A week has passed by and it is now Friday afternoon! Now that Penelope and the Ant Hill Mob are home from work, they may discuss their plans for tonight and the weekend!
Penelope and the Ant Hill Mob were in the kitchen decorating a gingerbread house and trying to figure out what their plans were for the weekend, as Penelope still needed to get some shopping done for the boys and they still needed to find a time to shop for Penelope.
"Now fellas, if little ole me remembers correctly, Peter said he'd take you on a hunting trip for a weekend at his lodge." Penelope told the Mob. "Is that right?"
"Sure is, and you were gonna go shopping for us while we were away." Clyde replied.
"That's right. I know your trip is this weekend, but did Peter say what time you boys would be leaving and what day you'd be back?" Penelope asked.
"No, not yet." Zippy said. "He's been busy with Christmas shopping himself, he hasn't had much time."
"Oh, dear." Penelope took her phone and started to call Peter. "We'd better call him and ask. After all, I can't have you fellas seeing what you got till Christmas."
The phone rang a bit, and Peter finally answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Peter darling!" Penelope smiled. "Listen, I'm gonna put little ole you on speaker. The Ant Hill Mob needs to speak with you and plan your hunting trip. I'll hand my phone over to Clyde."
Penelope then gave her phone to Clyde.
"You chaps there?" Peter asked through the phone.
"We always are, Peter." Clyde nodded. "What's the plan?"
"The funny thing is that I was just about to call you and Penelope because not only are we going to discuss our plans, but I'm eager to take another trip with all of you."
"Oh! Where is this little ole trip?" Penelope grew excited.
"I was thinking we could all go to the park for the Annual Christmas lights show that's taking place tonight." Peter explained.
The moment Peter mentioned the Annual Christmas Lights Show at the park, it immediately occurred to Penelope.
"I should've remembered! I have to attend because I'll be representing my Dear Daddy!" Her excitement turned into worry.
"But we're leaving for our trip early tomorrow morning." Pockets also got worried.
"Oh what are we gonna do?" Softy sobbed.
"Now, now everyone, let's not panic." Peter assured everyone. "We'll make this whole thing work. We'll have plenty of time to hunt some wild game in the woods tomorrow and Sunday."
Penelope turned to the Ant Hill Mob.
"We don't have to leave until five when it finally gets dark outside, so you boys should start packing for the weekend."
"Sounds like a plan, Penelope." Clyde grinned.
"Duh, I'll pack both my things and things for Angel, the pretty bird dog." Dum-Dum got up to get packing with everyone else.
"I'll help you get Angel's things ready, Dum-Dum." Said Penelope. "Wait right here."
"Well in that case, I'll see everyone at five!" Peter nodded.
"You too, Peter." Penelope nodded before hanging up.
Later that night, our heroes arrive at the park for the lights show!
Penelope and the Ant Hill Mob arrived to the park in Chuggaboom that night. The Ant Hill Mob were dressed in Christmas Elf costumes for the event. Clyde's elf suit was a festive combination of red and green, and the other mobsters' elf suits were dark blue like their usual suits and stripes that were colors of their respective hat bands.
"Here we are, fellas!" Penelope was all smiles.
"Look at all the lights!" Zippy looked around.
"Aren't they just beautiful?" Softy cried.
"They will be once we get out and have ourselves a nice glance!" Penelope replied.
"In that case, let's get going and find Peter!" Clyde directed everyone else.
Penelope and the Mob got out of Chuggaboom and looked among the crowd for Peter. It took them some time but they managed to find him.
"There you are, Pretty Penny!" Peter smiled as he locked hands with Penelope. "And you chaps look fabulous in those elf suits of yours!"
"Thanks, Peter!" Clyde replied. "We got our bags packed and ready before heading off. What time are we leaving for our trip?"
"We'll be leaving at around six in the morning."
"Aww, but that's too early…" Dum-Dum groaned.
"Yes, I know it's a little early boys, but this will give us time to unpack and get a good breakfast before setting out for our hunt." Peter explained.
"And that means I can get my shopping done a bit earlier too." Penelope added.
"It's a win-win for all of us!" Pockets grinned.
"You can say that again!" Yak-Yak chuckled.
