Starting New: Returning Home

Chapter 14: Progress

Gumball started up the mower after a few tries and heard it finally roar to life. This made him somewhat relieved, but also a bit irritated. Its loud noise made him remember to put in his earbuds before grabbing its handle, propelling it forward.

He was mowing the backyard. He wanted to help out more after all, and he felt like this was a good starting point, at least in his eyes. Surely, it was simple enough; all he had to do was mow around everything. Although this was somewhat of a new experience for him, considering he hasn't done this in decades, he got the jest of it pretty quickly. He did remember mowing once when Nicole had taught him, but after so long, he was going to be needing a bit of practice. Starting in a somewhat open section of the yard, he mowed in a straight line, before starting another. And another. Eventually, he could mow around objects with ease.

After about 20 minutes, he finished it.

Pulling off his gloves, he wiped his forehead and admired his handiwork.

'Not too bad...'

After this, he decided it was time to mow the front lawn.

'Well, hopefully this goes well too...'

Pulling the mower towards the front of the lawn, he started the mower and did the same patterns as he did for the backyard.

What surprised him the most about all this, was the fact that this section of mowing was done in about HALF the time.

'Wow, that-...was surprisingly fast.' He thought to himself admittedly.

'Maybe I can mow this other section next to our lawn?'

Starting up his mower again, he pushed it forward and starting mowing again.

Done.

Stopping his mower again, he admired the evenly cut grass, taking in its freshly cut scent.

Something in him...didn't want to stop. It was like the momentum of mowing was making his body go into autopilot.

Then he got an idea.

'Wait, maybe I can mow the neighbor's lawn?'

Deciding to go with this plan, he walked the mower across the grass and into the next house down.

As he stopped the mower at the cement walkway, he made his way towards the porch. It was a purple colored double story house with well kept bushes and flowers in the front. Quite the contrast to their own home.

Knocking on the red door before him, he waited for an answer.

He was familiar of who lived here; or at least, somewhat. He's met them before obviously, but maybe things would be different when he would meet-

"Mr. Robinson!"

The man standing before him, a light blue felted puppet figure with oversized glasses and an ocean blue suit and a plaid tie, sighed heavily and narrowed his gaze.

"What do you want, you little parasite?"

Gumball didn't even get the chance to respond before Mr. Robinson raised his hand out towards him in a stopping motion.

"Look kid, if it's about selling something for your-...whatever, I'm not interested. If it's about wanting to clean my CAR again, that is a SOLID NO!"

Gumball looked puzzled at him for a second, before clearing his throat.

"M-Mr. Robinson, I'm not here to do any of those things."

This made him raise an eyebrow.

"They why ARE you here, on my porch, knocking on my door? Spit it out kid, I don't got all day."