Billy couldn't take it any more. His parents were so mean. So he was going to run away. That would teach them a lesson. He stuffed his backpack with clothes, his favorite action figure, and a jar of peanut butter. He would take care of himself and prove to his parents that they shouldn't treat him like a baby. And then when he finally came home, it would be on his own terms.

He waited until midnight. When his parents were sound asleep, he opened his bedroom window and climbed down the latticework from the second story.

Billy made it all the way to the corner before a yellow car transformed into Bumblebee. A military helicopter shone a spotlight over him and several G.I. Joes rappelled down around him. Superman swooped down from the sky, landed, and put his hands on his hips. Captain Planet materialized in a rainbow of light. A manhole creaked open and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came pouring out of the sewer.

All the assembled heroes scrutinized him.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Billy said, then turned around to go home. "I know!"

The Joes pumped their fists in the air. "And knowing is-"

"Do we have to say that every time?" Bumblebee asked.