The story begins inside of the Velazquest's parents bedroom.
It's their parents' anniversary.
"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!" All of the Velazquest kids yelled.
"Thanks, kids." Elizabeth said."
"Ooh. Whose present should we open first?" Jason asked.
"Delilah's!" All of the kids yelled.
The parents looked surprised at their panic filled yelled.
Delilah hands her mom a wrapped rectangular present.
Elizabeth after unwrapping the gift, "Oh, Delilah, this is wonderful! It's the best gift we've ever gotten."
"You all look so adorable in this picture, especially Sammy. It's going above the mantle right now." Jason said and places it there.
Charlie laughs, "The camera loves me." Leo ruffles Charlie's head.
"It must've been difficult to take this." Jason said.
"Yes." All of the kids said with annoyed faces.
"You have no idea what it took to get that picture." Delilah said.
-Flashback to before the picture-
All of the siblings were in Leo and David's room.
Leo started the meeting, "Ok guys our parents anniversary is soon and we got start getting gifts. Make it, buy it I don't care."
Delilah sits on Leo's bed upside-down, her back on the side and her feet up the bed, "Great, I'll give them the same thing I make every year: this awesome paperweight." She raises a "coffee mug" which doesn't look complete.
"Looks like a Coffee mug.." Leo said.
"It can be a pencil holder dude." Tommy said.
"Or perhaps a bust of German philosopher Immanuel Kant." Frankie suggested.
"Clearly that thing can be anything, is this meeting over? We should get started on our gifts already." Charlie complained.
Luis tiled his head, "Shouldn't you finish it Delilah?"
"Hey Leo said make or buy it. I made it I'm done." Delilah said.
David pouted, "Yeah, but If your gift looks bad won't mom and dad think you don't care?"
"Yeah our gifts are so loved. Mom and Dad love them so much they throw them in attic. By the way Delilah sign that from me when your free?" Johnny said.
The siblings gasp at what Johnny just said.
"Johnny! How can you say that?! Our parents love our gifts!" Leo yelled.
"Yeah, but clearly they don't care about all of them so why should we put tons of effort on them? Delilah makes it, our parents get it and I don't have to lift a finger." Johnny said.
Delilah smiled, "Wow! Johnny having a good idea? Up top!"
Johnny and Delilah both high five, "Yeah!"
Leo gave a gentle look, "Maybe you two should step up your game and give a great gift?"
"Pass." Delilah and Johnny said.
Leo sighed, "Ok how about this if you give a great gift? I'll drive you both to the mall and you guys can a free gift from me."
"We're in! Delilah and Johnny yelled.
Leo smiled, "Good now with that said meeting over."
They start to head out, but Johnny stops them.
"Wait! I got a idea we can take a family picture!" Johnny yelled.
"Great idea! It'll only take a few minutes and our parents will love it. Let's head out boys." Delilah said pointing her thumb behind her.
They head outside. Luis however walks slowly behind them, "It'll only take a few minutes". Sigh when does anything that will only take a few minutes actually only take a few minutes?"
Later, Milton has his camera propped up in front of the house. Milton is focusing the camera to make sure everyone stays perfectly in the frame.
"Okay, that's it. David, scooch to the left." David moves to his right which is Milton's left. "Your other left." David gets it right. "Perfect! Someone grab Sammy." Luis grabs him and puts him back in the frame. "Thank you. Good. Just gotta set the timer, let's set the timer on, uh, let's say, 10 seconds." Johnny yawns, and Milton presses a button on the camera, which goes off before he can get ready, "Oops. looks like I set the timer wrong." He runs back over to the camera and investigates, "Huh? Ah!" After thinking it's set up correctly, he runs back to get in position, only for the camera to flash one second later, resulting in a picture of Milton running away.
"Oh, I don't know. Looks to me like you got your best side." Johnny said.
"This time we should be all right." Milton sets it and joins the others in the shot, "I set the timer on 30 seconds look at the camera and say, "Cheese"!"
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles.
The camera still hasn't gone off.
