Chapter One Part 1: The Boy on the Skateboard

     It was just an ordinary day for the seven of us.  Other than the fact that I had to splash water on Danny’s face that morning so he would get out of his sleeping bag, which was a total laugh by the way, the babies, Danny, Tucker, and I got into Mrs. Pickles van, and she took us to the park for the day.

     The car ride was fun.  Tucker, who had just met the babies a few weeks before, seemed to be having a great time, especially with Chuckie.  Chuckie (or Chuck, as Danny liked to call him) is one of Tommy’s best friends.  The coolest thing about Tommy and Chuckie is that they’re total opposites.

     Chuckie has always been the most sensitive kid of the group.  That’s one of the reasons I try to keep him away from Angelica, Tommy’s older cousin.  She’s always picking on us.  But Chuckie seems to be the main target for her.  I can see why, though.  Chuckie isn’t the bravest kid in the world.  But that doesn’t mean Angelica should just pick on him.  Or the rest of us for that matter. 

     Chuckie has gotten a little bit braver over these past few months.  First it was little things like using the regular potties, and now he’s thinking about going down the big slide in the park!  I have to tell you, that’s a big improvement for him.

     Tommy on the other hand, is way different than Chuckie.  He’s more of an out going, adventurous kind of guy.  One time he took us to the moon in a cardboard box and fought aliens.  Another time, we were pirates sailing across the ‘Specific Ocean’, fighting other pirates, and searching for buried treasure.  It soon ended up as a new game called ‘Finding our Lost Toys in Tommy’s Sandbox.’

     Tommy is able to stand up to Angelica, even if the consequences are more than what he imagines.  One time when we were at the park, Angelica was kicking sand in our faces.  When Tommy told her to stop it, she attached him to the monkey bars with plastic toy handcuffs.  And get this, she ‘accidentally’ lost the key!  So we had to spend the whole day looking for this tiny little silver key, when we could’ve been playing.  Danny eventually ended up finding it in the bottom of one of the parks’ trashcans.  He had to go home and take three baths just to get the grime and dirt off of him!  I was just glad Angelica couldn’t make it to the sleepover the night before, or else who knows what cruel tricks she would’ve had up her sleeves that day!  I probably wouldn’t have been able to sleep that night!

     Anyway, like I said before, Tommy Pickles and Chuckie Finster are completely different from each other.

     While the babies were chatting and having a good time, I looked at the view outside of the car.  I could tell we were getting close to the park because of all of the trees we were passing.  After a few minutes of looking out the window, I felt a tug on my sweater sleeve.  I turned to glance at one of my new playmates, Lil Deville.

     “Hey Sam,” Lil said quietly, “I thinks something’s wrong with Danny.”

     “Yeah,” Lil’s identical twin brother, Phil added, “he doesn’t look very happy.”

     I quickly glanced back to where my best friend was sitting.  Danny had an annoyed look on his face.  I noticed he looked more annoyed than usual.  Actually, Danny seemed that he was more gloomy than annoyed.

     I turned back to Phil and Lil, smiled, and shrugged.  “Don’t worry about it, you guys.” I said calmly.  “I’ve known Danny for years.  I’m sure whatever is bugging him, he’ll get over it soon enough.”

     The twins smiled at me. “Okay!”  They nodded in unison.

     I grinned back at them and started looking out the window again.  I suddenly frowned.  I actually wasn’t sure if Danny was going to get over whatever his problem was.  He seemed too depressed.  I just wished that whatever Danny was upset about, that someone or something would cheer him up.

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     Tommy was the first one to leap out of the van when we got to the park.  Once everyone was out of car, he inhaled and sighed deeply.  “Smell that fresh air, you guys!” he exclaimed.  “Isn’t it great?”

     Tommy was right.  The park was definitely great, especially because it was winter.  Other than the fact that it was a bit chilly outside, it was a perfect day to go to the park and play some of our favorite games.

     Chuckie nodded at his best friend.  “You’re right, Tommy! It is pretty neat out here!”

     “Yeah.” Danny mumbled, as he stepped out of the van.  “Neat.”

     Tucker glanced at him.  “Dude, are you okay?” he asked.  “You seem a little down.  More down than you usually are in the mornings.”

     My eyes suddenly widened.  “Was it because of how I woke you up this morning, Danny?”  I quickly started to apologize.  “I’m so sorry, if it was!  I was only trying to-,”

     But Danny cut me off.  “Don’t worry, Sam.  I’m not mad because of you.  It’s just that, Valentines Day is in two days, and I’ve got a lot of things on my mind right now.”

     I nodded like I understood.  But to tell you the truth, I really didn’t understand what was bugging Danny at the moment.  I mean, he had a lot of things on his mind just before Valentines Day started?  Danny loves Valentines Day!  He loves everything about it, except for the commercialism of it.  Danny always got excited whenever Valentines Day was getting near.  He’s probably the only person I know who likes the holiday this much.  So, why was he so glum?

