Sorry for my bad English.
I am conscious that this fiction was not updated for a long time, and I apologize for that. I reached the feared mental block for this story and I could not overcome sooner.
So I will just put this chapter to give a quickly update in Erika's situation with what she left in her home country.
Cafeteria
During lunch time, Erika eats a sandwich as she watches as her friends once again tries another of their scams.
Erika already grew used to the Eds' antics, and enjoyed watches the obvious outcome from where she was.
So again, there she was, watching as Ed was running below the tables, lifting the chairs one by one into the air, then putting them down again. She had to hold her urge to chuckle with the vision of Ed wearing a jar on his head. She turns her attention to Double D, who was under a sign advertising moon rocks, dressed as an astronaut and painting blue the gums Ed collected.
-Space cadet Ed has returned! –Ed loudly stated with gums in his fingers.
Double got one of the gums in Ed's hand and start to painting it while Ed went after more "moon rocks".
-Clutching at the proverbial straw, wouldn't you say? –His work was quickly interrupted by Eddy grabbing one of the gums with the paint still wet.
-Keep painting, Rembrandt, and leave the moolah making to me. –With his merchandise in hands, Eddy bounces around the cafeteria as if he was in the moon until he approaches Kevin and Nazz. -It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, Kev. Moon rocks, all the way from space!
Before Kevin could reply, his chair was suddenly lifted by Ed, who was looking for more chewed gum.
-Hey, what the–put me down, yo…
Ed dumps Kevin on the floor without even noticing, and scrapes the gum off the bottom of his chair with a book.
-Space Cadet Ed returning to base, Double D. –Ed declares.
Kevin quickly recovered and grabbed Eddy by his costume, ready to give him a beating.
-Get away from me Space Dork, or I'll…
-Kevin! –The boy stops his threat by hearing Erika's voice. They look at the Brazilian and see her holding Ed by his ear.
-Ow, ow, ow! Ed's ear is not for this! –Ed said while whimpering.
Erika just ignored him as she spoke to Kevin.
–Put Eddy down.
-But…
-Now! –Groaning, Kevin let go of Eddy and walked away from him. Something in her voice just makes Kevin not wanting to disobey her. Eddy was back in his feet and turns to Erika. –No Eddy, I don't want space rocks. -She said releasing Ed's ear.
-Those are moon rocks, Erika! –Eddy shouts.
-What's the difference? –She asked and suddenly, she heard a bugle. The doors open, and the Urban Rangers walk in. Erika watches them curiously as she walks to where Double D is. –Double D, why they are dressed like this?
-"Dressed like that" Erika. –Double D corrected her, hearing her groan before continue. –Rolf, Jimmy, Johnny and Plank are part of a group called Urban Rangers, whose help the citizens with everyday tasks in change of earning badges and medallions for their work.
-And Plank is one of them? –Erika asked, wondering how come a piece of wood was accepted.
-Hail hail! –Rolf announced. -The Urban Rangers bring tidings from across the great masses of water!
-What are they doing here? –Eddy asked almost groaning.
-Delivering mail from our pen pals, Eddy. Remember? –Double D answered, reminding Eddy. -Our assignment from International Studies. Why, I can hardly contain myself awaiting a reply from my new Norwegian friend Gerta.
As Doudle D finished his sentence, Rolf approached the Eds and Erika.
-For you, buckethead Ed-boy. –Rolf said hading over a letter to Eddy. -And for yappity-yap Ed-boy. –Then hand over a letter to Double D. –And the nobody-home Ed-boy. –Rolf says giving Ed a wood package. –And for the damsel for the beyond seas. -Rolf said handing a letter for Erika. With his assignment finished, he starts to leave with Jimmy and Johnny in his hands. –Rolf must deliver this correspondence to all if Rolf is to keep the Bootlicker of the Faculty badge.
-'Dear Mr. Eddward, your village sounds very good. –Double D said reading his letter. -I stretch my ears to learn more.' Isn't her command of the English language adorable? –As he looks to above, his eyes caught the attention of Erika's letter, written in Portuguese.
-Dear Erika, things went pretty much the same since you moved out to America. –She starts to read, speaking in Portuguese. –Porto Seguro still sucks as always. Pedro still is crying after you left, and won't stop saying that want to see you again. Tamí threw a farewell party that no one went for being a celebration for your departure. –Erika frowned at the information. –I miss you so much. I hope you are having fun with your new friends.