"Why, Penelope Pitstop! Is that you?" Said a male voice that sounded familiar to everyone.
"I'd recognize that little ole voice somewhere, but who could it be?" Penelope looked around.
"Why, Penelope it's me." A kind scientist with a mustard yellow winter coat, black slacks and black shoes came up to Penelope, Peter and the Ant Hill Mob.
"Professor Pat Pending!" Penelope smiled as she gave her fellow Wacky Races competitor a hug. "What brings little ole you to the lights show tonight?"
"I'm glad you asked, Penelope. I'm here to display my latest display of festive lights for the show tonight!" Pat explained with a smile as he led them to another location in the park. "And I have a lot more than just lights for this segment of the show, my friends."
"What exactly do you have other than lights, Professor?" Clyde wondered.
"In addition to my lights, I also have animatronics and inflatables."
Pat took out a remote control from his coat pocket.
"One press of this button will start the show. Let's give this baby a test run and give you guys a sneak preview!"
Pat pressed a button on his remote control and out came an animatronic group of trumpeters playing "Joy to the World!" The lights flashed on the trees and changed colors and patterns with each tune of the song, and inflatables of Santa and a snowman came rising up as the song played.
"Wow!" The Ant Hill Mob stared in amazement.
"I declare!" Penelope loved the performance.
"Amazing!" Peter smiled.
Now that's what I call a light show!
Pat pressed the button on his remote again, ending the performance.
"What did you think, my friends?"
"Oh Professor, that was ever so wonderful!" Penelope praised the Professor.
"I agree with Penny. You've really outdone yourself, Professor!" Peter nodded in agreement.
"Thank you my friends!" The Professor was no doubt happy to hear such wonderful praise and support from his fellow Wacky Racers. "After all, I worked extra hard on this display. Anything to represent us Wacky Racers, and Penelope's family!"
"That means a lot Professor." Penelope's heart was warmed by Pat's words. "Thank you."
"The show's not for a little while, Penelope." Clyde turned to her. "What's there for us to do here in the meantime?"
"Well, fellas." Penelope explained. "They've got good food, pictures with Santa for the kids, ice skating, gift shops, and a variety of different light displays including a Nativity, scenes from A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, a gingerbread house of sweets, and different fairytales!"
"Neat!" The boys thought out loud.
"I'm especially looking forward to ice skating! My favorite little ole winter activity!"
"Pardon me, Professor Pending." A woman came up to Pat. "My lights for the show is having some trouble functioning, and I need to have it fixed in time for the show."
"Don't you fret now, ma'am." The Professor assured the woman. "The show's not for another hour and a half. I can get your problem solved before you can say 'Poinsettias'!"
"I'll go with you too, Professor." Peter joined him. "I know my way around fixing these kinds of things."
Peter turned his head to Penelope.
"We'll be over with you real soon, Penelope."
"Ok, Peter darling." Penelope blew him a kiss as he left with the Professor and the woman who needed help.
"The show's not for another hour and a half fellas." Penelope told the Mob. "Let's get something to eat and then go ice skating."
But then she looked around the park and at all the different displays and attractions.
"But first, I have an idea."
"What's your idea, Penelope?" Zippy asked.
"This place makes for a great little ole game of hide and seek." Penelope grinned.
"Sounds like fun, Penelope!" Some of the Mob agreed.
"Aren't we a little old for that kind of stuff?" Clyde raised his brow.
"Oh come on Clyde!" The other Mobsters tried to encourage him. "Don't be such a humbug."
"Please Clyde, join us!" Penelope also tried to convince him. "Everyone's a kid on Christmas! And why waste such a fun opportunity as this?"
"Yeah, come on Clyde!" The other Mobsters kept telling him.
"Alright, alright!" Clyde gave in. "Just quit bugging me! I'll join!"
"Duh, who should count first?" Dum-Dum wondered.
"Penelope should count first." Said Zippy.
"I agree." Clyde winked at Penelope. "After all, ladies first."
Penelope blushed and giggled.
"Alright, fellas. I'll count to twenty while you find some places to hide."
Penelope covered her eyes and started counting to twenty while the Ant Hill Mob split up to find different places in the park to hide.
Oh what fun! Hope the Ant Hill Mob find good places to hide here.
