I know I take a while to update, but I appreciate you all being so patient – and your wonderful feedback! Welcome to my new readers and thank you to my dear faithfuls for sticking with this tale; I appreciate you all from the bottom of my heart! I have a good long chapter for you – about Nori's first Christmas with the Warners. In the first part, we see everyone go Christmas shopping, an Animaniacs oldie-but-goodie makes an appearance, and Nori and Yakko have a heart-to-heart on Christmas Eve. And in the second act, we see Christmas Day and Nori learns that her mother owns a rather suspicious object – and she knows just who to ask about it. Happy Easter, everyone!
This chapter is for Jenny – I was so touched by your last review. I'm also a fan of the movie Casper, and the sweet relationship between Casper and Kat was indeed a huge inspiration for that of Yakko and Nori! Just for you, I've included a little nod to Casper in this chapter. Thanks again for your support and your kind words!
By the time the holidays were rolling around, the Warner Bros. lot was swamped with activity, and the studio was running like a Swiss watch… no thanks to its chief. Mr. Plotz was still absent, having taken advantage of his vacation time and his loyal nurse's willingness to take the reins. Rumor had it he was holed up in Hawaii for the holidays, and the entire lot from the gates to the ranch was celebrating. In fact, the studio was in such high spirits that their CEO pro tem was arranging a Christmas party for everyone.
Most would have cracked under the pressure of running one of the biggest film and TV studios in the world, but not Heloise. She thrived in the environment and was making great progress for not only wrapping up the 1999 fiscal year, but in securing projects for the early aughts. The Looney Tunes had new shorts booked, post-production was underway for The Perfect Storm and Space Cowboys, and the director for the upcoming Harry Potter was engaged. Not to mention Heloise had had a good meeting with Sandra Bullock about her new movie to be released next year. It sounded like a winner – unfortunately, someone had tried to veto it at first.
"I can't believe Mr. Plotz tried to pass on this script," Heloise remarked to Scratchy over lunch. "He said no one would believe it could actually happen."
"Vat is ze movie about?"
"A lady FBI agent who goes undercover at a beauty pageant to bust a bomber."
"Is it a drama?"
"No, a comedy. It's Sandra Bullock's next movie."
"Ooh, I like her a lot. Vhy doesn't Mr. Plotz believe ze plot is realistic?"
"Don't ask me. After all, we're the same studio that released movies about a bunch of kids looking for pirate treasure with a mob family chasing them down, a vigilante superhero disguised as a bat, and a day of monster tornadoes in Oklahoma, to say nothing of our upcoming film about a boy wizard. Sometimes I think Mr. Plotz doesn't know what realism is."
As Heloise was speaking this last part, Slappy trotted over with a tray of cranberry-walnut salad, extra walnuts, and plunked down next to Scratchy. "That's 'cause he lives in another world. Anything he thinks won't earn him money, he thinks is unrealistic." She gave Scratchy a grin and hip-bumped him. "Scoot over."
"Scoot yourself," Scratchy retorted, unfazed. "How is Skippy?"
"Still high on Halloween candy. I'm dreadin' Christmas, 'cause between gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark, he'll be wired and I'll be bonkers." Slappy tossed a cranberry into her mouth. "Speakin' of bonkers, how's our new chief doing? A little birdie told me you're plannin' a Christmas bash."
Heloise grinned. "Which of the Goodfeathers told you?"
"Pesto. Ya know he can't keep his beak shut. Then Squit said something about you having a surprise at the party, and Pesto accused Squit of callin' him a stool pigeon, one thing led to another, and feathers were flyin' all over the place." Slappy rolled her eyes. "I had to patch up two black eyes, a busted beak, and a cockeyed wing. And Bobby wasn't even blinkin' when all this went down. It's just same old, same old for him."
"Typical. And thanks for saving me a visit from them. I've had to bandage Squit and Pesto up so many times, I'm thinking about giving them preferred customer cards." Heloise took a spoonful of the day's tomato basil soup before speaking again. "But yes, to your original point, I'm going to throw a Christmas party for the lot in a week or two. The surprise is, I'm inviting the Warners."
Slappy let out a roar of laughter. "Heloise, you've got brass. Thad the Impaler's gonna be swillin' Maalox when he hears you're havin' his three worst nightmares over for Christmas."
"He ought to thank me. I'm inviting them as a test run for the New Year's party. They've been so good with Nori that they deserve a chance to prove themselves. And if they're good at the Christmas party, they'll be invited to New Year's."