Your Friend, Fernanda.
Erika was glad that everything was pretty much the same since she left, but was also sad to not be around anymore. Pedro already showed to be interested in Erika, and did not made a good job trying to hide his feelings. Tamí and Erika never got along since the day Erika blocked Tamí's penalty kick in a soccer game, Tamí always was very competitive. Fernanda was always as they say in America, Erika's BFF since kindergarten. Reading her letter made Erika felt a moment of nostalgia that she welcomed heartily.
-It is pronounced "that no one went for". –And the moment was over. Thank you very much Double D.
-I didn't even read this in English. –Erika muttered.
-Check out the head on this guy! –Eddy said showing Double D a photo. -My name is Hyuck, and I am from Korea. Is he screaming to get leeched or what!?
Before anyone could say anything else a wooden board lands on Double D and Eddy. The wooden board came from Ed's package that he happily opened.
-My friend sent me a lunchbox, guys! –The strongest Ed stated.
Ed turns a key in the side and the box rattles and pops open, revealing a diorama of a wolf chasing a sheep as a melody began to play.
-How quaint! An Old World music box! –Double D said.
-Your pen pal's trying to kill you, Ed. –Eddy spoke. -Turn it off!
As the Eds and Erika were talking, Rolf was not far with the rangers, shelving mail when he hears the song. His eyes go wide and he begins to sweat. Turning his attention to where the music was coming, he sees Ed dancing with Eddy.
-I'm skipping to my Lou, Eddy. Giddyup! –Ed said before shoving Eddy in his chest.
-Pardon Rolf, tomfool Ed-boy. –Rolf said as he approached. -Where did you acquire this music-making doohickey?
-Doohickey? –Erika asked.
-Aw, my pen pal sent it to me, Rolf. Coolarooney, huh? –Ed answered.
-Coolarooney? -Erika asked again.
Rolf's response was calmly picks up and closes the box, then throws it to the ground, breaking it.
-A dog has raised its hind leg on the age of nevermore! –Rolf stated angrily and sweating. -Heed Rolf, do not get involved, ill-advised Ed-boy. Let your pomegranates shrivel in the cold of the dark sea!
Rolf backs out of the cafeteria, soon followed by the rest of the rangers. When they finally left, Eddy began to laugh.
-Good one, Lumpy! Whatever you did to Rolf saved me the trouble of smashing that stupid Old World lunchbox of yours?
-Lucky for me I carry a spare, Eddy. Yum! -Ed pulls out a dripping bag from his sock. The bag soon splits, and Ed's lunch melts through the floor.
-Goodness gracious, the nerve of Rolf! - Double D was too busy sweeping up the wreck too feel disgusted with the scene. -Violating Ed's cultural keepsake. Why, I've got a good mind to report him to the office!
-Later! –Eddy interrupted Double D, shoving the picture of Hyuck in his face. -Right now, we're gonna sell my chump some moon rocks! We're gonna cash in on this pen pal thing if it kills ya!
As the Eds got rid of their "space suits", Erika notices one thing regarding her letter.
-If is related to this pen pal thing, how come I am receiving a letter from Fernanda just now?
While Erika was deep in her thoughts, Eddy sneaks past the office to the drop box for international mail.
-It makes month already since I came here. -Erika asked to herself. -Why I am receiving only now?
-All across the world, there's pigeons ripe for the plucking! –Eddy shouts getting Erika off from her thoughts. -And we're holding the tweezers, boys... and Erika. –Eddy says as he stuffs an envelope with the moon rocks.
-Eddy, the aim of the project is to share cultural understanding, not extort it. –Double D began trying to put some good sense in his friend while Eddy used Ed's tongue to lick the envelope.
-Eww. –Erika couldn't help.
-Observe, if you will. –Double D stated before check inside his bag as Eddy puts the envelope in the mailbox. With effort, Edd pulls out from his bag a gigantic book written "For Gerta" on the cover. -I've prepared an in-depth essay for Gerta to help her comprehend our beloved Peach Creek way of life.
As Double D showed the content for his pen pal, Eddy who slowly approached, pretending to be interested before close the book on Double D's face.
