"Do you mean to tell me that we have been driving around this sorry little town of yours for fifteen minutes and this little friend of Herbie's just lives down the street!"

"Damnit, Nick, cut me some slack, will ya? You know I am no

good under pressure. Things have been happening so fast this morning, between the crap with Bob and fluff and you dropping in unannounced..."

"Oh, so that's it, is it?" Nick cut in, glancing away from the road to glare at Ralph.

"Oh, for Pete sake! Shut up already! You know what I mean."

Ralph glanced out the window so as to avoid his brother's stare.

"What am I going to do if something happens to Herbie or his little friend? I will never hear the end of it from my wife."

"Who cares about your wife!"

"I care about my wife, damnit!"

"Well, you're the only...but she does make awesome food."

"Shut up and pull in up here," Ralph said, pointing to the next driveway.

"This is where she lives, eh?"

"Yeah," Ralph grumbled.

"Hey, Ralph, isn't that your house right over there?" Nick pointed off to their left and shot his brother with a good-humored smile.

"Alright already, so I am an idiot! Happy? Let's go."

"Alright, you're an idiot," Nick said, walking out after his brother.

Herbie?"

"Hold on, I'm coming," Herbie said to the door, trying to place the voice coming from the other side. The voice was familiar, really familiar, but he couldn't pin it down.

"Damnit, son, open this door!" Ralph called.

Herbie heard Tess take a deep breath behind him before she spoke: "Your dad sounds mad, Herbie, maybe we shouldn't..."

"Herbie!"

Hearing his father near his breaking point, Herbie ignored Tess' warning and pulled the door open. Through the sunlight, Herbie saw his uncle and forgot his father's anger. "Nick!" Herbie said, crossing the threshold.

"Good to see you to, Herb, but let us get the hell home, okay?" Nick said, trying to suppress the smile he felt at seeing his favorite nephew.

"But..."

"No buts, Herbie, let's go. Your little friend, too."

"But we just skipped school," Tess said, stepping toward the door in protest.

"I don't give a damn about school! Never have for that matter, girl. It's that damned crab I am worried about, now get going." Ralph waved them both to the truck.

"Crab," Herbie said, turning to his father. "What has Bob done now?"

"You mean what hasn't he done," Nick said.

"He is gone, for one thing," Ralph started, "and the damned fool has killed everything in his wake."

"Fluff," Herbie said with a start.

"Is okay," Ralph finished. "He got to her, but couldn't finish her off, now let's go before that crab shows up!"

"But, my parents," Tess said, confused.

"Will get a phone call later," Ralph said, moving toward the truck.

"Come on!"

"Herbie," Tess said, unsure of what to do.

"If dad is right and Bob is out," he said, moving toward her, "we have to get home and figure out what to do. He is mad at you, not your parents. I don't think he will bother them. We have to go."

"Okay, Herbie."

"Nick!" Ralph shouted from the truck.

"Let's go, kids," Nick said, herding the two away from the house.