The gift
Nicole was checking the presents.
"Package number one?"
"Checked!" Richard said putting a package inside the car compartment.
"Package number two?"
"Checked!" Darwin said.
"Package number three?"
"Checked!" Anais said.
"I have package number four. Well we have everything! Let's go home!" Nicole said.
"Wait! Where's Gumball?" Anais said.
Gumball came out of the mall. He was holding a small package wrapped with a red paper and a golden ribbon.
"There you are! We are you been?" Nicole said.
Gumball quickly put his little present inside the pocket of his coat.
"Don't worry mom! I was in the toilet!" he lied.
"Ok. Now come here! It's time to get home!"
They arrived at home after some minutes. The streets were completely white. The snow covered everything: houses, streets, trees, hydrants, mailboxes….
The Watterson family was putting all the Christmas presents under their Christmas tree.
"He he… this is gonna be the best Christmas of my life!" Gumball said.
"Wow, I've never seen you so happy!" Darwin said.
"Don't mind, let's decorate the tree!" Anais said.
After decorating the tree, the Watterson kids gave a look outside the window.
All the kids were already playing snowballs outside.
"Can we go out and play, mom?" Gumball asked.
"All right but be back before dinner and don't forget to wear thick clothes. It's very chilly outside!"
"Got it!" Darwin said.
The three kids went outside to play.
Gumball couldn't feel the cold thanks to his thick coat, wool hat, wool gloves, scarf, and shoes. Even Darwin was fine with his headphones and scarf.
"Let's play!" Darwin said.
Soon the Watterson kids were playing with their classmates.
Almost whole Elmore was outside to enjoy the winter holidays. Miss Simian and the Principle Brown were creating a cute snowman with a big cylinder and a carrot as a nose.
The Wilsons were caroling with their sons;
"We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas…."
Even Tina T-Rex looked happy while playing with the others.
Elmore park had a huge Christmas tree with a lot of decorations and a big golden star on the top.
Everyone had a lot of fun. Then Sun started to went down.
"It's getting late! Let's go back home!" Anais said.
"Ok!" her brother said.
While going home, something touched Gumball's back.
"Hey, Gumball!" a female voice said.
Gumball slowly turned back and he saw a light bulb shaped-like creature with tentacles, antlers and wings.
"Oh, hi Penny!" Gumball said greeting his girlfriend.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I was returning home. Don't worry, I know I have a date with you tomorrow!" the blue cat answered.
"Oh, it wasn't for that! I have something to give you!" Penny said.
She showed a flat rectangle wrapped with a blue paper and a red ribbon.
"It's my Christmas present for you!"
"Oh, thanks!" Gumball said grabbing the present.
"Come on! Open it!" Penny said smiling.
"What? Why? It's too early to open the presents, you know?"
"Just open it! Consider it a simple Christmas present in advance!"
"O-ok!"
Without wasting time, Gumball opened the present; it was a beautiful portrait showing him and Penny kissing in a blue starry sky. Even the frame, around the painting, looked smooth.
"Oh Penny….it's-it's beautiful!"
Penny laughed happily for a while.
"Thanks!" Gumball said kissing and kissed Penny on the cheeks.
"Well… since you gave me a present in advance, then I'll give you a present in advance!"
Gumball started to check inside his pocket.
"Penny….will you….."
He was still checking in his pocket.
"Will you…"
Gumball started to check in the other pockets.
"Will you…"
The situation was getting embarrassing.
"Will you….oh come on….!"
"What's wrong?" Penny asked.
"It's funny…. I can't find your present, yet I was sure it was inside my pocket!"
Gumball spent some minutes to find his present for Penny in the other pockets, but he could find anything.
"Maybe it is at home?"
Gumball turned back home in search of the present, but he found nothing.
"Still I can't find it!" he said.
"Maybe someone stole it to you?" Anais said.
"Probably! Who could stole my present?"
"A robber….a thief…." Anais suggested.
"A guy with fast fingers…." Gumball also suggested.
"…..or Santa!" Darwin said.
Everyone was quiet.
"Santa?" Gumball asked confused.
"How come?" Anais asked also confused.
"Well…you know…. Santa gives presents to all kids who have been nice during the year…."
"Yes, we know that!" Gumball said.
"Well… you also know Santa doesn't like naughty kids. He gives no presents to them. I also heard if someone tries to give a present to a naughty kid, he makes it disappear!"
"Disappear?"
"Yeah…well to be honest… it doesn't disappear. Santa just takes it away. It remains in his laboratory at the North Pole until the kid turns nice!"
There was a moment of silence.
"Do you think I have been naughty this year?" Penny said. She felt a bit suspicious.
"Oh no, no, no! You've been nice this year!" Gumball said.
"Well, since I've been nice, then I'll go to the North Pole to take back my gift!" she declared.
"Come on Penny! I'll find your present, I'm sure it's somewhere in my house!"
"Goodbye!" she said.
Penny turned back home. After eating her dinner, her father talked to her.
"What's wrong? You look sad!"
"It's ok dad!"
"Did Watterson disliked your present?"
"No, he liked it! He just lost his present for me!"
Patrick Fitzgerald went to his Christmas tree.
"Don't worry, now I'll give you in advance my Christmas present. I'm sure it'll cheer you up!"
Penny started to feel better.
Patrick spent some minutes under the tree.
"Hmmmm….that's strange! I can't find your present and I was sure it was here!"
Penny went to her room. She went under her bed's sheets.
She said something before sleeping.
"I'll go to the North Pole!"
She slept but she woke up some hours later by a strange noise.
