I turned to Hugo with excitement. “Willum will be sro happy to see you.” As I just finished swallowing the last bit of the delectable chocolate cluster, the door crashed open and I could see Timothy fly up against the wall and drop onto the floor. Startled, I blared out, “What going on?” Just then, my inspiration, yes, Java Jin, bolted in with his hands and legs flailing about like blades on a windmill. Timothy immediately rebounded and with a twirl of his legs gave a swift kick to Java Jin’s chest, hurdling him up on the vanity counter with his butt landing in the bathroom sink.

Lifting himself out of the sink with his hands braced on the counter, Java Jin hurled his right leg into Timothy’s chest, which allowed him the split moment he needed to get back on his feet and regain his composure. Timothy let out with a back kick, but Java Jin blocked his kick, grabbed his leg, and flipped him in mid-air towards the bathtub just as I grabbed another chocolate cluster from the box Hugo left next to the tub.  I quickly submerged myself in the water to avoid a head on collision with Timothy, but instead of landing in the water, Timothy grabbed the curtain rod above the tub and with a trapeze swing, sent Java Jin flying back into the vanity area.

A few moments later, as I was still submerged under water, I felt a hand grabbing my hair as I was pulled up out of the water. It was William, accompanied by Carmen, and Burnine. “Are you all right?” he asked.

I looked around trying to find Hugo. “Wheyrr Hugo?”

“What did you say?” responded William.

“What in heavens name do you have in your mouth?” asked Carmen.

Sensing disapproval in William and the others, I thought I’d better swallow the evidence. “Nut’ing,” I answered, trying to stall while I desperately tried to melt the chocolate down with my tongue so I could swallow it. Despite the fact that I was able to get rid of the titillating chocolate cluster, they knew I was tempted with a sinful treat.

“She swallowed it,” observed Burnine.

“We can’t leave her alone for five minutes without her getting into some kind of trouble,” noted William.

After that was said, all eyes jumped to the vanity area where Java Jin soared airborne through the bathroom door backwards, nearly missing the miracle machine and landing flat on his back. He quickly bounced back up to his feet and into a rigid “tiger” pose. While Java Jin stood posed next to the miracle machine, Carmen asked, “What is that thing?” I tried to explain. “That’s the miracle machine I wanted to tell you about. That will make me instantly thin. I won’t have to go through months of suffering. That was the great news I wanted to tell you. All I do is get in and put my arms....”....

Before I could say anymore, Java Jin, with tremendous force, kicked the miracle machine with a forward kick, then twirled a back kick smashing the entire apparatus to pieces. He then firmly stated, “No fad diets! Is bad for you!”

Java Jin didn’t have enough time to stand still and carry on any further conversation before Timothy charged at him with a side kick to his chest. That sent Java Jin back a few feet, but he was able to quickly regain his composure and jump right back in a rigid pose before charging right back at Timothy. They both went at it full force, letting out with their whoops and hollers, their hands flying in all directions, and displaying all their skilled karate and blocking techniques.

Amidst the chaos, Carmen grabbed a towel hoping to get me out of the tub. I stood up and, with the towel wrapped around me, let out a yelp as I saw the back of Java Jin flying straight towards us. In a split second, all five of us were back in the tub as a result of each one trying to hold on to the other. I accidentally turned on the shower when I grabbed the shower handle trying to brace myself. Water was spraying everywhere.

Since Java Jin was the last to land in the tub on top of everyone, he was the first to spring right back out and resume his battle with Timothy. William made his way out and then helped Carmen and Burnine.

Shaken and frustrated, Burnine started yelling. “Look at my dress! It’s ruined!” “William, this is all your fault! You’re supposed to be able to control her.”

“Don’t yell at me!” William snapped back defensively. “Carmen is supposed to be teaching her some common sense.”

Carmen jumped in. “Oh, now it’s all my fault! Go ahead, blame me! You’re supposed to be in charge of things around here, William Power! ”

“He’s right, you know,” Burnine added.

Carmen shouted back, “And you, Burnine ... !”

“Me!”

“You’ve got her so confused, she doesn’t know which way to turn!”

“I spend more time with her than you do!” argued Burnine.

I rested my chin on the rim of the bathtub and watched as my silly senses bickered, and occasionally I would see my inspiration fly across the vanity room with Tim Tation pouncing on top on him. Then I would watch my inspiration hurdle Tim Tation back into the hallway.

The whoops and hollers of Tim Tation and Java Jin, as they went at it, and the yelling among William, Carmen, and Bunine, all started to blend into the background. I couldn’t help but remember all the times when I’ve been told that I don’t have “will power.” Oh, how far from the truth that is. I know that everybody has will power, but now I understand the struggle that goes on inside us.

As I watched William and the others, including Inspiration, I knew that whatever the outcome, they would always be fighting for me. They would never give up, and with Hugo still under the control of the evil forces, and the holidays just around the corner, the fight was far from over.

To be continued ...