Sorry for my bad English.
Lately I've been feeling a little down for no reason. I just awake one day and poof, my mood was more lower than the rating of the Marvel Spider-man cartoon but I still like this version of the web slinger. Since then it is being a little difficult for me to keep going with everything in my life. I keep distracting myself with my own mind, thinking about what is wrong with me and this distract me from things like work and everything else.
I work for my father and he already called me at least four times by rising his voice because I was not paying attention to work. I will try not let this slow me down anymore and keep with everything like I usually do but the reason of me feeling like that is still bugging me.
For now I can only try figure out what is bothering me. Until then, enjoy this chapter.
-Double D! -Erika shout.
-I've been entrusted with a very important task Erika. -Double D spoke. -And if Duncan thinks this will stop me from perform my duty...
-Duncan is bullying you Double D! -Ed interruped him. -This is not cool.
-Yeah! Monobrown is right. -Eddy said and began to rub his arms like some kind of evil mastermind. -Let's give to this loser a taste of Eddy's famous revenge!
-Eddy's famous revenge? -Erika asked. -Eddy, I think it is better if we treat this situation with calm.
-And what would be the fun in that?
-Gentlemen, Erika, please. -Double D began. -There's no need for any action. I will simple explain what is going on to a teacher and Duncan will...
-Will keep shoving you inside of the lockers, trash cans, and stuck you in the ceiling with adhesive tape! -Eddy shout. He could become angry with a lot of things, but nothing anger him more than someone just messing with his friends. -We need to make him pay for that!
-Eddy, violence generates violence. If you try something like that, Double D will not be his only target.
-I don't care. I will show to this moron what happen if someone mess with the Eds! -Eddy declared as he left his friends behind.
Erika sighed while Ed just cleaned his ear, removing his finger he removed from inside his head a corn cob covered with ear wax.
-My lunch from last year! -Ed declared.
-Ed. -Erika called. -I feel that whatever Eddy is planning may cause even more trouble to Double D. We must think in a more civilized solution.
-Can eat civilized solution?
-I explain later. Double D, I think you should-where's Double D? -Erika asked seeing that the sock headed Ed was not around.
-Hey Kevin! -Duncan called while approaching his friend on the football field. -Look who want to play with us today!
Duncan was holding Double D by his tie while slowly chocking the nerd who was looking with his legs the floor below his feet.
-Cool man! -Kevin said. -What position we should let him play?
-How about... the ball?
Double D's eyes widened as Kevin opened a football ball that was hollow inside. Duncan proceed in shoving Double D inside the ball and Kevin stitched both sides Double D still inside, Kevin hold the ball in the middle of the field while Duncan was getting ready for a kick.
-C'mon man! Let me show how much you praticed! -Kevin shout.
-With pleasure. -Duncan starts to run so fast to the point his legs not be see from naked eyes.
He kicked the ball with great force, and Double D's scream could be heard as the ball went all the way from one side to another in the school. The ball landed in front of the school doors, bouncing a couple of times on the floor before finally stopping.
-What did I do to deserve this? -Double D asked.
-Putting your nose where you were not have any business with has nothing to do with it, does it? -Erika asked from outside.
She got the ball and opened, freeing Double D from his sports trap.
-I was only upholding a duty trusted to me.
-This "duty" has put you in a problem worst than what would happen if Ed and Eddy had caught you last week. Not everyone are interested in solve their problems with some talk.
-If the problem is Duncan's parents, I'm sure if he just try talk with his parents, he will... -Erika interruped him by grabbing his beanie and push down, covering Double D's body. -Argh! Erika!
-I'm sorry but this talk is start to getting on my nerves.
-You and me both. -A voice spoke from behind, and the brazilian turns around to see Duncan standing behind her. -Double Dweebie, why are you out of the ball, the practice is not over yet.
-You leave him alone! -Erika said putting herself between Double D and Duncan.
-And who are you?
-I'm his friend.
-Really? I thought Kevin was just joking around. -Duncan said to himself as Double D tried to sneak out of the place, only to bump in Ed who smiled and trapped his friend in a hug. Double D was struggling to not throw up. -Look babe, whatever you are thiking will not stop me from teach this wimp a lesson.
