“Oh my gosh!” Pearl panicked.

“Mom.” said Strudel. “I’m kidding”  He snapped an imaginary rubber band around his wrist.

“Honey” said Pearl. “Are you ok?”

“Mom, I’m fine” said Strudel. “Seriously.”

“Let me see your wrists” said Pearl.

Strudel turned over his hands, and sure enough, there were no cuts.

“Well, explain the blood in the sink, then.” said Pearl.

“I fell skateboarding” said Strudel. “I got a bloody lip, and I was rinsing my mouth out in the sink, then I cut my lip again on a root beer can”

“You need to stop skateboarding, sweetie” said Pearl.  “You’re always getting hurt”

“Mom, I’m fine” said Strudel.

“No, you suck” Potter chimed in.

“Potter, go to Poser’s house” said Pearl. “I’m going to put in laundry. I’ll be back, Strudel”

Potter went to Poser’s, and Pearl went downstairs.

“What if he tells your brother about the fight?” said Josh.

“Oh, he’d better not” said Strudel. “Not if he wants to keep his balls”

“Strudel, forget it” Pancake said again.

“Nope” said Strudel. “That jerk’s goin’ down”