Four: Full Moon

As night drifted in like a lone ship, I looked up at the sky and swore loudly. I sat on my porch, trying to ignore the giant white cookie emerging behind night clouds. I could hear Trixie's voice in my head telling me to get a move on. After Robbie's yelling match with me, I really didn't want to top off the night with another reason for him to hate me. However, the reason for this list was to get even with all that Robbie has done to us. At least I think so. Honestly, I think the kids just want to piss him off enough to leave Lazytown.

I sneak through the darkness with a flashlight by my side. I pass the soccer field and head towards Robbie's house. Just a few feet from his home, I notice how peaceful it is here. In the distance, I hear an owl humming to the woodland night creatures. I realize Robbie must really like the country. This is the only spot in Lazytown that is not polluted by city noise.

7.) On the night of the full moon, howl at his billboard. Hide in the bushes to see if he is scared.

My brain is rattled with choices to make. I take a deep breath and using my loudest volume, let out a very feminine sounding howl. I count to ten and do it once more. I sneak over to a giant oak tree and duck behind it, careful not to be illuminated by moonlight. My nerves are causing all sorts of discomfort in my muscles. What seems like an eternity, I hear the top of Robbie's home open.

Oowwwoooooh

I do it once more. Robbie's head emerges and he whips his head left, right, left, forward. I watch as he climbs out and stands atop the billboard like a captain aboard a ship.

"Hey," A voice whispers behind me. My eyes grow wide, but I am wise not to shriek. Trixie ducks behind me and says, "You can't fulfill the list without a witness. Nice howls."

I peek back around to see Robbie climbing down to ground level.

"Shit," I say with heavy breath. "We need to move. Go."

Robbie exclaims, "Whoever is out here better leave now. You and your fake howling – sounds more like a dying dog – don't make me come after you."

I'm frozen, immobile. Trixie nods to me and crawls along the ground back the way she came. She literally came to see me make a fool of myself. Meanwhile, I'm against a tree like a marble statue, gray and white with anxiety. Robbie's footsteps are getting closer. They stop. All is silent again. Why didn't I plan an escape before I did this? With no other way, I lower myself slowly on my belly and start crawling through the grass.

"Stop right there!" Robbie's voice booms in my ears.

Defeated, I roll onto my back and stare up at a very, very irate villain.

Robbie asks, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Just lying around," I shoot back.

A sudden look of deep concern washes over his face. He extends his hand. "Well, get up, there's a wolf out here. I thought my yelling would scare it away. Have you seen it?"

Under the moonlight, Robbie's face is chiseled, soft, and caring. I reach up and take his hand. He thinks it was a real wolf after all, which surprises me. Quickly, I am pulled off of the ground and slam into Robbie's chest. He lets our fingers remain locked a little longer. A strange shock zings from my hand through my arm to my stomach, where it rolls around in cartwheels.

Robbie lifts my chin with his finger.

"Uh," My voice allows a tiny whimper to escape my lips. A warm sensation pools into my belly.

"You need to go home where it is safe, Pinky." His stare is square in my eyes.

What is happening to me? I shake the feeling off and let go of Robbie's hand. I stumble for words, which gets me nothing but a strange glance. Still holding our eye contact, Robbie raises one eyebrow again.

"There is no wolf, is there?" Robbie snaps. "I should have known better. What is wrong with you? Why are you bothering me so much? Can a grown man get a decent night's sleep?"

I laugh nervously, "It wasn't my idea. I . . . I was just fooling around. I'm sorry."

"You know what?" He shoots back, "Just leave. Get out of my face." He steps back and adds a rough, "You're ridiculous. And if you don't get my costumes back by tomorrow night, I'm going to the police."

Shit. I take a staggered breath and turn my back. My walk of shame begins and I can still feel his hot chocolate eyes digging into me. This whole Bothering Robbie Plan is a complete disaster. Sure, it was funny in the beginning, but I think it's time I step off the plate and let someone else swing the bat. Though I'm taking my time walking back to Uncle Milford's, I have an urge to turn around and tell him everything. Not yet, I think. I need to stick to the plan so Robbie leaves Lazytown for good.

I look up at the stars and wonder if I really want to see Robbie move out of town. With so many places in the world to live, I might never see him again. This statement alone replays in my head and I choke up. Something is happening to me. From a mere touch of his hand, my body reacted in some phenomenal way as if I'd never been touched by him before. We used to horse around, play Frisbee, he even held me back once in a costume pretending he was a hero as a fake monster emerged. My body shudders at this memory. I feel the knots in my stomach tighten.

Shame on me.

It is just my imagination. Maybe I need a date? Yeah, I need a date with someone else who is not a brilliant villain. A brilliant, handsome villain.

Staring at Uncle Milford's door, I can only laugh at myself. As I walk in to a quiet house, I find a folded up note with my name on it. It's in Pixel's writing. I creep upstairs and into my room, sit on my bed, and unfold it. It is a new list. Revised. Written in black ink and highlighted on scattered parts to emphasize importance on my efforts.

On the bottom, the gang signs their names. On the bottom, they say if I help them with destroying Robbie's life here, they will help hook me up with Sportacus because he secretly has a crush on me.

Is that really a fair bargain for breaking a person's spirit?

As I read the list once more, I realize these teens have a lot of growing up to do. And if I quit, I will probably be the one to leave Lazytown forever.