Preschool Phobia

Summary: It's Chuckie's first day of preschool, and he's too afraid to go. Can Tommy and Zachary help convinced fraidy cat Chuckie that there's nothing to be afraid of, and that preschool will be a lot of fun?

Editional Notes: It's another year later, Tommy is now 3, Chuckie is now 4, and while Zack is only 2-years-old, he's very advanced for his age, so he'll be attending the preschool, as a roll model. Also it should be noted, that Miss Applebee, who appeared in the Rugrats episode titled "Educating Angelica," is the teacher throughout all stories relating to preschool. I'll also remind everyone that I do not own any of the original Rugrats characters, they're the property of their original creaters, and Zachary was introduced in Rugrats and the Gray Plague. Also, in this first chapter, they're having Tommy's third birthday party at a place called Discovery World, which I made up, and named it after a similar place I use to play at as a child called Discovery Zone.

It's a rainy day on Tommy's third birthday, and everybody is at Discovery World, an indoor play place filled with slides, tunnels, and those bins of small colorful plastic balls. Taffy and the adults are sitting across the way from the play structures on benches, talking while they watch the kids play.

"This was an excellent place to have Tommy's third Birthday party." Said Betty.

"The kids are really enjoying themselves!" Howard said excitedly.

"Well, when the forecast called for rain, I knew the party I had planned for Tommy at the park today wasn't going to work out, so this ended up being the next best thing. We would have had it at Piggy's Pizza Palace, but they already had three other birthday parties booked for today." Said Didi.

"I started bringing the kids to play here at Discovery World six months ago, when the terrible 2's was just causing the energy to burst so sky rocket high, that taking them to the video game arcaid, just wasn't cutting it anymore. And because I sprained my ankle, taking them to basketball games was out too. I use to play here at Discovery World when I was a little girl, so I'm glad I could bring them here, and see that they enjoy it as much as I did." Taffy said, smiling.

"Yeah well, we can put the terrible 2's behind us for the most part. Other than Dil and Zack, though Zack is very advanced for his age. He's so advanced, he'll be starting preschool a year early." Said Aunty Celeste.

"We're doing the opposite with Chuckie. We decided to have him wait and start a year later, that way he'd have the support of his little friends and sister at school." Said Chas.

"I can't believe Tommy will be starting preschool next week." Didi said excitedly.

"They're growing up so fast." Kira said.

Over in one of the bins of balls, the little ones were playing together.

"These balls are so much fun!" Tommy said excitedly, tossing a few balls up in the air.

"This is the bestest Birthday party ever!" Exclaimed Kimi.

"Thanks Kimi." Replied Tommy.

"Yeah but I wish we had dog food, that was fun 2 years ago when we all thought we could turn into dogs." Said Phil.

"And last year, we played in your backyard after not seeing you for a while." Added Lil.

"I liked last year's party." Said Zack.

"Yeah but this year's is fun too! There's tunnels to crawl through!" Said Kimi excitedly.

"And slides." Said Phil

"And, these balls are fun!" Giggled Lil, bouncing up and down in the balls bin, tossing some balls up and down.

"Yeah but every Birthday, we're another year olderer, which means more changes. Last year it was the potty, and now, I thought I heard the grown ups just talking about us starting preschool next week." Chuckie said nervously, berrying his head in the balls bin.

"Come on Chuckie, preschool is gonna be fun! They have lots of toys to play with, and other kids to play with, it will be like going to the park indoors!" Tommy replied excitedly.

"How do you know you've never been to preschool." Chuckie replied.

"Actually I went one time with Angelica when she took me for share day a while back. They were so excited for me to come, they even had a special room for babies." Tommy continued.

"Yeah but we're not babies no more, we're big kids now." Zack said smiling, standing up in the balls bin.

"Thanks for reminding me that Angelica goes to preschool. No wonder I'm ascared. Um… Tommy?" Chuckie asked nervously.

