A.J.'S DOUBTS

As you can see, my specialty is friendship among the lead characters; whether it's Kirk, Spock and McCoy from Star Trek, or Timmy A.J. and Chester from the Fairly OddParents. Please review.

Alex "A.J." Johnson was walking home after studying with his two best friends, Timmy Turner and Chester McBadbat, at the Turner house. It was just starting to get dark so A.J. picked the pace up and arrived at his house just 5 minutes before his school night curfew of 8:00 P.M. He pulled the key out to his very large house and entered.

"Mom, Dad", shouted A.J, "I'm home!"

His mother came down out of the den, "Okay honey." Then Mrs. Johnson added, "You did eat something at Timmy's dear, didn't you?"

A.J. smiled a bit at his Mom's concern. "Yes Ma'am. We had, well, Timmy and Chester had spaghetti and meatballs, they made me fish, because they know we don't eat red meat."

Mrs. Johnson smiled. "It's very nice of the Turners and especially Timmy that they think enough of you to do that for you."

A.J. got sort of melacholony. "Yeah, it really is. " He thought but didn't add verbally, "It seems Timmy and Chester do a lot of things for me, I like to think I try to I do things for them as well, but do I do enough."

Mrs. Johnson noticed her son's sudden changeof expression. "Son," she said, "Is there anything wrong?

A.J. shook his head. He didn't want his mother to worry. "No, I'm just thinking of the test we have tomorrow. It's gonna be hard. I'm pretty sure I'll be okay and I think Chester will be okay, but Timmy...

"Did he not study well, tonight, sweetheart?" his mother asked.

A.J. shook his head, "No it's not that. He actually did well tonight. But Crocker has it in for Timmy. I'm honestly think that Timmy struggles because Crocker makes it hard for him. It really bothers me that Crocker does that to him."

Mrs. Johnson thought for a minute, "Crocker. He's that loony tune who thinks Dimmsdale is filled with fairies. I don't honestly understand why they keep him!"

"Neither do I, Mom."

Mrs. Johnson got another concerned look at her face. A.J., she thought was not telling her everything. She looked at him in the eyes.

"Are you sure,there's nothing else?"

A.J. looked without trying to meet her eyes; his mother's penetrating eyes could always pull the truth out of him. And he didn't really want to admit what was really bothering him.

"No," he said, quickly, "listen I've got to get ready for bed. I've got a big day tomorrow with that test. Good night Mom, and I'll tell Dad good night when I see him upstairs."

And with that A.J. darted upstairs.

It was getting close to nine o'clock and A.J. was finishing up some last minute things for tomorrow before he went to bed. There was a knock at his bedroom door.

"Come in," he said.

A.J.'s dad came in. A.J. smiled, "Thank you for knocking even though you asserted your parental authority by coming in anyway."

Mr. Johnson laughed, and then turned serious. "A.J, what's wrong?"

A.J. looked at his father. "Why do you ask that?"

"You didn't answer my question, son."

"You've talking to Mom." When his father didn't dispute it, A.J. added, "I can't keep anything from her, even when I'm quiet about.

To that, Mr. Johnson laughed even harder. "Son, I've been married to your mother for 15 years, and she can read me like a book too."

A.J. smiled. It was good to see that. Then A.J. said, "What did Mom tell you exactly."

"Well," said his father, "she said you were concerned about the way Crackerpot treats Timmy."

"It's not just that Dad,", said A.J., "Timmy and Chester do a lot for me. Especially Timmy and I wonder if I'm there as much as I should be."

Mr. Johnson looked a bit puzzled by this comment. "Son, you help him to study, and we have him over and......"
"It's not just that Dad," A.J. interrupted, "Oh sorry I didn't mean to interupt.."

"No go on A.J.,that's why I'm up here."

A.J. took a breath. "Timmy has his share of his faults, but there is one thing that he has that I don't. When push comes to shove, he's brave enough to do the right thing and he's brave enough to do potentially dangerous things to help us. We almost lost the skate park to Vicky and Timmy was the only one brave enough to go on that big ramp." It all came out in a rush, like A.J. had been waiting to say this for a long time. "When we were on the Brain-A-Thon, he was willing to be disqualified and possibly suspended from school just to do the right thing by me. When he tried to get popular and it looked like that he was going to lose Chester, me and Elmer as friends, he stood up to the popular kids and said he'd rather be unpopular and be friends with us then risk losing us." A.J. paused to catch his breath. "I mean do you know how hard that was for him. He's had a thing for Trixie since kindergarten. And he gave that up for us. I don't think I could do half of what Timmy does for me," A.J. caught his breath again, "because I think I'm a coward."

Mr. Johsnon was silent for a second. "Son, I think you're being hard on yourself. You're not a coward."

"I don't stand up as much as I should."

"A.J.", said his Dad, "there are adults that don't do that either. That doesn't make you a coward."

"Yeah, but Dad when I see when Crocker, Francis, and Remy Buxaplenty treat my friend like he's some piece of trash or a punching bag, it makes me angry, but I still don't do anything. I feel like I've failed him."

The air was quiet for a few minutes. Mr. Johnson though carefully. "Have you talked to Timmy about this?" A.J. looked horrified. "I can't do that, Dad."

"Why not?"

A.J. had no answer, so Mr. Johnson continued. "Timmy is one of your best friends. I have a feeling if you just talked him, it would make you feel better and from what you've told me he'd listen to you." A pause. "Don't you, Chester and Timmy have that camping trip this Saturday?" A.J. nodded. "Okay, that would be as good a time as any. Just think about it okay."

AJ nodded. "Well, said Mr. Johnson said, "just think about it. It's getting late, though. We both better get to bed." Mr. Johnson stood up, "Good night son."

"Good Night Dad," said A.J, and thanks"

"You're welcome, and oh and son." A.J. looked up. There's one thing you're wrong about. You're not a coward. And I think, like Timmy, if push came to shove you would help your friends or family if you thought they were in trouble."

And with that Mr. Johnson turned off the light and left the room.

Okay, I know a bit wordy and not a lot of action. There's going to be more chapters obviously, and I promise the adventure will begin. I welcome reviews!