Erika blinked a couple of times before lean to Ed and Double D to ask.
-He just called me baby?
-"Babe" with an "e" instead of an "y" is an affectionate form of address, typically for someone with whom one has a romantic interest.
-Oh good. -Erika said as she turns back to Duncan. -Look, I know that what Double D did was not right but punish him like that will not help you.
-No but will make me feel better.
-Has anyone ever taught you what revenge is not the answer to your problems?
-It says "has anyone ever taught you...
-Shut up Double Dork! -Erika and Duncan shout at the same time, deflating Double D's self esteem for being called "dork" by someone who is not Kevin.
-Revenge may not solve my problem but at least I will give to this dweeb what he deserves.
-I'm sure what he did is not enough for him deserve all you did to him.
-No but I like it.
-You may traumatize him!
-Like that he doesn't screw with my life.
-Forgive is divine.
-But get revenge is sensational.
The talk was getting the nerves of Erika. No matter what she says Duncan still wanted to rip Double D's skin.
-Okay, let's try this. You said Double D screw with your life, what do you mean by this?
-"By that" Erika.
Erika shot to Double D a glare that send to him the message. Shut up and let me talk.
-If you really want to know, let me start from the beggining. -Duncan began. -Our basketball team made it to the finals last year, and this game was the most important of the season because we would play against our rival school team Lemon Brook. The most important game of the year and I could not play because my parents forbade me to play in the game because somebody showed my grades to them. I planned to show my grades to them after the game but a wimp sock-head acted behind my back and handed my report cards without me knowing. It was necessary for me, Kevin, and one of our classmates to have a chance to win that game. What happened? Our team lost! We lose! All because I was not in the game to help Kevin and our classmate! Without us three in the game, Peach Creek had no chance!
As Double D struggled to get out of Ed's embrace, Erika heard everything Duncan had to say and thought deeply about everything. For a sportsman, a game like this means a lot, bringing the trophy home, showing it to everyone around and with that, showing how hard they worked, having the name known, and those scholarships that Erika heard so much.
Erika discovered with soccer in Brazil how important the finals of a game are.
But before Erika had her last judgement, she needed to know one more thing.
-Why did you not talk with your parents?
Duncan laughed.
-Do not you think I did not? I begged to let me play! I said that my grades would improve if they let me play! That I would dedicate myself more to my studies if they let me play! And what happened? They ignored everything I said and locked me in my room the night of the game! That's what they do! That's what they always do! Talking to them is the same as talking to a door!
-Dunca, I'm sure you just need...
-Double D! Shut up! -Erika shout surprising Ed, Double D and Duncan. -Not all parents are as understanding as yours, and if you did not meddle in the lives of others you would not need to know that! This could be a great opportunity for the two of you to sit with your parents and find a corrective curriculum to overcome your academic shortcomings. I'm sure your parents will be very understanding. Has this happened the last few times? Did this happen to Ed and Eddy?!
Double D stopped struggle against Ed's hug as he traveled through his memories. It was true that he barely knew anything about Duncan besides sports before deliver his report card to his parents. He also remember the few times he delivered the report cards to his friends' parents. They went at least a week grounded without be allowed to stay out of their homes once afternoon began.
No scams for Eddy. No movies for Ed. And no friends for Double D.
Thinking now, he knew Eddy's father enough to know where Eddy inherited this mania from not listening to others. His father is not a bad man, but he could learn to pay more attention to what others have to say. Once Double D's father gave some suggestions on how to raise his son, this resulted in a little discussion.
Ed's father on the other hand always seems to be tired when he comes home to listen to anything his family has to say. And his mother always pays more attention to his sister to try to help his friend.
He believed that with a civilized conversation, his parents would discover a rational way to solve Ed's and Eddy's academic problems.
This thing of the report cards suppose to be a family matter, and Double D just put himself in the middle without those who would be more affected knowing about.
-I suppose my meddling in the school life of my classmates hoping for a constructive solution to their academic problems might not have caused the results I expected. -Double D spoke as he turned his attention to Duncan. -Duncan, I'm sorry if the task entrusted to me by our teachers has caused you a family problem. I just wanted your school performance, as well as those of my friends, to show improvement.
