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It seemed like only yesterday the Eds were celebrating the first day of summer vacation. They spent three months running around, playing in the junkyard, watching movies, camping out in each other's backyards, and doing what the one thing they usually do - scamming kids out of their pocket money with half-baked scams so they can buy jawbreakers.
Now that the weather had grown colder, the three boys were doomed to face the harsh reality that summer was over and it was time to go back to school in a few days. That meant several months of learning mathematics and science and geography that one, maybe two, of the three boys didn't care to learn about at all.
"Isn't this exciting, fellows?" Double D asked his two friends, as they were walking back from the junkyard that afternoon. "Our first day of school begins in two days. By Monday morning, we'll be-"
"Shut up, sockhead", Eddy grumbled.
Ed chuckled, not because he was being mean, but because he just remembered something funny.
"I hate school", Eddy complained. "Why should I waste my time learning mathwhosits and grammerwhatsits when I could be making money scamming people?"
"You know, Eddy, it really wouldn't hurt for you to take an interest in school", said Double D. "I, for one, am looking forward to another semester of learning and education. Why, before you know it, eight months will fly by real fast."
"Teacher's pet", Eddy muttered under his breath, irritably.
The Ed boys said no more as they returned to the cul-de-sac, turning the corner, stopping when they saw a car with a moving trailer attached to the back parked in front of the house next to Double D's.
"Oh, it appears someone's moving into the house next door to me", Double D acknowledged, stating the obvious.
"Let's go see who it is", Eddy suggested, running across the street without looking both ways.
Double D made sure to look left, then right, before he stepped off the curb and into the street. "Coming, Ed?" He asked, panting as he started to run.
"You betcha", Ed answered, following his two chums.
Eddy stood by and watched as a tall, black-haired man in a white lab coat struggled to carry a box that appeared to be heavy. The man showed signs of strain, his face red and sweaty as he tried to walk across the lawn and tried to make it to the front door of his new house.
Double D and Ed caught up to Eddy, who was leaning against a mailbox, watching the man struggle and not even bothering to lend a helping hand, which annoyed Double D.
"Good afternoon, sir", Double D greeted, walking up to the man. "May I be of assistance?"
"Hey, Professor, where do you want these?" Asked the gravelly voice of a young female. The trio of Eds turned around and looked to see who was it that spoke. All of them gasped when they saw a female child who looked no more than five or six. She had jet black hair and was wearing a bright green dress with a black stripe around the middle to match her huge, bright green eyes. The child was floating in midair, holding three large, moving boxes over her head, showing no signs of strain.
"Put those in the basement, Buttercup", the Professor answered.
Buttercup zoomed away at once, leaving behind a stream of bright green light that quickly faded.
"Holy mackerel!" Ed exclaimed in amazement, visibly impressed by Buttercup's superpowers.
"You got that right", Eddy agreed.
"Professor, I can't find my stuffed animals!" Cried the high-pitched voice of another young female. A beam of baby blue light came zooming out of the trailer, heading right towards the Professor, who was still struggling to carry the one box. The girl who hovered about the Professor was the same age as Buttercup and could have been mistaken for her fraternal twin. She was wearing a baby blue dress, also with a black stripe around the middle, to match the color of her eyes. Her blond hair was styled into a couple of pigtails.
"I'll help you find it in a minute, Bubbles", grunted the Professor. "Just let me-"
"Here, Professor, let me take that for you", chimed the voice of a third young female who sounded polite and mature. The Professor looked to his left, smiling at a floating girl with long, red-orangish hair that hung in a low ponytail. Like her two sisters, this girl was also wearing a dress, a pink one with a black stripe around the middle. Her pink irises had Double D concerned, thinking this girl had some kind of contagious disease. He hated to miss the first day of school because he was around a child with a case of pinkeye.
"Thank you, Blossom", said the Professor, allowing the red-haired girl to relieve him of the heavy box that he couldn't carry any further.
