Displaced
Part 3
By Lauren The Lone Wolfette

(L&S/PS/HD)

* * * * *

Two hours later, at the guys' apartment...

"Lettuce?" Lenny guessed.

Squiggy slugged his arm. "Don't say that!"

"But, Squig--"

"It isn't lettuce!" Laverne said, pausing in her charade.

"Not supposed to talk," Balki reminded.

"Look at them. Just look at them," Larry said, taking up a stool at the
counter, white bottle in hand. "Look at the time."

Shirley glanced behind her, towards the group, then turned back. "It's a
normal night for me and Laverne... or about as normal as possible with
Lenny and Squiggy around."

"They're very... uh... different," Larry said.

"Weird?" Shirley supplied.

Larry glanced around and saw Balki standing on the couch, looking like
Godzilla. "They aren't the only ones. How would you like to take Balki
with you when you leave?"

"If we leave," Shirley corrected. "It was something the boys did and we
don't know what it was." She paused. "They don't know what it was."

"It just doesn't seem possible," Larry said, shaking his head.

"I don't exactly believe it myself, but it was 1957, and you say it's
1987, so something happened," Shirley said, then clanged a spoon around
in her tea.

"Shirl!" Laverne called out, annoyed.

Shirley smirked and clanged the spoon again. "She hates it when I do
that."

"And I hate it when Balki makes Myposian food," Larry said. "So, you two
must know each other very well. You aren't related?"

"No, we've only been best friends for forever. We share an apartment."
Shirley shrugged. "Bottle cappers don't make much. The boys live in the
same building, unfortunately." She paused. "You and Balki are cousins?"

"Distant. Kind of like by rumor: his side is more than several times
removed," Larry explained. "And I've really only known him for about a
year, but somehow he knew who to look for." He paused, then gave a small
smile. "Now, if only I could find out who that is."

Shirley smiled. "So, he just dropped in unannounced?" Larry nodded.
"Sounds like Squiggy."

"How so?"

"For one, he knows not how to knock, and he always says 'hello!' when he
comes through a door."

"As opposed to Balki who dropped in and never left," Larry said, then
paused. "Someone mentioned a Carmine earlier...?"

Shirley smiled. "We go out alot." She paused. "And, sometimes, when the
boys don't leave, we get Carmine to throw them out--"

"A bodyguard and a boyfriend, interesting combination," Larry commented.

"Well, it's usually on-again, off-again," Shirley said, then paused and
turned around. "Where...?"

"They left," Larry said, standing. He went to the door. "Balki?" No
answer. He turned back and shrugged. "He had to have taken them
somewhere. I just... don't know where."

"Without us?" Shirley asked.

Larry sighed and closed the door. "You wouldn't happen to be known for
'ruining' the fun or not really know how to have fun, are you?"

"Vernie does tell me Im not very fun sometimes," Shirley admitted.

"Then that's why we're here and they're out, probably at an arcade,"
Larry said, walking back to the counter.

"It's because I like to plan things," Shirley admitted. "I just know
it."

"Whereas my plans tend to blow up in my face," Larry said, sitting back
down.

"The boys usually mess up mine," Shirley said.

Larry took a gulp of 'the white stuff.' "What's your family like? Any
weird foreign cousins?"

* * * * *

A little while later, at the train station...

"It's so quiet in here," Laverne commented.

"There it is!" Lenny yelled out, pointing in front of Laverne.

The group went over to the gate and stopped, while Squiggy kept going.
He latched onto the railing and leaned over, looking up and down the
tracks.

"See 'nything, Squig?" Lenny asked.

"Nah, nutin'," he replied.

"Maybe there was a tornado--" Balki began, then imitated the wind.

"Wizard Of Oz?" Laverne asked, and Balki nodded. "Possible." She went
over to the railing as Squiggy turned back. "How the heck are we gonna
get home if we dunno how we got here?"

"Hope this is all a bad dream?" Lenny suggested.

"Sure, Len, and I'm a Lone Wolfette," Laverne commented, sarcastically,
then watched his face light up. "Lenny..." He gave her a sulking look.
She turned away and took her own look up and down the tracks. "Nothin'."

"We could try again tomorrow when it's light out," Balki suggested.

"Good idea. We probably oughtta go back to the hotel... 'cept we left
Shirl behind with your cousin," Laverne said, then shot the boys a glare
as Lenny bit his palm and Squiggy puckered up. "When we get back to
Milwaukee, I'm gonna have Carmine throw ya down the stairs." She turned
back to Balki.

"I can get bring Shirley over," Balki offered.

"Thanks, Balki," Laverne said, as they began to leave.

* * * * *

The apartment door opened and Balki came in. The room was dark and
quiet. He began for the kitchen, but stopped when he noticed the light
in the space between the floor and Larry's door. He walked over slowly
and pressed an ear to the door. He couldn't hear anything at first, but
then heard a muffled laugh, then a muffled voice, followed by the
muffled voice of the owner of the laugh.

Unphazed, Balki stepped back and knocked on the door. Within seconds, it
was pulled open.

"Back already?" Larry asked, binder in hand.

"Yes, I am and I'm here to save Shirley from you photo album!" Balki
said.

"Save me? Why? I've finally found someone with a bigger family than I
have," Shirley said, moving between them. "I guess Vernie's looking for
me, though."

"I offered to get you back to the hotel," Balki said.

"I can do that, Balki. Besides, you've been out a second time already,"
Larry offered, then snatched the keys from him. 'After all, it is my
car."

* * * * *

At the hotel, the Mustang pulled up and stopped in a parking spot. Both
doors opened, but Shirley got out first.

"Are you sure you don't mind helping us out, Larry? I mean, it is kind
of silly," Shirley said.

Larry got out, closed the door, and went around to Shirley. "I don't
mind at all." He smiled. "Just... try not to let on when you don't know
what something is."

"Sorry about screaming when you put that, uh, cassette in the car
radio."

"That's okay, I don't mind such a high pitch right in my ear while
driving," Larry said, giving a half smile.

* * * * *

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