“But the Spankers win every year.”

“I know. Their float’s pretty awesome this year,” admitted Freddy. “I snuck a peek in their warehouse. There was some strange man in there talking with Chief Spanker.”

“Knowing the Spankers they probably hired him to build it for them.”

“The rules say you have to build your own.”

“The Spankers make their own rules, you know that.”

Freddy sighed, but then looked excited. “Can you keep a secret?”

Howie looked offended. “I’m a Kapowie; we’re very trustworthy people.”

“This is a super top-secret secret of the highest order.”

“Does the fate of the entire world hang in the balance?”

“Quite possibly.”

Howie popped another cheese cube in his mouth. “Okay, I’m cool with that. Let me have it, Freddio.”

Freddy led him over to a door, opened it, and went into a small room. Howie followed him. It was very dark.

“I can’t see anything,” said Howie.

“The lights automatically come on when the door’s closed.”

Freddy shut the door and the whole room lit up.

“AAAAHHHHH!!!” screamed Howie Kapowie, and he fainted.

Freddy looked down at his friend. “Howie? Howie?” Freddy shook his head, reached in Howie’s pocket, pulled out a cheese cube, and held it under his friend’s nose.

Howie’s nostrils started quivering as they sucked in the smell of the cheese. Finally, Howie’s tongue shot out, scooped up the cheese cube, and his eyes opened and he sat up.

“What is THAT?” he asked, pointing.

“I made them for the float. And I thought we could use them as the symbol for the Burger Castle. You know, like Patty Cakes has. Only lots better.”

Howie stood and peered at the figures lined up against the wall. There were five of them, and all except one were a lot taller than Freddy. They sort of looked like French fries, but they were painted bright colors with faces, arms, and legs. The blue one had on a bowtie and wore thick black glasses. The green one wore a baseball cap. The purple one was the biggest of all with a big butt and belly. The yellow one was the smallest, but had really huge eyes and mouth. One half of the red one’s face was smiling, the other half was frowning.