David while holding his smile, "When is it gonna flash? My jaw's cramping up!"
"...eeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest kids say.
Delilah says holding her smile, "Give it a second!"
"...eeeeeeee..." The Velazquest kids say.
Leo sneezes.
The camera takes the picture. Resulting in a picture of Leo sneezing.
Leo is looking at the photo that was taken with worry, "Yeah this ain't a keeper."
"Maybe I forgot to push the right button. I'll just take a quick look." Milton runs over and pushes a button. He runs back, but not in time to get set, and the camera flashes as Milton screeches back toward his spot and everyone watching him.
"I think the last shot of you was better." Charlie said.
Milton hustles back and resets the camera.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles.
Before the picture can be taken, a pigeon walks up and perches on the camera. It looks down into the camera's lens just as the picture gets taken, resulting in a sudden blinding for the bird, which flies into David's mouth.
"Guh!" David spits the bird out, which sits a bit dazed on the ground. Milton, again, resets the camera.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles.
This time, the pigeon flies around the camera before knocking it over, resulting in a sideways photo of the siblings, with the siblings looking frustrated. Milton props the camera back up and resets it.
"Say "cheese"!" Milton yelled.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles.
"Cheddar." Johnny said unenthusiastically.
Before the picture can be taken, it's Sammy's turn to cause chaos. A bunny runs out from the side of the yard in front of the siblings. The baby of the family notices it and does what babies do: play.
"Eh what's up doc?" Sammy said.
The bunny hops away and Sammy waddles after it.
The Velazquest siblings noticed.
"Sammy?" Leo said.
"Come back little dude!" Tommy yelled.
Bad baby! Bad baby!" Larry yelled.
Sammy knocks the camera down in the process, which snaps a photo of him chasing the bunny, Delilah grabbing the baby, and everyone else either shocked or amused at the situation.
"Say "Cheese"!" Milton yelled.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles. "All this talk of cheese is making me hungry. Cheese!" Johnny said.
Before the photo can be taken, Rusty walks into the frame. The siblings scowls. The camera goes off with the Velazquest siblings angry at Rusty.
"This is an awful picture, Rusty!" Delilah yelled.
"What's wrong with it?" Rusty asked.
"What's wrong with it? You're in it, that's what's wrong with it!" Delilah yelled.
"Why can't I be in the picture?" Rusty stroking his hair, "The Rustman improves every phone." Rusty said.
"This is a FAMILY picture, pizza face, and you are not-I'm pleased to say-family!" Delilah yelled.
Rusty applies breath spray, "But I could be, maybe I should 'blow you out of the water'."
Delilah grabbed her nose, "How about you put some water in your mouth after learning to brush your teeth?"
Rusty applies breath spray, "So Delilah? "Are you looking for a date for the Sadie Hawkins dance? What are the chances a guy like me could be your date?"
Delilah thinks, "Hm. Let me do the math. If I carry the no chance and add a not on your life, it's… zero percent. In any case, you're too close to the camera."
Rusty crossed his arms, "Oh, how far should I be?" Rusty is then launched over the fence into the side neighbor's trash can. "WHOAAAAAA!" He crashes.
Delilah smiled, "About that far." Delilah and Milton race back to position to get this tedious task over with. Rusty, meanwhile, pops his head over the side of the fence and smiles.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles. "Cheddar." Johnny said.
With everyone ready and waiting, Rusty races behind them wearing a white suit and photobombs the group by standing behind Delilah and hugging her. Delilah, sick of Rusty's antics, ties him to a tiny rocket with rope.
"My female sibling suggested this is the best course of action." Frankie said.
"Low blow, man. This is dry clean only." Rusty said.
"Maybe you can have your picture taken with some Martians." Delilah said.
Frankie laughs and presses a button on the remote for the rocket. Rusty is then sent flying.
"RUSTY SPOKES!" Rusty screamed.
Delilah waving, "Good-bye! Farewell! And don't come back!"
Sammy in Delilah's free arm waved too, "Hasta la vista, baby."
