Chapter 10: Back Room Blues

Conductor led Calvin and Hobbes to the back room of the train.

"Listen, Conductor, I can explain!" Calvin pleaded.

"Calvin, what do you think you're doing?!" Conductor scolded.

"Well, you see, Hobbes was being dumb, and I-" Calvin started.

"Oh yeah, right!" Hobbes said sarcastically.

"SHUT UP!" Calvin screamed at him.

"Calvin!" Conductor shouted, "Santa will not be happy about this!"

"Couldn't you put in a little word for me?" Calvin asked sheepishly.

"No! Not unless you earn it!" Conductor said seriously.

"But you said…" Calvin argued.

"I will tell Santa about that, but that won't make up for all the other trouble you've caused on this train!" Conductor told him.

"But-uh-I-uh-PLEASE!!!! I BEG OF YOU!! TELL SANTA I'VE BEEN GOOD!!!!!" Calvin pleaded frantically.

"I tell you what," the kind conductor proposed, "If you stay back here with Hobbes…"

"Aw man! I gotta stay back here!" Calvin complained.

"If you stay back here with Hobbes," Conductor said annoyed, "and don't cause trouble, I'll put in a good word for you."

"THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!" Calvin shouted as he raced around the car.

"You should see him when he eats 'Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs'," Hobbes said.

When Calvin finally calmed down, Conductor headed back to the front of the train.

"I'll be back to check on you," he told Calvin.

"Alright! I'll be good!" Calvin said cheerfully.

"Uh-huh," Conductor questioned Calvin's cheerfulness.

As Conductor opened the door, all the kid's but John, who was still looking out the window, "Oooooooo"ed.

"SHUT…" Calvin began, but he saw Conductor's glare, "…the door behind you."

Conductor lingered for a moment, but then proceeded to the front car.

After the conductor left, Calvin and Hobbes sat in silence for a little.

"Hobbes, I'm sorry I argued with you," Calvin said apologetically.

Hobbes raised his eyebrow.

"…and for fighting you."

Hobbes still wasn't satisfied.

"…and for biting. Ya happy!"

"Yes I am," Hobbes said happily, "Apology accepted."

Once again, they sat in silence.

"You should've heard yourself pleading to Conductor," Hobbes laughed.

"Humph," Calvin mumbled.

After an hour or two, the door opened and Conductor walked in.

"Boys, I have good news," he said, "We'll be at the North Pole in a half hour, and you have been good. Keep it up, and I'll put in a good word for you, Calvin."

"Thank you very much, Conductor," Calvin said in his fake cheerful voice, "And might I say, that is a very nice hat you are wearing!"

"Don't push it," Conductor said sternly as he went to tell the other kids.

"This is great!" Calvin exclaimed.

"I know! We're gonna see Santa!" Hobbes agreed.

"He'll probably tell me how good I've been," Calvin bragged.

Hobbes tried to force back laughter.

"Do I dare mention the 'Noodle Incident'?" Hobbes asked.

"THAT NEVER HAPPENED!" Calvin yelled.

Calvin and Hobbes could here Conductor talking to the other kids.

"…and you all must have your tickets when we get there," they heard him say.

"Hobbes, you have our tickets, don't you?" Calvin asked nervously.

"Got 'em right here," Hobbes said as he pulled the tickets out of his pocket.

"Good!" Calvin said triumphantly.

"Hey, Calvin, what's that?" Hobbes said, pointing to a golden object that seemed to be flying from John's seat.

"Hmmmm…" Calvin said curiously, "I don't know"

The object flew through the car and slipped through the top crack of the door.

"It's John's ticket!" Hobbes exclaimed, realizing what the object was.

"Ha! He's not gonna get to go!" Calvin laughed.

"Calvin!" Hobbes scolded, "We have to go after it!"

"Why?" Calvin asked.

"Because!" Hobbes told.

"I'm not goin' after it!" Calvin exclaimed, "I've done enough for that backstabber."

"Fine! I'll get it myself!" Hobbes said and went after the ticket.

"Hobbes!" Calvin shouted, "Come back!"

Hobbes kept going until he reached the caboose.

Calvin groaned, but decided that he had to go with Hobbes.

"This looks like a job for Stupendous Man!"