Copyright 2000 --  Robert Baer Jr

All of the characters and/or background in this story are the sole
property of Robert Baer Jr.

Wayside Charlie -- "Spike's Gang"

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, Wayside Charlie and his friends were
walking home from school.  Juanita Bunny was carrying a globe in his right
hand, Jimmy Fox kept adjusting the straps on his backpack.  Sasha Bear was
holding a library book in her hands, glancing at it as they walked.

"I have to give a oral book report on Friday!"  Sasha said with a worried
look on her face,"this book really looks hard, too!"

"Let's see!"  Charlie said as he looked over at the cover,"Hmmmmm.   'Call
of the Wild' by Jack London, that's a toughie alright."

"I already did mine, 'Around the World in 80 days'!"  Juanita said
happily,"that's why I took this globe to school with me, to show everyone
where the main characters traveled to!"

"Mine's due on Monday," Jimmy said with hesitation,"I gotta do mine on
'Moby Dick', it's a whale of a story!"

"Good one, Jimmy!"  Sasha giggled.

"Well, I've got to work on my report tonight,"  Charlie said to the
others,"it's on....."

"YO, CHARLIE!   I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" said a spotted bulldog who want
leaning up against a phone booth ahead of them.

"I'll be right back guys, will you wait here for me?"  Charlie asked.

"Sure!"  Juanita said.

"Yeah!"  Jimmy added.

"Of course!"  Sasha said with a nod.  

Charlie ran over to the bulldog, his name was Spike and he was dressed in
jeans and a leather jacket.

"Charlie, you are one cool dude!"  Spike said as he looked out into the
street,"I want you to join my 'gang'!"

"Your gang?"  Charlie said in amazement,"all I can see behind you are Joe
Mole and Frank Badger, they're your 'gang?"

"That's right, Charlie!" Spike gloated,"we're a really rough bunch!  Why
don't you hang out with us?  Tell your loser friends to hit the bricks!"

"My friends aren't losers, Spike," Charlie replied.

"They're all wimps!" Spike shouted,"they aren't cool like us!"

"Define 'cool'," Charlie said gruffly.

"Don't you get huffy with me, Charlie!" Spike shouted,"or I won't let you
hang around with us!"

"If that's your attitude towards my friends, Spike, then I don't want to
hang around with you or your gang!'  Charlie said as he turned and walked
away.

"You'd rather be with those pansies than to be with us?"  Spike screamed
out.

Charlie turned, looked at Spike and shouted,"READ MY LIPS...... YES!"

Hearing that, Spike, Frank and Joe left.   Charlie came back to his
friends with a happy look on his face.

"Charlie?  Why are you so happy?"  Jimmy asked.

"Yeah,"  Juanita added,"Spike gave you a hard time, we could hear him
shouting from here!"

"I'm happy because of you guys!"  Charlie said with a grin,"I'd rather be
with my true friends than any old 'gang' of Spike's!"

"You really mean that, don't you Charlie?"  Sasha said.

"Of course I do!"  Charlie nodded,"now, let's all go over to my house.  If
we all work together, maybe we can help Sasha and Jimmy with their book
reports!"

"Great idea, Charlie!"  Sasha said with a grin.

"I'd love to help!"  Juanita added.

"I need all the help I can get!" Jimmy said,"do you think your mom will
have any of those homemade raisan cookies in the cookie jar when we get
there, Charlie?"

"Only one way to find out!"  Charile giggled,"let's go!"

So the four friends went on over to Charlie's house to study.  Wayside Charlie 
knows the value of loyality.  His friends saw that today, in the way he stood 
up for them in front of Spike.  "Fair Weather" friends are a dime a dozen, 
but a 'true' friend will stand with you, no matter what!