Ed and Ted decided they wanted a pet. Originally they wanted a dog. Gustave took them aside and had a little talk with them about this. First he showed them a dog up close. Next to the hedgehogs a dog is HUGE. Then he showed them the dog's poop. He gave them a piece of wise advice: don't get a pet whose poop is bigger than you are.
So they were out in the yard and found a caterpiller. It was orange and black, fuzzy and soft and walked all over them, tickling and making them laugh. He's the perfect pet! They named him Ricky. Emilio told them that if they're going to make Ricky part of the family it would be their responsibility to take care of him.
They got some string and tried to make a leash for him but since Ricky has no neck he just crawled through and out of it. They don't want him to get trampled or lost in the grass so they take turns carrying him on their heads ... this way Ricky is up off the ground and has a good view, and it frees up Ed & Ted's hands to do other things. If they want to go spinning they put him on Gustave's shell so he'll be safe.
The reason they had first wanted a dog was to play fetch, so they decided to teach Ricky to fetch instead. They got a tennis ball and threw it across the room and told Ricky to go get it. Ricky thought about it and started to go towards the ball but he got tired about halfway there and decided to curl up and take a nap. Once his nap was over and he was all rested up they tried again. Ed threw the ball and they called out "ok Ricky, go get it! Go get the ball! You can do it! C'mon boy!". Ricky just sat there and looked at them. Ted ran over and got the ball and brought it back to show him how it's done. Then Ted threw the ball and Ed went to get it. Ricky just sat there and watched. Ed and Ted took turns throwing and fetching the ball over and over to show Ricky how it's done. Ricky still just sat there and watched. The rest of TOMH&R stood nearby watching and giggling ... it seems that Ricky has turned the tables on the twins ... instead of them getting a pet, Ricky got 2 pets and taught them to fetch. Ricky just sat there and smiled while they chased the ball all afternoon.
Later on the whole gang was surrounding Ricky, everyone trying to get close to pet him because he's so fuzzy and soft. He got tired of being mauled and headed for a wall. As everyone watched Ricky crawled up the wall out of reach. They were amazed at his skill at going vertical. He showed off up there for a little while, then crawled back down. After this gravity-defying feat he was very tired so Ed & Ted picked him up and put him to bed to rest up.
Ricky very quickly became a great addition to TOMH&R. He's got cool skills and a great sense of humour. Sometimes when Ed & Ted are standing side-by-side Ricky gets on one of their faces and pretends to be a mustache. Then the mustache creeps over to the other face. They think this is hilarious.
Ricky may be small, but he has a huge appetite. He can eat a large cookie in just a few bites. He can pop a chicken drumstick into his mouth and spit out the cleaned bone off in just a few seconds. Everyone was awestruck by how much and how quickly the little guy eats. He has a great metabolism and is always hungry ... must be because he has 800 legs and needs the energy.
It's halloween and Ricky has been pondering what he'd like to be for trick-or-treating. He thinks maybe he'll be a pipecleaner. That or Batman. I think he's leaning towards Batman. Emilio knows a guy who makes costumes so he'll see about getting him a cape.