"Oh yeah, Plotz is gonna flip his lid," Slappy said gleefully. "I'll be ready with a camcorder when he does. I could win 10,000 smackers and Lord knows I could use the money. Skippy's got a Christmas list longer than the Great Wall of China."
"Oh, that reminds me. Otto, if you were looking for the Warners, they're out Christmas shopping with Nori. They're getting lunch out, and then they're catching a movie after. Galaxy Quest, I think," Heloise said.
"Zat explains vhy I haven't seen zem today."
Slappy sent him a sly grin. "Anyone got any bets on what Yakko's gonna get Nori?"
"I don't think he's going to get her ring, if that's what you're getting at," said Heloise, while Scratchy choked on his pickle. "Otto, are you all right?"
"Don't sweat; I got this." Slappy got up, stood behind Scratchy and walloped his back with her purse. Scratchy's body jolted and he hawked the pickle clear across the commissary, where it landed smack between Marita Hippo's eyes. The old squirrel cackled. "Now that's comedy!"
Scratchy sucked in a lungful of air. "Danke schoen, mein freund."
"Gesundheit." Slappy crunched on a mouthful of lettuce and walnuts. "So, anyway. Yakko? Nori? Presents? Anyone wanna guess?"
"Well, given that Yakko is honoring their bet, I don't think he'll get her any major jewelry – no 10-carat diamonds or anything worthy of Tiffany's," Heloise explained. "If he does go the jewelry route, I'm thinking it'll be something simple, but pretty – and he'll probably make it from all three of them, not just him."
Slappy nodded in approval. "Honey, I'm backin' your horse. The kid's got good taste and he's no cheapskate. He'll pick out somethin' nice, I know it. Someone taught him well," she said, pinching Scratchy when he kicked her under the table.
Slappy might as well have said call me Kreskin. As they all spoke, the Warners were at the local mall shopping up a storm. They'd knocked out nearly everyone on the list, and only had Nori left to shop for. So while she was in a separate store (presumably shopping for them), they trekked off to A Blast From the Past, the vintage store that had recently opened.
"Yakko, are you sure about this?" Dot asked.
"Why not?" Yakko led his sibs inside and looked around in wonder. The store wasn't just vintage clothes, there were cases loaded with jewelry from decades past and there were even a couple of tchotchkes tucked among the clothing racks. "We're bound to find somethin' in here. Nori's an old-fashioned kinda gal, so she'd definitely love something from the past."
"That's true. She loves us," Wakko said.
The gravity behind those simple words made Yakko stop in his tracks. Love. Nori did love them. She loved Wakko and Dot like they were her own brother and sister, and he knew now that she loved him, too, but… how? Was he another brother to her, or did he dare to hope her feelings were growing into something more? Maybe it's for the best I don't know. Ignorance is bliss, or so they say, he thought. That way, I won't take a chance on being hurt like I did before. Once bitten, twice… jeez Louise, how many clichés can I come up with in one sitting? Point is, I just need to keep schtum and be happy with her friendship. He ignored the brief tug at his heartstrings as they split up and ventured through the shop.
Yakko had to admit, there was something fun about poking around a vintage shop. It was like a treasure hunt – you never knew what you were going to find. And while they themselves found a few articles of classic clothing to add to their costume collection, they had yet to find something for Nori.
"How 'bout this?" Dot held up a pretty perfume bottle. "There might be a genie in here."
"Nah, her three wishes already came true: you, me, and Wakko," Yakko said.
"What about these? They're pretty," said Wakko, holding up a pair of rhinestone chandelier earrings.
"Very pretty, but a little too Marilyn. Nori's more of an Audrey."
Both Wakko and Dot looked at each other, then back at Yakko. "What about there? There's gotta be something in that case; look at all the jewelry," Dot said, pointing at a nearby display case.
Yakko shook his head, his eyes roaming over the neverending sea of rhinestones and gaudy gold. "I dunno. Nothin's speakin' to me –" He cut himself off as his eyeballs suddenly zoomed forward and latched onto the glass, dragging the rest of him along. There, on a black display dummy, was a simple silver locket engraved with tiny stars. For all its simplicity, it stood out like a beacon among all the glitz and fake bling… and Yakko couldn't help comparing it to Nori. She stood out as something real and beautiful in the artificial culture of California, and in that instant, Yakko knew he'd found the perfect gift for her. "Sibs, I think we've struck gold – or in this case, silver. Looky there."
