Day at the Beach
Gumball scratched the side of his head and stared out the window of the moving vehicle. The van was going fast making the scenery out just a blur of colors, but nonetheless Gumball enjoyed sitting by the window. The other children who sat behind him were being very loud and noisy jumping from their seats and throwing things around. The van came to a slow stop and Gumball could see a huge body of water at the distance. A gleeful smile spread across his face and he tried to sit up higher to get a better view but his seatbelt restricted him from moving around too much. Gumball pouted and his fingers played at the seatbelt, he wasn't fond of them he hated wearing seatbelts. It always pressed hard against his stomach. He wanted to take it off but he knew that if he did Ms. Petrikov would be mad at him. He also didn't like sitting in a car seat. He wished he could be a few years older so he didn't have to wear a seatbelt and he wouldn't need a car seat either.
The screaming behind him became louder and then someone flung a toy from behind and it hit the driver. Ms. Petrikov turned around, her face red and she yelled,
"MARSHALL! How many times have I told you not to get up from your seat?"
"But it's so boring." Complained Marshall "We were only playing Simone, don't be mad."
"I don't care! Get back in your seat right now! No, wait I change my mind. Move up here next to Gumball, LSP switch with Marshall."
Marshall groaned as he climbed up the seats until he was upfront and threw himself in LSP's car seat. He was having so much fun at the back with Fiona, Cake, Monochrome and Flame. And now he has to move up to the front next to Gumball! He didn't like this, he has to hurry up and convince Simone to make him go back. "But Simone!" he whined "LSP's seat is too small for me, and I get car sick when I sit in the front, and what if Gumball threw up at me?"
"Read my lips Marshall. I. DON'T. CARE. I know the game you're playing and it won't work." She said, and then she turned to look at the back and yelled, "Fiona leave the toys and put your seatbelt on! Cake, how many times have I told you no eating in the car! Flame I can see what you're doing so stop it! Honestly why can't any of you be more like Gumball!"
At the mention of his name Gumball smiled shyly and swung his legs in a happy motion. He liked being praised. Marshall, sitting next to him, snorted and mumbled an insult at him. Ms. Petrikov sighed heavily before a loud sound startled her and everyone in the van. Cars swiveled around the van with loud beeping horns, their drivers popping their heads out of the window and yelling insults. Ms. Petrikov rolled down her window and yelled equally at the drivers, her mouth spouted words that made the children gasp. But Marshall laughed silently and promised himself to use this against her in the future.
Within few minutes the van parked at the beach and children cheered as they finally reached their awaited destination. Ms. Petrikov helped the children unload their stuff from the van while LSP threw up at the side.
"Ms. Petrikov. Ms. Petrikov. LSP is vomiting." Said Fiona pointing at the sick kid
Simone hoisted up the cooler and said, "I can see that Fiona. Here why don't you go and find a good spot for us. That sounds good to you?"
"Yes! Adventurer Fiona on the go!" shouted Fiona then ran off with Cake in tow
On the other side of the van, Gumball was squatting on the concrete watching a line of ants on the move with fascination.
"Hey Gumball!" called Marshall, "Gimme your hand."
"Huh. Why?" said Gumball standing up
"Just because. Come on do it!"
Gumball opened his hand and Marshall dumped something in open palm smirking. Gumball felt his palm tickle; he looked at it curiously and screamed when he found a centipede crawling on his hand. Marshall laughed at the bawling Gumball
"Marshall what did you do now?" yelled Simone as she came around the van
"Nothing!" said Marshall between laughs
"Ms. Petrikov! Malshall …he…he .." Gumball tried to speak between hiccups But Simone only patted his head and glared at Marshall
"Stop bothering him! Just because you're older that doesn't give you the right to bully him!"
"It's not my fault, he asked for it!" said Marshall before turning around and chasing after Fiona and the other kids
Simone crouched down and wiped the tears off Gumball's cheeks and said, "Don't let Marshall bother you, ok?"
Gumball nodded and then she took his hand and they both followed the children to the spot Fiona found and claimed at the beach.
