Chapter 21: Christmas Swim Part 2
Christmas morning arrived and the Heeler family gathered in the living room for the gift exchange. Chilli was the one picking the presents at the tree and then she would give them to Bluey who then would deliver them. Some gifts had already been opened, like the tie Thomas and his sisters had chosen for their dad, a perfume Bandit had given to Chilli, a box with Trixie's favorite chocolate given to her by Stripe, and the kids (Thomas included) all received a box full of Nana's home-made cookies, all while receiving a carved figure made by Grandad.
"Okay, who else do we got here… to uncle Stripe from… Nana and Grandad," Chilli read the tag of the next gift, giving it to Bluey who went to give it to Stripe. "Here you go, uncle Stripe," Bluey said, giving him the gift. "Thanks, Bluey," Stripe replied, excited, unwrapping the gift that was revealed to be an apron that said 'World's Best Chef' at the front. "World's Best Chef! Thanks, mum, thanks, dad," Stripe thanked. "Hey, I thought I was the World's Best Chef," Bandit said, having received the same gift as Stripe, what caused a lot of laughs. "Oh, you both are," Nana replied, while having her arm around Socks. "Well, after your old man, of course," Bob told.
"That one's for Nana… from Bandit," Chilli said, causing Bluey to go give the present. "This is from dad," Bluey told her. "Oh, thanks, Bandy," Nana thanked, after getting the gift. "No worries, mum," Bandit replied. "Oh, what is it?" she asked, while unwrapping. "Oh, it's a shirt, what does it say? Hang on, I'll just get my glasses," Nana said, putting on her glasses, but she then say that the shirt said exactly what she just said, causing everyone to drop a laugh. "And here's one for Grandad from Stripe," Chilli said, giving the gift to Bluey that went to give to Grandad. "This is from uncle Stripe," she said. "Don't tell me, it's also a shirt?" he asked. "Why don't you open it and see it," Stripe replied. Bob did so and saw it was really a shirt saying 'World's Best Dancer'. "Oh, son, I love it, and it's nice to be recognized for my dance moves," Bob said. "Well, I was kind of hoping it would motivate you to dance better, dad," Stripe replied, causing everyone to drop a laugh. "Very funy," Bob said, smiling, while putting on the shirt.
The girls also unwrapped more of their presents, with Bingo finding a doctor's bag given to her by Bandit and Chilli to be her favorite, while Muffin and Socks' favorite gift was the pool floaties (an island for Muffin and a pizza slice for Socks) their parents gave them. Bandit also got excited for tennis balls he received from Chilli. "And now… to Thomas from… Mum and Dad," Chilli said, giving a wrapped box to Bluey who went to give it to her brother, "This is from Mum and Dad," Bluey told him. "Thanks, Bluey," Thomas thanked, proceeding to unwrapped his gift that were… "Inline skates!" Thomas exclaimed, with a big smile. "That way, you don't have to take any of your sisters' bikes whenever you want to go somewhere," Bandit told, making Thomas release a chuckle, as he was referring that one time he took Bingo's bike to go get a gift for Bluey's birthday.
"Thanks, dad, thanks, mom" he thanked. "But that's not all," Chilli said. "We chose those skates especially for you, mate, they are convertible, you can turn them into ice skates," Bandit revealed. "Really?" Thomas asked, noticing they were really convertible, possessing a set of ice blades to replace the wheels. "I know how you missed ice skating, and I got information about a rink where you can use them," Bandit told. That caused Thomas to look at both Bandit and Chilli, with a smile of pure joy. "Thank you so much," he told, causing both parents to feel happy that their son loved the gift they got him.
"And to Bluey from Mum and Dad" Chilli said, while taking another wrapped box and put it before Bluey. "Oh, this one's for me! Thanks Mum and Dad!" Bluey replied, unwrapping the gift and revealing a doll of a male dog dressed with a shirt and jeans that everyone admired. "Oh, I love him! I'm going to call you Bartleby," Bluey exclaimed, while holding the box and talking to the doll. "And I think that's it, it's all done," Chilli said. "Christmas Swim!" Muffin exclaimed in her crazy way, while she had her dad start filling in the floaty. "Yeah!" everyone shouted back.
