“I-it was m-mine! And t-t-they had no right to take it! That was the last thing I had to remember my g-g-granddaddy by! He, well you know,” he stopped to take a deep breath in an attempt to stand the flow of his crying and wiped his eyes. “After my twelfth birthday, he told me that I should keep this wand safe for him, as if his spirit was within it… and they took it away f-f-from me!” Jeffery started crying again with renewed tears that were once again overflowing his hazel blue eyes.

“Jeffery, calm down,” Kit said gently, wrapping his arms around Jeffery and hugging him again. “Don’t be sad, I’m sure your granddad would understand. Like with me, all I know of my real father is that he left his airfoil to me, but as you remember, it’s been broken twice itself, but it’s just an item. The memory of your granddad is in your heart, Jeff.” He took Jeffery by the hand and led him down the hall. “C’mon, I left Chris by himself in a classroom, he’ll be wondering where we are.”

 Kit walked down toward the place where he left Chris, Jeffery gloomily followed behind him.
“Y-y-you mean it, Kit, do you really mean that?” Jeffery asked, still sniffing from crying so much.

Kit stopped and turned to look him straight in the eyes.

“Jeff, of course I do. Come on now, cheer up, you know your granddad’s always with you. He’s right here.” Kit said, placing a hand on Jeffery’s chest, over his heart.

“Yeah, you’re right, Kit. Thanks!” Jeffery exclaimed, suddenly feeing better. “You’re the best cousin in the world, Kit!” he said, hugging Kit tightly, while holding the broken wand in his right hand. “But they still had no right to break my wand! Ohh, I’ll get them back for this one day, I swear!” he proclaimed.

“There’s no need, Jeff.” Kit said with a smile, pointing to some distance down the hall. “Look, they’ve been caught this time...”

Kit pointed out the principal, Mr. Pomeroy, who was holding the gang of bullies up from running completely away by standing in front of them, blocking their path.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Mr. Pomeroy asked, glaring at them, as if daring them to lie to his face.

“Uh, to class?” Gorgon offered hopefully.

“Yeah, to class!” the others murmured in agreement. “Yep, that’s where we’re going.”

Mr. Pomeroy smiled in a way that told the bullies that they were in very deep trouble. “Ah, nice try, boys, but I saw what you were doing to young Cunningham over there. And as you know, we don’t tolerate the destruction of a student’s property. All of you will serve detention.”

They all hung their heads and moved toward to the Detention classroom, but then Mr. Pomeroy grabbed Gorgon’s shoulder.

“Not you, Cornmat, you come with me.” Mr. Pomeroy told him, he led Gorgon Cornmat to the place where Jeffery and Kit stood. “Cunningham, would you like to press charges for your damaged property?”

“Yes,” Jeffery said, looking a little angry. “This wand was worth twenty-five dollars, so I’ll press a twenty-five dollar charge.”

“Hear that, Cornmat? Either pay now or get the money from your parents.” Mr. Pomeroy said. “Now let’s head on down to my office. Oh, and Cunningham?” he added, turning to Jeffery. “In the future, retain from bringing sentimental items to school, that way, idiots like Cornmat here, can’t break them,” he said, giving Gorgon a look of deep disgust before the pair of them walked on, heading for Mr. Pomeroy’s office.   
   
“Hey, you know the old saying Jeff, about fair play?” Kit said; when Mr. Pomeroy and Gorgon were out of earshot. “You reap what you sow?”

“You’re right Kit, thanks for standing up for me again.” Jeffery said, trying to smile a bit.

“Any time, Jeff.” Kit said with a smile.

“I wish I could turn bullies into frogs though, that’s a funny idea.” Jeffery said, suddenly smiling in amusement. “Or if they keep it up, I may bring my goons with me next time, that’ll teach them!”

“Heh-heh, glad you’re feeling better, Jeff.” Kit said, chuckling. And then he froze as a realization hit him. “Hey!! I thought I was the one to protect you, you nutty bear!” he swung an arm around Jeffery’s neck and gave him a light nuggie, and then he just hugged Jeffery’s neck for a moment. “You are a nutty bear, Jeff, but I love you anyway.” He laughed as he let Jeffery go.

Jeffery put the two halves of his wand back into his backpack and didn’t worry about it anymore, he would continue keeping it as a reminder that his granddad was still in his heart, not in the wand.

