This little drabble came from my discord server as an RP between me and my best friend and I just had to polish and post it. Also, no disrespect of any Native American cultures is intended.
Sometimes Mr. Peabody gets carried away with his household traditions and in addition to cooking all sorts of weird cultural foods every now and then, he has themed nights for Sherman, complete with puns, trivia, and some board/card games relating to the theme of the night. Unfortunately, he usually never tells Sherman about them and makes them a surprise. Tonight was going to be one of those surprises.
"So you're sure your parents said it would be alright?" 14 year old Sherman asked into his phone, his best friend Penny on the other end.
"Yeah, we're fine, all three of us have tested negative for COVID-19, and since then we haven't left the house. But I am so bored, Sherman." she said. Sherman could hear the impatience and eagerness to get out of the house in her voice.
Sherman scoffed. "I think Mr. Peabody has cooked every single dish possible, invented every idea that came to him, and cleaned every single surface in the penthouse so far." he said as he flopped on his back onto his bed. "He's getting restless. He goes down into the empty building to do work sometimes, but that doesn't help."
He sighed. "So I'll ask him if you can come over, I'm sure he'll be okay with it since you'll be the first houseguest we've had in a few weeks."
"Ok, let me know what he says."
"I will, bye, Penny."
"Bye, Sherman."
He lay on his bed pensively for a moment before finally sitting up and deciding to go see what his father was doing.
He left his room and walked toward the living room. As he got closer he noticed a loud noise emanating from the living room. He entered the living room and saw his father cleaning the floors with some kind of device that looked like a vacuum cleaner.
He noticed Sherman and turned the device off so they could talk. "Hello Sherman." he greeted.
"What are you doing?" Sherman asked.
"Disinfecting the floors." Peabody said simply.
"Haven't you already done that?" Sherman asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but it has been a few weeks."
"But we haven't left the house since then… and we haven't had any guests… so what is there to disinfect?" Sherman asked, eyebrow still raised.
"Yes, that is true, but you and I generate contagious fur and skin cells everyday, plus I need to stay busy, 'Idle hands are the devil's tools' as they say."
"No one says that." Sherman said dryly.
"That does not mean it is not true." Peabody retorted.
"Well, I was going to ask you, can Penny pleeeease come over for dinner tonight?" Sherman smiled, putting on his best 'wants something' expression. "She and her parents have already tested negative for the virus and so have we!" he quickly added, justifying his request.
Peabody said nothing for a moment, but then smiled. "I believe it should be alright."
Sherman smiled back. "Thanks, dad." he said, and quickly turned back to go to his room. He pulled his phone out and shot off a quick text to Penny.
"He said it would be fine."
"Nice! I will be there at 5 for dinner, so save some for me." Penny replied.
"We will. See you in a little bit."
Peabody resumed his cleaning and Sherman entertained himself in his room. Shortly before Penny was supposed to arrive, Sherman walked into the living room again. However, he was looking down at his phone as he did. He stopped and looked up and saw a makeshift teepee.
Just then Peabody walked in wearing a custom Native American headdress and clothing.
"Mr. Peabody… what's going on?" Sherman asked.
Peabody held out jazz-paws to the tent and the makeshift fake fire in front of it.
"We are going to have a Native American heritage night!" he said happily, smiling wide.
Sherman let out a sigh.
Peabody's smile fell slightly. "No, no! This will be fun, trust me! You're in for a real treat! Native American style! You know we cannot use the WABAC because that would be a catastrophic risk to the timeline if anyone in the past were to become infected."
"We have very different definitions of fun, dad..." Sherman trailed off.
Peabody continued, undeterred by his son's lack of enthusiasm. "You're going to love the food I prepared for us!" He suddenly sniffed the air. "Oh dear, the squash!" he exclaimed, running into the kitchen.
Sherman followed him into the kitchen, ignoring the fact he couldn't smell anything burning. "Do I have to?"
Peabody took the squash he was cooking out of the oven before answering. "I would really prefer it if you did it of your own volition, Sherman." he set the squash on the table and looked at Sherman pleadingly. "Please? I will not ask you to dress up any longer. Although I must say, these tribes knew their fashion..."
"You know I invited Penny over for dinner! I didn't know we were doing this!" Sherman really hated it when his father didn't tell him about plans that also affected him.
Peabody grinned. "I know, she can join us!"
"No!"
