Chapter 3: Tyler Watterson
Gumball and Rachel were riding on the bus to the north part of Elmore. The bus seemed very empty aside from a few other passengers. "So… any idea what your grandpa looks like?" Rachel asked. Gumball shrugged from not being too sure. "I just hope he's nice," he responded in fear that if he brings up who his mother, his grandpa would get mad. The kitten was wracking his mind, trying to find out what had occurred to cause him to disown his mother Nicole. "I'm wondering if Alaura found anything at the library," Rachel admitted, curious if their other partner had discovered anything interesting or useful. They felt the bus come to a stop. They didn't hesitate to climb off the bus, both having their own worries about what his grandfather would be like.
"Right, we're near Burl Hollow Path, so the retirement home isn't too far," Rachel said while walking beside Gumball. This part of town seemed calm, even though it was a major business district where they couldn't go five feet without seeing another small shop or store. "How do you know where this retirement home is anyway?" Gumball asked, only out of a small curiosity and boredom from having to walk so much today. "I used to visit my grandparents there all the time. Never thought I'd miss playing chess with them," Rachel explained in a depressed tone. Gumball went quiet, knowing that she probably meant they were deceased. He just patted her back apologetically for even bringing the memories up to her.
The two finally found a sign that read 'Sunshine Pine Retirement Home'. A calm rectangular building that was painted white welcomed them. Gumball and Rachel approached the entrance and saw a sign by the door that had retirement home's motto. "'Sunshine Pine's Retirement Home, where your golden years are bright…' Well it seems welcoming," Gumball commented while following his bright haired partner inside. The entrance had a few plants and chairs around. The front desk worker was a nurse that was half asleep out of boredom.
"Um, excuse me?" Gumball caught the nurse's attention. "Oh! How may I help you?" she asked. "We're looking for anyone with the last name Watterson," Rachel explained, hoping that Jojo wouldn't be wrong about this. The nurse nodded. "Oh, yes. Tyler Watterson. He never gets visitors. I'm sure this will make him happy," she said while coming out from behind the counter and beginning to lead the two of them through the halls. They passed by a few rooms where old people were lounging around, watching television or playing simple games such as chess. The hallways were a calming blue which was somewhat eerie to Gumball. "Right. Here is his room. I need to go finish paperwork. If he needs anything, come find me," the nurse told them before walking away and leaving them alone.
They both stood outside the door with a plaque on it that read 'Tyler W'. "I'll wait out here," Rachel told Gumball, not wanting to make the meeting awkward. "Thanks. I owe you for helping me, by the way," Gumball insisted that he had to pay her back. "I don't want you to get an F. Besides, we're partners for a reason," she assured. Gumball slowly turned the doorknob and opened it steadily in worry. Upon entering, he saw three shelves, each one lined with books and a small fireplace that was burning brightly and acting as the only light to the room. Gumball then spotted a figure sitting in a wheelchair in front of a window, staring down at a book.
"Um, hello, T-Tyler?" Gumball hesitantly spoke his name. "Hm? Yes, and who might you be?" a gentleman like tone asked to him as he turned around in the wheelchair. Tyler was a white cat with an average sized mustache, though he strangely had only one eye opened. He looked confused to see the young blue kitten. "I-I'm Gumball. Your grandson," Gumball introduced himself. The most response he received though was his grandfather turning the back of his wheelchair to him. "And what are you doing here?" his voice seemed to gain some grim hate behind it. "I-I have a report to do on my ancestory, and mom wouldn't help. I thought I'd come ask a few things," he explained his reasons for being here. His grandfather went into a fit of coughs.
"I have nothing to say to you or your family," Tyler told him. Gumball walked over and took a seat on the nearby bed. "Please, Grandpa. I don't want to fail this…" he pleaded. Tyler turned his gaze to his grandson. Gumball was making a wide eyed face that his younger sister used whenever she wanted something. Gumball had been trying his best to learn how to replicate it. "My, you certainly do remind me of myself. Able to fake for anything like a spoiled child," his grandfather laughed slightly, which made the young kitten snap back into his regular set of questions. "Can you at least tell me why you disowned her?" Gumball continued to beg. A sigh came out of Tyler.
"Fine. If you really wish to know so much, I will tell you. You see, she not only hid her pregnancy from me, but she loathed me for my past. She didn't listen when I told her to just give up her first son for adoption. I thought it was a lot easier than what will come with him," Tyler described to him his reasoning for disowning his mother. Gumball was upset, since he was the first child he was referring to. "I am that first child," Gumball spat out of his mouth. "…Then I feel sorry for you, boy. I see no reason why I should tell you of my life or my parents' life. All I can tell you, is that you are gonna suffer the same way me and my grandfather suffered. Consider suicide, before it comes for you," Tyler told him before opening the book back up and going silent.
They heard a knock on the door to the room, and they saw the nurse enter. "It's time for your medication, Mr Watterson," she said, interrupting the awkward moment. "Right… our talk is over anyhow," Tyler declared. Gumball just walked out of the room, not sure what to think. Rachel could see how depressed he was when exiting the room.
"What happened in there?" Rachel asked. Gumball shook his head. "He didn't tell me anything useful. …He told me that I should kill myself before something comes after me…" Gumball explained the whole conversation the best he could to her while they were exiting the retirement home. "Well don't worry, Gumball. I'm sure your dad's side will be as interesting to do a report on," Rachel told him, not wanting him to continue wasting the week attempting to research his mother's side when he couldn't find out any information on. Gumball's ears lowered in depression. "Yeah… I'll go visit Granny Jojo tomorrow…" he claimed, noticing that it was getting dark and the sun was slowly setting. "I'll meet you at the library at lunch," Gumball added while they were heading back to the bus stop, trying to move on and forget the bad day that they just had.
End of Chapter 3