TAWOG: Instinct

The Banners

The Banners

It was roughly 7am on Monday morning in the bustling metropolis of Elmore City, California. It was this day that was usually the bane of every junior high schooler, for it meant the weekend was over and it was time to go back to school, however, for one student of Elmore Junior High, Gumball Watterson, today might as well be the best day ever. That's not to say the weekend hadn't been the best, it had been so enjoyable he, like all of his classmates, was sad the weekend was over, because he and his girlfriend, Penny Fitzgerald, had turned the whole thing into a massive date. 

Going out to eat, hanging out, going to the movies, holding hands, Penny even threw in some kisses here and there; kisses full blown on the lips.

And it was because of this that not only did Gumball not mind having to go back to school, he was genuinely looking forward to it, for it gave him the opportunity to show Penny how much he enjoyed her company this weekend. Both he and his adopted brother Darwin could be found at their school at this early hour, and even though class didn't start for another hour and a half, the two were hard at work, painstakingly pulling on a rope that was attached to a pulley system that was steadily lifting a massive rolled up banner over the front of the school.

“You…sure this isn't…overdoing it…just a tad…?” asked Darwin, sweat dripping from the scales of his goldfish body and down his long legs and into his socks, soaking them. The banner better get into position soon or this endeavor might cause him to get athletes' foot.

“Of… course…buddy,” said Gumball between pulls, sweat glistening off his face as well, his powder blue fur sleek in the early morning sun. “This ain't… anywhere near as…extravagant…as the last time…”

Gumball was also immensely grateful to his foster brother for not only helping him out with this, but for letting him and his girlfriend have last weekend all to themselves without getting jealous…again.

“Gotta…agree…with that…” said Darwin, remembering the fiasco with the treasure hunt and fireworks. At least this wouldn't put Penny in danger…as long as she didn't stand directly underneath it.

“Aaaand…there,” said Gumball once the banner was in place, wiping sweat from his brow. “That wasn't too difficult. Now, how much time does that leave us before school starts?”

“Hmm?” hummed Darwin, ceasing ringing out his socks of sweat; which were releasing a complete deluge, looking at the watch strapped to the wrist of his left fin. “Rocky should be pulling up with everyone in about…thirty seconds…”

“THIRTY SECONDS!” Gumball repeated frantically, looking down at his sweat soaked form, BO wafting from his armpits in a nauseous green cloud. “What… oh no…she can't see this…”

Reaching off screen, Gumball pulled forth a portable showering station, drew the curtain around himself, hung his clothes on a provided hook, and began frantically scrubbing himself, all the while Darwin looked at him with an unamused look.

“Told you it was too big,” he said, “Should have used smaller letters and less words.”

Gumball didn't appear to be paying attention however, too busy scrubbing the sweaty smell off himself. Someone's else was paying attention, however. Up in the branches of one of the trees that was planted on the grounds of Elmore Junior High was a certain cycloptic individual Gumball knew well. Rob had a sinister grin on his face as he drummed his fingers together eagerly. It was once again time to enact his revenge on gumball, and this time he would not fail. This time he had a plan that would bring down the delinquent twelve year old once and for all, and if not, it would surely knock him down a peg or two.