Rusty's Secret

23. Christmas Day

It was a hot morning in Brisbane. The sun was barely up in the sky. It was still a little bit dark, and dark clouds were beginning to set in.

Rusty was still asleep in his bed. Dusty burts into his room, yelling and squealing. "RUSTY WAKE UP ITS CHRISTMAS!" She screams. Rusty's eyes fly open as he jumps out off bed, Christmas was the one thing he'd happily wake up early for. They both sprint out of his room. "You get Digger, I'll get mum and dad!" Dusty explained quickly. Rusty nodded as he walked over to Digger's room. "Digger, Digger, wake up it's Christmas!" Rusty shouted, shaking his brother violently. "Ugh...What the fuck bro...I know it's Christmas but what time is it...?" He groaned as he rubbed his eyes. "That doesn't matter! Wake up!" Rusty demands.

Dusty swings open her parents' door. She climbs on top of their bed and frantically jumps up and down. "WAKE UP WAKE UP IT'S CHRISTMAS!" She repeatedly screamed. "AH! Dusty! Dusty! Calm down! We're up, we're up..." Her Dad yawned. They all walk into the living room where the glowing Christmas tree was and prepared for gift opening.

Rusty, Dusty, and Digger sat in front of the tree, staring at the different colored, tightly wrapped Christmas presets, waiting to be unwrapped. Their dad pulls out an old Dogaroid camera from a cardboard box he brought into the room. He blows the dust that has been piling on top of it for years off. And switches it on and starts to film. "Okay, go ahead" Their mum said with a smile.

Dusty quickly tears open her gift "a science kit!" Dusty shouts happily. Dusty has always been interested in science. She has gotten a science experience kit for every birthday and Christmas since she turned four.

Digger hands Rusty a gift while digging through his. Rusty unwraps the small gift."K-9 Kart! I can play with Jack now!" Rusty shouts excitedly, staring at the game cover.

Everyone was getting down to their last gifts. The last gifts were usually the most special. "Rusty, I think there's one back there for you" His dad pointed out. Rusty reaches behind the tree, he pulls out a small box with white and green wrapping paper with red polkadots. Rusty peels off the wrapping paper to reveal a small black case. "What is it?" Rusty questioned. "Open it up" His Dad said softly.

Rusty opens up the black case, a metal dogtag with his Dad's name on it lies inside. "Gunner Kelpie". Rusty stares down at it, his eyes start to water each second he looks at it. He takes it out of the case and gently places it in his palm.

"Now whenever I'm gone, you'll always have that necklace to remember me" His  dad said calmly. Rusty stands up and gives his dad the biggest hug he's ever given.

"Digger, I think we have another gift for you too" their mum said nicley. She digs through the plastic bag next to her on the couch and takes out a key. She gives it Digger. "What's this for?" Digger said curiously. "Just follow us outside, and close your eyes" She explained excitedly.

Digger follows his parents to the front of the house. "Okay, open your eyes!" She exclaimed. Digger's eyed fly open, there's an unfirmiliar shiny greenish colored car parked on the street.

"I-Is that for me....?" Digger asks in disbelief. His mum nods quickly. "No way!" He gives his parents a tight hug before sprinting towards the car.

A couple of hours later, Rusty's mum drops him off at Jack's house. "Have fun at Jack's!" She shouted from the car. She drives off as Rusty and Dusty walk towards Jack's front door. Rusty hesitates before pressing Jack's doorbell.

Jack opens up the door. "Rusty! C'mon, everyone's here!" Jack shouts happily.  Rusty takes a deep breath before entering the house. Dusty looks at his face. "Why don't you just tell him?" She asks. "I-It's not that easy, Dusty...." Rusty says quietly. "You'll understand some day..." Rusty said nervously.

They walk into the living room. "Hey Rusty!" Mackenzie said. All of their friends are there, Bluey, Bingo, Lila, Mackenzie, Indy, Pretzel, Judo, everyone.

"Bingo! Lila! Lulu!" Dusty shouts as she runs to her them. "Look at the science kit I got!" Dusty says excitedly, showing them the box.

Rusty sits next to Jack on the couch. "So what did you get for Christmas?" Jack asked Rusty. "O-Oh, I got K-9 Kart, A vr headset, and this!" Rusty points to the dogtag around his neck. "Cool!" Jack responds. "And oh, Digger got a car!" Rusty adds.

A couple minutes later, everyone starts passing out gifts they got for each other. Dusty made friendship bracelets for Her, Lila, Bingo, and Lulu. Bluey got Mackenzie a pack of tennis balls.

The party was dying down, the room was dimly lit by the yule log playing on the TV. "H-Here Rusty..." Jack says nervously. Jack hands Rusty a gift with sparkly blue wrapping paper. "Thanks, Jack!" Rusty says happily. Rusty tears it open. Inside, theres picture of them playing army when they were kids. Rusty stares at it, holding it with both hands. "Thanks, Jack! I love it!" Rusty gives Jack a tight hug. "You're welcome" Jack blushed.

"Rusty, you're Mum's here!" Jack's Dad shouts to him. "Oh....ok! C'mon Dusty! Bye, guys! Bye, Jack!" Rusty yells as he exits the room.

"Bye Rusty..." Jack waved.