The Watterson house was spooky with no people around; only sound of birds, cicadas and vehicles. As the clock struck 5 PM, the sound of it echoed all way to the living room where Nicole laid on the cozy couch. The sound of the clock caught her attention and turned from her right to her left side. She stretched her arms and legs like a cat who had just awoken, while making some noises before she slept again, and covered her body over with the sheets and smiled pleasantly.
The window was open, where she opened before she left the house to let the stinky air out and fresh air in. She could feel the warmth of the sun, which was uncomfortable for her with her bed cover over her too. She tried to ignore it, but it was too hot for her. Giving up, she sat up half-asleep and looked around dazed. The room was a mess, all because of Richard. Half eaten snacks and food and her husband's clothes were thrown somewhere, covering the floor. It was not a surprise, though, since he always did it all the time, though she groaned at the thought of tidying it up. Again, she stretched her arms above her head and yawned at the same time.
After she was finished, she scratched the back of her head before standing up. She tried keeping herself awake by forcing her eyelids to stay open. It wasn't the first time she walked half asleep but it was the first time she had felt lazy. It was tough, but she managed to do it. She stood up from her bed on the ice-cold floor, heading out to the kitchen for dinner yawning on her way, still half-asleep.
It was weird that her sons weren't home, usually they'd played video games or play 'Dodj or Daar'. No mischief, no laughs and no yelling. Now that she thought about it, Gumball hadn't arrived home yet and it was getting really late. School ended two hours ago, while Darwin was at his club. Maybe he went over to Penny's house.
She saw a magazine that had been lying on the couch for two days straight. She already read that magazine, but with nothing to do. She picked it up and reread it again. It was not until on page five she threw it aside, bored once again. She laid her head back. She never had been this much bored in her life. The sound of door opening made her look in that direction.
First, she thought it was Gumball or Darwin, but she realized that an older man entered the house; her husband. He held two bags of groceries and panted heavily. Nicole had asked him to go to the groceries for her, just this once. Behind him, Anais passed by him to go further inside the house. Worried, Nicole had to ask her young daughter about her oldest brother.
"Anais, did Gumball go over to Penny's house?" Anais swung her bag off her shoulder and onto the floor before she replied.
"He's not here? Darwin and him were supposed to hang out today." Nicole widened her eyes as she covered her mouth. Now she was starting to get really worried. It wasn't like Gumball to be so late... except... "Did he get a detention?" She asked, hopefully to get a yes from Anais. But no, she shook her head. She took a deep breath; okay, she might be too overprotective but her son was alright. He probably went to the mall to buy snacks or candy; maybe he forgot the time and walked away with Penny or his friends, maybe he got into one of his adventures. Maybe? No, she was seventy percent sure he might had done these things. Richard noticed how worried his wife was. He dropped the bags as he straightened his back.
"Don't worry, honey, I will find him!" Nicole felt so relieved but, she wanted to accompany him. As she took a step, she was stopped by Anais. "You should wait here if anybody would call you if they've seen Gumball." Her daughter was right; it was possible that she'd received a phone call from her neighbors.
Nicole nodded as she sat down the couch, trying to relax. Richard nodded as well before he closed the door. As he did that, Nicole started to to stand up, but thanks to her daughter, she was pushed down onto the couch. When the phone rang, it made Nicole and Anais jump. Thinking that Richard was calling them to tell them he found Gumball, which made Nicole really happy how fast he managed to find him. She prepared a lecture inside her head and planned to ground him for making them worry. When she took the receiver, she expected her husband's voice, but was greeted by the Doughnut Sheriff.
"Mrs. Watterson? I'm afraid that your so-"
Her worry was replaced by anger. "What did he do now?" It made Anais unimpressed to make them worry like that and cause a mischief. A few seconds of silence, and Nicole's knees started to shake, like she was going to collapse at any minute. She dropped the receiver, letting it hang as Anais could hear the sheriff call for her mother.
Her knees finally collapsed and fell on her knee as tears formed and ran down her cheeks as she still stared at the thin air. Anais tugged her shirt, worried. "M-mom?" She didn't respond. Instead she grabbed Anais weakly as she buried her face into her head as she let out an uncontrollably cry and cried on top of her lungs, causing Anais really worried and befuddled.
Darwin was smiling happily, as the club activity was a success. The club members were improving for the competition. They were sure to win it on Saturday! An ambulance drove past him, going 70 mph while the limit was 50. There must have been an accident. He was told numerous times by his mother that he shouldn't follow an ambulance to check how bad the accident, unless it was someone he knew. But curiosity got the best of him, so he decided to secretly see the accident. He stopped walking as he worried that it might have been too serious and there was too much blood on the scene.
His ten-year-old instinct made him run towards the scene. He saw the Doughnut Sheriff taking notes when Mr. Robinson was talking, swinging his arms around. His car was few meters from the lamppost, where he crashed. The back door of the ambulance was open as two men dragged a stretcher from the vehicle. Darwin walked slowly towards them as the medics took the body, with it covered with white sheet.