Wakko and Dot both took a look at the locket. "Perfect!" they chorused in glee. "And you know what goes in a locket," Dot added.
"Yup. Family picture." Yakko signaled to the cashier and she unlocked the case, then rang the three of them up after they pooled their cash for their items. Their shopping officially complete, the Warners left the shop and made for the center court, where Nori was waiting by the fountain. She was talking to someone on her phone, but the conversation ended as they approached. "Hey. Everything OK?" Yakko asked.
"Everything's great, actually. That was Heloise on the phone. Apparently, she's throwing a Christmas party for the Warner lot, and we're all invited!" Nori said with a huge grin.
"We? As in you and us three?" Yakko asked, unsure if he'd heard right. "Are you kidding?"
"So serious. All of us are invited, and Heloise said she hopes you guys can make it."
"Is Elmer Fudd a bad shot? You bet we'll make it!" Yakko crowed while his sibs cheered. If they were being invited to a Christmas shindig, maybe they'd also have a chance at the New Year's bash, too. Who knew? Maybe this was a sign that, after all these years, they could finally be free.
For all she was excited about the Christmas party, Nori was sweating over her upcoming finals. Her English final wasn't such a worry, but her geography final had her gut in knots. Landmarks? No problem. Climates? Cool with that, no pun intended. This, however, was a beast. She stared at the list and atlas before her and sighed. How the heck am I gonna memorize all of this? She glanced over at the novel nearby. I'd rather be reading. Or hanging out with a friend.
"Boo!"
Nori looked up and smiled. Yakko was leaning against the back of the couch. "Hey, you. How'd you know I wanted company?"
"Lucky guess." Yakko flipped over the back of the couch and landed next to her. "Whatcha doin'?"
"What every student dreads: studying for finals. All things considered, I'd rather be reading," Nori said, holding up the paperback she'd saved for later.
Yakko studied the cover. "The Outsiders? Don't think I've read this one."
"Oh, you'd love it. It's about these teen greasers in Oklahoma in the 60s, and they're always being put down by the snobs in the neighborhood when all they want is to be loved for who they are. And it's got one of the best pieces of advice ever: stay gold."
Yakko, who had been resonating with the book's theme, snapped to attention at the last part. "Stay gold?"
"Yeah. Basically, don't lose your joy for life or what you believe in, no matter what anyone says."
"To thine own self be true," Yakko quoted softly.
"Hamlet. Another good one," Nori said with a smile.
"Kinda been my credo all this time," Yakko returned her grin. "I might have to read that book sometime." They sat in silence for a moment until he nodded at her notes. "Anyhoo, what's the final?"
Nori's smile went south. "Geography. I'd be fine if it was just climates or landmarks, but how my teacher expects me to memorize all the countries of the world beats the heck out of – are you okay?" she asked. Yakko was vibrating with excitement, his black eyes glittering.
"Are you kidding? I got the perfect study tool for ya!" Yakko looked like he'd won the lottery and struck oil at the same time.
"Don't ask him, Nori!" Dot squawked from the hall; clearly, she'd been eavesdropping. "Don't ask!"
Nori didn't listen. Whatever idea he had, it had to be better than staring holes into her notes. "What's your study tool?"
"Ugh, you asked!" Dot groaned.
Yakko beamed, ignoring his sister's razz. "So glad you asked!" He sped down the hall and returned a split second later with four things: a huge world map he slapped on the wall, a pointer in his hand, a mortarboard on his head, and a huge grin on his face. A drumroll sounded, and he said in a deep voice, "And now, the nations of the world, brought to you by Yakko Warner!" Music began and Yakko started dancing, using his pointer to highlight countries in turn. "United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru…"
Nori's jaw dropped. He rattled off the countries of the world like he was singing the alphabet, dancing and shaking his hips the whole time. And the tune… was that the Mexican Hat Dance? It sure was catchy, and Yakko was clearly in his glory singing the song.
"Norway and Sweden and Iceland and Finland and Germany now one piece…"
She listened carefully, trying to catch the rhythm and the sequence of the countries. It sounded like he was going by continent, which was a good thing. No skipping around and no confusion over what was located where.
"India, Pakistan, Burma, Afghanistan, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan…"
It wouldn't even do her any good to try and write these down. As it was, she couldn't help giggling at Yakko's joy. As the song picked up tempo, he really got into the groove, bouncing around and shaking his hips even faster. She actually laughed out loud when he sang Botswana; clearly, that was his favorite part of the song.
