LazyTown's New Super Villain

Chapter 2: Ziggy Zany

"Right here," Trixie said, shimmying back and forth across the blacktop, "I'm open, give me the ball." But Stingy held the basketball high over his head.

"Nuh-uh, it's mine."

"Stingy!"

Trixie tried to grab for the ball. Stingy jerked out of her way and ran.

"No fair, that's traveling!"

They darted off the court, leaving Stephanie behind at the three-point line. The pink girl shrugged and moved to the sideline.

"I guess that's half time. Why don't we break for lunch?"

"Fine," Trixie said, doubling over to pant and catch her breath while Stingy left her well behind. The boy ran so fast that he made it most of the way around the court to come back up behind her. "I could use a boost right about now."

"I brought fruit and sandwiches for all of us," Stephanie said. She opened her backpack resting on the bench and laid out the spread. She wiggled a bottle of water. "Who's thirsty?"

Stingy dropped the basketball and cut back across the court. "I want some," he said. They sat down together to eat.

"Not so fast!"

The kids froze in place with the sandwiches halfway to their mouths and water bottles only partly uncapped. Stomping across the sports field Ziggy fixed them all with a big frown. He spoke in as low a growl as his squeaky voice could manage.

"What do you guys think you are doing?"

"We're having lunch," Stephanie said. She held out an apple. "Do you want some?"

"An apple? Hah." Ziggy thrust his arm out, brandishing an oversized lollipop. "Who wants to eat some silly old fruit when you can have candy?"

"Watch it with that thing," Stingy protested. As Ziggy waved his lollipop around he managed to strike the apple clear out of Stephanie's hand. The candy caught Stingy's sandwich on the back swing and the bread stuck to its sticky surface. Stingy squawked as his sandwich flew apart, scattered across everyone's lap. "That's my lunch!"

"Forget about that," Ziggy said, shaking his lollipop until the bread fell away. He slid his free hand into his cape and pulled out a drooping slice of pizza. "Here, you can have this."

Stingy's nose wrinkled and his mouth scrunched up as he handled the pizza. "It's greasy."

"That makes it go down easier," Ziggy said. He reached into his cape again and pulled out a wad of taffy, extending this to Trixie. "And you have this."

"They're all stuck together," Trixie said, not taking it. "How long has that been in your pocket?"

"If you don't want taffy," Ziggy said, "I've got lots of other stuff. See?" He pulled open his cape to show the other kids his offerings. The accessory was lined from collar to hem with chocolate bars, hot dogs, licorice sticks, French fries, and every junk food in between.

"I think I'm going to be ill," Stingy said.

Ziggy shook out the contents of his cape, spilling candy bars, burgers, and bubble gum across the kids sitting on the bench. They protested and flapped their hands but the greasy and gooey treats stained their laps and mixed in with their fruits and sandwiches.

"Great, now there's chocolate in my BLT." Trixie stuck out her tongue. "How are we supposed to eat our lunch like this?"

"There's more where that came from," Ziggy said. "You won't need those boring bottles of water once I get these sodas open."