Stripes Takes Off

"**Stripes Takes Off**" is the second half of the third episode in the first season.

## Summary

When Stripes is playing a carnival game (whack a mole) Jack yells at Stripes reminding him he can't be out of his cage or the carnival will get closed down but Stripes tells Jack if he's unappreciated he can just go which suits Jack fine. Feeling hurt, Stripes runs away, and Elizabeth tells everyone after he leaves, Eddy and Marvin find out when Stripes hasn't eaten his Crunchy Critters (or rather his soggy critters). Stripes had given Elizabeth the key to his cage and said "See you around," at first they think he'll come back but they are proven wrong when they find out he took Mr. Grizzly as well. When the gang tells Jack that Stripes is gone, he tells them that was his fault as he said some things he shouldn't have as he only wanted Stripes back in his cage. Concerned about Stripes and the radio announcement that warns of a Bengal tiger on the loose, they decide to find him before the police do. When Diamond says they will all look for him, Eddy tells her with Stripes on the loose, everyone will think it's twice as bad to have both an elephant and tiger freed. He instead tells the girls to wait by the phone while he and Marvin set out to find Stripes and bring him back and will let them know if they have any news. They search even after dark and soon find him hiding in the woods, all scared, they tell Stripes everyone including Jack misses him. Stripes however is still not eager to go back yet and is very hungry, Eddy says he'll get him something from the diner, since he only has enough to get one chicken (instead of 32) and a burger for himself, Eddy goes to get the food while Marvin stays with Stripes and has some leaves. At the diner, Eddy calls Elizabeth to tell her that they found Stripes and he's all right but they will bring him back in the morning as they need some time to calm him down. When the food is ready, Eddy leaves and gets back to the forest, and Stripes eats the entire chicken in one bite but is still hungry so Eddy gives him his burger saying he'll make it till the morning. The three friends get some shut eye and Stripes keeps Eddy warm. The next morning however Stripes is resistant and doesn't want to go back but after some pushing, shoving and coxing they do go back. As they approach the carnival Eddy and Marvin ease Stripes towards the cage. Everyone is relieved when Stripes returns home and a lesson is learned about people saying things that they don't mean. Jack is very sorry for what he had said and done.

## Characters

### Major

* Stripes
* Marvin
* Eddy Largo
* Fast-Talking Jack
* Elizabeth the Emotional Pig

### Minor

* Diamonds
* Diner Lady
* Police Chief Klutz

## Trivia

* It is revealed on the radio that Stripes is a Bengal tiger and weighs about 400 lbs. Stripes is quite large in size.
* Stripes is afraid of flashing lights, cameras, large crowds, bad situations and loud noises, despite the fact the circus has lots of those..
* Stripes is nervous when he is about to go home.
* Even if they don't see eye to eye, Jack and Stripes are friends to the end.
* According to Eddy, Stripes usually eats 32 chickens, but he can even eat up to 64 chickens.
* This episode shows that while Stripes is brave, he can also be very nervous at times.
* This marks the first time Stripes has his name in both segments of the episode.