"Burundi, Lesotho, and Malawi, Togo, the Spanish Sahara is gone…"
By this time, Nori was clapping her hands to the beat and laughing like a fool. The song had reached manic tempo and Yakko, God bless him, had not missed a single line or slipped up once. He spun around, aimed his pointer at the last few countries, and ended with a flourish.
Nori leapt to her feet, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "That was awesome!"
Yakko doffed his mortarboard and swept her a bow. "Thank you kindly," he drawled in a dead-on Southern accent. "I've never forgotten that song. Use it in good health. And just in case you need a visual…" He pulled a lyric sheet out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Nori took it with a smile. "Thanks, Yakko," she said, pulling him into a hug. "I'll let you know as soon as I get my grade back."
"No rush," Yakko murmured, his face nestled in the crook of her neck.
A few days later, Christmas had firmly taken over the water tower. Wakko's toy train ran a circuit around the living room, garlands of red, green, blue, and silver tinsel festooned the walls, stockings were hung up on the wall, and the massive Christmas tree was being decorated by three very ebullient, very ecstatic Warners. They were hanging ornaments and tossing tinsel over the branches, singing along with the Ronettes at the top of their lungs. Dot, of course, was the loudest, singing Ronnie's lead while Yakko and Wakko took the ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-dong-dings. They managed to get most of the tree covered in baubles and glitz before the sibs, itching for some mischief, started throwing tinsel at each other. By the time Nori arrived after school let out for winter break, she found a gussied-up living room and a pile of multicolored tinsel that bulged and jumped around and released playful growls and giggles.
She chuckled. "Too bad the Warners aren't here. I've got some Christmas candy for them."
The lure worked. "CANDY?" came the yell. The next thing Nori knew, the tinsel exploded and Wakko and Dot flew out like bats out of hell, screeching to a halt in front of her. "Where's the candy? Where, where, where?" Wakko sniffed the air and pointed at Nori's backpack. "There!"
Nori laughed. "Can't fool the best nose in the West." She slid her backpack off her shoulders and unzipped it, withdrawing two Ziplocs stuffed with chocolates. "These are peanut clusters, my gran's recipe. Chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter, pretzels, and M&Ms," she said, watching Wakko's eyes grow wider and his tongue unfurl to the floor.
"Gimme, gimme, gimme! Please!" Wakko was practically vibrating, he was so excited.
"Since you're so sweet." Nori gave him a kiss and handed one bag to him, then the other to an equally tickled Dot.
The kids tore into their bags and munched on their first clusters. Dot closed her eyes in bliss, while Wakko let out an mmm and floated into the air. "So good," he said happily.
"Oh yeah, Gran would've spoiled you rotten. She always said anyone who loved chocolate was okay with her." Nori grinned at Yakko, who had finally untangled himself from the tinsel and joined the crowd. "I didn't forget you," she said, passing a third bag to him.
"Well, I am pretty unforgettable." Yakko bit into a cluster and backflipped. "Gran, ya got great taste," he said, saluting heaven. "Best chocolate on Earth. And speakin' of Earth…" He gazed expectantly at Nori. "How'd your final go?"
Nori's smile vanished and she took a paper out of her backpack. "You tell me," she said gloomily, handing the exam to him.
Yakko's heart fell. Oh man, she flunked, he thought, feeling guilty that his song hadn't helped… until he saw the bright red 100% at the top of the page. "A hundred – you aced it!" he cried, playfully swatting a now-laughing Nori with the test. "You tricked me!"
"Gotcha," Nori chortled. "I owe you for this, Yakko. I couldn't have done it without you."
A blush colored Yakko's cheek fur. "Save me the last dance at the Christmas shindig and we'll call it even."
You're the only name on my dance card, Nori thought, fighting a blush of her own. "Consider it done." She chuckled. "Mama's not happy about me going to a studio party. She's been downright jealous. Heck, she's been in a sore mood since I told her we're not using those expensive Christmas lights for the tree, the ones that short-circuit every ten minutes because they're made for folks with more money than sense. She pitched a fit and only stopped when I told her if she burned the house down, she'd be paying for it. But, she hasn't tried anything mean with me since y'all knocked her down a few pegs."
"Good, she's still scared you'll sic us on her again," Yakko said smugly, while Wakko and Dot smirked at each other. "And I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve."
"Like what?"
"Let's just say it involves a jar of honey, a bucket of red paint, and a beehive," Yakko said with an evil grin.