Duncan only laughed.
-You're sorry...
-Yes! He is sorry! -Erika said interrupting Duncan. -Everyone knows that Double did, I mean Did D, I mean... -Erika groaned before starts again. -I know he should have not meddle in your family problems but what you are doing is not right either! -Erika calmed herself before continue. -Duncan, you should just have talk to Double D about that or say how you feel to the professors about what he did. His friends should have done that too. Professors have to listen to us too, they listen to our problems and offer solutions you just have to find someone who will listen what you have to say.
-If I remember corretly, were the same professors you want me to talk to the ones who began with this.
-Some of them will listen to you. You just have to discover who. How about a.. how it is called again... a guidance counselor?
-We have a guidance counselor? -Duncan look at Double D who nodded despite his face with a purple color from the lack of oxygen. -I never thought about that.
-How about this. You talk to him and if it works you leave Double D alone. He also will not give your report card to your parents behind your back.
Finally freeing himself from his friend hug, Double D tried to speak.
-Excuse me, but this was a duty... -He was immediately shut by a glare he was surprise that Erika could do. It was angry and burning with rage. -I will say to the Principal I will not uphold this duty anymore.
-Good. -Erika said as she start to walk toward the school. -What are you waiting for? -This question was directed to Duncan.
Duncan did not move a muscle for a moment before scratch his hair and follow Erika, leaving Ed and Double D alone.
-Ed, what just happened?
-A third voice stood between this confrontation and voice her concern and put a passive end to this discussion.
Double D look to Ed with wide eyes at his words, mainly because of the fact his words hold sense.
After a long hour talking, the guidance counselour agre and talk with the Principal about this idea of make some of his students deliver the report card of his problematic students. Duncan agreed in get some tutoring to help his grades improve and since Double D was the one who only wanted improvement, he agreed to be the one tutoring him, as long Duncan stops to bully him.
Of course Duncan got a detention for bullying one of his classmates but as long he keep helping his team in the games, he did not minded. The guidance counselour also asked to talk with his parents about Duncan's school life to do what Double D wanted from the beggining, find a corrective curriculum to overcome your academic shortcomings.
Duncan left the guidance office and meet Erika who was leaning against a wall.
-How it was? -She asked.
-It went smoothly than I thought. -Duncan answered. -But he decide to help me with my problems here at school.
-A guidance counselour is not suppose to do that?
-When I heard the professors were the ones who have the idea of give my report card to my parents without me knowing, I thought I could not trust in them about my problems. This guy is different, just that.
-So, you gonna leave Double D alone?
-For now. -Erika frowned at the answer. -Hey! I have to see first if he will not act by my back again. Until this happen again, he will be out of my sight.
-Good.
-What about you?
-What about me?
-Don't you want to talk to the guidance counselour about your problems at home?
The statement caught Erika by surprise and as anyone else, she tried to deny the problem.
-I don't know what are you talking about it.
-You knew how I was feeling about my parents not listening to me. The only way for you to know that is if you go throught the same problem.
Erika remained silent, not expecting Duncan start to talk about her own problems at home.
Before she could say anything, a very loud voice spoke.
-Hey! Loser! -Both Erika and Duncan turn to the left to see Eddy holding a improvised slingshot ready to shot a balloon full. -Payback time!
Eddy shot the ballon and it flew in Duncan's direction who just gave a step back and let the balloon fly away until enters in the teacher lounge, exploding once hit the wall. The lounge start to smell bad and the professors start to leave the place wanting some clean oxygen.
The three students watched the scene with mixed feelings until Erika spoke.
-Eddy, you better run.
Eddy did what was said and run as fast he could to the nearest exit. Erika just scratch her cheek while Duncan sighed and left the corridors, leaving Erika alone to think about what he said.
End of the chapter.
While information about the Eds' parents are little know, I feel that they are not bad peole. About Double D, I think it is not a good idea to make a student meddle in his classmates business like that. I was actually surprise to see that Eddy did nothing to him after discover about the report cards but I think friends are like that.
Next time will be another episode from the show with Erika on the middle.
See you next time.