Dum-Dum came across a reindeer inflatable.
"Duh, can you keep a secret, Donner?"
The inflatable just stood there.
"Ok, good." Dum-Dum said before he hid behind the reindeer.
Zippy found himself a Christmas light display that looked like a castle with a princess in it.
"Hello lovely princess." Zippy whistled at the princess before speeding to the castle.
"So, do you come around here often?" He flirted with the princess.
Softy came across a Nativity scene that included cows, sheep and a donkey.
"Oh please don't tell Penelope I was here!" He begged the animals through sobs, which made them look at each other in confusion.
Yak-Yak found a gingerbread house scene that had a variety of candy and sweets.
"Sweets galore!" He giggled. "Hope they saved some for me!"
The other boys had better find their hiding places sooner, Penelope's just about finished with her counting.
"Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty!" She finished counting. "Ready or not, here I come!"
Penelope excitedly dashed off to find the Ant Hill Mob.
"Fellas, where are you?" Penelope called them as she searched around the park. "You boys are hiding someplace and I know little ole me will find little ole you!"
As she continued to try to find the Mob, a male voice close by ringed her ears.
"Olly-Olly oxen free!"
"Oh, looks like one of them wants to be found, but which one?" Penelope thought with a smirk.
She then ran off with glee to the location of the voice.
"It's so close too!" She laughed with excitement. "Whoever you are, I'm gonna find you!"
As soon as she arrived at the location and stopped to catch her breath and wipe her brow, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed her. One of the hands was clamped over her mouth.
Wait a minute, that's not a single one of the Ant Hill Mob!
The voice did not come from any of the Ant Hill Mob. Instead, it was the Bully Brothers.
Penelope struggled until the first Bully Brother's hand was off her mouth.
"You're not any of the Ant Hill Mob!" She gasped. "You're the Bully Brothers! And that can only mean one thing…"
"Right, Blondie!" The Bully Brothers replied in unison. "Be a good girl and come with us. The boss wants to see you."
Before Penelope could protest, the twin thugs grabbed her and one of them placed his hands back on her mouth. Soon the Bully Brothers escaped with their captive into the dark.
Oh no! If the Bully Brothers are here, then that means the Hooded Claw is behind something! But what does that fiend have for our gal this time?
"Just a little festive fun that's all…" The Hooded Claw sneered.
Penelope was now in a storage area in the park. Her wrists were tied behind her back and she was sitting on top of some boxes of fireworks.
"Alright you fiend, what awful trap do you have for me tonight?" She frowned. "And why am I sitting on top of some little ole fireworks for tonight's show?"
"Just a little trap that's simple, but effective." The Claw replied. "See that string of Christmas lights over there by the fireworks?"
"Of course I do."
"Well those lights are rather very faulty and are close to seeing better days. But no matter, I plan to take them out of their suffering." He began to explain tonight's peril. "As soon as I plug in those lights, a spark will appear and will light the fuse of the first firework sticking out of the box. Once the fuse is lit by the lights, the first firework will start. And the minute the first one starts, the explosion of it will start the rest of its fireworks, and all you'll get for Christmas is one big kaboom!"
The Hooded Claw gave an evil laugh.
"You cad!" Penelope glared at her archenemy. "Don't you know those fireworks are for the show only?"
"Yes I know, but I don't care." The Claw smirked before plugging in the Christmas lights.
"The spark will come any minute now and will soon light the fuse." His evil grin not going anywhere. "Sorry I can't stay to see you and your name go in pieces after the show!"
With a wicked laugh, the Claw turned to leave.
Oh no! Will Penelope get one big kaboom for Christmas? Or will the Ant Hill Mob, as well as Peter Perfect, find out about her disappearance in time to free her from the fireworks?
"Why is it taking Penelope so long to find us?" Clyde wondered as he hid under a lit up Christmas tree. "I'd better call the other boys and see if Penelope found them."
Clyde took out his cell phone and dialed a number of one of the Mob.
"Hello, Zippy. Has Penelope found you yet?" He asked Zippy through the phone.
"She hasn't found me yet." Zippy replied. "I checked with the other guys. They haven't been found either."
This worried Clyde and made him suspicious.