Thomas was helping clean up the wrapping paper while Bluey was showing Bartleby around. "Thank you so much for cleaning," Trixie said, helping clean as well. "Not a problem aunt Trixie," Thomas said taking the garbage out. "Well, either way, you just allowed me to focus more on the lunch… and the gravy," Trixie said. "I just hope your grandmother doesn't try to take over, like she did with dinner yesterday," she said, before Nana Chris appeared. "Ah, Trixie, dear, there you are, come I want to show you my gravy recipe, you'll see it's great," she said. Thomas could see aunt Trixie slight dismay, as she went to the kitchen, what caused him to drop a chuckle.
After he was done with the garbage, he went out to the pool. He could see that Bingo, Muffin and Socks were having a blast playing in the water with Chilli, while Bandit was pumping air into Muffin's floaty with an air pump, observing Stripe at the grill. "Are you sure you can get the crackling mate?" Bandit said to his little brother. "Read the apron!" Stripe replied, closing the grill, while Bandit only chuckled and rolling his eyes. Bluey then approached them, wanting to introduce Bartelby to uncle Stripe, with that being interrupted by Socks that 'blew' her father into the poll, with the little pup then proceeding to lick Bartleby after wishing him 'Merry Christmas' when Bluey introduced them, jumping then to her floaty that was already inflated.
Seeing her brother, Bluey approached him. "Bartleby, this is my big brother Thomas, don't mind his accent, he's from America, but he's very funny and is always looking out for us," Bluey said. Thomas couldn't help but feeling touched by what his little sister just said. He then played along with her and shook the doll's hand, kneeling before him. "Nice to meet you, Bartleby, I hope you like your new family, I know that I did," he said. Bandit, noticing his son with his back on him while talking to Bartleby, couldn't help but having a mischievous idea to mess with him. "Stripe, watch this," Bandit said to his brother, who was at the water playing with Socks.
He sneaked up on his son, going from behind him, and then tried to push him into the pool. But Thomas, sensing someone behind him, reacted and was able to get the upper hand, pushing his dad into the pool instead, despite he ended up pulling Bartleby's arm a little too hard because of it. Despite a little unease for that, Bluey quickly let it go, understanding it was an accident. Stripe let out a big laugh while pointing at his older brother. "Sorry dad let me help you," Thomas said lending out his hand to help. "No mate, let me help you," Bandit said as he pulled his son in the water. Stripe was almost dying of laughter seeing his nephew fall in. "Should have seen that coming," Thomas said in the pool. "Sorry mate," Bandit swimming around. Thomas smiled as he and his father started a friendly pool fight, with one trying to dunk the other into the water.
Meanwhile, Bluey continued to show Bartleby around, while introducing him with other members of the family. She approached her grandad, who was relaxing on a relaxer chair. "And this is my Grandad, he is my dad's dad and, unlike what others may say, he's a great dancer," Bluey said. "Thanks, Bluey, and nice to meet you, Bartleby, I…" Grandad Bob started to say, before he heard Bandit calling him. "Hey, dad, come show Thomas a real Heeler bomb dive, he doesn't believe you hold the record for the greatest splash in the family" he said. "Oh, does he, now? Well, it's time to show these youngsters what an old dog can really do," Bob say, before getting up and run to the pool and giving one of his famous bombs.
After spending time swimming around, Thomas got out of the pool and dried himself off with a quick shake, before using a towel to dry the rest of the water, as his family prepared to make classical catches. Thomas then went inside to watched some Christmas movies with Bob, who had decided to join his grandson, despite appearing to be ready to fall asleep. "Tired already, grandpa?" Thomas asked. "And here was I thinking the great bomb diver of the family wouldn't get out of the water that easily," Thomas joked. "Well, as great as I may be, I don't have the same energy as you," Grandad Bob replied. "But I have to say a little peace and quiet is also great, especially when I pass the time with one of my grandkids," he added. "Yeah… I just wished we could have had more time together ever since I came to live with Dad," Thomas confessed. "Well, I think that can be arranged," Bob replied.