-Snoresville! –Eddy said throwing away the book with Double D inside before laughs.
His fun was interrupted by Jimmy who approaches while playing a bugle and carrying a mailbag.
-Me again! – Jimmy exclaimed before pulls out a package. Eddy holds his hands out only to Jimmy give the package to Ed. -Somebody loves you, Ed! You big lug!
With his task done, he left the Eds and Erika alone in the corridor.
-More mail from my pen pal, guys! –Ed said while opening the mail he received. -Back and forth, back and forth. – From the package he pulls out a wolf pelt. -Look what I got! A wolf towel!
-That's a pelt, Ed. –Double D said correcting his friend. -You sure are fortunate to have a pen pal so willing to share their heritage with you.
While Double D spoke, Ed puts the pelt on his head and an annoyed Eddy climbed on Double D from his back and then stood in Ed's chest.
-What makes you so special? –He asked.
-I eat cereal, Eddy. –Ed proudly answered.
The final bell rings, and the students leave their respective classes in hurry to get to their lockers, grab their belongings, and get home while Ed, wearing the wolf pelt, started to mess around.
-Ribbit ribbit. Ribbit. Ribbit. Ribbit? –Despite acting like a frog Ed scratches himself like a dog before start to howl.
Rolf was about to leave when the howl caught his attention and triggered a memory of his past.
A younger Rolf, carrying a sheep was in his Old Country, late in the night.
The sheep baas and Rolf covers its mouth, but he hears the gnashing of teeth and the crackling of twigs. Young Rolf starts to run as fast as he can, something following him. Rolf looks behind him while still running, and not paying attention to where he was going resulting with him tripping over a tree root, dropping his sheep. Then someone wearing a wolf mask grabs the sheep, holding up the animal and howling at the moon. Suddenly, Rolf leaps at the rustler, tearing the wolf pelt off him.
-Not again! –The little Rolf shouted and hits the rustler with his shepherd's rod. -Mestick! Shlorvin!
Back in the reality, Rolf swings down his shepherd's rod wanting to hit Ed, but in his altered state he did not notice Erika standing in front of him using a geography book to block the blows, all while Ed was smiling stupidly.
-I said, never again shall you torment Rolf's livestock! –Thinking the message was send, Rolf storms out of the school angrily. -Rolf will have his revenge!
Once the son of shepherd was out, Erika let her guard down.
-I guess that's why Pedro loved geography so much. –Erika commented while Eddy laughs and Double D goes over to see Erika and Ed.
-Erika, are you all right?"
-I will survive. –She answered.
-It is time to sing? –Ed asked.
- I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for Rolf's irrational behavior. –Double D said ignoring Ed's question.
-So what'd you do this time, Ed? Put on his grandma's pantaloons again?
-What is a pantaloon? –Erika asked.
-It is an…
Jonny interrupted their conversation blowing the Urban Ranger bugle into Eddy's ear.
-Ranger Plank's got a letter for Eddy! –Jonny states while Plank handed the envelope for Eddy.
-For me? It's from Korea! –Eddy ignores Jonny who was complimenting his friend for the delivery as he opens the envelope with his teeth.
From inside shower enough paper bills and metal coins to bury Eddy.
-He really paid? –Erikas asked, not believing.
-I'M RICH! –Eddy happily shouts. -Stinkin, filthy rich! The sucker coughed up! I'm uptown, baby! Jawbreakers, here I come! Woohoo! We're in the money! YEAH!
As Eddy leaves, Double D picks up one of the stray bills and looks at it, noticing something that Eddy did not noticed.
-Oh, dear. This is foreign currency, Eddy! –Double D tried to warn his friend, who obviously was not listening. -Virtually worthless in its present state!
Erika watched as her friends left, not wanting to be part of what will comes next. If she learned something with Tamí, is that whatever is wrong with Rolf sure will be painful for her friends.
Besides, she has her own problems to think, if really be a problem of course.
Ed is sniffing around the base of a gumball machine outside the candy store as he and Double D waited for Eddy's failure in trying to buy jawbreakers with the Korean money. Angry gibberish is heard inside and the door opens, and Eddy is kicked out of the candy store.