"Before I let you go, we have to go over some rules here. Flame you can't swim so don't accept challenges from Fiona or Marshall and never go to the beach without a tube. That goes to you too Fiona. Marshall don't bother Gumball and don't go too far to the sea. LSP don't go destroying other people's sand caste just because they look better than yours. Cake, don't swim too far. Monochrome, no talking to strangers. And Gumball, don't eat anything you find just because it looks like candy. Are we clear?"
"Yes Ms. Petrikov." the children sang before they were dismissed to have fun at the beach.
Simone stripped to her bikini and lay down on her towel sun bathing, while the kids scattered all around the beach. Marshall kept trying to get Fiona into the water; Gumball was busy collecting seashells that looked like candy, Cake and Monochrome were having a swim race, and LSP and Flame were occupied building sand castles.
"You're such a coward Fi! It's just water, what're you afraid of?" mocked Marshall
"But Ms. Petrikov said I shouldn't accept challenges from you. And I don't like the water anyways."
"Pssht! You're such a baby." Snorted Marshall then walked away from her already feeling bored. The five year old boy walked past the sand castles, and past Ms. Petrikov, he walked along the shore line until he spotted Gumball at the distance. A mischievous smile appeared and he dashed towards the pink boy.
Gumball's hands were very full of small pink seashells and he wished he brought a bag with him to put all the candy-looking seashells in it. He was adjusting the shells in his hands when a loud scream scared him; Gumball jumped and dropped all his seashells in the process, they scattered all around the sand and some got dragged back into the ocean by the waves.
"Hahahahaha! You're such a scardy cat Gumball!" laughed Marshall
Gumball sniffed as his tears started flowing, "You're so mean." He cried
"Augh are you gonna start crying? You're such a crybaby, grow up already."
Gumball burst out crying louder and Marshall started panicking. He didn't want to get into trouble for bothering Gumball. He looked around frantically hoping nobody heard Gumball's wail.
"Look I'm sorry, stop crying already!" he said but Gumball ignored him and stood up running back to Simone.
Gumball didn't go far before suddenly a big shepherd dog approached him barking loudly. The dog's frantic barking startled Gumball making him fall back on his behind. The dog stood in front of him barking nonstop, and Gumball was sure he's going to wet his pants from fear. This dog was going to eat him, he was sure of it. He wished he was older so that he could scare the dog away; no he scratched that thought, being a super hero would be better. If he was a super hero he could use his power to fight him. The dog barked again and leaned forward too close to Gumball's comfort and bared his sharp teeth growling.
Suddenly the dog got hit by a seashell, making it back away whining. Dazed Gumball looked behind him and gasped when he Marshall Lee.
"Get away from Gumball!" Marshall said
The dog barked at the boys and Marshall threw more shell at him before the dog's owner brusquely appeared. She scolded the boys for hurting her dog then walked away. Gumball stood up and brushed the sand from his clothes, after that he looked at Marshall with a stunned expression. Could Marshall be his hero? He did just save his life. Maybe Marshall is not so bad after all.
"What?" Marshall asked noticing Gumball's expression, it disturbed him and he didn't know how to react to it.
Gumball smiled shyly and said, "Thank you."
Marshall didn't like feeling flustered so he put a scowl on his face then dug out the sea shells from his pocket and thrust them at Gumball. "Here…uh, your shells. Sorry about earlier okay, so don't tell Simone…please?"
Gumball smiled widely as he took the small pink sea shells admiring them. Then he looked at Marshall and grinned saying, "Okay. I won't tell her anything."
Marshall started to smile but caught himself and bit his lips, "Whatever." He spat before running back to bother Fiona and Flame. Gumball smiled down at his shells as he slowly walked back to where Simone was and sat beside her. He displayed his seashells on the sand and starting picking them one by one marveling at them and appreciating them.
"You look happy? Did something good happen?" asked Simone, she awoke from her nap when she sensed someone take a seat beside her. When she opened her eyes she saw little Gumball smiling and admiring his shells. She only hoped he hadn't tried to eat one of them yet. When the only answer Gumball gave her was a nod, she shrugged and lay back on the towel and continued her nap.