''I've told you a thousand times, Ness. No!'' A short boy wearing glasses and sporting a green suit turned to face his friend and pulled a stern expression. ''I don't like baseball.''

''P'eese, Jeff! I 'eally wan' tah play it!'' The other boy continued to beg. He took off his red and blue baseball cap and pouted at Jeff.

''Puppy dog faces will not alter my decision. I refuse to play such a silly game and make a fool of myself.'' Jeff averted his eyes from the begging boy and huffed. ''Unlike you, I do not have the ability to play such a skilled sport.''

''Why sank you, Jeff! Sat is a comp'himent!'' Ness grinned in satisfaction at the compliment Jeff had just given. ''You 'eally sink I'm good at baseball?''

''You're practically the baseball master.'' Jeff patted Ness on the back.

''Sat is ve'hy nice ob you!'' By now, the baseball playing boy's ego had massively grown in size. ''Will you play baseball wis me now?''

''Ummmmm…'' The blonde haired boy pretended consider the plead. ''No.''

''Aghhh, Jeff!'' The capped boy finally gave in and heavily sighed. ''What shall we do instead sen?''

''Let's do some revision for our project in History. We have three days to finish it and I'm only approximately seventy five percent complete.''

''No way! I want to do some'sin fun! Not sum'sin inc'hedibly bo'hin!''

''Look, I sat there and watched cartoons with you for three hours yesterday. Why don't you ever do anything that I want to do?''

''Because eve'hysing sat you want to do is bo'hin!'' Ness swung his baseball bat in the air and giggled. ''I like action and dest'huctive sings!''

Jeff rolled his eyes and re-thought about what they should do. ''How about we go and see if Paula wants to hang out with us?''

''Su'ha!'' Ness nodded in agreement and put his baseball bat over his shoulder before picking up his backpack. They were just about to take off when Ness's mother interrupted.

''Ness, honey! It's three in the afternoon and you haven't eaten!'' She approached her son worriedly. You can't go out and play on an empty stomach.

''Aww, mom! 'm not hung'hy!'' Ness moaned and sloped his shoulders causing his baseball bat to hit the floor.

''You're not going out unless you have something to eat. I've just been cooking some steak. You can eat that.'' She turned to Jeff and smiled. ''Are you coming in for something to eat, too?''

''That would be much appreciated, Mrs. I'm feeling quite peckish and you make the most delicious steak.'' Jeff gave his compliments and smiled at the taller lady.

Ness's mother cooed at the small boy and went straight in to pinch his cheek. ''You're such a sweet heart! Why can't you be more like him, Ness?'' She turned to her son and shook her head before smiling to make sure he knew she didn't mean to offend him.

Ness looked annoyed and glared at his friend and then back at his mother with pleading eyes. ''Okay, mothah, can you hu'hy up wis seh steak? I want to play!''

''Yes, yes. Come on in.'' She put both of her hands on the boy's backs and lightly pushed them forward towards the front door.

''Oh! I almost forgot!'' Ness's mother suddenly stopped and gasped.

''What is it, Mrs?'' Jeff looked up at the woman who had her jaw practically on the floor.

''I have guests, today! My old friend, Hiwana and her family!'' The gawping woman put her fingers on the temples on each side of her head and rubbed in circles. ''I'm supposed to be hosting a dinner party!''

''Uh oh…'' Ness giggled. ''What time?''

''What time is it now?'' Ness's mother checked her watch. ''Well it's five past three, at the moment…'' She began to do a short maths sum in her head to work out how long she had til her guests arrive. ''I only have four hours and twenty five minutes til they're due!'' She panicked.

''Sats ages! You could hab' eve'hysing done by sen!'' Ness reassured his mother and grabbed her hand gently. ''You'ha jus' like supahwoman!'' He smiled up at his mother.

His mother suddenly yanked her hand away and rushed to the front door before turning around to face the boys. ''You two are going to have to go shopping for me. Here, let me write a list. Tracey can set up the table and I'll clean up whilst I wait for you to return. Please, be as quick as you can. I need all the time I can possibly get to cook the food.'' She beckoned the boys in and opened a draw that sat in the hall positioned next to the front door before pulling out a pen and notebook. She began to scribble away listing quite a few ingredients.

Jeff waited patiently whilst Ness did the opposite and fidgeted with his baseball bat.

''You can put that down now, Ness. We're only going to the shops.'' Jeff rolled his eyes.

''No! I like to keep is wis me incase sumsin 'appens.'' Ness replied whilst swinging his bat in the air with a great force.

''NESS! WILL YOU CUT IT OUT? I'M TRYING TO CONCENTRATE!'' Ness's mother shrieked.

''Okay… I p'hobably should keep it here, aftah-all.'' Ness slowly dropped his bat to the floor and slouched.

Jeff smirked.

''Right, here's the list.'' The rushing lady shoved the scruffy list into her son's hand. ''Remember, be as quick as you can.'' She was just about to shove past the boy's but then remembered that she had forgot to give them money. ''Oh for goodness sake. WHERE'S MY PURSE?'' She sprinted to the kitchen and started to turn it upside down. She searched through cupboards, drawers, cabinets and even the fridge freezer.

''Wow. She ovah 'eacts.'' Ness stared at his raging mother with wide eyes.

''You can say that aga- wait! Here's her purse.'' Jeff chirped.

''WHERE? GIVE IT HERE!'' Ness's mother came storming back into the hall.

Jeff pointed at a small nail that was hammered into the back of the front door. Her purse was hanging limply from it.

''Oh… Right yeah.'' Ness's mother blushed slightly and reached for her purse before handing it the boy who had pointed it out. ''I don't know how much it will come up to, but if there isn't enough, my credit card is in there.''

''Okay mothah.'' Ness nodded at his mother and began to turn the door handle. ''We'll be back befoh you know it!'' And with that, the boys started their 'not very adventurous' journey to the food store.