-Aw, come on! It's gotta be worth something! –Eddy tried to reason with the owner of the store, only to be kicked out again, his money comes out scattered around the street.
-You see? –Double D began. -I told you it was worthless. Just for once, can't you just listen to me? Honestly.
As Double D start to get the Korean money around the street, a crowing sound is heard and a chicken is thrown out of a bush. Ed sees the chicken and walks towards the bird, not knowing that is a trap.
-Hug a chicken, hug a chicken, hug a chick… - As soon he approaches the chicken, an arm reaches out of the bush and grabs him by the head.
Eddy and Double D notice too late the bush running away down the lane with their friend screaming.
-Hurry, Eddy! Someone's absconded with Ed! –Double D said in panic while Eddy enjoyed the scene as they give chase.
Ed is pulled under a fence that reaches Rolf's yard. Double D and Eddy opens the door and immediately look for their friend.
-Ed?
-Hey, Monobrow! –Eddy and Double D asked, looking around for their friend only to find the yard completely empty,with the dripping tap being the only sound around.
Double D notices the dripping tap and turns it off.
-Waste not, want not! –He says and suddenly, the faucet begins to rattle.
It flips apart, and the ground under both Eds open, revealing a secret passage, which they both fell. They fall onto a vast flight of stairs and bounce down them deep in the underground.
After a while they reach the end of the stairs and fall through a door, revealing a vast underground cavern. Right in the middle was Ed, trapped in a cage. Around the room are a flock of sheep and on the other end was Rolf, sitting on a throne with a sheep next to him.
-Quake and quiver like a jellyfish, doggie doo-doo Ed-boy, for in the name of the great shepherd elders, Rolf will grill your strudel until you cry like a teensy-weensy baby! –Rolf states.
-Slow down there, chief! Strudel gives me gas. –Ed said, not understanding the situation. -How bout one large pepperoni, no mushrooms, double pickles?
-Lemme go halfers with you on it, Lumpy! –Eddy shouted also not understanding the situation, revealing his and Double D's presence.
-Um, what I think Ed is trying to say is… -Double D climbs to the floor to try reason with Rolf. –…whatever it is that's bothering you, why I'm sure we can work it out…
-Silence! –Rolf shouts and the fires by his throne shoot up to punctuate his message, causing Double D to let go of the ladder and fall to the ground. -Rolf sees through this squashed peanut paste on white bread masquerade! Who knows? Rolf knows! The chinless Ed-boy is in league with Rolf's sworn enemy! –Finishing his sentence Rolf throws the wolf figure from the music box at Ed.
-Oh, dear! –Double D said picking up the wolf figure. -It appears Ed's pen pal's gifts have somehow provoked Rolf, and reawakened a long-forgotten blood feud!
-Oh, boo-hoo. –Of course, Eddy only saw this as a reason to mock the son of shepherd. -What's Wolfgang McHairyback gonna do, stick eels down our pants again?
Now furious, Double D watches with fear Rolf descends from his throne while Eddy laughs and Ed laugh stupidly. Rolf shoves his cane on Eddy's mouth, stopping his laughter, yanks Ed from his cage and finally grabs Double D, giving him the chance to only say:
-Have mercy, Rolf!
-Talk, Ed-boy!
-Hi Rolf!
-Talk, I say!
-Hi Rolf!
-Talk, you sunamagun.
-Hi Rolf!
-Please...talk?
-Hi Rolf!
Rolf spends the night torturing the Eds wanting to get some information from them. Unfortunately for him, Ed was unfazed by the oatmeal that Beatrice, Rolf's cow, was dunking him.
-The Ed-boy's fortitude is to be admired.
-Hi Rolf!
-For heaven's sake, Rolf! –Double D pleads tired. -This was all a great misunderstanding!
-Yeah! How was we to know you were such a lily-livered gutless dormat?!
Rolf turns to them angrily but before he could do anything, Jonny blows the bugle and enters the place. Taking in the scene in the shed, he stops playing and grins sheepishly and nervously approaches Double D.
-Paging Double D. Mail for ya.
-Thank you, Ranger Jonny.
-Don't mention it, Double D. –Jonny says before Rolf throws him out the shed and turns back to the Eds.
-It must be a reply from my Norwegian pen pal Gerta. –Double D says almost forgetting the situation he and his friends were.