As they neared the classroom where Chris was, the door to classroom opened and Chris peered out into the hallway. When he saw Kit and Jeffery coming his way, he stepped out of the classroom and greeted them.

“Hey Jeffery!” Chris said brightly, and then his face fell to a look of concern. “Are you okay, Jeffery?” he asked, noticing Jeffery’s tear-stained face. “What’s wrong?” He then gave Jeffery a comforting hug.

It was then that Jeffery noticed something about Chris as he was being hugged by the blue-eyes bear cub. Chris’ body was a smaller build than Kit’s, like his torso and stomach were thinner than Kit’s. His sweater masked his smaller build fairly well; one couldn’t tell that he was skinnier than Kit just by looking at him, unless they’ve been in physical contact with both twins and are able to tell the differences between their body builds.

Oh my gosh! He’s so skinny! I can almost feel his ribs!  Jeffery thought in shock. I wonder how light he is… He then wrapped his arms tightly around Chris’ midsection and lifted him up a few inches above the ground. He held him up for a moment, testing to see how long he can hold him. Oh man, he’s not very heavy either, since I’m able to lift him a foot off the ground and hold him in a hug! He could do with gaining a few pounds... 

He glanced at Kit. Kit was still a little thin but fattening slightly due Baloo’s insistence on beefing the boy up a bit, but Chris was skinnier than Kit and a lot lighter in weight. Jeffery made a mental note to put Chris on a weighing scale later. He gently put Chris down, who appeared not have noticed being picked up as he was enjoying the embrace with his cousin. 

Jeffery smiled and wrapped an arm around Chris’ shoulders while he wiped the remaining tears from his face 

“Oh, I was upset because Gorgon Cornmat broke my wand.” Jeffery told him as they broke apart. “But I’m okay now.”

“That was mean!” Chris declared, looking angry for Jeffery’s sake. “If I ever see him, I’ll kick him in the shin, and trust me, I kick hard!”

Kit chuckled at his brother’s statement. “I’m sure that’ll teach him, Chris, but he’s already been taken care of, he’s in the principal’s office right now.”

“And I’m getting twenty-five bucks off of him for breaking my wand.” Jeffery said, smirking in satisfaction. 

As they were passing by the principal’s office on the way to their homeroom, they stopped to listen when they heard a commotion going on inside.

“Please, Mr. Pomeroy!” said Gorgon Cornmat’s voice, in a tone that suggests that he was begging for mercy. “Gimme another chance, please … I’ll behave, honest!”

“No!” Mr. Pomeroy said very firmly. “You’re expelled and that’s final! Now go get your things, clear out your locker and get out of my sight!”

The door opened and Gorgon came out with a depressed and defeated expression.  He walked down the hall, not even noticing the Cloudkicker twins and Jeffery as he passed them, looking so gloomy, it was as if a raincloud was hanging over his head.

Mr. Pomeroy stepped out of his office, and unlike Gorgon, he noticed the three of them standing there.

“Ah, you must be the new Cloudkicker boy,” he said, smiling at Chris.

“Yes sir.” Chris said shyly, he was rarely comfortable around people in authority but he still respects them. “Chris Cloudkicker,” he said, holding out a hand to his new principal.

Mr. Pomeroy smiled and nodded in approval as he shook Chris’ hand, he liked this boy already, and he could already tell that there would be no troubles from Chris.

“Nice to meet you, Chris.” Mr. Pomeroy said. “Welcome to Cape Suzette Middle School. Just stay out of trouble, stay in school and we’ll get along just fine.”

“Yes sir.” Chris said, more shyly still, and then he ducked behind Kit and Jeffery.

“He’s a little shy, and it’s his first time in a public school.” Kit explained, for Mr. Pomeroy had raised an eyebrow questioningly at him.     

“Right,” Mr. Pomeroy cleared his throat. “I trust you’ll be keeping an eye on him?”
“Of course!” Kit declared, wrapping an arm around Chris’ shoulder. “I’m not letting him out of my sights.”

Chris smiled at the protectiveness Kit was showing toward him; he only hopes Kit wouldn’t be overprotective.

“Good.” Mr. Pomeroy said in satisfaction. “Cloudkicker, since Cornmat has been expelled, we now have a