Nori winced. "Tell me you're kidding."
"I am; I ain't that sadistic. The real plan involves a banana peel, a pond, and a bunch of bullfrogs."
Now Nori laughed. "Will one of them be singing?"
"Come on. Michigan J's been waitin' for his chance to lead the frogs in a chorus of 'Splish Splash,'" Yakko grinned when Nori chuckled even harder.
If Christmas is this good, I can't wait for New Year's.
Yakko was overjoyed at how well things were going. The Christmas shindig had gone over like gangbusters, and the commissary dining room was still immaculate, much to Mr. Plotz's everlasting surprise. The CEO had stunned everyone by returning to the lot in time for the party – apparently, everyone and their brother had all converged on Hawaii for the holidays. That being said, Mr. Plotz mele'd his last kalikimaka and jumped a United flight back to the Golden State. Despite the temptation to greet him with a triple-toon smooch under the mistletoe, Yakko and his sibs decided to spite him instead – by being on their best behavior the whole time.
It worked. He'd stared at them with nothing short of utter befuddlement on his face, while Heloise smirked proudly behind him. In fact, she was so proud of them that she held a screening – during the party – of their Christmas special, Wakko's Wish. Yakko's heart had swelled to see the audience laugh at the jokes, aww over his sweet sister, and even shed a few tears once or twice. And by the time the credits rolled, everyone was up on their feet cheering… and after the Warners took their bows, Heloise bowled them over yet again by announcing they were all welcome at the millennium celebration. Yakko didn't know what was better: the amazing validation or watching Mr. Plotz's face turn every color known to Roy G. Biv.
Actually, the only thing better than either of those was Nori's constant presence. True to her word, she'd danced with him nearly all night and saved the precious last dance for him. And the cherry on top? She was staying over at the water tower on Christmas Eve – as in, tonight. Wakko and Dot, of course, were pleased as punch to have their babysitter there when Santa Claus came to town. They'd all had fun baking cookies and setting them out with a glass of milk, then watching White Christmas before the younger two skipped off to bed.
Yakko had likewise changed into his jammies and tried to hit the hay, but visions of sugarplums eluded him. Something was keeping him awake, a feeling that wouldn't stop picking at him. Thinking maybe an extra cookie might help him sleep, he hopped out of bed and padded down the hall, surprised to see the blue light of the TV glowing from the living room. Good, Nori was still awake. The closer he got, he could see she was sitting on the couch in her PJs, wrapped in a fleece blanket and watching It's a Wonderful Life. "Hey," he said, just loudly enough to get her attention.
Nori turned his way and smiled. "Hey. What are you doing up?"
"Same as you: can't sleep," Yakko said, shifting over to the couch. "You want some company?"
Nori scooted over and patted the couch, pulling her blanket closer to give him some room. "You're a mind reader. Come sit." She waited until he was seated to pass him the spare blanket. "Just in case you get cold."
"Now who's the mind reader?" Yakko teased, winding the forest-green sherpa special around himself. He turned his attention to the TV screen. "Great movie. As much as I love me some Christmas Vacation, this is probably my favorite Christmas movie."
"Why? Because it's from your time?"
"That, and I've felt like George Bailey once or twice. Like I didn't really matter to anyone or make a difference in anyone's life."
Nori gave his shoulder a soft smack. "Bite your tongue. You matter more than you know, and you've sure as heck made a difference in my life. I don't know where I'd be without you and Wakko and Dot. If it wasn't for you guys, I'd still be thinking no one loved me or wanted me."
Yakko was quiet for a minute. He knew Nori had felt like she wasn't loved, but hearing that she felt unwanted struck him deep. He knew how that felt – it was like a wound that never quite stopped bleeding, and no amount of painkiller could make the hurt go away. "What do you mean, no one wanted you? Didn't your friends want you around?"
"Yeah, but that's different. They have families, Yakko; moms and dads and brothers and sisters who always let them know they belonged somewhere. After Dad died, Mama only wanted me around to cook and clean and be a slave for her. And she made it all too clear that that was the only reason I mattered to her. No one ever really wanted me until…" Nori's voice trailed off and she took a deep breath, clenching her jaw against threatening tears.
"Until us," Yakko finished. "Darn right we want you. You're family. Human or not, last name or not, you're a Warner in your soul, and don't you forget it. You might not think you belong in California, but you sure as heck belong with us." He studied Nori's face, noticing a slight quiver of her lips. "Hear me?"