-Gerta? –Rolf asked confused. -Norwegian? The goat milker?
-This is odd. –Double D says confused as he pull a feather duster from the envelope. -A feather duster? I'm sure I informed Gerta of Mother's allergy to feathers.
-Ah ho! – Rolf began and grabs the duster. -The Feather Duster of Tomfoolery! -He states and then falls to the ground and laughs crazily.
-Hey, what's with you!? –Eddy asked.
-Are you so simple, head-and-neck-as-one Ed-boy? Gerta the Goatmilker is famous for her jovial jests! It was she that sent the wolf parcels to the doo-doo Ed-boy! She has made a merry Andrew of us all, yes?
Double D and Eddy were shocked at the information they received and did not have time to ponder further once Rolf got the rakes they were tied on.
-What? –Ed asked still smiling goofily.
Rolf snaps his fingers making Beatrice drops him.
-Come! We must rebut while the turnips are still hard!
Rolf pulls a heavy suitcase to the mailbox, opens it and looks inside. The Eds are crammed into it.
-Okey dokey, Ed-boys. –Rolf began as he starts to handle to the Eds objects for shaving. -Once you see Gerta, shave the hairs from her legs, yes? And Rolf will triumph with the last laugh!
-Rolf, please, reconsid… -Was all Double D could say before Rolf slams the suitcase shut.
-Rolf, wait! –Eddy began as Rolf puts the suitcase in the mailbox and walks off with a grin. -I got some Korean cash! Take it! It's yours!
-I can't fly to Norway! I have class in the morning! –Double D shouts.
-Um, guys? I have to go to the bathroom.
-NOOOOO!
School
The day ended too much normal for Erika. She did not saw even the shadow of the Eds on the entire day. It was when she decides to ask Rolf if he knew where they were, and the son of shepherd only said something about a feather duster and a sweet payback, or she thought. She still has difficult in understand him.
The classes ended and before she could leave the school, Jimmy blows the bugle of the Urban Rangers.
-Mail for you Erika!
-Thanks. –She says as takes the letter, which was too heavy for an envelope. –What it can be?
-It says "What can it be". –Erika hears Double D's voice muffled by something.
Putting two and two together, she opens the envelope and turns upside down making the Eds, wearing Norwegian clothes, fall down on the floor.
-Oh geez. –She says. –Nice outfit by the way.
-I never want to go to Norwegian ever again! –Eddy shouts getting up.
-I can't believe I miss an entire school day. –Double D said. –I hope the teacher allow me to make the school work at home along with my home work.
- You should choose your priorities better. –Erika says before handle Double D some notes. –Speaking of homework…
-Oh, thank you Erika.
-Hey guys! –Ed spoke. –Erika's friends wrote her a letter!
-What? –Erika said. –Ed! Give me that! –She took the letter from his hand, open and starts to reads it.
-Everything goes well in paradise? –Eddy asked getting rid of the Norwegian clothes.
Erika seemed to be lost in thoughts, something that only Double D notices.
-Erika, is something wrong?
-I've been here for a while now, and this is the second letter I received from my friends back in Brazil.
Surprisingly, this took the attention of Ed and Eddy.
-Friends not wanting to talk to Erika? –Ed asked.
-I know that must have a reason for that. It just… why did they not mention that in this and the previous letter? –Erika asked more to herself than to the Eds.
-Erika, letters from outside of the country make take more time to cross the borders between the countries. I'm sure the mail work will improve after some time.
Erika wanted to believe in Double D, but she send a lot of letter since she arrived in the town, and the letter she just received mentioned the Eds, and doesn't make too long since she meet them.
If she already sends letters for her, how come only this one reached Erika? Opening the letter, she hoped for better news.
End of the chapter.
The next chapter will be an original one and I will try upload sooner. Those chapter are not so hard to writte, but what I planned to Erika never was completed in the paper. Every time I wrote something, was not getting good from my perpective and I started all over again.
Those mental blocks really can be problematic because there a lot I want to show and I still can't because it need to go through all the events until it reaches what I planned. With that in mind, I will try look around to see in what can help to deal with mental blocks for things like this not happen so soon, and I will try upload the next chapter as soons as possible.
That's all folks, see you next time.