A stepmother: Chapter 14

A family

Well, this is the last chapter from the first part of the story... I hope you enjoyed reading it!

-Can we try to talk about it, guys?-asked Sherman a bit nervous to his friends

-I don't know... Can you talk with the truth?-answered Jill sarcastic

-In defense of Sherman... and of me... I must say that it was Mr. Peabody's idea not his one-added Penny.-C'mon, guys! We are friends! We can't be angry to each other for something like this!-

-Are we friends, Penny? Friends tell everything to each other-opined Carl

-Uh, c'mon! Are you going to tell me any of you has a secret?-

-Perhaps... But how come you knew about this and we didn't?-asked Mason

-I didn't know it because Sherman told me! I... discovered it by myself-

-How's that even possible?-

-Well... I...-

-Once she came to my house and she saw Je... I mean, Ms. Jason and I told her everything-explained Sherman

-I still have doubts about it...-muttered Abby.-I don't have any secret-

-Me either!-screamed all of them

Sherman sighed. It was going to be hard... Yes, he didn't tell them the truth, but Penny was right: who doesn't have a secret?

Penny looked at his friend/crush and took a deep breath. Of course that everyone had a secret! But no one will confess it so easily... There is always a secret that you keep just for yourself.

-I don't like pizza-said suddenly the blonde girl

Everyone stared at her.-What?-they all asked

-Yeah, I don't like it... And for eating it I take out the cheese from it and I eat it without it. And after that, I eat the cheese alone. The thing is that I don't like cheese mixed up with the taste of any vegetable like the tomato. That's one of my secrets-

-Ha! I knew that it was strange that you eat it in that way!-exclaimed Jill

-You don't? Everyone does!-opined Mason

-I know; that's why I never told it to anyone... See? Everyone has a secret-

-I still watch Winnie The Pooh-said Jill raising her hand

-My dream is being a basketball player-confessed Carl

-I listen to country music-added Mason

-Perhaps I do like Mason a bit more than just as a friend-

-I KNEW IT!-exclaimed Penny pointing her

-You're right; we all have secrets-finally said Abby

-So, can you forget me?-asked Sherman with a big smile in his face

The kids looked at each other and then smiled at their friend.-Of course we do!-

-Yeah!-

-But now... how come your father started dating her?-asked Jill confused

-Oh...-Sherman thought of many different lies to explain that.-Do you still have at least a secret?-They all stared at him with their mouths closed.-Well... Me too-

Peabody left all the food on the table and checked out everything. Yes, it was ready. Anything was out of order... Everything was just like it had to be. That's the way he liked things: everything in its correct order. He walked to Sherman's room where the children were to call them, but in the way, he stared at the Sherman's photos in the wall in front of the room. Yeah, he always liked order and everything in its place. But Sherman was something that was always slipping through his fingers and anyway he was the best thing that happened to him.

How's that possible? He loved things in its place, but the things that he loved most were the things that never were in the place he expected them to be. Maybe, like everyone, he liked adventures too and face new troubles. Perhaps there were things he will never understand even though he was the most intelligent creature in the world.

-What serious!-laughed Jen behind him

-Uh? Oh, I was thinking-

-Thinking? Thinking about what? Sherman?-

-Something like that-

-Can you explain me that "something like that"?-

-Why are you so curious?-

-Why are you so mysterious?-

He sighed.-Don't you know what happens to curious people?-

-Curious people can have really bad luck... But thanks to curious people we have the things you love most-

-Do I?-

-Yeah... Someone had to be curious enough to start inventing things... like electricity. Someone who wanted to know what happened in the past started to be a historian. Someone who wanted to travel through time built something strange called WABAC... And let's not forget that if you hadn't had curiosity about a weird sound a stormy night you wouldn't have found Sherman-

He smiled.-Touché-

-Thank you-

-I was thinking in something similar-

-Curious people?-

-No, you said that I didn't like curious people, but curiosity gave me the things I love most. I thought that I liked order, but the things I like most just...-

-Are out of control?-

-Yes-

-Wow... yeah, you have strange thoughts-

He laughed and said no with his head.-I didn't need you to know that-

-Nope, unfortunately, you don't need me for that-

Peabody knocked Sherman's room's door and told them the food was already on the table, so, the kids left going to the living room.