Nori nodded, clenching her eyes shut. "Yeah," she choked out, swallowing hard.
Yakko's heart twisted. Even now, she still felt like she couldn't cry, even if they were tears of happiness. "Nori, if you wanna cry, you go ahead and cry. I'm not gonna shame ya for it." He reached for her hand and squeezed it. "Look, it ain't healthy to hold it in like this. Crying doesn't make you a wimp, you know. Heck, sometimes it shows just how strong you really are, 'cause you're opening up and letting go."
A heartbeat of silence passed, until a single tear fell from Nori's right eye. Now we're getting somewhere. "Last time Mama beat me for it, I swore I'd never cry again. I didn't want to be that vulnerable again." She sniffled. "I didn't trust anyone enough after that."
Yakko's hand drifted up until it gently clasped her shoulder. "Do you trust me?"
"I…" Nori inhaled shakily. "I…" Her body shook and she gasped, finally breaking down in great sobs, the tears pouring like rain. Two years and more of pain, heartache, and rejection all came gushing out, and it didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon.
Relieved though he was to finally see her let go and cry out her heartbreak, Yakko still felt like weeping himself. Her pain was tangible, and he dearly wished he could take it upon himself if it would heal her forever. As it was, he did the next best thing. He wrapped his arms around her and held her while she cried. "Shh," he soothed, his hand massaging her back. "Get it all out. Let it go. I'm right here." As the minutes passed, Yakko soon thought of another way to help calm her – and remind her of just how much she mattered to him and his sibs. Calling on his gift of rearranging tunes, he pulled an oldie but goodie from his repertoire and turned it into a beautiful lullaby.
"There are fifty thousand different kinds of animals, and there are fifty thousand more that used to be…"
As he sang, he felt Nori's body relax. The tension uncoiled from her shoulders, and her shaking stopped. Her sobs gradually faded away until she was breathing evenly, staying quiet. Well, except for one moment where she giggled at the line "In fact, you're kinda weird, but we love you just the same." When he finished, she let out a contented sigh and hugged him close. "That was beautiful."
"Thanks. It's the truth, too. There's only one of you, so don't think you don't matter to anyone. We all love you." Much to his great surprise, Yakko felt Nori press a kiss to his cheek. His heartbeat quickened and he felt his stomach do a backflip, and he fought like heck to keep from blushing. Granted, this was just a friendly kiss on the cheek, but it didn't stop him from feeling all lovey-dovey inside. "I, uhh…" He awkwardly scratched his head. "I think I oughta get to bed. I know you probably need your space," he said, moving to get off the couch.
He was stopped by Nori tightening her arms. "Stay."
Yakko was sure he looked like Elmer Fudd after a one-two with Bugs Bunny. Had he heard her right? Did she really want him to stay? "Really?"
Nori nodded, her smile warming him. "I need my best friend with me." She shifted so she was half-sitting, half-lying down, and opened her arms again.
It was better than any material gift on his Christmas list. Yakko immediately snuggled beside her, his head nestled against her shoulder, both of them wrapped in a cozy cocoon of blankets. "Thanks," he said softly.
Nori's hand sought his and squeezed it. "No, thank you for loving me."
Yakko's heart thumped. If only you knew how much. "Kinda hard not to. Wakko, Dot, and me, we all wish we could keep you with us."
A yawn escaped her. "That's so sweet."
A moment passed before Yakko dared sneak a peek at Nori's face. Her eyes were closed and her breath was beginning to signal deep sleep. "Can I keep you?" he whispered, feeling sleep nudge him further toward Dreamland.
He didn't get an answer, but he could've sworn he felt her arms tighten around him as he gave in to a much-needed rest.
When Nori awoke, the first thing she thought was, it's Christmas. The second thing was, who's snuggling with me? Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she glanced down and saw a furry black head on her shoulder, and it all came back to her. Yakko had stayed with her last night when she'd needed someone, and not for the first time, she sent up a prayer of thanks for this toon and his beautiful heart. Having him so close felt natural, like they were meant to fit together. And boy, did he look adorable when he was sleeping. Adorable or not, though, it was time to wake up. "Hey," she whispered, ruffling his soft fur. "Wake up, dude. It's Christmas."
Yakko stirred and rubbed his eyes, blinking furiously before focusing his gaze on her. "Mornin'. Merry Christmas." He studied her for a minute, as if he was seeing her for the first time. "Is this you with no makeup?"
