Chapter 26

A few days later, Tommy was standing outside the Angel Grove Youth Center. As he watched the masons finish patching the hole, a cheerful Kimberly strolled up beside him.

“Hard to believe the gym and juice bar are already back open, huh?” she said.

Tommy nodded, saying, “They’re just doing some cleanup on the outside.”

Before either could say another word, Bulk and Skull appeared, carrying Stinkerbell and Lady Fluff. The pets seemed fine. The bullies did not. They were looking around nervously, jumping at every shadow. Apparently they were still a little skittish after their mind-swapping experience.

All the same, Skull brightened when he saw Kimberly.

When they stepped up, Kimberly petted both the cat and the dog.

“They’re not wearing their little costumes anymore,” she noticed. “Have you given up on your Pet Fu project?”

“Actually,” Bulk said. “we have a new idea. We’re going to have them star in a horror film. It will make us rich.”

Tommy frowned. “A horror film starring a cat and a dog?” he asked.

Bulk turned up his nose and said, “As if a loser like you could appreciate my artistic sensibility!”

Tommy stifled a grin. “Forgive me, but I am eager to learn, especially lately. What’s it about?”

Though dubious, Bulk warmed to the attention. He put out his hands to paint a picture. “Well,” he said, “in our new film, an innocent cat and dog fall prey to an evil scientist who switches their minds!”

Kimberly blinked and nudged Tommy. “That sounds familiar,” she whispered.

“They say the best writers work from experience,” Tommy whispered back.

“Yep!” Skull said. “There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?” Tommy asked.

“We have to teach Stinkerbell to meow and Lady Fluff to bark,” Skull said.

Bulk slapped his friend’s shoulder. “And it’s not going to happen while we’re standing outside chatting, is it? Come along!” he said.

As they went in, Kimberly called, “Good luck!”

Bulk kept his back to her, but Skull spun around long enough to wave and say, “Thanks.”

“They’re going to need it,” Tommy muttered.

After hesitating a little, Kimberly turned back to Tommy. “We never did get together for juice,” she said. “Well, I guess I did, but it wasn’t exactly with you. If you’re not doing anything, I could text the others to meet us. What do you say?”

Smiling, he shook his head. “Sorry, not today,” he said. “I’m waiting for Billy. He’s going to teach me chess.”

“Really?” Kimberly said. “I thought that wasn’t your kind of game.”

Tommy shrugged. “It’s not,” he said. “But everything I went through really showed me how valuable it is to see from new perspectives. I figured, why not give it a try?”

“Good for you,” Kimberly said. “Mind if I watch?”

“Only if you promise not to laugh when I lose!” Tommy said with a smile.

“Never!” she said. Leaning in closer, she whispered, “After all, Rita and Bones were defeated, thanks to you!”

He shrugged and said, “Like I said before, it’s really thanks to the Power Rangers. We’re all part of something bigger than ourselves. A team.”

She smiled and nodded. “That’s something I don’t think Rita will ever be able to understand,” she said.

At the same moment, far off in the Moon Palace, Rita was pointing at Finster, Baboo, Squatt, and Goldar, shouting at each, “Our defeat was your fault! And your fault! And your fault! And your fault!”

Rather than anger her further, her minions were forced to agree.

“Yes, your highness!” they said in unison.

And though the minions had never even tried to see things from another perspective, they were all thinking the same thing: I hope she gets tired eventually.