Author's Note: Christmas drabble. I'm Jewish, which means this made me feel like a fake to write, so...eh. It's short for that reason.
It was Christmas at the orphanage, which meant little to nothing. The orphans had no families, therefore no family togetherness, and for all that there was supposed to be good will and love towards others, the Christmas season tended to make others irritable and grouchy. Webby wanted to believe in the purity of heart that was supposed to emerge only during Christmas...but Gosalyn's Grinch-like attitude punctured her balloon.
"It's a crock, is what it is," Gosalyn declared, folding her arms across her chest as they watched the younger kids decorate a tree. "It's just a scheme to get more presents and swindle money out of people."
"We'll get adopted," Webby said, sensing where Gosalyn's true irritation lay. "Hang on, okay? Don't lose hope."
"I'm not losing hope," Gosalyn huffed. She stared at the tree harder and if looks could kill, she'd have set it and the children on fire. "I'm only saying 'bah, humbug'."
"Wouldn't it be great if I met Scrooge McDuck and he said that?" Webby cried, bouncing.
"You're weird," Gosalyn said and elbowed her in the ribs. "You're lucky I like you."
"Yeah, I am. Now...do you wanna go see if there are any presents hidden in the rafters?"
Gosalyn's grin matched Webby's and they both looked mischievous. Without another word, they darted from the room and began the arduous and neck-breaking climb into the rafters and the attic. They were young and relatively carefree. And besides, Christmas only came once a year. The time for spoiling themselves was now...before anyone else got a look at the presents.
"I call dibs on a grappling hook!" Webby announced.
"Do you really think they're going to give a grappling hook to a kid?" Gosalyn scoffed.
"For kids who are being trained to be spies, yes," Webby said and grinned at her sister. "What? Don't you want one too?"
"Darkwing Duck has a grappling hook in his gas gun," Gosalyn said. If Webby was an aficionado of Scrooge McDuck, then Gosalyn was one of Darkwing Duck. "Of course I want one. You're not getting yours before me."
She blew Webby a raspberry and then puffed out her chest. "I am older than you."
"By two months!"
"Still counts," Gosalyn said with a wicked grin.
"No way!"
"Yes way."
"We're all equal on Christmas," Webby said.
"But some of us are more equal than others."
Putting on an extra burst of speed, Gosalyn raced ahead of her sister. Webby blew her a raspberry back and bounced off the wall, using the momentum to propel her further. To counter her, Gosalyn did a roll off the ceiling and soon, they were competing to see who could do the fanciest moves to get up to the rafters and from there, into the attic. If anyone saw them, they probably would have shouted for them to get down before they broke something. It was probably a good thing no one saw them.
"Grappling hook, come to mama!" Gosalyn crooned.
"In your dreams!" Webby countered.
They reached the rafters and, from there, ascended into the attic. To their dismay, there were no presents here. In fact, the attic was completely empty. Baffled, worried, and disappointed, they turned to each other.
"Did you really think I'd hide the presents up here again? After last year's debacle?" a stern voice called and the girls whirled, Gosalyn almost losing her footing. Webby yanked her back up before she fell out through the attic trapdoor.
They looked down to spy the headmistress staring up at them from her office. "Really, girls?"
Gosalyn managed a weak, embarrassed chuckle. "We weren't looking for presents."
"Really," the headmistress said and the expression on her face, which Webby could see when she poked her head out through the door, was unimpressed. "And why don't I believe you?"
"Uh…" Gosalyn faltered and looked to Webby for backup.
"We were just checking to see how dusty the attic is," Webby lied and the headmistress sighed, shaking her head.
"Webbigail Vanderquack, you are a terrible liar. Both of you, get down from there this instant."
Rolling their eyes, they flipped out through the trapdoor and landed on their feet, rather like cats, on the headmistress's office floor. She raised her eyebrows at them.
"And for your information, your grappling hooks are in a secure location. You'll find them tomorrow, like everyone else."
Once the headmistress ushered them out, Gosalyn mimicked her. "'You'll find them tomorrow, like everyone else.'"
"Hey, at least she told us what we got," Webby offered.
"Or did she? She could've been lying to get our hopes up. Or it's an elaborate joke. Or-"
Gosalyn's gaze lit up and she spun her sister around. "What if Darkwing Duck is giving out the presents this year? Maybe that's why she told us that, because she doesn't actually know what the presents are. So she's making an educated guess and maybe when he comes, I can impress him."
"And maybe Agent 22 will…" Webby trailed off. It was unlikely that Agent 22 would make a guest appearance. Darkwing Duck was far more likely. Gosalyn squeezed her shoulder.
"Weren't you the one saying we'll get adopted?" Gosalyn said. "Have faith, right? And all that? It's the holidays."
"You're just pumped up at the idea of Darkwing being here," she accused.
Gosalyn flashed her a grin. "Could you tell?"
Webby rolled her eyes at her. "Lead on, Quiverwing."
"As you wish, Agent 22 and a half."