were both staring confused at their piece of paper. Eventually, Ed began writing something down on the paper using his pencil while May smiled at him as he did so.
Double Dee turned his attention back to his paper. After writing for around five minutes, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned his attention upward to see a very confused Ed and May standing over him. Ed was holding his paper out towards Double Dee.
"Um Double Dee," asked Ed, "Can you help us with our essay?"
Double Dee placed his pencil down on his desk and took the paper off of Ed. As he glanced over the paper, he took note of severe grammar and punctuation mistakes, as well as various incorrectly conjugated verbs and malapropisms.
"I would be delighted to help your two with your essay as soon as I complete mine!" said Double Dee as he smiled into Ed's eyes. Ed and May both returned a smile.
In short, Double Dee found himself writing two essays that day, although only one of which would count towards his grade.
The rest of the day passed quickly for Double Dee and his two friends. While Eddy and Lee spent their time at lunch detention, making more jokes behind the Spanish teachers back, Double Dee, Marie, May and Ed spent their time sitting together at lunch discussing the finer things in life. Ed was still quite apprehensive to May's romantic advances, but was gradually beginning to develop his own feelings for May as well, although he had no idea how to express them properly.
At exactly three o' clock, the dismissal bell rang at Peach Creek Junior High, releasing the students for their weekend. All of the students naturally rushed out of the school as they did every Friday afternoon, and the Ed's and the Kanker's were no exception. Double Dee was currently walking out of the school with Marie, holding her hand as he did so.
"So Marie," asked Double Dee as he smiled at his girlfriend, "May I be so honored as to be graced with your presence this evening at my residence?"
Marie smiled.
"You and those sexy big words!" said Marie as she reached up and pulled on his cheek with her hand, "Sure I'd love to come over your house, but is it okay if I come over a little later than usual. Me and Lee are going to my mom's restaurant after school to pick up some food to bring to the party on Saturday, and May is getting her braces put on today."
"Wow really, that's great she must be excited beyond belief!" said Double Dee. "She really is" said Marie, "My Dad is picking her up after school to take her right to the dentist. She should be home around 4:30. Then we're gonna spend some time with my mom after she gets home from work."
"That's great!" said Double Dee, "I'm glad to hear that you are going to be spending time with your mother."
"Yeah," said Marie, "If it wasn't for her, I probably would still be hauled up in my trailer refusing to speak to you!"
Marie giggled with Double Dee before she leaned into Double Dee's face and pecked him on the lips.
"Wait your mother actually assisted in our reconciliation?" said Double Dee quite nervously.
"Don't worry cutie," said Marie, "I'll explain later at your house. I should be there around 8:00, if that's okay?"
"That is perfectly fine Marie," said Double Dee, "And I most certainly cannot wait for our little rendezvous."
Marie smiled as they walked out of the school. The two held hands as they descended the stairs and joined their friends in the schoolyard. May was currently talking to Ed rather shyly about their school day as Lee poked fun at them with Eddy, playfully of course. After a few minutes, a large red truck pulled up outside the school grounds.
"There's Daddy now!" yelled Lee.
"Wish me luck!" yelled May as she picked up her book bag and began making her way towards Rod's truck. Marie and Lee both hugged their sister before she departed.
"Just don't let them drill too much!" said Lee as she snickered.
May was slightly taken aback, as she was slightly fearful of the dentist. Lee quickly reassured her that she would not be getting drilled before sharing a giggle with her youngest sister. May ran off towards the truck as her sisters bid her goodbye.
"You're gonna look great when you get home!" yelled Marie.
May turned around and smiled as she hoped into Rods truck. As soon as May had shut the door, Rod pulled briskly away from the school.
"So Oven Mitt," said Marie as she wrapped her arms around Double Dee with a sly grin on her face, "I guess I'll be seeing you tonight!"
"Sure thing," said Double Dee. Marie leaned her face in and touched her lips to Double Dees for around 10 seconds as Lee, Eddy and Ed watched. After a few seconds, Lee playfully walked over and pulled her away from him.
"Alright turtledoves," said Lee as she pulled Marie towards the gate to the school, "Save the make-up lovey dovey stuff for his house tonight. We got work to do!"
Marie waved her hand at Double Dee as she walked out of the school yard.
"See ya Double Dee," said Marie quietly.
"Goodbye Marie," said Double Dee.
Double Dee watched as Marie and her red headed sister exited the school grounds on the way to the business district. Marie had been sure to stop and blow her boyfriend a kiss right before she had disappeared from view.
Double Dees thoughts were interrupted by Eddy's hand slapping him on the back.
"Come on Sock Hea….er…Double Dee," said Eddy, "We got work to do!"
Eddy had caught himself calling Double Dee "Sock Head". He was afraid to call Double Dee by that nickname because of the sensitivity he had surrounding the incident with James. Double Dee smiled.
"No need to hold yourself back Eddy," said Double Dee, "Address me as Sock Head if you wish. I view it as a term of endearment between two friends."
Eddy smiled at Double Dee's statement, after which he continued speaking.
"Round up that "Ed Mobile" of yours and plot a course for my place." said Eddy, "We got some work to do for this little shin dig on Saturday. Come on Mono Brow!"
Double Dee unlocked the bike and soon after, all three boys were pedaling their way back to the cul-de-sac. After around a ten minute ride, the boys had finally wound up in Eddy's back yard. Eddy pulled out his bedroom key, and unlocked the door. He allowed his two friends to enter the room before him after which he closed his sliding wooden door behind him. The boys would spend the next few hours going through Eddy's records, planning music for the upcoming party.
Lee and Marie's afternoon was quite uneventful in comparison to the Ed's. Lee and Marie had stopped by their mother's restaurant, and had carried home two trays containing stuffed shells and baked ziti. After placing the trays in their refrigerator, they waited outside in the beautiful weather for the return of their little sister with her braces.
It was around 4:15 when the two girls finally caught sight of Rod's truck entering the trailer park. Both the red and black haired Kanker sisters jumped off of the metal step as they watched the truck draw closer. Rod's truck eventually stopped directly in front of the trailer, at which point Rod placed the vehicle in park. The girls ran over to the truck to greet Rod. As they leaned into the window, they took notice that May was stepping out of the truck from the passenger seat.
After Rod shared his goodbyes with his daughter, he shifted his truck into drive and began driving out of the trailer park.
May was still facing the direction of the trailer park entrance, and the girls have yet to see their little sisters new smile.
"Yo May!" yelled Lee, "Turn around let us see that smile of yours!"
May obliged and turned towards her sisters. May did in fact have her braces; there were silver brackets adorning the surface of all of her teeth. Two silver wires passed though all of the brackets on her upper and lower jaw from molar to molar. The wires were secured to the brackets by green ligatures. Inside her mouth, two elastic rubber bands connected a bracket on her upper jaw to her lower jaw, and would ensure proper correction of her over bite.
"May, you look great!" said Marie, "In a few months, you'll have the beautiful smile you always dreamed of and Ed will be goin' crazy over you!"
May said nothing but simply smiled while staring at the blue sky; a smile of pure joy, as she had now begun the journey towards correcting what she saw as a serious flaw. She looked towards her sisters with an air of confidence and bliss, as she ran over to both of them and squeezed them tight. The two sisters returned the favor.