Page 21, Buds Best Years

Beeep beep beeep was the loud noise that awoke Bud, It was the sound of the smoke detector going off. Sid rushed into buds room waking him up and getting him outside. Bud was wearing his computerman P.J.'s. It was Harriet's job to awaken Harriet 3. Now with both kids safe it and the fire department called his parents could relax. They looked for signs of fire but, could see sign of flames.

The fire department had arrived and rushed into the house but could find no fire. It was determined by the fire department to be a faulty smoke detector. The smoke detector was hooked into the electrical and also had a battery in case the power went out. It had been installed when the house was built the same year bud was born, in other words nearing the end of is useful life.

Sid and Harriet were glad it was only a faulty smoke detector and thanked the fire chief for the departments quick response in the middle of the night. After the firemen left still shaking from fear the family went into the house. Unable to sleep Harriet asked the children if they wanted to watch a movie. The children bleary eyed said yes and a movie was put into the movie player a star movie player.

Star had gotten into the movie player business the year before in 1998. It was it first foray into the consumer movie player market. They had only one model the star movie player which was blue and silver. It was a thing of beauty it looked great and worked like a dream. Despite being out for only a few month's star had sold 200,000 across the united and more were slated to be sold when they went international in November. Star was poised to do big business and Cynthia file was happy as could be like a proud parent watching her child go off to school.

The movie the longIntegers watched was called attack of the cotton candy. The plot is that a group of people try to set a world record for the biggest cotton candy ball. The cotton candy became so big that it developed a mind of its own and it was an evil mind at that. At first the cotton candy looked like a good guy but, quickly turned bad. It crawled into the street causing cars to swerve and nearly crash into the railing. The authorities try various means to stop the rampaging cotton candy ball. The tried foam from fire trucks, fire from flame throwers, talking reasonable to the menace but, none it could stop the cotton candy. As a last resort before the whole town was destroyed a little poodle was brought in after it was learned that the cotton candy loved animals and would not heart dogs. The poodle worked and brought the cotton candy under control.

The cotton candy was docile for the moment but, could never be trusted so was loaded on to a space ship and flown to a distant planet never to bother the citizens of candy city again. For saving the inhabitants of candy city the poodle was given a statue and given the best dog food to eat for the rest of her life. "Mommy what a happy ending" Harriet 3 said. "Yes, I know dear" Harriet said. By now it was getting light out side but, the children would not be going to school after their harrowing night. The family would all be going for a relaxing day at the beach. And one thing bud liked was the warm sunny computer city beach from with its restaurants and wild life. A fun day was in store.

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