Ash and the Christmas killer.

Bad Influence

We were walking through the halls still towards the exit and Shawn couldn't help but contain his excitement about dinner at the Gusters' house.
"Dude, I am really stoked. In over 20 years of friendship, I can count on one shop teacher's hand, the number of times your folks have had us over. I assume it's because they can't stand my father. Understandably." He told and Gus pulled his unsure look.
"Well, I wouldn't necessarily say that." He admitted.
'Oh boy.'
"What would you say necessarily?"
"Let's just say it's not because of your dad."
'And there it is.'
"What, your house is too small? Didn't have enough extra chairs?" Shawn asked not knowing the truth.
"No."
"Hiding a Jewish family in your attic?"
"No." He told making Shawn finally stop from figuring it out.
"Wait a minute. It's not because of me." He questioned causing Gus to hems and haws since he didn't want to answer.
'Yeah this is definitely not going well.'
"Gus? I can't believe this. I feel like Pepé le Pew when he looked up 'pew' in the dictionary." He told before going into a French accent. "Le Pew. Moi? No."
"Actually if it was real life he would have said 'Non'. Not no."
"I hate that you know French."
"Non, vous ne le faites pas."
"What?"
"No, you don't. It's what I said in French."
"My parents always thought you were a bad influence on me. Understandably." Gus told bringing Shawn's focus back on that.
"A bad influence?"
"Yes."
"You are a pretty bad influence."
"Dudes, that's absurd." He argued.
"I feel they may be correct from what I've been told." Spencer added.
"Because of you, Shawn, I got my first B, broke my first curfew, accidentally killed the state bird..." Gus began to explain when Shawn cut him off.
"How was I supposed to know he couldn't hold his own liquor?"
"It's a fucken bird Shawn. They don't drink liquor." I stated.
"Now I know what to get your parents for Christmas." Shawn told ignoring what I said.
"What?" Me and Gus questioned.
"I'm sorry you two did what to a bird?!" Spencer questioned.
"Don't worry about it. So many things go wrong with us."
"I'm gonna lead 'em on a walk down memory lane, and give them the gift of seeing what a positive influence I have been on their son." He told before thrusting the bag at Gus before leaving.
"Yeah they will definitely ban him." I told with a defeated sigh.
"I feel the exact same."
"Your parents like me right?" I asked since I was curious.
"They love you."
"Yes!"

Me and Spencer ended up going to Henry's place with Shawn after we got the pie and made a quick stop at Jules giving her the gift that I got for her, but sadly none of her family had arrived before we got there. I ended up helping decorate Henry's place with him while Spencer just looked around, and Shawn just watched his father put the tree up in the corner.
"Dad, why do you insist on getting a real tree? You probably chopped down some poor animal's home." Shawn stated.
"Yeah, that's the vicious little bastard right there." Henry's told pointing to the ornamental squirrel that was on the mantle and Spencer gave a worried look.
"You sure Lassie didn't shoot that?" I joked.
"You know, there are actually places that replant your tree for you to reuse till it gets too big and then they retire it to a forest." Spencer told.
"Wow it's like there's another Bunny here." Henry told before he kissed my head and then ruffled my hair.
"Can we go, please?" Shawn asked as he began to walk away causing Henry to put his hands up to make him stop.
"Whoa, Shawn, Shawn." He told making Shawn stop and turn towards him.
"Look, I don't wanna be late to the Gusters. It's important that this dinner go well." He told.
"You just want them to not think you're a bad influence." Me and Spencer told as one.
"So weird." Shawn told smirking at the two of us.
"Aren't you forgetting something? Your gift." Henry told handing a cylindrical gift-wrapped package to Shawn. "Go on. Shake it, rattle it, feel it, sniff it. Do whatever the hell you want with it before it goes in that stocking. Then you got one week to figure out what it is."
"Dad, this ridiculous competition means way more to you than it does to me." Shawn told as he did so.
"That's why you haven't won since you were eight-years-old."
"Christmas '92 was a draw. You know that." He stated showing it did mean something to him.
"Oh, so you do care. Go on."
"What is this?" Spencer questioned.
"Every year, Shawn and Henry get one another a gift. And they let one another see it to know how big or small the gift is. And they have a week to work it out and guess. So far, Henry's winning." I explained.
Shawn held the package out in front of him, before he brought it up to his eyes like it was a telescope for a few seconds maybe even a minute or two before lowering it.
"That's it."
"That's it? You're sure?" Henry questioned.
"That's all I need." He told as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out small gift to toss to Henry. "Oh, here's yours. Merry Christmas."
Henry held the present in front of him as eye level and gave it a little shake, which caused Shawn to chuckle.
"You are never..." he began to taunt before Henry cut him off.
"Shh." He told before shaking his gift more. "Wait, wait, wait."
"All right, time's up. In the stockings they go." Shawn told making them walk towards the fireplace and stand in front of the stockings.
"I'm gonna figure it out, Shawn. I always do." Henry stated.
"Same time." They both told as one before dropping their presents into the stockings.
'This'll be interesting."