Nori frowned for a second, then relaxed when she realized he hadn't seen her clearly in the darkened living room last night. "Yeah. This is the real me," she half-joked.
A smile lit Yakko's face. "You're beautiful." Panic briefly entered his eyes. "I'm not flirtin', I just –"
Nori held up a hand to silence him. "I know," she assured him with a smile. When relief replaced his panic, she continued, "Maybe we'd better wake up Wakko and Dot."
Yakko cocked an ear in the hall's direction. "I don't think we'll have to." He counted down on his fingers. "Three… two… one…"
A shout of "IT'S CHRISTMAS!" sounded and two tornadoes came flying into the living room, diving for the huge pile of presents under the tree. Well, Dot stuck her dismount; Wakko face-planted smack in the middle of the tree. "Uh… can someone get me out? I think I'm stuck," he called, his voice muffled through the tree's branches.
Dot chortled. "Yakko, you're taller than me. You wanna come yank Wakko-the Pooh out of the tree?"
"I'm a-comin'," Yakko said as he hopped off the couch, Nori right behind him. When they reached the tree, they both snickered. Wakko's butt was hanging out of the tree, a mistletoe ornament dangling from his tail. Nori and Yakko looked at each other and grinned. "Who's gonna say it?" she asked.
"Don't, it's too easy." Yakko stood on his tiptoes and grabbed his brother's ankles. "Hold still, Wak. One, two, three…" He tugged and both brothers tumbled backwards, Wakko landing atop Yakko. "Thanks, big brother," he said from his perch on Yakko's belly.
"Don't mention it," Yakko croaked, winded from Wakko's butt smacking his tummy. "How 'bout you get off me and go open your presents? I make a better brother than I do a couch."
"Okay!" Wakko, happy as a lark, jumped off Yakko and joined Dot in the pile of gifts, both of them eagerly tearing at the wrapping paper. Yakko and Nori both grinned at each other again and joined in the fray.
It turned out that all of them cleaned up well for the last Christmas of the 90s. In addition to the mound of toys and games, the Warners each got a special gift from Nori. Dot unwrapped a golden hatpin topped with fuchsia crystals, which the Warner sister crowed over. "It's pretty and I can use it to poke someone in the butt," she said happily. Wakko got an Elvis-style jacket with hidden pockets, perfect to stash his gag bag and a few other jokes in. Yakko, much to his pleasure, got a copy of the novel he and Nori had talked about – The Outsiders. He raised shining eyes to Nori and smiled. "Stay gold."
She nodded, returning his smile. "Stay gold."
Dot nudged Yakko and whispered something in his ear. "Oh, yeah! Hang on a sec." He searched the gift pile until he saw the one present left unopened – Nori's gift. "This is for you – from all of us," he said, handing her the box.
"Guys," Nori said with a grin, unwrapping her present. She opened the blue velvet box to reveal a delicate silver locket engraved with tiny stars. "It's beautiful!" She lifted the locket off its cloud of cotton to admire it better.
"Open it," Yakko said, while his sibs looked on eagerly.
Nori did as he bade her and felt her heart melt at what she saw. Inside was a picture of the three Warners, plus Scratchy and Heloise, all beaming. "Y'all are too much," she said softly, wiping at one of her eyes.
"Hey, it was the least we could do. We wanted to remind ya you do have a family," Yakko explained. "A mom and dad…"
"A little brother," Wakko spoke up.
"A sister," smiled Dot.
Yakko took her hand and squeezed it. "And a good friend."
Tears once again came to Nori's eyes, but she welcomed them for once. This time, they were tears of joy. She hung the locket around her neck and knelt, holding her arms out. "Get over here, all of you!"
All three Warners ran into her arms and snuggled into the hug. "I love you all so much." If only you knew how much, she thought about Yakko, her cheek nestled against his soft fur.
"Did you have fun?"
Nori ignored her mother's sullen tone as she walked through the front door. "Yes, I did. Best Christmas I've had in a long time," she said. No point in sanitizing things at this stage, though Nori knew Jodi wouldn't dare try anything in retaliation. Not when she was still terrified of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot paying her another visit.
"How nice for you. Since you didn't care to spend it with me, I went to see that wonderful Citizen Brain's Christmas show in San Francisco. He's given me so much hope for the new millennium," Jodi sighed.
Nori rolled her eyes. "Again, Mama? That guy's gonna think you're stalking him. One more show, and he's gonna slap you with a restraining order."