Milton, now exhausted from having to run back and forth about a dozen times, whimpers as he reactivates the camera and resets his position with his siblings.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles. Just then, one of their neighbors Mr. Grouse walks up and stands in the shot. Delilah growls, Milton was infuriated, and the rest has a looks of exhaustion.
"Hey, Vaselinez! I was fixing myself a nice cup of coffee, and then I realized I was out of sugar. I was wondering if I could borrow some from you." Mr. Grouse points at Leo.
Leo sighs, "First our last name is Velazquest. Second we're trying to take a photo here!" The camera clicks, and a photo of Mr. Grouse can be seen.
"Hey, good shot of the next-door neighbor, lousy shot of us dude." Tommy said as he points at Leo, Milton hurries back, resets the camera, and gets back with his siblings. "Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles. "Cheddar." Johnny said. This time a bee buzzes above the Velazquest kids, causing them to panic.
"OH, NO, NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAAHHHHH! OH, THEY'RE IN MY EYES!" Sammy yelled while flails his arms. The camera snaps a great photo of them getting freaked out.
"Oh... " As Milton tries to restart the camera again, the tripod it sits on crumples in a heap. Milton cries and sobs before trying to set it back up, only for it to fall flat again. He screams in rage, grabs the camera, shakes it and then plants it on the ground. The camera bounces like a bobblehead doll before Milton steadies it and prepares to head back to his spot when Delilah pats his back.
"Look maybe we could just giving up I'm fine with giving a sucky gift." Delilah said.
Milton shook his head, "N-No! We can't give up. I-I can't give up You're gonna give a great gift Delil-" Gasp! The camera takes another reject photo.
Milton whimpers.
Delilah sighs, "Ok we'll keep trying big bro." Milton resets the camera and trudges back to his spot.
Milton moaned, everyone collapsed in their respective positions. When Milton arrives, they straighten up and smile.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles. "Cheddar." Johnny said. Once again, Mr. Grouse steps in front of the camera.
"Hey again, Vaselinez! You won't believe what I found under my sink: an old package of sugar!" He laughs, "So I guess I won't be needing yours tho if you don't want ours I'll take it off your hand! How's that family picture of yours coming along?" He turns to the camera, which flashes again.
All of the Velazquest siblings groan.
Furious, Delilah storms to the camera and resets the timer.
She returns and get in position. "Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles. "Cheddar." Johnny said and they are all ready when they hear someone screaming.
"RUSTY SPOKES!" Rusty screamed. The rocket he was tied to lands with a thud in the grass next to the Velazquest siblings, causing the Velazquest kids to duck just as the camera flashes.
"Huh? What part of the phrase "don't come back" wasn't clear? Frankie!" Delilah said. Frankie pulls out the remote for the rocket.
Rusty whimpers.
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Sammy said.
Frankie presses a button on the rocket. It reactivates, and Rusty is sent through the earth. David blocks it with a tree stump and Delilah covers it with a green fabric of sorts.
Leo tiled his head, "Wasn't that a little drastic?"
"If this seems drastic to you, you've obviously never met Rusty. Trust me, it's necessary." Delilah said.
A jeep passes as Milton primes the camera for the fourteenth time. He gets in position and is all set when…
"Oh no." Larry said. The rest of the Velazquest siblings glare at the cowboy loving twin. "My nose is itching." He chuckles and scratches his nose just as the camera flashes.
"Sorry." Larry said.
He runs and turns the camera back on. For some reason, this shot fails, so Charlie does the same thing. This picture is another reject, so Tommy gives it a shot, except the jock trips over himself as the picture gets taken, so he grabs the camera's tripod and brings it to them. Charlie corrects this error and revisits his spot, all of them have tired eyes and plastered-on smiles.
Johnny flatly says Cheddar. The sky gets dark and rain pours down as the next picture gets taken.
Frankie frowns, "Aw, figures. The weather report was for clear skies and temperatures in the 80s."
The rest collapses on their stomachs.
After the rain has passed, they try it again.
"Say "cheese", everyone!" Milton yelled.