"Looks like we'll have to call this game quits. Gather the other guys and we'll find Penelope!"
It didn't take Zippy long to round up the rest of the Mob, and soon they were on the search for their missing friend.
You'd better hurry, fellows! That spark could light up any time!
Back at the park's storage area, a spark in one of the Christmas lights slowly but surely started.
"Oh dear!" Was all Penelope could think to herself.
Oh dear is right, Penelope! Will the Ant Hill Mob ever find where you are?
Meanwhile, the Ant Hill Mob were still on the hunt for Penelope when all of a sudden, a smell entered Snoozy's nose.
"Hey, Clyde. I smell something." He snored.
"What could it be Snoozy?" Clyde wondered.
"It smells like burning lights…" Snoozy replied before sniffing the scent he had discovered.
"Burning lights?" Dum-Dum scratched his chin.
"That can't be a good thing…" Zippy commented.
"Darn right it's not a good thing." A realization came to Clyde's brain. "I believe the Hooded Claw is stirring up trouble again, and Penelope's a part of it. I smell the lights, too, and it's not too far. We have got to get going!"
"Right, Clyde!" The rest of the Mob nodded before speeding off to the storage area where Penelope was in danger.
Please, please get there soon, little elves! The spark is close to igniting the first firework!
The spark was getting bigger, and soon it was about to ignite the firework string sticking out of the box. Just as Penelope gulped and shut her eyes tight, the Ant Hill Mob broke down the door and entered inside, where they saw their friend tied up on top of the firework and the spark finally lighting up the firework string.
"Penelope's gonna get one big kaboom!" Yak-Yak chuckled.
"No she won't!" Clyde barked. "Zippy! Douse that fuse before it goes off!"
"Right, Clyde!" Zippy saluted.
Just as Zippy was about to speed off with a bucket of water to put the fuse out, he, Penelope and the other mobsters heard the sound of it being doused by someone else. Once everyone heard the sound, everyone, especially Penelope took deep breaths of relief.
Sounds like someone else came in too, because the fuse is no longer lit. And thank goodness, too.
"Duh, who put that fuse out?" Dum-Dum had a confused look on his face.
"Beats me, Dum-Dum." Clyde replied. "With all this commotion going on I didn't hear anyone else coming in this place, too."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The voice ended up being that of Professor Pat Pending, who got up after putting out the fuse and examining the fireworks.
The fireworks, fortunately, did not suffer any damage.
"Professor Pat Pending!" Penelope cried in delight.
"In the flesh, my dear." Pat smiled. "Ok, boys. Do your stuff. After all, you are Penelope's main rescuers."
The Ant Hill Mob went to the fireworks that Penelope was still tied up on top of and formed a human chain with Clyde on the top.
"Don't try to move Penelope." Clyde assured her. "We'll get you down."
The mobsters successfully lowered their human chain down and Clyde grabbed Penelope. After they gently set her down, Pockets took out a knife and untied the ropes binding Penelope's wrists behind her back.
"Oh, I'm free! And more importantly I'm safe!" Penelope rubbed her sore wrists after she got up.
"Oh thank you oh so much, Professor!" Penelope gave him a hug, then turned to the Ant Hill Mob and gave them a group hug, too! "And of course, thank you too, fellas!"
"You're welcome, Penelope!" Softy sobbed.
"Hello, Penelope?" Another male voice caught everyone's attention. "Are you in there, Penny?"
"That sounds like Peter." Yak-Yak giggled.
"That's because it is Peter." Penelope got up and opened the door.
"Oh, Penny! Are you okay, babe?" Peter once more wrapped his arms around his girl.
"Yes, I'm okay, Peter." She hugged him back just as tight. "I thought you'd be with the Professor. After all, the two of you were helping that woman with her little ole light trouble."
"Allow me to explain how I got here, Penelope." Pat began his explanation. "Peter and I were finishing up the repair of the lights, and the minute we did, I caught the smell of burning lights. I knew that scent did not mean anything right, so if you know me with my technical instincts, I did just as the Ant Hill Mob did. I followed the scent over to the storage area. I quickly saw one firework about to be ignited and I just couldn't let the show be ruined by the lack of fireworks and I couldn't let anything happen to you of course, so I licked my fingers and pinched the string as it ignited."