"Granted, I wish you'd consulted me first. I only have two outfits for the occasion. And I hope the festivities can split three ways..." Peabody said, putting a paw to his chin in thought.
"Festivities? We're just eating dinner!"
Peabody shook his head. "Sherman, I have our whole night planned out! We are going to be doing a lot more than just eating."
"Well I wish you would have consulted me first!" Sherman retorted. "When will you realize that I have plans too?"
"It's no matter, Penny can join us in building the totem pole!"
"Ugh. She's going to think we're weird..."
"Somewhat late for that, don't you think? Besides, it seems she is much more excited about these kinds of events than you are now… Ever since I made the improvised toga party into a real occasion, she has been raving about it! So what has gotten into you, Sherman? You used to love history and culture..."
Sherman shrugged "I'm 14 now, dad... my interests have changed…" He saw his father deflate more and felt bad. "But it's okay, maybe we'll have fun tonight doing your thing." he said, encouragingly.
Peabody sputtered. "My thing-? Sherman, this was supposed to be our thing! I'm doing this for you!"
Sherman folded his arms and looked at Peabody suspiciously. "Are you? Seems more like you're doing it for you..."
"Of course I get something out of it, but I know you enjoy it too! Tell you what, you get to decide the next cultural dinner."
"Really?" Sherman asked hopefully.
"Really."
"But you always take control of them."
"I know. But that was because you would either go off topic or were historically inaccurate, but I believe you're old enough now."
"Ok, we'll take part in your Native American night. Just promise me there's no-"
"Penny is going to love the scavenger hunt I've prepared!"
"...Scavenger hunts..."
Peabody flicked all the lights off in the penthouse, and then lit a tiki torch.
"What are you doing?! That's a fire hazard!"
"Shhh. We're in the wilderness." Peabody whispered.
"No we're not!" Sherman hissed back. "I can still see the New York skyline literally outside the window!"
Peabody pressed a button on a nearby wall and sunshades came down and covered the windows, glow-in-the-dark stars taped to the shades with silhouettes of the tops of trees lining the bottom.
"You really go to a lot of trouble for these..." Sherman mused. "I think I'll just text Penny and let her know what's going on..."
He had barely sent off a text to Penny letting her know that their night would be more historical than normal when Peabody gasped and looked at him.
"What is this device you are carrying?" he swiped it out of Sherman's hand and tossed it onto the couch.
"Hey!"
"Sherman, just play along, please?" Peabody pleaded.
"Ugh. Fine."
Peabody tiptoed to a nearby stereo and turned up the volume on tribal drums and walked back over to the fake fire in front of the teepee.
"We are gathered here tonight to respect the elders of this land-"
"So why are we doing this here? it would be much more realistic and safer," Sherman looked pointedly at the tiki torch in Peabody's paw. "in the actual time and place..."
"Sherman, don't interrupt! You know we have to self-isolate!"
"I meant the tiki torch-"
"I am well versed in fire safety, Sherman. Now please, let me get back on track."
"Alright, alright, go on."
"We are gathered here tonight, under the sky of this beloved land, to call upon the-"
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Poor Mr. Peabody sighed in frustration and raised his eyes and head heavenward.
Penny walked into the living room. "Hey, Sherman, hey Mr. Pea-what?" She stopped as she noticed Peabody glaring at her and Sherman looking at her.
"Shhh, he's starting." Sherman whispered.
"Did I miss much?" she asked as she walked over to Sherman.
"Just the fire hazards." Sherman said sarcastically.
"Ahem!" Peabody cleared his throat loudly.
"Okay, okay." Penny said as they both started sitting down on the couch.
Peabody scolded them. "No! You must sit on the floor!"
"Why?" Sherman asked.
"Because they did not have modern conveniences such as couches back then!"
"Come on, Sherman. Humour him." Penny said, sliding down onto the floor and resting her back against the couch.
Sherman grumbled as he sat down next to her.
"In acknowledgement of the Inuit people, and Igaluk, the lunar deity... we are gathered here tonight in celebration." Peabody began again.
Suddenly, Penny's phone started ringing.
Sherman looked at her. "Seriously?"
"Sorry, I forgot to turn it off!" Penny said sheepishly.
"Penny, Mr. Peabody is trying to put on a show for us and you're interrupting him! That is very disrespec-"
"Excuse me! This is not a show! And I am not impressed by the behaviour from the both of you!" Peabody said as he glared at both of them. Sherman could see the patience in his eyes literally melting away.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Peabody! We really want to listen, honest!" Sherman said.
