Plastrica

By Mark “Lucky” DeGregorio

“Is she still refusing to get up?” Alan asked.

“Yes, she will not leave her bed.” Stephanie answered sarcastically.

The two entered Nonie’s bedroom to confront her. Nonie was sitting on her bed with the covers over her head. It looked like she was sitting with her legs crossed by the way the blanket draped over her. Nonie absolutely did not want to go to her class reunion, and staying in bed was her way to do that. Stephanie walked to the side of her bed, crossed her arms and said, “Nonie, don’t you think you’re being ridiculous?”

From under the covers Nonie replied, “I’m not going.”

“That’s no reason to lock yourself in bed!” Stephanie said. She reached under the covers and grabbed Nonie by her ankles. “I’ve had enough of this pouting of yours!” Stephanie started to pull Nonie out of bed.

“Hey! Let go of my legs!” Nonie cried. Nonie grabbed the bed frame and held tight.

Stephanie called to Alan, “Give me a hand, will you?”

Alan face morphed into that infamous smirk as he held out both hands and replied, “Which one?

“I’m not going to have trouble with you too, am I?” Stephanie said, “Help me pull her out of this bed!”

Alan put his arms around his sister’s waist, and the two started to pull. Nonie held tight to the bed, yelled, “I’m not going to that reunion and you can’t make me!” The two Fosters pulled the rubber girl some thirty feet down the hall and into the living room.

Stephanie said, “She’s strong for a scrawny girl.”

“Let me get a better grip.” Alan said. He let go of Stephanie to adjust his hold. Nonie had slingshot back into the bedroom, taking Stephanie along for the ride. At the end of the ride came some crashes follow by a thud. Alan rushed into the bedroom and found Stephanie tangled up in Nonie. Stephanie glared at her brother as he tried to explain.

“I’m sorry Steph, it was an accident.” Alan approached his sister and continued; “Say something.”

Stephanie gritted her teeth and said, “Numb-skull.” Then she punched her brother in the jaw, knocking him down.

Alan sat on the floor rubbing his jaw responded, “What are you getting so sore about, you only flew thirty feet.”

“THIRTY FEET! Is that ALL?” Stephanie retorted. The doorbell rang and interrupted their discussion. “Go see who’s at the door while I get myself untangled from this bird-brain!” Stephanie added.

Alan got up off the floor and went to the door. When he opened it, he saw a huge man standing at the door. The man towered over Alan and built like a battleship. Alan smiled and said, “Ah, I’ll be right with you.” Keeping his smile, Alan turned and headed for the bedroom. Stephanie and Nonie were almost untangled from each other when Alan entered the room.

Alan, still smiling, said in a whiny voice, “There’s a huge guy out there, I mean HUGE. He’s built like a Greek god.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes and replied, “What are you talking about?”

“His muscles have muscles… Did I say how big this guy was?” Alan muttered.

Nonie stretched her neck out of the bedroom and into the living room to peek. Nonie’s eyes widen as she said, “James, what are you doing here?”

Penny stepped out from behind her husband and said, “We’re here to talk some sense into you.”

Nonie retracted her head back into the bedroom and said, “No. I’m not going to that reunion.”

As James and Penny entered Nonie’s room, Alan backed around to the opposite side of the bed from James. Stephanie coyly said to James, “Please excuse my brother, he’s not used to people taller than him…” Looking at Alan she teasingly continued, “…which is most of the population.”

“Haw-haw, very funny, not!” Alan replied.

Penny walked over to Nonie and sat down on the foot of her bed. Penny asked her, “Nonie, why do you not want to go to your reunion?”

There was a minute of silent before Nonie spoke. “When I was in school, I wasn’t very popular, in fact, I was an outcast.” Nonie paused a moment and continued, “On top of all that, I was skinny then.”

The others gave each other a momentary look and then at Nonie. Penny was the first one to speak, “Ah Nonie, I hate to tell you this, but… You are skinny.”

Nonie had a surprised look on her face as Penny muttered, “I mean after all, she weighs 102 lbs.”

“Ah, Penny… I don’t think you're helping very much.” James told his wife. Then he looked at Nonie and said, “Now here is a thought, when you were in school, you didn’t have your elastic ability, did you?”

Nonie replied, “No.”

James continued, “But now, you’re Elasticity, a superhero of justice. That’s something to go there with.”