"I followed the Professor because I had an awful feeling you may have been involved, which unfortunately you were." Peter explained his situation. "I guess I wasn't fast enough to get there at the same time he reached you."
"All that matters, honey, is that I'm safe." Penelope placed a gentle hand on Peter's cheek to reassure him.
"And I'm so thankful you're safe, Penny." Peter placed his hand on hers as she still cupped his cheek.
"Say, Professor." Clyde asked Pat. "Those lights that almost did Penelope in were faulty. Is it something that can be fixed?"
Pat got down, unplugged the lights, and examined them.
"Ah, I see." He detected a flaw in one light. "That light appears to be broken."
"It's the light the spark came out of." Penelope pointed out.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." The Professor answered. "Fortunately, it can easily be replaced. I'll search for a replacement bulb. As for the rest of you, you can go back to enjoying the fun!"
"Oh thank you Professor!" Penelope's excitement came back.
"So, Penny." Peter grinned as he pulled her close. "What shall we do now that you're free?"
"I'm still up for some little ole ice skating." Penelope told the boys. "Let's go down to the skating rink."
"Yeah!" The boys cheered.
"Blast!" The Hooded Claw grumbled. "Foiled by not only those pint sized pests, but a big headed scientist too! Why must things go wrong for us villains?"
Now that Penelope is no longer in peril, our heroes can enjoy some fun on the ice!
Penelope and her friends were on the ice rink skating, spinning and having fun. Penelope unleashed her inner professional skater and did graceful figure eights and pirouettes on the rink. Peter took her hand and skated around with her.
Dum-Dum attempted to skate, but unfortunately for him he slipped and fell on his rear. He got up and tried again, but he slipped again and landed on his chin. Dum-Dum didn't get too injured, but he was embarrassed.
"Dum-Dum, dear. Are you hurt?" Penelope came to him.
"Duh, no I'm alright Penelope." Dum-Dum answered with a flustered look as he reached for the ramp and clung to it while trying not to slip again, to no avail.
"Need some help?"
"Nope. I can do it." Dum-Dum let go of the ramp and attempted to skate again, but he lost his balance and fell. Luckily Penelope caught him before he could hit the ice again.
"Let's go sit down and have a break, Dum-Dum." Penelope led Dum-Dum to the bench outside the rink.
"Either I'm too klutzy, or the ice is too slippery." Dum-Dum sighed with a red face of embarrassment.
"Have you ever learned to ice skate before?" Penelope wondered.
"Nope." He shook his head.
"Never fear, Dum-Dum." Penelope smiled as she patted his shoulder. "I am more than happy to give you a little ole skating lesson."
"I've got an idea." Clyde came up to the bench Penelope and Dum-Dum were sitting on, the rest of the Mob and Peter behind him. "You can give Dum-Dum a skating lesson sometime tomorrow during the hunting trip."
"But I'm hunting, too." Dum-Dum said.
"It's okay, Dum-Dum." Penelope kept assuring him. "We'll plan around the trip."
"You know Penelope, there's another side of the forest where my lodge is and where the boys and I will be hunting." Peter told them. "The pond gets frozen enough for it to be stable for ice skating. This afternoon after lunch, you can come over to the pond where we'll meet you. From there, Penelope, you can give your lesson."
"That means I'll have to go Christmas shopping for the Ant Hill Mob later that day or Sunday morning, but other than that, I think that sounds rather peachy!"
The boys all agreed.
"What time will lunch be tomorrow, Peter?" Penelope asked.
"We're planning lunch around noon."
"Then it's all settled." Penelope told the boys her plan. "Dum-Dum, we'll have your lesson at one in the afternoon after lunch. You boys just meet me on the other side of the woods where the pond is. Once Dum-Dum and I are finished with our lesson, you can all come right back and have him rejoin you!"
"Sounds like a plan, Penelope." Clyde nodded.
"It's a win-win for everyone!" Penelope giggled. "I can't wait to see you for lessons, Dum-Dum!"
"I can't wait for my lesson, Penelope!" Dum-Dum hugged her in gratitude.
"I'll see you tomorrow, too, Pitstop…" The Hooded Claw sneered behind the side of the rink entry before he laughed evilly.