The Wrong Road Home

The Wrong Road Home is the sixth episode of the first season of The Adventures Of True.

True gets on the wrong bus home and winds up in the run-down part of Nick Jr. Town.

One afternoon, True and her friends were on their way to the school bus to go home.

"Well, another school day has come and gone." said True.

"Yup, it sure has." said Franklin.

"And as each school day closes, we're one day closer to the weekend." said Timmy.

"That we are, Timmy." agreed Sunny.

"Well, we better get on the bus." said Stocking Head.

But then, True realized something.

"Hey, guys, I need to go back. I forgot something."

"Alright." said Stocking Head. "Just make sure you're back in time to catch the bus."

True nodded and jogged to Miss Busybody's classroom. Inside, Miss Busybody was grading some papers when True entered.

"It's just me, Miss Busybody." she said. "I forgot something."

"Carry on, then." said Miss Busybody with a nod.

True went over to her cubby and out of it took a notebook, which she then put in her bag. Afterwards, she went outside the building and hopped on the bus just as it was about to pull out.

"Made it." she said.

But she soon realized that the bus was going down a different road than the one it normally took to take her home.

"That's weird." she said. "Must've gotten a new route."

Meanwhile, at home, James and Moose were playing Smash Bros. Brawl. James was playing as Kirby and Moose was playing as Yoshi.

"I'm gonna get you!" James said.

"We'll see about that!" said Moose.

However, James was able to beat Moose hands-down.

"Wow, you're good." said Moose.

"Thanks." said James.

Just then, Stocking Head entered.

"Hey, Stocking Head." said Moose. "How was school today?"

"It was okay, I guess." said Stocking Head in a worried tone.

It didn't take James and Moose long to figure out something wasn't right.

"Stocking Head, are you okay?" James asked. "And where's True?"

"I don't know." said Stocking Head. "She forgot something and went back to Miss Busybody's class, and I don't think she got on the bus in time."

"Maybe she's staying for an after-school activity." said Moose.

"If that was the case, then she would've called home and said so." said James. "But not this time."

"Good point." said Moose.

"I'll call the school and she if she's still there." said James.

James then took out his cell phone and called the school.

"Jim Henson Elementary School, Principal Milford Meanswell speaking." greeted Mr. Meanswell when he answered the phone.

"Hi, Mr. Meanswell, it's James, True's cousin." said James.

"Oh, hi, James, what can I do for you?" asked Mr. Meanswell.

"True wasn't on the bus with Stocking Head this afternoon." said James. "We think she might still be in the building. Can you check?"

"Of course." said Mr. Meanswell. "Hold, please."

Mr. Meanswell put James on hold, and after about three minutes, he spoke again.

"I'm sorry, but it looks as though True is nowhere in the building." said Mr. Meanswell.

"Oh, okay." said James. "Thanks, anyways."

James then hung up.

"Well, she's not in the school." James sighed. "Are you sure you didn't see her get on the bus with you and the other kids, Stocking Head?"

"Positive." said Stocking Head. "Franklin, Sunny, Timmy, and Blue were all on that bus, too. Ask any of them."

Just then, Moose thought of something.

"If True didn't get on the bus with Stocking Head and the other kids, and if she's not inside the school, that can only mean one thing." he said.

"What?" asked James.

"True must have gotten on the wrong bus." said Moose.

"You might be right." said James. "Let's hope she somehow finds a way to get back home."

But inside, James was worried to the core for his younger cousin. Elsewhere, when the bus True was riding on stopped and she got off, she found herself in a place she had never been before. Everywhere she looked, she saw buildings that looked like they had seen better days.

"Wow." she said. "Who would've thought that there were kids from my school who probably live here? I hope there's someone who can help me get home."

She then began walking around. As she walked, she looked around and saw kids her age doing all sorts of bad things, like spray-painting graffiti on walls, throwing rocks through windows, and other activities like that.

"I don't like this place." said True. "I need to find a way out of here, fast!"

She then bumped into someone.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" a voice snapped.

True looked up and saw that she was face to face with an older boy around the age of twelve with black hair in a mullet, blue eyes, and wearing a Deadpool jacket over a white t-shirt, torn jeans, and black sneakers. Two other kids were with him. One of the others had medium-length blond hair, green eyes, and was wearing a Def Leppard t-shirt, green camoflauge pants, and dark gray hiking shoes and the other had short dark brown hair, brown eyes, and wore a red sleeveless muscle shirt with the AC/DC logo on it, black jeans, and dark brown boots.

"Well, what have we here?" asked the boy in the Deadpool jacket.

"What are you doing out here alone?" asked the boy in the AC/DC shirt.

"I just got on the wrong bus, that's all." said True. "And I just need to get home."