"You're welcome, Professor", said Blossom, flying away quickly, leaving a bright pink beam of light as she took the box into the house, immediately flying back outside to stand, or rather float, in the front yard.
"How on earth is this possible?" Double D exclaimed in awe, looking stunned, yet just as amazed as Ed and Eddy.
"How'd you girls get such cool superpowers?" Eddy asked.
"We were born with them", Blossom answered. "The Professor created us in his old laboratory."
"He made us from sugar, spice and everything nice, and an accidental dose of Chemical X", said Bubbles, giggling.
"I've heard about Chemical X", Double D informed. "It's abilities are quite impressive, so I've read."
"We use our powers to beat up bad bags and save the day", said Buttercup, crossing her arms and showing anger before saying, "At least we did until the Professor moved us away from Townsville for his new job."
"Now, Buttercup, I know you and your sisters didn't want to leave Townsville, but this is important for me", said the Professor. The girls all showed guilt ridden looks. "Don't worry. We'll move back home someday."
"Oh, dear", Double D sympathized. "I know how you all must be feeling. When I moved away from my hometown, I was terribly upset, but then I met my two best friends."
"What are your names, boys?" The Professor asked the trio of adolescents.
"I'm Eddy."
"I am Ed. I like gravy, yum."
"My name is Eddward. That's spelled with two D's, not one. Or better yet, you can call me Double D."
"Why don't you boys join us for dinner tonight?" The Professor offered. "We'd love to have you over."
"That's very generous of you, sir, but we really-" Double D started to say, until Eddy elbowed him in the ribs. He stifled a yelp of pain, glaring at his friend as rubbed his side to relieve the discomfort.
"So, what are we having?" Eddy asked, rubbing his hands together.
"Liver and onions, my specialty", the Professor answered.
Eddy dropped his smirk at once, while Double D looked mortified, trying not to look disgusted. He had heard that the dish was something of an acquired taste, and Eddy would much rather eat two bowls of Double D's mom's soup again than try liver and onions. Ed simply licked his lips.
"But, Professor, you said we could order pizza", Buttercup argued.
"Uh-uh, I want a burger and French fries and a milkshake", Bubbles chimed in.
"No, Chinese food", Blossom included.
The Professor chuckled and said, "I'm just kidding, girls. We still have a lot of unpacking to do, so let's get everything out of the trailer first and we'll worry about dinner later."
Eddy saw this as the perfect opportunity for him and his friends to earn some easy cash, as long as Double D and Ed did most of the labor.
"Tell you what, Professor", said Eddy, "you pay us seventy-five cents, and we'll help you unload those boxes. They've been known to hurt people's back, you know. My big brother once threw out his back trying to carry boxes full of tractor tires. That's why he quit his job to work at a carnival."
"Seventy-five cents, huh?" The Professor asked, scratching his head. "Well, if that's the case, I'd be willing to pay each of you boys a dollar if-"
Eddy seemed to perk up right away hearing what the Professor was offering. "A dollar each? Really? You got it, pal. Come on, boys, let's get to work."
"You got it, Eddy!" Ed proclaimed, bending backwards a bit, laughing before he started running over to the trailer. He ran inside, lifting up a dining table, with Eddy standing on top of it, by himself as he carried it into the house.
"Whoa!" The girls exclaimed in unison.
"Pardon me, sir, but I didn't quite get your name", Double D said to the Professor.
"My name is Professor Utonium", the man answered. "You can simply call me Professor."
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Professor", Double D said to the man as he offered his hand for the Professor to shake it, which he did. "Tell me, Professor, what exactly is your job? Do you work at a university?"
"Well, I used to, but now I will be teaching science at Peach Creek Jr. High", the Professor replied.
