Chapter 2: A Morning Walk

The next morning...

Boss walked out the clubhouse door silently and down the dark and moist tunnel. He came to the completely frozen river outside in the cool breezy morning. It was still rather dark and seemed like night. He crossed the river and walked down the trail that ran through the park. Boss came to the bench and jumped atop of it.

Mike was not there yet, so Boss walked atop of the bench waiting for him. After a few minutes, he saw Mike walking toward it. Boss waited until Mike got atop of the bench to walk over. Mike glanced up at him with his brown eyes.

"Hashaa," Mike muttered. "Where do you want to walk to?"

Boss shrugged. "Anywhere's fine, just as long as there's no trapdoors or crap..."

Mike laughed. "In the ground? No problem. How about we just walk along the path of the trail? I don't mind."

"Sure, I suppose..."

The two enemies got down off of the bench and began walking along the trail. They left space in between them as they walked in silence. Neither of them looked at each other for the first twenty minutes.

Mike looked over at Boss with his brown eyes. "So, what are your plans for Christmas?"

"Well, it's baby's first Christmas, as CC would call it... I suppose we're going to celebrate it all the same. The Ham-Hams and I are going to get the Christmas tree before lunch time, and then after lunch I suppose we're going to decorate it... And then later tonight, we got family pictures, joy, joy..."

"Anything special you're going to do for CC since it's your first Christmas married?"

"I suppose. I'm just not sure what to do..." Boss thought for a minute. "I could possibly get her some flowers that match her eyes and maybe a dress for her, too. Maybe some jewelry... Maybe a gift card to a nice place... Maybe a lot of stuff." Boss sighed. "But I don't wanna spoil her..."

Mike glared over at him. "You gotta spoil the girl first so they'll reimburse you..."

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"...No, no, and no. I don't wanna look like a-"

"Sissy."

"Shut up, man..."

"I know how I could help you, but...it'd cost a lot on your part, but not money-wise."

"Huh?"

Mike flashed his brown eyes. "I can't exactly TELL you... It'd ruin the whole flash and cadabber!"

"Whatever that means."

"It means something you'll never understand."

"Shut up..."

"You wanna know what I'm doing for Christmas?"

"Sure."

"We're having a nice dinner at the Place... You and CC can come, too. Snoozer can also if he ever wakes up by then."

"Um, okay... Whatcha havin'?"

"Ham-Ham meat."

"...WHAT?"

"Haha! You fell for that one! No, I think we're just having traditional stuff..."

"Good... I wouldn't doubt you would..."

"...Shut up, you."

Boss and Mike walked in silence for a few more minutes. Mike seemed to be thinking about something, but everyone knows he always has to think. Boss took out his cellphone and looked at the time. It was around seven.

"Look, Mike, I gotta go... CC wanted me back around seven."

Mike nodded. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, same time?"

"Okay."

"Alright. Hashaa-sha." Mike then disappeared into the lightening darkness. Boss walked back to the clubhouse and into the tunnel. He marched down it to the door of the clubhouse. When he walked in, Caitlin was feeding Bossy at the table in the middle of the room.

Caitlin glanced up at Boss. "Have a nice walk?"

"Yeah," Boss responded as he sat down next to her. "How's Bossy this morning?"

"He's doing alright...," Caitlin declared as she shoved a spoonful of sunflower pudding into Bossy's mouth. "He hasn't thrown up any grass yet..."

"That wasn't my fault!"

"Sure..." Caitlin picked up Bossy out of his high chair and walked over to his play pen. She set him down on the red and green blanket and handed him a bottle. Bossy giggled and flapped his ears as he fell back with the bottle in his little paws.

"Aww, ISN'T HE SO FREAKIN' CUTE?!!" Caitlin shouted excitedly.

"Shut up or you're gonna scare him," Boss murmured as he stood beside her.

Bossy glanced up at the two with his large, sapphire eyes.

"And now he's going to stare at us."

"Good for you, Boss."

The Ham-Hams were all at the clubhouse by nine. Once everyone was there, they all set off to the Christmas Tree Store (such an original title, eh?) following Boss. Caitlin walked closely behind him with little Bossy, and Natsu and Howdy walked behind her holding onto Kay and Jay. Once there, the Ham-Hams bought an extraordinary tree.

While the Ham-Hams were hovering over the tree's beauty, Boss looked across the store. There were the Bad Hams choosing their tree. Mike had his arm wrapped around Stella's waist tightly, and Boss caught his eye. He looked over directly at Boss.

"Boss, help us with this tree!" the Ham-Hams called out at him.

Boss nodded as he picked up the top of the tree since it was laying down on the ground.