It was then that Chilli came in and told them. "Hey, guys, come, uncle Rad and Frisky are calling," she said. Hearing that, both Thomas and Bob got up and headed to the yard, where the family was gathering under the pool gazebo around the tablet from where Rad and Frisky, who were spending the holiday together on a hotel, by the pool, were calling. "Stripe, are you sure you know how to do the crackling, mate?" Rad asked to his youngest brother, in the same way Bandit had already done. "Read the apron!" Stripe replied, accenting every word and pointing to the apron he got from Nana, causing everyone to laugh. "Oh, I wished you guys could be here," Nana said to his son. "Yeah, me too, mum," Rad replied. It was then that Muffin suddenly occupied the front of tablet, while holding her floaty. "Look what I got for Christmas, uncle Rad," she said. "Wow, look at that!" Rad said, while he and Frisky showed an impressed face. "Muffin!" Stripe replied, with a slight smile, while trying to take the floaty out of his face. "Hey, where's Bluey?" Frisky asked. Thomas noticed her absence as well. "I'll go get her."
Thomas went to the living room, where he found her tending to Bartleby (who had lost his shirt at the pool), looking particularly sad. "I'm sorry it's been a little bit crazy, Bartleby, I hope you're still having a good time," Bluey told to her doll. She then proceeded to pretend Bartleby was talking to her. "What's that? What, you want to go home?!" That caused Bluey to get really sad. Thomas couldn't help but feeling bad for his little sister. She made him remember that one time when he was trying to ice skate for the first time, but the fact he was always falling made him feel sad… until his mother came to cheer him up.
(Flashback)
Thomas falls down on his butt still trying to ice skate like his mother. Bandit also having trouble finally came to the side of ice rink. "You can do it mate!" Bandit called out to his son. Thomas tried and tried again but kept falling. "I'll never get this," Thomas said sitting in the ice. Suddenly Emily skates to her son. "What's the matter son?" Emily asked looking down at her son. "I'll never be able to skate like you," Thomas said looking up at his mother. Emily smiled as she help her son up from the ice. "I believe you can son," Emily holding Thomas steady. "But what about dad he can't do it either," Thomas said holding himself together.
"Well that's your father for you," Emily said with a wink. "Hey!" Bandit said from the sideline. "That's our little secret though," Emily said helping her son skate. "Hey! I'm doing it!" Thomas said with a smile. Emily lightly let's go of her son and he skates on his own. "I'm doing it!" Thomas cheers. "Dad I'm doing it!" Thomas said, waving to his father. "I knew you could do it mate!" Bandit cheered for his son. Thomas laughs as he skates faster and faster. Emily then goes to the sidelines with her husband and sits next to him. "We made that Bandit," Emily said laying her head on Bandit's shoulder. Bandit rests his head on his wife's head and smiles. "Yeah, we made him mate," Bandit said still with his smile.
(End of Flashback)
"Hey Bluey," Thomas said as he walked up to his little sister. "Hey Thomas," Bluey said in a low sad tone. "What's the matter little sister?" Thomas said getting down to her level. "Bartleby wants to go home," Bluey said still with a sad tone. "How come?" Thomas asked. "Because he said everyone is too rough and wild and he doesn't know if he wants to be part of the family anymore," Bluey explained. "Well let me see if I can convince Bartleby to stay," Thomas said now holding the doll. "Hey Bartleby, I know somethings hard a little different in the Heeler household I had to learn like you did," Thomas explained. "But you learn to love it here because us Heelers have such big hearts and will welcome you with open hearts please give Bluey and the rest of the family a chance," Thomas said before giving Bartleby back to Bluey.