"Egad! That's where Ed, Eddy and I will be attending school this Monday", said Double D, an excited smile on his face. "Tell me, Professor, will you be teaching us about the advanced theory of-"
"Hey, quit foolin' around, Double D", said Eddy, who suddenly appeared by Double D's left side. "If we don't get Mr. Smart Guy's stuff into the house, we don't get paid. Got it?" Eddy then went over to the trailer and picked up a small box to show he was doing his part in helping the Professor.
An hour later, the trailer was finally empty, and the Professor Utonium and his three daughters were moved into their new home.
"Thanks for all your help, boys", said the Professor. "Here's a little something for your troubles."
"Gimme, gimme, gimme..." Eddy held out his hands, eagerly anticipating his hard-earned pay as the Professor pulled out his wallet and opened it, taking out a one dollar bill, placing into Eddy's greedy palm. "I'm rich! Candy store, here I come!"
The moment that Eddy received his dollar, he immediately turned around and rushed off to head into town and buy him some jawbreakers before the candy store closed.
"Of all the..." Double D started to chastise, until he stopped himself from finishing his statement and turned to address the Professor. "Please forgive Eddy, Professor Utonium. He hasn't quite grasp the concept of manners."
"It's okay, Double D", said the Professor. "I remember when my friends and I used to mow lawns for money. Once we got our pay, we would drive down to the record store and buy an eight track tape."
"What's an eight track?" Bubbles asked.
"Here's your dollar, Double D", said the Professor, offering the teenage boy his fee.
"Thank you very much, Professor", said Double D. "I'll be sure to add this to my fund for that new microscope I've been saving up for."
"And here's a dollar for you, too, Ed", said the Professor, putting the green paper bill in Ed's hand.
"Lucky me", said Ed, showing a beaming smile, then he turned to the girls, asking them, "Would you like to come over to my house tomorrow for cookies and lemonade?"
"Cookies and lemonade? Gross!" Buttercup exclaimed.
"Perhaps we should take a raincheck on dinner, Professor", said Double D. "After all, I'm sure you and your daughters must be exhausted from your long journey, and want to spend some time together by relaxing in your new home."
"Yeah, you're right", Buttercup agreed, stretching her right arm over her head. "After all that moving and lifting stuff, I could use a break and kick back watching some good TV."
"Can we still have cookies at your house tomorrow, Ed?" Bubbles asked, innocently.
"Yep, with lots of buttered toast", Ed answered. "Do you like chickens?"
"Yeah, I love chicken, especially nuggets", said Bubbles.
"Thanks for all your help today, Double D", said Blossom, who flew a bit closer to the adolescent boy. "We appreciate all the hard work you, Ed and Eddy did in moving everything into our house."
Double D displayed a nervous smile, slowly backing away from the pink-eyed girl as he said, "Yes, well, I really must be going now. Ta-ta, Professor, girls." And with that, Double D turned around and ran over to his house, panting erratically as he went to take a shower or run some tests on himself and find out if he caught anything from Blossom, whom he forgot to ask if she was sick.
"What about you, Ed?" The Professor asked. "Don't you have something to do?"
Ed touched his left index finger to his lower lip, showing a blank expression for a moment or two, but then, as if a lightbulb suddenly turned on, he showed a look of worry, asking, "What time is it?"
The Professor lifted his left arm a bit to look at his wristwatch and said, "It's three-thirty."
Hearing this made Ed gasp. "I just remembered Robot Rebel Ranch is playing on TV soon", said Ed, who turned around and said out loud in a panic, "Ed must see movie! Movie good for me!"
Once the two boys were gone, the girls all looked at each other, exchanging glances.
"Boy, those guys are weird", Blossom commented.
"I think the one in the hat is cute", said Bubbles.
"Yeah, but Ed needs to take a couple baths", Buttercup.
"Well, you know what they say, girls: boys will be boys", said the Professor, who started to chuckle, and Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup laughed along with him, all four thinking the Eds were funny, but lovable boys. Peach Creek was not exactly Townsville, but with friends like Ed, Double D and Eddy, it probably wouldn't be so bad.