     I glanced at Phil and Lil to see if I could tell what was going on in their minds.  But when I looked into their eyes, all I could see was, well….nothing.  I then glanced at Tommy and Chuckie.  Chuckie was smiling, but Tommy had a puzzled expression on his face.

     “What’s Valemtimes Day?” he asked.

     ‘Of course!’ I thought.  ‘I can’t believe I hadn’t thought about it before!’  This was Tommy’s, Phil’s, and Lil’s very first Valentines Day!  Chuckie was the only baby who had celebrated the holiday before, considering the fact that he’s a year older than the other three.  He seemed to like Valentines Day also, he was grinning so big.

     I smiled at Tommy.  “Danny will tell you all about it, won’t you Danny?”  I walked up to him and put my arm around his shoulder.  I just knew this would get Danny to smile again.

     I was really surprised when Danny removed my arm from over my shoulder and said,  “No, thanks.  I just don’t really feel like talking about it right now.”  We watched as Danny headed to the monkey bars, with his head hanging down.

     “Is Danny gonna be okay?” Tommy asked to no one in particular.  “I don’t wants him to be sad.  Is that what Valemtimes Day is about?”

     It was weird all right.  I mean, Danny not wanting to talk about Valentines Day?  Danny not wanting to share something with the babies?  Him being so depressed all of a sudden?  Why was he so sad anyway?

     I had to do something.

     I nodded.  “Of course he’s going to be okay, Tommy.”  But when I glanced back at Danny again, he seemed like he was more upset than he was just a few seconds ago.  I faced the babies once again.  “Why don’t you guys go and do something fun.  I have to talk to Danny.”

     “Well, okay then.” Phil said, as he and the others started to walk off.

     “Good luck!” Lil said, glancing back at Danny.

     Once the babies were out of sight, I started walking toward the monkey bars.  Danny was staring at a piece of grass that he was fiddling around with in his hands, and humming some song that I never even heard of to himself.

     “Danny,” I asked, once I approached him, “are you okay?”

     Silence.

     “Danny?”

     More silence.

     “You’d better start talking, or I’m walking away.”

     Still, no words came out of his mouth.

     “Alright, then.  I’m leaving!”  I started walking away from the monkey bars.

     I heard a little shifting, a sigh, and then,  “I don’t believe in it anymore.”

     I turned around to see Danny staring up at me.  “You don’t believe in what anymore?” I asked.

     A pause.  More shifting.  Hesitation.  And then,  “Valentines Day.  I don’t believe in Valentines Day anymore.”

     I was shocked at this, but I didn’t show it.  I mean, it was like he was happy the last four Valentines Days, and now, POOF! everything has changed.  I walked back up to the monkey bars and sat down next to Danny on his right.  I had a lot of questions that moment, but all I could manage to get out of my mouth was, “Why?”

     “Because.” he answered.

     ‘Thanks, Danny.’ I thought.  ‘That explains a lot.’  “I mean, how come you don’t believe in Valentines Day anymore?”

     Danny started to say something, but thought better of it.  “I appreciate how you’re trying to help me Sam, but I just don’t feel like talking right now, if that’s okay.”

     I nodded.  “Sure, Danny.”

     I grabbed onto one of the monkey bars with both hands and started swinging back and forth.  I glanced around the park to see if I could find the babies anywhere.  A few minutes passed before I spotted them.  They were on the other side of the park, on a huge hill, playing catch with Tommy’s big star ball.  It looked like they were having a blast.  Unlike Danny and I who were sitting there by the monkey bars being bored to death.

     A few more minutes passed before I spoke to Danny again.  “Are you up for a game of catch?” I asked, pointing to where our friends were playing.

     “Fine by me.” Danny answered.

     That was good.  At least he sounded a little cheerier.

     Danny stood up, while I got off the monkey bars, and then we were on our way toward the hill.  Soon enough, we got to a little road covered with dirt.  Many of the older kids rode their bikes and skateboards here, so all of us younger kids had to be extremely careful.

     I looked both ways before crossing.  “Come on, Danny!” I called.  “The coast is clear!”

     Danny put his foot out inches above the road, hesitated, and then set his foot back onto the soft grass.  “I don’t know, Sam.” he said, nervously.  “I’m always afraid that some kid that is way older than me is gonna run me over.”

     I laughed.  “Come on, Danny!” I repeated.  “Do you see any older kids around here right now?”

     Danny quickly glanced at both sides of the road.  “No.  But-,”

     “Then let’s go!”

     “But, Sam, I can’t!”

     I sighed deeply and walked out into the middle of the road.  “See, Danny?  Here I am standing in the middle of the road, and nothing has come ye-,”

     “SAM!” Danny suddenly yelled, pointing to my right.  “LOOK OUT!”

     I quickly looked to where he was pointing, and screamed.  There was a young boy on a skateboard heading in my direction.  His eyes widened with a mixture of fear and surprise when he saw me.  I started screaming at about the same time as he did.

    Suddenly, I felt a shove against my chest.  After that I heard some screeching sounds.  Then I heard a scream.  “AYE KA RUMBAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

    After that, I had to cover my eyes.  I couldn’t watch!

Rugphan