Chapter one

One night a top hat blew in the window. Rags realized too late that Frosty was back. It was too late to mute the television, lock the doors and windows, and pretend he wasn't home. Instead Rags opened the door and turned off the heat. Rusty turned on his heel and went out for the night. Frosty blew in with luggage and Rags knew trouble had come to stay.

Rags tried having Frosty be a the gnat he couldn't swat. It never worked. Frosty was more of the mosquito that bit him all night while he grasped the air and smacked himself. Rags hardly opened his mouth to say " Come in" when Frosty started his attack.

" Best train in North America if you like it cold like I do. I caught the train from Snowy, rode in the ice cream car. Trains trump all other forms of public transportation, which you wouldn't know since you never leave this one horse town. You really should get out more. " Rags thought of his life with Rusty and didn't bite.

Rags said, " What a surprise to see you Frosty. Do you plan to stay long? " Rags hoped Frosty would say no but he knew that wasn't likely. Frosty replied, "As long as it takes, " knowing he stayed well beyond his welcome. Rags fretted knowing he would be stuck with Rusty's absence and Frosty's rudeness until the spring or the nugget's discovery, whatever came first.

The nugget was a gold storybook that had the origins of the winter myths. Santa, Rudolf, and Frosty all sprang from its pages but only Frosty remained obsessed with posessing it. He traveled the continent from New years to St. Patrick's Day in search of his grail. Rags took him in every few years much to Rusty's dismay.

Frosty had received an email from an anonomous source twisting his lopsided view of the world into a trail to the nugget. He planned to follow the emailed instructions starting with the ringmaster, Rags' boss. Frosty left his ice cream wrappers on the floor and blew out the door. Rags followed him happy to have a chance to see Rusty.

Rags suspected that Rusty was hiding something. The tight suit he wore revealed a revolver in his belt. Clowns rarely use weapons preferring laughter to violence so he called his friend who lived on Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes and Rags were childhood chums from kindergarten.

Holmes inquired as to Rusty's whereabouts in the evening. Rags said, "We spend our evenings together." "When does Rusty have time alone?" "Never. We do everything together, even pooping. The only time we are apart is showtime." Sherlock thought for a moment then asked Rags to provide a backstage pass. At six thirty the stagehands were doing their checkout and Sherlock Holmes was there to observe. Men in clown suits arrived with women in trapeze costumes and dogs in tutus. They needed their props, wigs and makeup and they were ready to go on. The circus room for performers was crowded. As the show started the clowns ran out for the opening number. The show had clowns, horses, tightrope walkers but no lions or tigers. Sherlock stood where he could see the show and the green room. When it was over he found Rags standing with Rusty by the trapeze ladder.

Sherlock was ready with an explunation. Rusty excused himself exiting stageright. "Rusty is in trouble; we must follow him!" Destraught the clown ran after him nearly tripping over his shoes. Rags caught him just as shots were fired. Rusty lay on the ground bleeding not moving. Rags ran toward him with tears running down his face. Suddenly the lights went out. The darkness would have hid the shooter's getaway but Sherlock was there with the head electrition, Josh Weitzman. The shooter was the horsetrainer, Samantha. Rags knew Samantha liked guns because he had seen her work as a sharpshooter. He turned to Sherlock questioningly. Sherlock explained, "Samantha is a jewel thief. She uses the circus as a cover. She tried to get Rusty to help her steal your ruby. They were partners in crime when they were in their twenties. Rusty straightened up but Samantha didn't. When she assumed the identity of a trainer Rusty got worried and bought the gun. He didn't want you to know about his past and Samantha threttened to tell if he didn't help. Finally he told her no and you see the results."

Rusty recovered and Samantha spent seven years in jail.

Today I did the rollathon today to make money for my school. Please donate to the Henry Viscardi School.

http://www.hvs.k12.ny.us/support.aspx

Rags felt like Rusty needed an explanation but he tried to keep distance between his past and present. Rusty worried that Rags needed help but he didn_'t know what he should do. It messed with the security they normally shared. Rags decided to open the box.
Inside was another smaller box covered with satin. The satin box had a ruby inside. It was gigantic and perfect! Rusty_'s jaw dropped. He had never seen Rags with a wallet much less a priceless gem.
Rags suspected that Rusty worried that the ruby was stolen. It was actually his savings from his blog earnings. Rags had received a check from google and used the money to buy the ruby. The blog held the story of his past_, a story he didn_'t intend to tell.

Rags had no friends other than Rusty. They did everything together_, eating_, working_, sleeping and pooping. Rusty made Rags feel important since he never left his side.
One morning Rusty got up and Rags was gone. His bed was made dressed himself ate pancakes for breakfast didn't leave a note. Rags had gotten a letter a week earlier but Rusty didn't ask him about it. They sought each others company but left dignified space for private matters.
Quite late in the evening Rags returned with a package. Instinct told Rusty not to ask now_, but he did - "what is it?" Rags replied_,"not telling."
The end

Raymond Rat has informants at the police department_, the fbi_, the cia and starfleet. He uses this network of spies to track new lego customers. When a purchase was made Raymond contacted Izzy his special_, secret agent(and his little brother). Izzy called his team: Oriana_, Olive_, Simone and Ramona. Soon Raymond had everything he needed to create the perfect lego website_, customized for each person. Raymond sucked their accounts dry while filling their homes with Danish heroin. They stole_, begged and emptied their kids college funds in pursuit of the next space police minifigure. Raymond Rat now rules the galaxy through lego with no regard for life_, liberty or knex.
The end.

On the fourth of July Charley had quit stealing. He met three beautiful sisters at the park who seemed oblivious to his disabilities. They made feel normal which gave him hope. Now he wondered what to do with himself.
Charley had enough money to last a lifetime. He wanted to tell his victims that he was sorry. He sent each one a letter of apology and a check. How did he know they wouldn't turn him in? They never did and he was greatful.
Now Charley started over. He went to law school. He became a smiling guy! He married Simone and lived happily ever after with her mom buying his wardrobe.
The end.