Leigh Lemondrop here! In this chapter: Parents' Day is finally upon us!
Presley: Keep Calm And Read On!
Parents' Day finally came, and of course, students were dressing nicely to greet them.
Swizzle, however, got a call from his parents and they said they couldn't come to Parents' Day when it started. When he heard that, he started to cry, and Minty runs into his room when she heard that Swizzle got a call from his parents.
"Swizz, I am so sorry to hear your parents won't be coming right away. Maybe my parents could act as yours, since we raised you most of your life. Unless there's a way I could bring your parents here." Minty says, adjusting the skirt of her forest green dress.
"N-no, it's okay, Mints. I'm just going to meet the other parents like I said I was." Swizzle said, pulling on his indigo blue suit jacket.
The two of them walk out hand in hand, with Minty comforting Swizzle.
"Beezle, I can't wait to meet your mom. I heard she was a former Little Miss Sugar!" Bubblina says as the girls get ready together. "But, I'm so nervous about meeting Jerry's mom and dad because I don't think they'll let us stay together."
"Oh, Bubbles, don't be silly! You know Jerry's parents will let you guys stay together. You two have been together since kindergarten, and ever since then, you two were and are still inseparable." Adorabeezle says, braiding her hair.
"You're right, Beezle. Oh, did I mention my mom and dad own a bubblegum factory? They just made some gum in some modern day Skittles flavors, and I told them we had someone here who loves Skittles, so they're bringing some samples for Rainy. And for everyone else, too." Bubblina tells Adorabeezle.
"Wow, Bubbles. That is so cool!" Adorabeezle says, slipping on her dark blue dress shoes. "Cool dress, by the way!"
"Thanks!" Bubblina says, admiring her bubblegum pink party dress in the mirror. "I know I was saving this for Jerry's party, but I better break it in first."
"It looks good on you!" Adorabeezle says, smiling.
"I know! Are we going to Parents' Day or not?" Bubblina asks Adorabeezle.
The two girls run out, laughing.
In the gym, several parents are clustered in parts of the gym, talking and laughing. Some of the kids walk in, and go to find their parents.
"Mom!" Carnell says when he sees Carmelia. "Aunt Carmelia!" Rainy says, hugging her. "Guess what?"
"What, dear?" Carmelia says, hugging Carnell.
"Carnell has a girlfriend!" Rainy exclaims, giggling.
"Rainy! Shut up!" Carnell says, blushing like mad.
"I think that's very nice, Carnell. You're growing up so fast, sweetie." Carmelia says, hugging him again. The three of them talk about everything they've done at school so far.
"Mommy!" Cocoa says, jumping into her arms.
"Hey, sweetie! You having fun here?" she asks her.
"I sure am!" Cocoa says. "We had parties, there was a fall festival, talent shows, a trip to the speedway, a trip to the Kart Bakery, and oh, there's so much I have to tell you about it all! And I have a boyfriend now!"
"Oh, darling, that's wonderful!" Choclette says, smiling. "Why don't you introduce me to this boyfriend of yours?"
"Okay!" Cocoa says, pulling her mother over to where Barry and his dad are talking.
"Excuse me?" Choclette asks. "Is this the Brad Bubblestein I've heard so much about? And your son, Barry, loves my daughter, by the way." The man in blue turns around and begins to speak.
"You'd be correct. I'm Brad Bubblestein, gumball wristband designer, Game Grumps fan, and I create DVD's of their greatest moments. I just made a DVD of the Steam Rolled Fortune Street match. It's great, trust me." he says, handing her a copy as well as Cocoa.
"How nice of you, Brad. Thanks so much!" Choclette says, smiling, then she looks at Barry. "You must be Barry." she says, shaking his hand. "I'm Choclette Strawberry, Cocoa's mother. I hope you're treating my daughter nicely."
"Oh, I am! We went to the fall festival on a date, and we kissed under the mistletoe in my dorm room." Barry says, smiling at the young lady holding Cocoa's hand.
"That's good. My daughter is quite the looker. You treat her right, okay?" she says.
Barry nods. "My dad's taller than me, but it's okay. And she'll be treated like royalty in my presence."
The two ladies laugh at that, and they all walk over to a table to talk.
As kids are reuniting with their parents, Minty and Swizzle walk over to Minty's parents.
"Mom, Dad, you guys remember Swizzle, don't you?" Minty asks them.
"Why, yes, we do!" Mentha Zaki says, walking over to him. "How are you, Swizzle, darling?"
"Good, Mrs. Zaki. You look good in apple green." Swizzle says, looking at her dress.
"Thank you, Swizzle. Your suit is nice. Indigo blue suits you well." Mentha says, smiling.
"Good to see you again, Swizzle. You treating my daughter right?" Al Zaki asks him.
"Yes, sir, I sure am! Every day!" Swizzle says, smiling. "She's quite the looker."
"I know so." Mentha says. "Born with my instinct. She protects you almost as much as you protect her. At least that's what she says when she writes us."
"Heh, yeah...it's all true." Swizzle says. "I wish my parents would get here soon. The day's nearly over."
"Don't worry, Swizzle. Always remember we're here for you, too." Mentha and Al say to him.
"Okay." Swizzle says, smiling.
At the end of Parents' Day, all the parents have to go home, and there was a lot of tearful good-byes.
An indigo blue limousine pulls into the parking lot. The Malarkeys get out and run to their son.
"How could you?" was the first thing he asked when he saw them.
"We're sorry, Swizz. The races, the parties, and all that stuff kept us from you for so many years. And we're sorry for all the abuse. We want to make amends. We're sorry for forgetting your 13th as well. We know those CD's probably aren't enough, so here's a card and a gift we made ourselves." Marley Malarkey says to her son, who's crying as he takes the card and gift from her.
He opens the card and reads it. "Happy 13th birthday to a real champion, a great son, and someone who will be an awesome racer one day! We want you to know that we love you more than anything in the whole universe, and you'll always be our son. Love, Mom & Dad" Swizzle reads as he holds back joyful tears. He then opens the present.
"A photo album of family moments?" Swizzle says. "Cool!" I love you guys! But what was this about not coming on my graduation day?"
"Well, we have to race that day. But it doesn't mean we won't come to the final race of the year. We know you will do great!" T.R. Malarkey says, hugging his son.
"You guys really are great. You're forgiven!" Swizzle says, hugging them both.
"We're staying here tonight. We want to know everything that's been going on since you've been here. The headmistress said it was okay for us to stay with you." Marley says, kissing her son's forehead.
The three of them, including Minty, walk to Swizzle's dorm room, talking all the way.
Meanwhile, Rainy and Carnell were in Gumball Grove's common room, talking.
"Rainy, why did you tell Mom I had a girlfriend? You know how embarrassing it sounds to me." Carnell says, putting on his pajamas.
"Well, I see you and Honey together all the time. So, I felt today was the right day to tell Aunt Carmelia." Rainy says.
"You didn't have to embarrass me." Carnell says, turning his back on Rainy.
"But, Carnell, I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to react that way." Rainy says, his eyes filling with tears.
"Just get out of my face, Rainy." Carnell says. "We'll talk about this tomorrow."
Rainy walks out, crying, feeling like he had just lost a friend.
(Next Chapter: PARTY TALK!)