Peabody carefully set the tiki torch down and flung his costume off. "You know what, have it your way. We are having a quiet dinner tonight."
He flicked the light switch on and the two teens covered their eyes and groaned at the sudden brightness.
"Agh! Come on, Mr. P!" Penny exclaimed.
"Yeah dad, we weren't trying to be annoying!"
"Well you two sure have a knack for it!"
Peabody blew out the tiki torch and pouted and marched into the kitchen.
Sherman turned to Penny. "He's just stir crazy, the stay at home order hasn't been kind to him."
Penny looked down. "Sherman, I think we were a bit rude to him..."
"It's not my fault he's getting irritated over tiny things!" Sherman retorted.
"You should talk to him." Penny said, looking back up at him.
Sherman looked at her thoughtfully. "Actually, I have a better idea..."
Peabody closed the door behind him as he stepped into his room.
"I just wanted to have a little fun and teach those kids a thing or two about history! Why can't I just have that? Sometimes I just don't understand my own son..." He sniffed, his eyes starting to brim with tears.
The lights in his room suddenly shut off, plunging the penthouse into darkness.
"Sherman, I think a fuse blew again!" he called out.
He received no answer as his door opened, a soft orange light spilling in. He turned around and saw Sherman peek his head through the door, dressed in costume, holding the lit tiki torch.
"Are you going to join us?" he asked.
Peabody sighed. "Sherman, you don't have to do this just to make me feel better. I know you don't really enjoy-"
Sherman looked perplexed. "Sherman? I do not recognise that name. I am Iroquois. And I am here seeking guidance." he said, putting on a voice.
Peabody said nothing and smiled and followed Sherman out of his room and into the living room.
Sherman flopped onto the floor beside Penny, who was also in costume, and Peabody noticed Sherman's box of old costuming supplies sitting nearby.
"What did you say to get him to come back?" Penny whispered.
"Shhh, no more talking, he's back in his element!" Sherman whispered back.
Peabody quickly put his costume on again, walked over to the stereo and resumed the tribal music, and started his ritualistic dance of celebration again.
Penny leaned over and whispered in Sherman's ear. "Why is your dad more exciting than both of my parents combined?" The darkness shrouded her movement and Peabody didn't see it.
"I dunno." Sherman whispered back.
"Never take this for granted. Ever."
Sherman frowned. "I know, I shouldn't..."
"This is why I love your house more than mine, Sherman... Even though there are less people, it is way more... alive. Also, the food is much better."
Sherman chuckled.
"Sometimes."
Just then Peabody finished his dance.
"We may now eat." he said.
"Yes!" Sherman said happily.
"I'm starving!" Penny said.
"Please assist me, Sherman." He walked into the kitchen and Sherman followed him and after a minute they both returned carrying large straw platters of an assortment of food typical of a Native American celebration.
"At my house we just eat on the couch..." Penny said as they put the food down on the floor and all gathered around the fake fire in front of the teepee.
"I mean, we're eating on the ground. Not much of an upgrade." Sherman said.
Peabody cleared his throat.
"Sorry, breaking character again." Sherman said sheepishly.
"This is way better anyway." Penny said.
"Also don't worry, the floors have been disinfected." Sherman said, taking a bite of squash.
"In keeping with sanitary recommendations in place by the United States government." Peabody added.
Sherman raised an eyebrow at Peabody.
Peabody grinned sheepishly. "...more berries? Or another helping of venison?" he asked Penny.
"The wild rice is so good!" Penny exclaimed, taking another bite.
Sherman cut his venison. "Have as much as you'd like, there'll be plenty leftover in the refrig-"
He stopped as Peabody crossed his paws and looked at him.
Sherman rolled his eyes. "Well then what did Native Americans use to keep stuff cold then?"
Peabody answered him in his typical academic voice. "They were quite proficient with vacuum packing their meats, effectively turning them into long-life jerky. As for other foods, they'd tend to store them in shaded cool places, such as caves or small holes."
Sherman turned back to Penny. "There will be plenty leftover in the 'cave'" he said sarcastically.
Peabody smirked and Penny laughed.
Sherman smiled at both of them. He could not have loved his father and best friend more than in that moment, he thought, as they continued their night of bonding.