Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"YO, LOGANO!" "JOEY!" "HEY, SLICED BREA-" "Shhh, he hates that." "I know, maybe if I call him that he'll get mad and wanna come hit me. HEY SLICED BREAD, WHERE YOU AT?!"

As Denny and Kyle trodded along through the snow, calling for Joey, the realization gradually built in each of them that he was lost. "Dude, if we can't find him-" "Kyle, don't talk like that." "Man I can already feel Big Tom beating the-" "I said don't talk like that!"

After about 30 minutes of scanning the snowy wooded area around their cabin, they were freezing. "Lets get back inside and warm up," said Denny. "Then we'll look some more."

Downhearted, the two chilled racers solemnly made their way back to the cabin. They opened the door and walked inside...and saw Joey standing in front of the TV, lost in a game of Wii boxing.

"JOEY!" they cried out in unison. "Oh, hey guys," he said, turning around. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" "Uh, right here." "No you weren't," Kyle said angrilly. "We've been out there in the woods hunting for you, freezing our butts off and calling out for you like a couple of drunk morons."

"Well I'm sorry, I just went out to chop some wood and when I was done I came inside and went upstairs to take a nap. Then I heard you two yelling at each other about me so I thought you were mad so I was scared to come down. When I finally did, you guys were nowhere to be seen so I was practicing some boxing in case you two wanted to fight."

"Well its practice that'll come in handy!" Denny started at him. "No, man," Kyle grabbed his arm. "He's almost still a minor. You can't beat him up." Denny glared at Kyle, then at Joey. "Come 'ere," he said, motioning Joey towards him with his finger. "Uh-uh!" Joey said, shaking his head. "GET OVER HERE!" Denny bellowed.

Moments later, Denny sat on one end of the couch with Kyle on the other. Between them, tied up, sat Joey.

"Lets see if there's something to watch on this dang thing now," Kyle said, flipping on the TV. "Maybe we should check the weather, make sure we don't get snowed in," Joey reckoned. "Did I tell you you could talk?" Denny snapped sharply. "No," Joey said, hanging his head.

"Whoa nelly!" Kyle called out as the TV settled onto a TV show about beaches and their bikini-clad inhabitants. "Hello, Nurse!" Denny chimed in, eyes widening. "Hey, is he old enough to watch this?" Kyle asked, gesturing to Joey. Without response, Denny reached into Joey's pocket, pulled out his beanie cap, and pulled it down over Joey's eyes.

"Oh come on guys, that ain't right!" Joey protested, unsighted. "SHH" Denny whispered as he and Kyle gawked at the TV. "You both have girlfriends! That's just wrong!" Joey continued. Kyle reached over and pulled the beanie over the rest of Joey's head. His protests now muffled, Joey could only sit in black silence as his two teammates enjoyed their show.