The Odds Get Even (13 page)

B
oney lounged in the clubhouse, one foot dangling over the arm of his brand-new easy chair. Itchy sat at the table, stuffing his face with peanut butter and honey crackers, a can of pop in each hand. He selected a jar of chocolate sauce from the well-stocked clubhouse shelves and opened it, pouring sauce liberally overtop of his crackers. Squeak sat on the floor, organizing his stash of newly acquired special-effects gear. Henrietta scratched happily next to him, wearing a small, hand-knit sweater.

“This is the life,” Itchy said, dribbling chocolate sauce onto his tongue. But he stopped mid-dribble as a familiar, hoarse laugh rose up from below. Itchy slammed down the jar of chocolate sauce and bolted to the window. It was Larry Harry with Jones and Jones, walking down the street.

“Hey, Larry,” Itchy shouted down. “Look out for the ghost!”

Larry looked around in terror and began to run, with Jones and Jones stumbling frantically on his heels.

“Why don’t you go steal some mail!” Itchy taunted.

Snuff burst out from behind some garbage cans and took up the chase, growling and snarling ferociously.

“Ahhhhh! Get it off me! Get it off meeeee!” Larry hollered as he ran.

Itchy shook his head. “Tsk, tsk…look at them go. You’d think they didn’t like us or something.”

Boney smiled. “I just might like that dog after all.”

“Uh…guys,” Squeak called from his place on the floor. “We’ve got a problem.” He held Henrietta in the air. “She’s a he.”

Itchy scratched his head. “Huh?”

“She’s a he,” Squeak said again.

Itchy turned to Boney. “What’s he talking about?”

“Henrietta is a Henry,” Squeak explained. “I’ve been reading up on this, and our chicken isn’t a hen at all, he’s a rooster.”

Boney raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

Squeak nodded. “Yep. No eggs for us.”

Itchy scratched his arm thoughtfully. “Well…I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about
Prisoner 95 any more.” He raised his cans of pop. “To Charlie,” he said.

“To Charlie,” Boney and Squeak toasted, raising their pop cans in the air.

Itchy guzzled from both cans, then wiped his mouth with a loud sigh. He looked at his friends happily.

“What should we do for the convention next year?” Boney asked.

“How about aliens?” Squeak said.

“As in UFOs?” Itchy gulped.

“Yeah, and other strange phenomena.”

“That would be so cool!” Boney said.

Henry cheeped happily from the floor.

Itchy pulled on his wild red hair and groaned. “Oh, no, here we go again…”

THE END…?

The Odds Get Even

Copyright © 2009 by Natale Ghent.

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