Jodi laughed. "I doubt that. He appreciates his fans. As a matter of fact, I think he likes me. He gave me one of his collectible coins before they were even rolled out." She flipped the coin in the air and then tossed it to Nori.
Nori examined the coin. Nothing out of the ordinary, although the image of her mother's idol seemed odd. "He looks like a mouse," she said bluntly. "A mouse with a really big head."
"Don't be ignorant, young lady," Jodi snapped, snatching the coin back. "He's absolutely brilliant. He's going to save us all from destruction when New Year's comes, and you can bet I'll be listening to his broadcast on the 31st."
"Whatever floats your boat, Mama." At that moment, the lights on the Christmas tree fizzled out, and Nori flicked an irritated look at her mother. "You're using those ritzy lights, aren't you? I told you those lights aren't made from anything sturdy. Just 'cause they're expensive doesn't mean they actually work worth a darn – or are safe, for that matter."
"Don't lecture me. If you think I'm using lights from Walmart like some redneck, you're out of your mind."
Nori rolled her eyes again and marched over to the tree. "The rednecks are on to something, Mama. They keep their Walmart lights up all year 'cause they're indestructible, not because they look pretty." She knelt by the outlet and fiddled with the lights and extension cord until the lights started to flicker back on. Unfortunately, as faulty as the lights were, the extension cord was also a piece of junk. When Nori tried plugging it back in, sparks flew from the outlet and the lights began blinking like strobe lights in a nightclub.
"Yow!" Nori yelped, yanking her hand back. After the burn from being shocked wore off, she seized the cord and jerked it out of the wall. The tree went dark once more and the smell of burned wiring hung in the air. "Jeez Louise. Next year, Mama, you think you can swallow your pride and get lights from –" Nori cut herself off and frowned, utterly confused by the sight she now beheld. "Mama?"
Jodi's expression had gone completely blank, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes unfocused and staring straight ahead. Nori had never seen her in such a zombie-like state, and frankly, it scared her. What the heck brought this on? She snapped her fingers in front of Jodi's face, but got no response. "Mama? Are you ok?" Still nothing. "Earth to Mama."
That got a response, but it wasn't what Nori was expecting. "Earth. The Brain will rule the earth. He is our gracious ruler," Jodi said, her voice completely robotic.
"What?" Nori was bewildered. First her mother was passionately declaring this guy to be a great hope for the future, and now she was mindlessly stating he would rule the world? "Mama, what Kool-Aid have you been drinking?"
"Kool-Aid, that sounds nice. The Brain will make sure we have plenty to drink. He is all-wise and powerful."
Some small glimmer broke through the haze of confusion. Was this power of suggestion or hypnotism of some kind? "Mama, clap your hands." Instant obedience as Jodi clapped like a seal. "Stop." Again, total obliging. Another puzzle piece clicked into place, as did a realization. Jodi had not released her grip on the coin as she clapped, and Nori noticed an odd glow coming from the heads side. Getting close enough to see but not fully meet the glow in her vision, Nori could see the image's eyes glowing green. What is this? Feeling a little woozy, she quickly shut her eyes against the light and turned around. Her mind cleared instantly, and she ran to her room to grab her sunglasses. Slipping them on, she went back to the living room and gazed at the glow again. Nothing happened – the sunglasses kept her mind safe. Yes! she thought, taking the coin from Jodi's hand. She pressed her thumbs over the eyes and the glow stopped.
Jodi blinked furiously and she put a hand to her forehead, wincing. "Lord, what happened? I feel like I've been hit by a truck," she said, rubbing her temples.
"Mama, do you remember anything?" Nori asked, tentatively laying a hand on her mother's shoulder. "You were kinda… out of it for a while."
"Don't be silly. I feel fine," Jodi said as she stood – and instantly swayed on her feet, plopping back onto the couch.
"Mama! Are you all right?" Nori ran to help Jodi back up. As tempestuous as their relationship was, she didn't want to see her seriously hurt.
"Darlin', don't fuss. I'm fine; I just stood up too fast," Jodi patted Nori on the head. "Make sure the kitchen's cleaned up. I'm going to bed."
And we're back to normal, Nori thought ruefully. She tidied up what little mess there was in the kitchen and made for her own room – but something caught her eye first. Jodi had left her coin on the couch. Without a second thought, Nori snatched it up and took it with her. Something funky was going on with this thing, and she knew just who to ask for help in solving this mystery. If anyone could sniff out a rat and uncover a plot, it was Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