After consulting with Bartleby, Bluey turned to her brother. "Bartleby says he feels better, but he is still uncertain about staying," she said. "I see…" Thomas said, still thinking of another way that could help his sister. "Wait, I have another idea, hold on," Thomas replied, getting out and soon returning with a tablet. "Hey, Bluey, see who I have here," Thomas told, while showing her the tablet. "Frisky!" Bluey exclaimed, excited, while seeing her 'fairy' godmother. "Hey, Bluey, merry Christmas," Frisky told her. "Merry Christmas, Frisky," Bluey wished. "So, is that the doll I've been hearing about… Bartleby?" Frisky asked. "Yeah, it's his first Heeler Christmas, but… he finds our family to be too rough, he wants to go home," Bluey replied. "Thomas managed to calm him, but he is still uncertain about staying," she added. "I see… do you mind if I have a word with him?" Frisky asked. "Oh, okay," Bluey replied.
Bluey put Bartleby at the front of the tablet. "Nice to meet you, Bartleby, I'm Frisky and I'm new to the Heeler family as well, and just between you and me…" Frisky said, before Rad, at the background, dived wildly into the pool. "They're a bit crazy…" Frisky ended in a whisperer not so quiet. "Hey!" Rad replied, causing both Bluey and Thomas to chuckle. "But give them a chance. You'll see… they're full of love," Frisky ended, as Rad positioned himself next to him and put an arm around her. That finally made Bartleby whisperer something to Bluey. "Really, Bartleby?! Hey, he says he will give it another go!" Bluey exclaimed. "Hurray!" Thomas, Rad and Frisky shouted. "Thank you, Frisky, thanks, Thomas," Bluey told, both to her godmother and her brother, before passing the table to the latter and going outside.
"Thanks, Frisky, you were a big help," Thomas said. "Anytime, Thomas, I'm always available to put a smile on a Heeler pup," she said. "Hey, Thomas, what about you? How is your first Christmas with the family going?" Rad asked to his nephew. "Actually… better than I could have ever expected, I thought it could be a little too different, but it's like I've never been apart from the family," Thomas replied. "That's because you're a Heeler through and through, and that's something it will never change" Rad said. "Thanks, uncle Rad…" Thomas said, with a big smile. "You're welcome, mate," Rad told. "I hope you two are enjoying your holiday," Thomas said. "Well, we're together and that's what we need," Frisky replied, while cuddling on Rad, who rested his head on hers. That caused Thomas to be glad that his uncle Rad had been able to find a special someone, as he knew how much he loved his mother and how much he missed her.
After saying goodbye to Rad and Frisky and end the call, Thomas returned to the pool, where he joined all the family in the fun, where Bartleby became the center of it. The rest of the family got to know about how rough they have been treating him and how that hurt Bluey and so they did everything to fix that. Bingo and Socks tended and comforted Bartleby; Bandit was holding him, while trying the crackling made by Stripe, complimenting it, much to his younger brother's happiness; Muffin played with him, making sure he was always safe; he, together with Grandad Bob, congratulated Thomas, as he was able to make a Heeler bomb dive that managed to break the record set by the latter; he played classical catch with Nana who showed that she could also play and even outshine all the other family members; he helped Bluey and Socks, as they 'attacked' Stripe who was relaxing on Sock's floaty like they were sharks; he tasted Trixie's gravy, while approaving with it with Nana.
At last, the family gathered for the lunch at the table outside, with Thomas sitting next to Chilli at the grown-ups table, while Bartleby sat next to Bluey at the kids table. Everyone was talking with great happiness, all while wearing paper crowns and pulling crackers (or bon-bons) open, with Thomas even pulling one with his dad, ending up winning the prize. That was in fact a very great Christmas, one like he had never had in a long time.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: hey guys! Here's part 2 hope you enjoyed it! Already working on the next chapter as we speak so be ready! Lol