The beagle looked at Jennifer, who was watching the different pictures of Sherman and him.-So, now that you know I'm curious, could you tell me what were you two doing here?-she asked pointing a picture of Sherman riding a bike

-Easily, I was teaching Sherman how to ride a bike-

-Aw! And what about here?-she asked pointing another picture

-Sherman giving his first steps-

-Aw! He was so cute as a baby!-she exclaimed

-Yeah, he was it-

-And what about here?-she said again

-You really don't like eating pizza as someone normal-commented Carl watching Penny separating the cheese from the normal pizza

-Shut up, Carl-she answered without even looking at him, focused in doing her job

-Next time, I'll tell Mr. Peabody not to cook pizza-opined the red-haired boy

-No, no, I like eating it like this-

-Do you?-

-Yep, moreover, everyone else in the entire world likes pizza, so... never mind-

-Now I'm understanding why you kept it as a secret-added Abby.-It looks disgusting-

Penny ignored them, but Sherman didn't. So, the young boy had an idea. He took a pizza portion and started to take out the cheese. The rest of the kids stared at him as he was doing that, even Penny did. When he finished, he tasted it.

-Mmm... It's not bad at all-he finally said receiving a big smile from Penny

-Really?-asked Abby

-Yep, I promise it-

Abby took another portion of pizza and did the same, followed by Jill, Mason and Carl.

-It's not as disgusting as I thought it'd be-admitted Abby

-Yep-confirmed Mason

-See? It's not so rare!-exclaimed Penny.-Once you taste it, of course-she laughed.-By the way, Jill, do you really still watch Winnie The Pooh?-

-Of course! It has really amazing stories...-she said defending herself

-Hummm...-

-Mason likes country music-

-That's not so weird-he answered

-Now, we get to the conclusion that the most normal secret was the Sherman's one-opined Abby

-You like Mason-smiled Penny eating her not-cheese pizza

Even the Abby's pony tail turned red.-I said, I liked him a bit-

-Your face red doesn't say the same...-

-So what? You... Like...-

-Everyone knows that I like Sherman if that's what you were going to say-commented the blonde girl making Sherman's face turn red

-Ah!-exclaimed Abby annoyed.-By the way... have you started the science's project?-

-Do you like Abby back, Mason?-asked once again Penny

-Why everyone behind you is humiliated?-asked the boy in defense

-That's not answer...-

-Agh... Well... Perhaps I... like her a little bit-

-Do you?-asked Abby confused

-My work here is done-smiled Penny after eating the pizza's cheese.-Sherman?-

-Yeah?-

She took him by the arm.-Can you come for a second?-

-Umm... Sure?-

-Great-without dropping him, she dragged him into another room from the penthouse where they'll be all alone

-What's wrong?-asked the young boy

-I don't know... Do you think something's wrong?-

-Mmm... No?-

-You're lying! Didn't you think something was strange about the way I came into your house?-

-No?-

-You're lying again... or perhaps you don't realize it, but I doubt it... Did I give you a present?-

The gift! Penny didn't give him a gift! He has forgotten it! But... he couldn't tell her off for that.

-Uh, no, you didn't give me a present... But it's alright!-he laid.-I bet you couldn't buy me something or...-

-Don't lie... No one likes receiving nothing for its birthday-

-Well... I wasn't expecting that from you...-

-Why not?-

-Because... You... Why are doing this?-

-I asked first-

-Because... I don't know... Because you like me?-

-We're progressing-

Yeah, she did it again. Sherman had no idea about what she was doing.-Uh?-

-So, you think because I like you I have to gift you something... So, liking you means buying you stuff?-she asked angrily

-What? No! No, I didn't mean that... I thought, no! Sorry!-

Penny laughed and took out a red little parcel from one of her pocket.-I was kidding! I have two gifts for you. This is the first one-she gave him

The red-haired boy breathed and opened it. It was a new pen drive from 16 GB.-Wow! Penny! This is amazing! Thank you!-

-Your welcome. Now, is anything else wrong?-

-Mmm... The second gift?-

-Oh, I almost forget it!-she said before getting closer to Sherman.-Do you want to guess?-

-Mmm... I don't know, is it a t-shirt?-

-I'm not Abby or Jill...-

-A book?-

-I think you're smart guy enough-

-I don't know-

-Close your eyes and open them when I tell you, ok?-

-Ok-as soon as he closed his eyes, he could feel the Penny's lips kissing his ones. Penny kissed him... in the lips! That was officially their second kiss!