Nonie started to think a moment, and then she started to smile and said, “Yea. That’s something that Patricia Connling doesn’t have. Maybe I’ll go just to show her up for a change. But, I still need a date.”

Penny asked, “So, what kind of man are you looking for?”

“I don’t know,” Nonie, said, “maybe someone who’s tall, dark, and handsome.”

Alan impulsively asked, “How about me?”

Stephanie glanced at her brother and said, “Tall you are defiantly not, dark maybe,” rotating her hand in a so-so like manner, “but handsome, the jury is still out on that one.”

Nonie thinks for a moment and then asked, “Alan, you would really like to take me to my reunion?”

Alan gave Nonie the biggest smile she had ever seen on him as he said, “Yes, I would.”

* * * * * * *

“My name is Foster, Alan Foster.” He said looking at himself in the mirror adjusting his tie as he was getting himself ready for Nonie’s five-year class reunion. Stephanie gave him a glanced and, she rolled her eyes trying to forget what a doofus he was.

Alan turned to Stephanie and asked, “Hey sis, how do I look?”

“Well, you do clean up well, however, there is that region above your neck.”

Nonie was in her room morphing her costume into various outfits trying to make a decision on what to wear. She had been flipping through pages of People and Us magazines to find the prefect dress to wear. She decided on a pink, backless Ralph Lauren dress with a short skirt. When she came out of her room, Nonie had received nothing but gaze from the others.

“How do I look?” Nonie inquired to them. They were speechless and astonished. What Alan said was incomprehensive. As soon as he could get the words right, Alan asked Stephanie if he could borrow her car for the night.

“WHAT! Are you crazy! I just got it out of the shop. Why should I let you barrow my car?” Stephanie confronted Alan.

“We need to use it to get there, and we can’t take the bus. The buses stop running after nine P.M.” Alan pleaded.

Nonie stretched her ears in an attempt to look like Roger Rabbit, but ended up looking like a girl with bunny ears, “P…P…Please,” she pleaded.

Stephanie first looked at Nonie, who was giving her a big smile, and then at Alan, who repeated Nonie’s actions. Stephanie let out a sigh and said, “Alright, but if you let anything happen to my car…”

“Don’t worry sis, absolutely nothing will happen to you car.” Alan reassured her.

Nonie added, “Yea! What could possibly happen to your car?”

A short time later, the two took off, leaving Stephanie somewhat worried for her car’s safety.

* * * * * * *

“See you at the gym at the quarter till nine, turning back the hands of time, at the class re-un-ion!” Alan sang all the way to Nonie’s old high school. Nonie was glad he had stopped when they got there. The two parked the car very carefully has to not damage it. (For fear of what Stephanie would do to them if anything so much as happened to her car).

As the two entered the gymnasium, Alan told Nonie, “Try not to do anything to draw attention to yourself by stretching, shape-shifting, or any other Elasticity stunt. OK?”

“All right, but I am going to show that Patricia up,” Nonie retorted.

“Fine, but not in front of everyone.” Alan said.

“Deal.” Nonie agreed, and then she saw her one friend on the other side of the room. She started to stretch her mid-section to greet her, but Alan gave her a hard jerk at her arm in the attempt to pull her back.

“What did I just say?” Alan whispered, “Just walk over there.”

“Oops, sorry.” She embarrassedly said. Alan and Nonie approached her friend. They have not seen each other since the graduation party.

“Nonie, Nonie Turner is that you?” said a short brunette woman. She started to squint, and then she pulled out a pair of glasses, putting them on and continued, “Nonie! You haven’t changed a bit, well, except for that pink streak in your hair.”

Nonie was excited to see her friend that she had forgot to introduce Alan, so he took it upon himself to do it. “Hello, I’m Alan J. Foster…”

“Yes. Super Genius.” Nonie teased him and then continued, “Irma Ramsey, this is my friend Alan, don’t worry, he’s harmless.”

Extending her hand, Irma said, “Please to meet you. So Nonie, is he your boyfriend?” Alan and Nonie looked at each other, they did not know what to say.

Changing the subject, Nonie asked, “So, what have you been doing since graduation?”

“Not much, I’ve been working at the Nova as a reporter, well an assistant to a reporter. So, how about you Nonie, what have you been up to?”

Nonie enthusiastically replied, “Me? I’m a Super…”

“Model!” Alan quickly blurted out before Nonie could finish that sentence, “yes she’s a super model. We’re planning to do a layout for a comic book convention.” Alan replied.