"I keep saying "cheese" and not getting any." Johnny said. The tree stump David used to block Rusty's hole pops up, and Rusty photobombs the shot putting himself front and center, much to everyone's annoyance.
"No comment." Delilah said.
Another car passes by behind Milton, who primes the camera once more.
"Alright, now, before I set the timer, is everything OK? No rain showers imminent?" Milton asked.
Frankie scanning the sky on screen coming from his wheelchair, "Not a cloud for miles."
"No one's nose itches?" Milton asked.
"I scratched mine already. How about you?" Larry asked Charlie.
Charlie scratched his just in case, "I'm ready."
"No one's going to interrupt us?" Milton asked turning to Mr. Grouse and Rusty, who are both bound and gagged to each other on the driveway. They utter muffled speech in protest.
"No one's gonna interrupt us. Leo said. Rusty and Mr. Grouse continue mumbling.
"Fine. I'm starting the timer." Milton said. He gets in position, but as he does, a vehicle pulls up and beeps twice. "Say "cheese"!" Milton yelled.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The Velazquest Kids say while holding big smiles.
At that moment, Bobby wearing a pizza delivery out walks up, pizza in hand, "Someone order a large Meat Lover pizza?"
"Yo dude that's me!" Johnny yelled.
"Johnny!" The other Velazquest siblings yelled. Johnny laughs as he breaks for the pizza. Predictably, the camera goes off.
"Hey it's your fault for making me think of cheese all day." Johnny said while eating his pizza. Before any more attempts can be made, a UFO abducts the camera right before their eyes. Milton screams/laughs maniacally, Johnny sputters, and the rest of the Velazquest siblings jaws dropped.
"Alright! I've had enough, it's time to do something DRASTIC!" Milton yelled.
They go get their picture taken at a professional photography place.
"OK, everyone ready?" The Photographer asked.
"Do you think this looks OK?" Leo asked as the siblings got in position.
"Of COURSE it looks OK. I am one of the world's greatest professional photographers. I can make ANYONE look good, even the three of you." The Photographer said.
"I'm gonna… ignore that jab." Charlie said with a annoyed face.
"You know, if we had done this in the first place, it would've saved us a lot of grief." Delilah said.
"Here, right, here we go! 1, 2, 3, cheese!" The Photographer yelled.
"I need more pizza." Johnny said. The photographer takes several shots.
"Magnificent! I've outdone myself. I shall make a print for you." The Photographer said. He runs off, while the Velazquest siblings are still a bit dazed from all the flashing lights. They finally sigh in relief.
-Back to the present-
"And that's what it took to get the picture taken." Delilah said.
"Well, it's a great photo and your father and I love all it." Elizabeth said.
Jason chuckles.
"What's funny daddy-O?" Tommy asked.
"Oh, I just love the expressions you kids made for this photo." Jason said.
"Wait did we ever check the picture?" Charlie asked.
Frankie rubbed his chin, "I don't recall I believe perhaps after we got photograph made we overlooked viewing it for errors."
Milton chuckles and grabs the photo, "Well it can't hurt to check no-" GASP!
Everyone runs over and sees the picture. It's all of the Velazquest siblings wincing due to the brightness of the flash. After seeing this, Milton starts to have a nervous breakdown.
"Aw honey!" Elizabeth said and hugged Milton to calm him down, "You don't need to worry we love it."
"But it was supposed to be the perfect picture." Milton said sadly.
"But it is." A voice said.
Everyone looked around and found out Delilah said that.
Delilah smiled, "This might have been Johnny and mines gift, but we all helped. We gave them the perfect one. The one that shows the real us. The perfect us."
The boys embrace Delilah in gratitude and happiness.
"Aww! Thank you, Delilah!" The brothers yelled.
"By the way, I don't know about you all? But I never wanna make a low effort present for Mom and Dad ever again." She shows them the box the discarded coffee mugs were in, "I'm only making awesome gifts!" Delilah yelled.
The boys agree with Delilah, and the parents join in the group hug which puts a smile on her face.
"Just perfect." Delilah said.
THE END