CHAPTER 5

The anniversary cake was impressive. It was tall and frosted, with candy windows and sugar that had been spun on top to create a sweet version of the "We Love You, Felix!" fireworks.

"Well, I'll be dipped, Mary," Felix said happily. "You've really outdone yourself."

The Nicelanders gathered around the cake. "Nice work with the fondant!" Roy exclaimed.

"And look! There's all of us at the top," Gene said, pointing.

"Oh, we're just adorable," someone else said. All the Nicelanders were pleased.

Mary, dressed in a prim little purple suit, smiled. "And each apartment is everyone's favorite flavor," she said proudly. "Norwood's is red velvet."

"Guilty!" Nicelander Norwood laughed. "And lemon for Lucy. Rum cake for Gene. And for Felix—"

"Vanilla!" The Nicelanders shouted in unison.

Ralph stood behind everyone and looked at the cake. A little candy Felix stood on the roof, smiling and reaching for a medal. At the bottom of the building, in the mud, sat an ugly, pitiful candy Ralph.

"And this mud where I'm stuck—what is it made of?" Ralph asked.

"Chocolate," Mary replied.

"Never been real fond of chocolate," Ralph said. "Well, I did not know that," Mary responded.

Then he nodded at the little Ralph figurine. "One other little thing. I hate to be picky, but do you really think this looks like me?" He bent down and put his face next to the figurine for comparison.

"Yes," Mary said simply.

"Artistic interpretation," Felix said helpfully.

"Well, in my interpretation, this little guy would be a lot happier if you put him on top with everyone else," Ralph replied, reaching out toward the candy Ralph. To everyone's shock, he picked up the figurine and placed it on top of the cake, smearing Mary's frosting.

"No, no, no!" Gene said quickly. "There's no room for you up there." He knocked the candy Ralph back down into the mud, messing up the cake even further.

"Well, what about this?" Ralph said, taking the miniature Felix from the top of the cake and moving him into the mud. "We can make some room. There, that's much better."

The Nicelanders gasped in horror. "How about we just eat the cake?" Felix said anxiously.

"Hang on," Gene said. "Felix needs to be on the roof, because everyone is cheering for him and he's about to get his medal."

Ralph reached in again and took the medal off the cake, breaking the spun-sugar fireworks. "Then how about we just take that medal and give it to little Ralph for a change?"

The crowd stared wide-eyed as Ralph put the medal on little Ralph.

"Now you're just being ridiculous," Roy said irritably. "Only Good Guys win medals, and you, sir, are no Good Guy."

Ralph stared at them all. "Well, suppose I could win a medal! Then you'd let me up here, right?"

"Ralph," Gene said with a mocking smile, "if you win a medal, we'll let you live up here in the penthouse." The Nicelanders all laughed, and Gene pulled the medal off the little candy Ralph and put it on the candy Felix. "But it will never happen, because you're just the Bad Guy who wrecks the building."

"No, I'm not!" Ralph said a little too loudly.

"Yes, you are!" Gene dropped the little candy Ralph in the mud, upside down.

Frustrated, Ralph raised his huge fists. Then he slammed them down on the cake, splattering it everywhere. "No, I'm NOT!" he shouted.

Everyone froze. Ralph looked around at the Nicelanders' distraught faces, now covered in cake. He dropped his head.

"You know what?" Ralph said. "I'm going to go win a medal. The shiniest medal this place has ever seen!" Then he turned toward the door. "Good night. Thank you for the party."

Roy turned to the other Nicelanders. "Is he being serious?"

"Please," scoffed Gene. "Where is a Bad Guy going to get a medal?"