“Smile!” Alan, Nonie, and Irma turned as a man with a digital camera took their picture, “this looks like a great candid shot, wish I could get some action shots.”

As the man departed, the music began to play. Since this was a party, Alan asked Nonie if she would like to dance. Both went out on the dance floor.

Irma thought to herself, “Yes, they are a couple, even if they don’t know it yet.”

Alan and Nonie held each other close while dancing and then, the lights dimmed and a spotlight focused at the entrance of the gymnasium. They heard a voice over the PA system, “If I could have your attention please! Now entering the party, she was the Head Cheerleader, Home Coming Queen, Student Body President, and your Prom Queen. The one and only Patricia Connling.”

All gazed at a stunningly attractive woman walking into the gymnasium. She had long gorgeous dark brown hair and a killer body too. Patricia had on a dress that nobody has ever seen since J Lo’s on that music awards show. Patricia walked to the person holding the microphone and snatched it away from him and said, “You forgot to say that I was the Queen of the school, and Master Click!” She gave it back to him with a glare that would terrify the Terminator. “Don’t let it happen again.”

The lights were brightening again and everyone resumed what they were doing. Patricia glanced around the room to see if she could see anyone, she wanted to talk with. That is when her eye caught a certain redhead in the room. Patricia put on a devious smile, remembering how fun it was to tease her, and strolled over to where Nonie was standing. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Patricia snidely said.

Nonie turned to see her nemesis standing behind her responded, “Oh great, Patricia. And this reunion was just going so good.”

Patricia held out her hand, grabbed the pink bangs of Nonie’s hair, and demanded, “What’s with this pink stuff? Do you think this will make you look cool? You’re still a stupid little nobody.”

Nonie started to get angry with Patricia; she was ready to go rubber girl on her. Alan grabbed Nonie, held her fast, and said, “No Nonie, not now. Not in front of all these people.”

Patricia looked at Alan and said, “I see you still hang out with “Loser” friends. Where did you find this shrimp,” she pointed at Alan, “…in a tuna can?”

Alan glared at Patricia and informed Nonie, “OK, now is the time. Do what you want to her!”

As soon as Alan had let go of her, Nonie stretched an arm, wrapping it around Patricia. Nonie then pulled back and Patricia started to spin. Nonie formed her body into a slingshot and sent Patricia flying into a wall. Everyone was staring at Nonie, amazed at what she did to Patricia.

“I waited ten years to do that.” Nonie exclaimed proudly.

Nonie looked to Alan, who, to her surprise, had a look of horror spread across his face. Alan merely pointed in the direction Patricia went. Nonie turned to see Patricia coming at her, but something was different about her.

“Are you ready for this, call me PLASTRICIA!” the elastic brunette roared, as she began to stretch her body as well.

Nonie rolled her eyes back and asked, “Could this day get any worse?” Then she and Alan ran out of the gym, follow by Irma, follow by Plastrica, and follow by the guy with the digital camera that will finally get some action shots of this reunion.

Once outside in the parking lot, Nonie transformed her pink dress into her Elasticity costume. Plastrica follow suit by altering her dress into a blue sleeveless jumper. Plastrica announced, “Anything you can do, I can do.”

“Where did you get those powers?” Nonie demanded. She then remembered what Beaker had told them and said, “You, you’re the one who broke into Beaker’s lab!”

“Ding-ding-ding! You won the million dollar prize.” Plastrica announced, “…and John, tell her what she has won.”

Plastrica did a mock voice, as a man said, “She has won a couple of matching giant flyswatters.” Plastrica formed her hands into two of the biggest flyswatters anyone has ever seen. Then before Elasticity could think, Plastrica slammed her between the two swatters. When she pulled her hands back, Elasticity had been flattened you could only see her from the sides.

Moments later, Elasticity popped herself back to normal, “Let’s see how well you do against this.” Elasticity called out, then she rolled herself into a large ball; bouncing towards Plastrica.

Plastrica formed her arms into a baseball bat and swung, “Home run for Plastrica’s team, and the crowds are going wild!” Her connection sent Elasticity flying through the air, straight into Stephanie’s car. Alan rushed over to see if everything was all right.

After looking up and down the car Alan, sighed, “Good, the car is not damaged.”

Nonie glared at Alan and said, “Hey! How about me?”

