Mr. Peabody, Sherman and Penny

Chapter Ten: Birthday Blues

It was Sherman's birthday. All his friends were gathered in the penthouse to celebrate; Penny, Mason, Carl, Abby, Jill... even Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were in attendance.

At the moment, presents were being given to the birthday boy.

"Wow!" Sherman gasped, as he unwrapped the present Mason and Carl had pooled their savings to get; A scale model of the solar system. "Thanks, guys!"

"My turn." Penny smiled, holding up her own present.

Sherman hastily unwrapped it, revealing a historical encyclopedia.

"Awesome!" Sherman smiled. "Thanks, Penny!"

"Don't thank me yet." Penny smiled. "Look inside."

Sherman opened the book, finding an inscription:

'Sherman, history was always your best subject. With this, you can be even better.

Your friend, Penny.'

"Oh... wow." Sherman smiled. "This is... really great."

"Oh, it's nothing." Penny said modestly. "I saw it, and knew you'd love it. Happy birthday, Sherman."

Sherman smiled, overwhelmed by Penny's gesture.

"That's my girl." Paul grinned. "She gets it from Patty, you know."

"Oh, Paul..." Patty giggled.

"Okay, time for the birthday cake!" Mr. Peabody wheeled in a large black gateau with "Happy Birthday, Sherman" written in icing, and eight candles on top. "Make a wish and blow out the candles, Sherman."

"I don't need to make a wish." Sherman smiled. "I already have everything I could possibly want."

Sherman blew out the candles, and the guests cheered. Mr. Peabody then went to work slicing up the cake.

That evening, after the celebrations were over, and all the guests had gone home, Sherman sat in his room, gazing at the encyclopedia. Mr. Peabody came in to put him to bed.

"Time for bed, Sherman." He announced.

"Oh... okay, Mr. Peabody." Sherman snapped out of his reverie.

"What's gotten into you?" Mr. Peabody asked. "You seemed miles away."

"Oh, I was just looking at Penny's present." Sherman declared. "It was really thoughtful of her to have it inscribed like that."

"Indeed it was." Mr. Peabody nodded. "You have quite the good friend in Penny."

"Yeah, I do..." Sherman agreed.

A week later, Sherman was in the school lunch room with Penny and his friends.

"Hey guys, it'll be my birthday soon." Penny told him.

"That's nice, Penny." Carl smiled.

"Nice?" Abby smirked. "Try 'awesome'! Penny's birthday parties always rule!"

"They are pretty great." Jill agreed.

"We're all invited, right?" Mason asked.

"Of course." Penny nodded. "The party's a week next Saturday. You're gonna love it. Trust me."

As Sherman returned home, he started racking his brains over what he could get Penny for her birthday. He was so consumed with that thought, he barely touched his dinner.

"Something wrong, Sherman?" Mr. Peabody asked. "Aren't you hungry?"

"It's not that." Sherman declared. "It's just... Penny's birthday is coming up, and I want to get her a really great present, like she got me."

"Of course." Mr. Peabody smiled. "It's just common courtesy."

"But I'm not sure what it should be." Sherman frowned. "It needs to be something big, and showy."

"Not necessarily." Mr. Peabody countered. "It's the thought that counts. Penny will be perfectly happy with whatever you get her, I'm sure."

"Are you really sure?" Sherman asked. "If I only got her a little something after she got me that great big book, she'd probably be disappointed."

"Oh, give Penny a little more credit then that, Sherman." Mr. Peabody tutted. "As long as it's from you, she'll like it."

"Maybe you're right..." Sherman mused.

"Of course I am." Mr. Peabody smiled. "A truly great gift comes from the heart."

"Heart, huh?" Sherman mused. "I think I see what you're getting at, Mr. Peabody."

"Excellent." Mr. Peabody smiled. "Now, be a good boy and finish your dinner before it gets cold."

By the next day, Sherman had formulated a plan, and spent the rest of the week putting it into action.

Time seemed to zoom by, and Penny's birthday was upon them. Mr. Peabody and Sherman attended the party at the Peterson's. Abby and Jill turned out to be right; It was a very extravagant affair. There were all kinds of party games and entertainment. The kids had fun on a bouncy castle, and played some musical chairs, before it was time for the presents.

As each guest in turn gave Penny their present unwrapped, Sherman became more and more worried that his gift wouldn't be enough, and that Penny would hate it.

"Okay Sherman, your turn." Penny smiled.

Sherman handed Penny a small, rectangular package. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at it, making Sherman wince. She tore open the wrapping revealing a picture frame containing a collage of pictures of herself and Sherman together; hanging out, having fun, etcetera. At the bottom of the frame were the words "Thanks for being my friend."

"I know it's not a big present." Sherman explained. "Not like the book, but Mr. Peabody told me it's the thought that counts. And I made this to show you how much I like having you as a friend."

Penny stared at the frame, an unreadable expression on her face.

"You hate it, don't you?" Sherman sighed. "I'm sorry. I just..."

"I love it." Penny said quietly.

"Huh?" Sherman asked.

"I love it!" Penny hugged Sherman. "Thanks, Sherman! This is a really great gift!"

"You're welcome, Penny." Sherman returned the hug. "Happy birthday."

Mr. Peabody smiled, pleased at having been proven right yet again.

'The best gift always comes from the heart...' He thought.

To Be Continued...

(Mr. Peabody & Sherman and all associated characters are the property of DreamWorks Animation.)