Disclaimer:  I do not own the Quest Team (HB does), and I am making 
absolutely no money from this.  (Check my bank account if you have 
to)

Jonny Quest:  The Real Adventures

The Waiting Game

by Wendy Carley


        Hadji stood in the hallway of the Quest compound.  His 
clothes were neat and his well-organized back pack lay near the door. 
Shaking his head, he looked at his watch- 7:30.
        "My friends," he called, "we must be going or we will certainly 
be late for school."
        As he finished speaking, Jessie appeared in the hallway.  Her
T-shirt and jeans were slightly crumpled, but Hadji was relieved to see 
that she was ready to go.
        "Where's Jonny?" she asked.
        "Oh, I am sure he will be here any second," Hadji replied.
        "Since he's not ready yet, I guess I have time to grab some
breakfast," she said as she rushed off to the kitchen.
        "Please, Jessie," Hadji called after her, "we are running late."  
He glanced down at his watch again- 7:33.  If they left now, they could 
still find a good parking spot and take their time walking to class, he 
thought.
        He turned to go into the kitchen when Jonny came up behind 
him and said, "Where's Jessie?"
        "In the kit . . ." Hadji began, but he stopped short when he saw 
Jonny.  He was wearing his usual sneakers and blue jeans, but his shirt 
was bright purple with wide yellow and orange vertical stripes. Hadji 
was literally speechless.
        "Do you like it?  The saleswoman said it was ME!  She said 
it made me look mature and sensitive," Jonny explained.  He looked at 
his friend.  Hadji's brown eyes were popping out of his head.  He 
knew he was a very bad liar, but he also knew he did not want to be late 
to school- again.
        "Well," he began, "it is quite unique and . . . festive."  
However, Jonny took one look at Hadji's expression and knew the truth.
        "Aw, man!  I got to go change.  Don't tell Jessie about this."
He quickly sprinted back to his room.
        Hadji peered at his watch- 7:38.  OK, he told himself, they 
could park farther away and briskly walk to class.  Everything was under 
control.
        "Did I hear Jonny?" Jessie asked as she breezed into the 
hallway.
        "Yes, he . . . he is almost ready," Hadji answered.
        "Great!  That gives me time to get that book on Shakespeare from 
Dr. Quest's library.  I've been meaning to show it to my English teacher 
for weeks."  Jessie skipped out of the hallway before Hadji had a chance 
to stop her.
        He checked his watch-7:43.  Fine, he thought, We'll park far
away and run to class.  We can still make it.  Just take a deep 
cleansing breath.
        "Now, where did Jessie go?"  Jonny wondered.  Hadji was
unbelievably relieved to see his friend wearing his signature black
T-shirt.
        "She went to get a book . . ." Hadji started.
        "My books!"  Jonny interrupted.  "I forgot my books in my
room.  I'll be right back."
        "Jonny," Hadji said in desperation, but Jonny was already gone.
        Hadji stared at his watch- 7:46.  Well, he thought, they could
park in the farthest spot in the lot and make a wild dash to class.
Then, they would still be . . . Late!
        Remember, he said internally, these are your friends.  They have 
many wonderful qualities.  Unfortunately, punctuality is not one of them 
. . . neither is consideration.  Deep cleansing breath; deep cleansing 
breath.
        His thoughts were interrupted when Jessie rejoined him.  "Well, 
if Jonny's still not ready I can . . ." Jessie began.
        "No," Hadji cried.  "We are running very late.  I do not want
another tardy thanks to you and Jonny.  Just wait here."
        Jessie looked at her watch, "Fine.  We're not running that- 
Oh No!  Sorry Hadj."
        "It is all right," he said.  Just as he was about to run to 
Jonny's room, Jonny casually appeared in the doorway.
        "Hey," he said, "Do I have time to . . .?"
        "No," was Hadji's terse reply.  He quickly left the house and 
walked to the car.  Jessie and Jonny followed him.  OK, Hadji thought, 
next time I can leave at 7:30, and those two can find their own 
transportation.
        "Hadj, if you let me drive, we won't be late," Jonny suggested.
        "I don't know," Jessie exclaimed.  "Between the fiery car crash, 
the ambulance ride, and the hospital stay, I think we'd be plenty late!"
        Hadji shook his head, "Both of you, just get in the car."


The End