Locket fairy sparked like a fire cracker ready to pop. Fairies cannot keep secrets—especially their own. "Peep you wanna know what I got you for you birthday? Huh? huh?" She shivered with delight.

Peep yawned. "I guess..."

Locket took him literally. "Alright then guess."

Peep laid down in his bed and pulled the covers over his head. "Locket turn out the lights would ya? Oh and make sure Bart is glowing." Referring to his Bart Simpson night light.

"Peep aren't you clever! You've guessed your gift!" She zipped around Peep's room leaving behind a glowing fluorescent-blue eternity symbol.

Peep asked as he sat up, "The night light? You're giving me another Bart Simpson night light?"

"No, that would be quite silly. What would you need with two Bart Simpson night lights?"

Peep sighed. "I dunno. Can I go to sleep now?"

Locket became annoyed. "No ingrate! I haven't given you your present yet. I'll give you a hint. You wished for this on your 6th birthday!

Peep could hardly remember what he'd wished for blowing out the candles that evening, let alone what he wished for on his 6th birthday. "Okay Locket, what did I wish for?"

She flickered the Bart Simpson night light on and off as a clue.

Peep squinted his eyes and said sarcastically, "I know! I wished for some peace and quiet!"

"No silly! You asked to meet the Simpsons!  You said you wished you could be Bart Simpson's best friend."

"That-is-impossible." Peep looked stunned.

"No it isn't." Locket pulled a long scroll from her glittery gold pouch and read, "Age 6, Peep wishes to meet Bart Simpson."

"Okay I might have wished that when I was six but all little kids make silly wishes AND THE SIMPSONS AREN'T REAL!" Peep couldn't believe how idiotic Locket could be sometimes.

"You don't have to shout Peep. And the Simpsons are too real. They're as real as you and me.

Peep shook his head. He was annoyed. "Yes the Simpsons are a real cartoon family but they're made up. They don't actually exist in real life."

"Shows what you know stupid boy." She held out her hand. "Well do ya wanna meet them or don't cha?"

Peep asked, "Are we gonna fly out the window like Peter Pan and Wendy?"

Locket grabbed onto Peep's forefinger. "Oh you'd never fit through that little window. Let's go!"

In a flash Peep and Locket were transported to the land of The Simpsons. The theme music played. The sky was a bright blue with its familiar white puffy cumulus clouds. They flew past the dual gray nuclear power plants where Homer worked then hovered above the town of Springfield. Everything was so bright and every person below so yellow. Then Peep spotted it. 742 Evergreen Terrace. The Simpson's house! Gently Locket eased them down onto the sidewalk below.

Peep could hardly believe his eyes. He looked at his arms. He'd been turned into a cartoon. He looked at his reflection in the pink Plymouth's car window. "Wha-a-a-a-a..." His mouth hung open.

"Close your mouth Peep. Do you want to catch flies?" Locket had made herself a bit taller than Peep. Both she and Peep were lovely shades of sickly yellow.

As Locket was about to ring the doorbell Peep shouted, "Wait! Homer loves donuts! We can't go in empty handed!"

"Now you're thinking!" A pink box filled with two dozen yummy donuts floated down from the sky. You may do the honors Peep.

Peep grabbed the box of donuts then rang the bell. He could hear muffled yelling coming from inside the house.

Marge hollered in her scratchy voice. "Homer answer the door. I'm giving Maggie a bath."

Homer lay sprawled out on the maroon sofa in his tighty whities. Bits of potato chips clung to his face and protruding belly. He hollered up to Marge,  "Don't wanna, it's my day off. I don't do doors on Saturday."

Marge yelled, "Homer if you can't be decent enough to answer the door then come up here and finish giving Maggie her bath."

Homer grunted and grumbled as he got up off the sofa. "Oh alright... " He opened the front door and saw Locket and Peep and said, "We don't want any religion." As he was about to slam the door in their faces Homer noticed the giant pink box. "Are those donuts?"

Peep was starstruck. He couldn't believe he was meeting Homer Simpson in the flesh—or whatever.

Locket spoke up. "Why yes Mr. Simpson. This here is Peep. He's our exchange student from... uh... Sweden."

Peep shot Locket a dirty look. He didn't like the idea of Locket being in a parental role.

Homer grabbed the box of donuts from Peep went into the house and plopped on to the sofa. He opened the pink box revealing 2 dozen donuts iced in pink, orange, purple and blue." He began stuffing his face.

Locket and Peep let themselves in. She cleared her throat and spoke in her pretend grownup voice, "Since Peep and Bart are roughly the same age Principal Skinner thought it would be nice for Bart to show Peep around."

Peep whispered to Locket, "Principal Skinner hates Bart. Everyone knows that."

Unshaken Locket continued, "Principal Skinner thought it'd be a nice way for Bart to learn some responsibility. What do you think sir?"

Mesmerized, he uttered, "Donuts..." as he chose a jelly filled donut, with purple icing and yellow sprinkles, Peep and Locket looked nervously at one another.

Marge yelled downstairs. "Homer who is it?"

Homer answered, "Donuts..."

"I'll be right down. Tell our guests to take a seat."

A few moments later Marge Simpson descended the steps. Her hair was as tall and as blue as Peep remembered. He fought the urge to run up and hug her. "Well hello. Who are you fine folks?" She held baby Maggie in her arms. Maggie sucked loudly on her red pacifier.

Locket stood up. "Hello Mrs. Simpson. I'm Ms. Locket and this is my exchange student from Sweden.  Peep uh... Isberg."

Peep's round cartoon eyes became enormous. Marge asked, "Iceberg? Such an usual name."

Locket slanted her eyes at Peep. "It's quite a common name in Sweden."

Homer continued stuffing his face with donuts. Covered in jelly, chocolate and powdered sugar he said, "Num num num..." Rainbow sprinkles were stuck to his face and chest.

Embarrassed, Marge asked Homer, "Homer, we've got guests. Please put on a robe."

Homer whined, "But Marge... it's Saturday!"

-End of Chapter 20-

Author's note: As a child I imagined all of my television friends were real. If you could be friends with a TV character who would it be and why?
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