-You can open your eyes now-ordered Penny

He opened them obeying her without even talking, completely speechless.

-Just don't tell it to anyone-she finally said threating him with her finger

-I... I won't-

-Good, now, let's go back with the others!-

-I'll follow you-

-Ok-she said walking away

The red-haired boy stared a bit paralyzed... But slowly he started to smile, yielding to his feelings for Penny. He felt SO great! And for some unknown reason, he felt even better than when Penny kissed him the first time. He looked at the room smiling at the furnitures as if they saw everything. As if they were the only ones who knew his secret and walked out.

-You can write a book with all the adventures that you and Sherman had-opined Jennifer sat on a stair beside Peabody

-I never thought about it... But it's a good idea-

-Yep, you only need to add that it isn't based on a true story to keep the WABAC as a secret and ready, trust me you'll be even richer-

-Ha, perhaps once I stopped working in Peabody's industries I could write a book about that-

-Yes, but first you need to stop working there...-

-What do you mean?-

-You look like you're gonna work there till you'll die-

-Probably...-he said sadly

-Uh, don't worry yet! You still have time to think about that-

-Yeah, I used to think the same about Sherman-

-What?-

-Yeah, I used to think that I still have a lot of time to think about the Sherman's future and when he comes of age... And I discover that time passed too fast and... There are a lot of things that at least we never did and... He'll come of age soon and...-

-He'll leave-

-Yes...-

-Well... I think is better to be with a person the way you are with Sherman even though if it's in a little period of time... That not being with that person-

-You're right-

-I knew it, but thank you anyway, Peabrainy-

-Your welcome, teacher-

She looked down.-Have you thought something about what will happen to us?-

-Yes, I have-

-So?-

-I wasn't the only one who needed to think about that-

-I decided that if you love me, I have no problem in telling everyone that you're my boyfriend-

-100% decided?-

-100% decided-

He looked down.-Ok... I do-

-You do what?-

-Do you remember what I said about the things in order?-

-That you liked everything in order, but the things you loved most were out of your control?-

-Yes, you are one of them-

-One of the things in order or out of control?-

-Out of control... But in a good strange way-

-Explain it-

-You were not something I planned, or something I even dreamed of... But I do love you-he finally admitted.-I love you too much... And yeah, I don't know much about love, but I think I can recognize it, teacher-

Jen smiled.-I love you too much, too, Peabrainy-she said getting closer to him

-Hey!-exclaimed Sarah with the rest of the guests beside her.-Can you please come with the cake, Peablocky?-

-Yeah, my parents come to take me in some minutes-explained Mason

-Moreover I'm sick of the salty food-opined Abby

-Yes, I think a dessert could be nice-added Patty

-Agh... Sure, Mrs. Jason-

Jen took his arm.-Yeah, he's going in a second-and before Peabody could say anything, Jennifer kissed him in the lips.-I'm tired of people interrupting our kisses-she said dropping him off

-This means you two got back together?-asked Sherman

-Yep, and for a LONG time-answered Jen smiling

-Alright, Sherman...-said Peabody turning of the birthday candles of the birthday's cake from his son.-Now, remember the birthday's wish-he said standing a bit away from him

While everyone started singing the "Happy birthday song", Sherman started to think about his wish... It couldn't be a "material wish" like a new computer or a new video game because he didn't need that... He looked at Penny but he didn't need something related to her over now... And he saw to his father and to Jen. That was his wish...

"I wish for my next birthday having a mother".

He turned off the birthday candles receiving the applause of everyone around him, followed by hugs and kisses on cheeks with a "happy birthday" from all the persons he loved. Yeah, they weren't too many... But they all were the persons he needed and he knew he could count on in the future. They were with no doubt his family. Who cares if they weren't his birth family? A family is who is always beside you when you need it, those persons who you met and at the beginning you hated but now you discovered that you couldn't live without it, those persons who since the first time gave you the last thing you needed... That's a family.

END OF FIRST PART