The next morning the boys headed down for breakfast feeling groggy but still giddy over their success at getting back at Rick. When they reached the kitchen, they found Tom's mother was home again. Apparently she had not slept as she still wore the same clothes she had on when she left with Rick for the hospital. They guessed that Tom's father had taken over for her at the hospital. She yawned as they approached and filled them in on the details of Rick's condition.
The doctors would be keeping Rick at the hospital for observation for another day, she explained, just to be sure that there were no further complications from his sudden growth. Though she sounded a bit frustrated that the doctors would not believe them when they described just how big Rick had grown last night.
"They basically accused us of lying or at least of exaggerating how big it was," Tom's mom said. At this point, it seemed as if she were talking just to get out her frustrations more than to inform the boys. "As if we could make up something crazy like that. I mean, you'd just need to go up to Rick's room to see the mess he made to know we were telling the truth. It looks like someone sprayed a garden hose around in there."
Tom and Jim tried their best not to smirk at each other.
Tom's mom made them eggs and toast and headed off to bed. As she left, Jim noticed a trace of worry on Tom's face.
"She'll be okay in a couple of days once it's clear that Rick's okay," Jim said to reassure him.
"Yeah," Tom said. "You're right. I hope so at least. I really didn't mean to hurt my parents with this."
"It'll be fine. Don't worry," Jim said and wondered briefly if he was trying to reassure himself as well.
Tom took a bite of his toast and nodded. Then, the boys finished up eating and settled in front of the TV to watch some cartoons.
"Well," Tom said. "What do we do next?"
"I guess it's my sister's turn now," Jim said.
"Yeah," Tom said. "So, what do you have in mind for her?"
"Well, you know what a brat she can be."
"I do," Tom said. "I remember how she got you grounded last month when she lied about you taking her 3DS."
Jim sighed. "She even hid it in my room to make sure I got caught red-handed."
"Man, that sucks. So, why'd she do that?" Tom asked.
"I don't know. I wish I could figure out why she was such a brat. I might be able to get her to stop if I could understand why she acted that way. She just seems to enjoy getting me into trouble, and she's getting better at it all the time."
Tom smiled. "Sounds like a case for the Balloon Squad, eh?"
Jim chuckled. "Is that what we are now?"
"That or the Balloon Boys," Tom explained. "But, I thought 'Balloon Boys' sounded a bit like a pair of fat rappers." They both laughed about that for a while.
After they calmed down, Jim said, "Alright then, looks like the Balloon Squad will attack this afternoon at my house."