As Alan was about to help Elasticity off the car, when a bare arm stretched around his body and jerked him away. Plastrica lifted Alan into the air, and said, “Here Nonie, catch him if you can.” Then, she threw him.

Elasticity stretched her skinny legs, and ran ahead of Alan, but instead of catching him, she made her body into a trampoline. Alan bounced into Elasticity and flew off in the other direction, straight towards Plastrica. Alan smashed into Plastrica, knocking her to the ground. Elasticity approached Alan and Plastrica. The two tangled together, and said, “Alright Patricia! How did you know about my origin?”

Plastrica glanced up at Elasticity and replied, “Your goofy little brother sold me the information for two hundred dollars.”

“WHAT!” Elasticity’s face almost matched her hair.

Plastrica continued, “He said he got it from your diary.”

The guy with the digital camera ran up and said, “Oh Boy! I got some great pictures of your catfight. I can’t wait to download this into my computer.”

Alan was thinking that this might be a good moneymaking scheme, but was pulled off by Elasticity. She had a brother to beat up. They got into Stephanie’s car; Nonie was driving. In addition, as they left the parking lot, with rubber to burn, they ran into a dumpster, smashing the right front fender. “Oh boy, Stephanie is going to kill us.” Alan muttered.

* * * * * * *

When Alan and Nonie came home, Stephanie had stepped out for a while. Nonie called her parent’s home to leave a message that she was going to be out until two a.m. Alan hid in the hall closet, while Nonie shape-shifted into a chair.

It was a good twenty minutes before they heard the door opened and Kevin called out, “Hello, Nonie are you here? Anybody home?” Kevin proceeded to Nonie’s bedroom to get her diary. He bent down to reach under her dresser, as an unsuspecting chair was watching him.

Kevin picked the lock and started to read Nonie’s diary. Alan crept up to the door and waited for Nonie’s signal. As Kevin read the diary, he reached out and pulled a chair over to sit in. As Kevin was reading, he stopped and began to wonder; where did Nonie get a red, green, and yellow chair from?

“SURPRISE KEVIN!” Nonie shouted and the chair he was sitting in was now enveloping him. The chair sprouted arms, which wrapped around his body. Alan, who was at the door of Nonie’s room, slammed the door shut, then held it tight.

“So, you think you can break in here, read my diary, and then, sell it to Patricia Connling of all people!” Nonie said in a threatening manner, “Let me introduce you to Elasticity.”

From outside the room, Alan could hear some crashing, a few thuds, and some things breaking inside. Inside, Elasticity had coiled herself around her troublesome brother. She was bouncing around the room making sure to bounce Kevin’s head against the ceiling. “Boingy-boingy-boingy! Isn’t this fun?” Elasticity laughed.

When she had finished, she and Alan drove him home, making sure to throw him onto the living room’s floor. “Don’t you ever dig into my things again, understand?” Nonie ordered.

Kevin dazedly looked up at his sister and said, “Yea, I understand.” Then he plopped his head down onto the floor.

* * * * * * *

Epilogue:

Alan and Nonie were at the table having breakfast when Stephanie entered the kitchen. She was getting ready for her first day at her new job. Stephanie sat down and ate a piece of toast, and asked, “So, how was the reunion?”

“Everything was going great, until Patricia Connling came along.” Nonie responded.

Alan added, “Yeah, and somehow she managed to acquire elastic powers too.”

“What?” Stephanie questioned.

Nonie informed Stephanie, “Remember when Beaker said someone broke into his lab?”

“It was Patricia.” Stephanie guessed.

“Yea, and now she’s calling herself Plastrica.” Alan informed his sister.

Stephanie rolled her eyes and said, “Boy Nonie, you sure can pick them. Well I have to be leaving for work. I hope you didn’t use all my gas up.”

Alan and Nonie looked at each other and then at Stephanie. Alan said, “No, we left you plenty of gas.”

“Good, well I have to be leaving now, don’t destroy the place until I get back.”

As Stephanie went out the door, Alan and Nonie ran to the back window. Alan opened it and Nonie stretched herself into an inflatable slide. Alan then jumped onto Nonie’s back and slid down her back. Nonie retracted herself to the ground as Stephanie came rushing back into the apartment and to the window for which they made their escape.

“ALAN! NONIE! GET BACK HERE! JUST YOU WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU FOR WRECKING MY CAR!” Stephanie screamed.

The End

Next: part 5: Macramania by eent

part 6: An Elastic Christmas