Darwin caught a blue paw that hung from the white sheet, making his pupils shrink. He broke into a sprint towards the scene. Mr. Robinson saw Darwin approaching them. Noticing that the fish was coming, he stepped in front of him as Darwin tried to struggle to go over to the body, but the sheriff managed to suppressed him.
"Mr. Doughnut, is he alright?!" Darwin desperately asked. Why did he ask that question? He didn't even know the man, unless when he saw a familiar blue paw, it must have been in his imagination.
The Doughnut Sheriff looked the other way, afraid to answer the question. A thought came to him. He beckoned other policeman to hold Darwin while he had to make a call. One of the police officers, a coffee mug, kneeled at his height to talk to him. Darwin didn't pay attention to him as he looked at the Doughnut Sheriff on his phone. His eyes scanned over to the body to the left of the sheriff. One of the medics took the sheet off the body, up to his stomach.
Darwin felt his heart skip when he could see the body. The first thing he noticed was an oversized head, clothes, grey trousers, with a tan sweater which had brown cuffs and a brown color mixed with blood. Darwin shook his head in disbelief after recognizing the body as tears ran down, he screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice broken from grief.
"GUMBALL!"
Richard looked at the rearview mirror of the car at Darwin, sitting in the back seat. Anais was left behind at home as they thought she was too young to see the body of her oldest brother. Darwin just stared out the window, still crying. Nicole and Richard picked Darwin up when they got a call from the Doughnut Sheriff that their son was out of control.
They arrived at the scene. The body was taken to the hospital, yet Nicole kept her eyes from it, as Richard asked questions and got information from the sheriff of what happened. Nicole clapped her ears closed, she didn't want to hear it again. Richard had to pick up a shaking Darwin, who yelled and kicked. He finally calmed down on their way to the hospital.
The car ride was no better; nobody said a word after they picked Darwin up. Nicole was staring outside the window as well when suddenly she lost control of the tears, she tried to mufflr it by covering her mouth but the saliva that was left of it went through her mouth thus it didn't work. Richard felt awkward at the silence and depressed when he recalled when his two sons couldn't stand still inside the car, Anais telling them to quit it and Nicole yelling at the children to stop.
He couldn't help but feel happy at that memory. It seemed a distant one. Richard took a deep breath when he felt tears pouring out of his eyes. When Richard had to park his car, Nicole's stomach started to twist as more tears came. When she stepped outside, she felt once again her knees failing her but she needed to be strong for her family. In the hospital, Richard approached the counter and said with a broken voice which made Nicole cringe.
"I'm looking for Zach Christopher Watterson."
The nurse pointed at the long hall and replied. "Room 312." Richard mumbled thanks before he and his family went to the room. A sign titled, 'Morgue' greeted them before they entered. When they did, they felt so cold and saw a dog extend his hands to take Richard's hand. He took his hand and introduced himself along with the doctor. They beckoned the family Gumball's body. He took the sheet off as Nicole held her breath, to reveal Gumball.
His face looked cold, he looked like he was sleeping. Like an angel to Nicole. Nicole couldn't hold it anymore and fell onto her son's body as she cried uncontrollably. Darwin was shaking. His best friend. Dead. New freshly tears started to fall down.
Richard just looked at his son, depressed, but walked out of the morgue. When he closed the door, he leaned against the door and slide down as he just stared. People walking passed him started to get worried but thought that it was the best to not to interfere with personal information. Finally and slowly, he started to cry softly but turned into a hysterical. He only wished he could had said goodbye to his son when he was alive.
Penny closed her locker as she held books close to her chest. She stared a few minutes infront of her, before she sighed sadly. Her boyfriend hadn't showed up in school and it was almost noon. She just hoped that he and Darwin weren't fighting yesterday. She hadn't heard from him since he said bye to her yesterday to go home and wait for his brother. He'd usually call her every night at 9 PM, but never did. It didn't help that Miss Simian reported that to Principal Brown. The weirdest thing that happened was when they were done talking, Miss Simian looked so depressed when she exited Brown's office.
"Students… please assemble to the cafeteria. I repeat, assemble in the cafeteria."
Penny cocked an eyebrow. She walked to the cafeteria to meet all the students of the school. Brown, Rocky and Miss Simian stood on a stage she hadn't noticed during launch time. Brown cleared his throat to try to get attention from the students but it didn't work. Miss Simian shrieked which made the students jump and pay attention.
"Boys and girls, I am afraid to tell you that…"
Brown stifled his cries.
"Zach, or as he was known, 'Gumball'..." Penny's heart skipped. She rushed through the audience frantically before Brown finished, "...passed away yesterday from his wounds in a vehicle accident."
After learning that Gumall's real name is Zach from the upcoming episode, "The name" I'm just gonna assume that it's his real nam. Please Review!