"Fair enough." said the boy in the Deadpool jacket. "Well, just hand over that bag and you'll be on your way."

"Um, I don't think so." True said.

The boy in the Deadpool jacket's demeanor then changed.

"I wasn't asking!" he said.

He then grabbed True's bag.

"No!" she cried. "Give it back! Please!"

But the boy wouldn't listen. This made True kick the boy in the leg, causing him to yell in pain and drop her bag, which she immediately reclaimed. Then she took off.

"That little brat!" the boy in the Deadpool jacket snapped. "Let's get her!"

With that, the boys started chasing her, and when True looked back, she saw them. A look of terror flashed on her face.

"Oh, I wish I would've gotten on the bus with Stocking Head and was home with James!" she said to herself.

Back at home, James, Moose, and Stocking Head were still sitting around. It was almost 5:00.

"Alright, this is the last straw." James said, standing up. "I'm gonna call the police."

"Good work, James." said Moose. "That's using the old noodle."

James got out his phone and called the local police station.

"Nick Jr. Town Police Department." said the desk officer as he answered.

"Yes, I'd like to report a missing person." said James. "Her name is True, and she's my cousin."

"Alright." said the desk officer. "What does she look like?"

"She has blue hair and eyes and wears a blue, yellow and red bow, a white shirt, a backpack shaped like three yellow, blue, and red circles bunched together with a yellow shoulder strap with a round white button with a red border, and red, blue, and yellow circles, a magenta skirt, magenta leggings, and yellow boots covering rainbow-colored socks." said James.

"When was she last seen?" asked the officer.

"She was last seen at Jim Henson Elementary School." answered James. "She didn't get on the regular bus to go home, and we think she took a different one."

"We'll put out an APB right away." said the officer.

"Thank you." said James.

James then hung up.

"Well, they're gonna put out an APB for her." said James.

"Oh, good." said Stocking Head.

"I really hope they find her." said Moose.

"I'm hoping they find her alive." said James. "Who knows what could happen?"

"Don't say that, James." said Moose. "It's much too scary to think about."

Meanwhile, True was still running from the boys when all of a sudden, she tripped and fell, hitting her elbow against the ground hard.

"OW!" she cried.

The boys then caught up with her and saw her lying down on the ground.

"Aw, did baby fall and get a boo-boo?" mocked the boy in the Def Leppard shirt.

True then started crying, and the boys seized the opportunity to try and grab her bag again, but just as they were about to, they heard sirens.

"Oh, crud, it's the cops!" said the boy in the Deadpool jacket. "Cheese it, guys!"

The boys then turned and fled. Sure enough, a police car pulled up, and a police officer stepped out. The officer then looked down at True, who in turn looked up at the officer with tears in her eyes.

"Please, help me!" she sobbed.

The officer held out his hand.

"Don't worry, kid." the officer said in a comforting voice. "You're okay now."

True took the officer's hand and he helped her up.

Another officer then noticed True.

"Hey, Hargeaves, this looks like the missing kid!" the second officer said.

"You're right, Cunliffe." said Hargeaves.

Hargeaves then noticed True's elbow, which had a scrape on it.

"Cunliffe, get the first aid kit and tend to her injury." he said. "I'll radio HQ and tell them the news."

"You got it." said Cunliffe.

While Cunliffe tended to True's scrape, Hargreaves got on the radio.

"This is Hargreaves, I've found the missing child." he said. "Have her parent come down to the station to pick her up."

"10/4." said a voice from the radio.

When Cunliffe finished patching True up, he helped her into the police car and they set off for the police station, where James was waiting. He was jubilant when he saw her.

"TRUE!" he cried.

"JAMES!" True replied.

The two cousins hugged.

"I'm sorry, James!" said True. "I didn't mean to get on the wrong bus and make you so worried!"

"Hey, water under the bridge, cuz." said James with a smile. "I'm just happy you're safe. Now that you are, and since it's almost 6, why don't we ask Moose and Stocking Head to meet us somewhere for dinner?"

"Sounds good." said True. "How about Red Robin?"

"Nice choice." said James.

Soon, James and True were on their way to the local Red Robin restaurant in James' 1997 Volkswagen Jetta.

"Hey, True, a little piece of advice for the future." said James. "Next time you miss the afternoon bus, just have Mr. Meanswell call me and I'll come pick you up, okay?"

"You got it." said True with a wink.

And as they continued down the road, True sat back, feeling happy to be reunited with her cousin.

The End


 * The two police officers who helped True, Hargreaves and Cunliffe, were named after British children's literature authors Roger Hargreaves and John Cunliffe, who authored the Mr. Men and Little Miss series (Hargreaves) and Postman Pat books (Cunliffe).