"Yes Chuckie." Tommy answered.

"Do you think Angelica will be there?" Chuckie asked.

"Don't be silly Chuckie, Angelica is going off to kindergarten." Tommy replied happily.

"Well, that helps a little." Chuckie mumbled, lifting his head out of the balls bin.

Their playtime is interrupted by Didi.

"Who's ready for cake and ice cream?" She asked, standing up from the bench across the way. The kids climb out of the balls bin and head back to the party room, where they finish the Birthday celebration.

While everyone sat around the table in the party room, eating their cake and ice cream, the preschool conversation continued.

"Do you think maybe we should ask Angelica about what preschool is like?" Chuckie asked.

"Good idea Chuckie!" Tommy replied.

Angelica overheard them from another part of the room and headed over to where the gang was sitting.

"Awe, little Chuckie scared of going to preschool? Well, the firstest thing you oughtta know is, there's nothing to be scared of! Preschool is just a giant playpen that's far from home that the grown ups are sending you dummies to so they can have a few hours alone. Of course, you're suppose to learn new things too, but knowing just how dumb you are, you won't learn nothing, staying there forever." Angelica explained.

"We're not dumb Angelica." Tommy said.

"But you might just be." Said Zack, glaring at Angelica.

"Don't you ever call me dumb again mister." Snapped Angelica.

"Sorry." Replied Zack, as he turned away from the table.

"Now if you dummies are done asking your stupid little baby questions, I'm off to practicize the Pledge of Legions." Angelica snapped.

"What's the Pledge of Legions?" Kimi asked.

"It's this thing you have to say everyday at the beginning of kindergarten." Angelica replied.

She went and stood across the room, putting her right hand across her heart, cleared her throat, and began to recite it.

"I pledge legions, to the flag, of United States of Amanda. And to republic, with sand, one nation, under Bob, invensible, with lizerdy and justice for all." She recited.

"That's a very nice pledge Angelica." Said Tommy.

"I thought it went on too long Yucky." Said Dil.

"How many times do I have to tell you. My name's Angelica. Now get it right!" Shouted Angelica, pointing a fist at Dil.

She stomped out of the room and Chuckie let out a huge sigh.

"I don't know about this preschool thing Tommy." Said Chuckie.

"Come on Chuckie, we're gonna have fun! And you'll see, there'll be nothing to be ascared of." Replied Tommy.

"He's right Chuckie, you're worrying for nothing." Zack added.

"Maybe you guys are right, but just in case, I'm gonna bring Wah Wah and my little moon rock that first day to help me feel safe." Chuckie added with a smile, taking another bite of his cake and ice cream.

Back in the main playroom, Angelica went and hid in a corner with Cynthia.

"Oh boy Cynthia, kindergarten is going to be great! And you know why? Cuz we'll be far from those dumb babies, for even longer during the day than we were in preschool. I won't have to be with them for lunch and naptime anymore, in fact, maybe I won't have to see them at all." She said quietly, holding Cynthia up to her face.

On the night before the first day of school, Chuckie had a nightmare where he went to preschool to find the guy on the oatmeal box to be his teacher, and a clown as his classmate, but worst of all, Angelica got held back, and they had to sit together at playtime. Chuckie awoke from the dream in a cold sweat.

"I don't know about this preschool thing, I don't know about it at all." He said anxiously, sitting up in bed, crossing his hands across his chest.

The next morning, it was the first day of school, and everybody was getting ready. At Chuckie's house, he was getting Wah Wah into his new blue Dummi Bears backpack when his daddy entered the room.

"You ready to go to preschool little guy?" Chas asked.

"I'm ascared daddy. What if the other kids don't like me?" Chuckie asked nervously.

"You have nothing to worry about. And your sister and friends will be there with you too." Chas continued, reassuringly, taking Chuckie by the hand.

So how will the rest of the first day of preschool go? We'll find out, in chapter 2.