TAWOG: Instinct

The Heritage

The Heritage

It was time for recess at Elmore Junior High and the students were mingling out in the schoolyard. Penny could be found among her usual clique, her expression still dour. She still had Mr. Cuddles in her hands. She had been given permission to tote him around for the day, given the fact that his presence at school wasn't her fault, though she had been requested that she not remove him from the pickle jar.

"I can't believe him," she growled aggressively. "Trying to force me to choose between him or my precious Mr. Cuddles. And so publicly too."

"Yeah, the complete and utter nerve," said Carmen, the cactus crossing her arms. "If Alan ever tried anything of the sort I'd pop him multiple times on each of my quills at least once."

"And I would enjoy each pop, my love," said the sentient balloon in his high pitched voice as he floated by in the background behind her, Carmen's looking unamused. It kinda defeats the purpose of a punishment if he enjoys it.

"Ugh, men!" said Carrie, the ghost crossing her arms. "Always so insensitive and selfish."

"I agree," said Penny, looking at her beloved pet tarantula and giving a brief affectionate smile before her face morphed into a scowl again. "I thought Gumball was going to be different from other boys, but then he does something like this."

"Hey, if you'd like, I could give him a little "stormy weather" for you," Masami offered, turning darker and extruding a few brief lightning bolts.

Penny was really tempted to accept her friend's offer when Leslie spoke up. "Huh, guys, I'd really hate to be the one to detail this rage train, but aren't we being a little hard on Gumball?"

The others in the group looked at him like he had grown a second head (for lack of a better term. After all, Leslie, being a flower, could understandably grow a second head, possibly more).

"What do you mean "a little hard"?" inquired Carrie, the ghostly girl hovering directly into Leslie's face. "He wanted Penny to give up her pet just because he hates spiders."

The others likewise agreed.

"On that point I do agree," said Leslie, looking at the massive arachnid in the jar held by Penny. "But Gumball's arachnophobia aside, didn't Mr. Cuddles kinda give Gumball a personal reason to dislike him? I heard Gumball got bitten so badly by him that he actually lapsed into a coma."

Penny blinked and looked down at Mr. Cuddles in the jar. She had honestly forgotten about that debacle, where which they were hosting a funeral for Mr. Cuddles after her dad accidentally flushed him down the toilet. Gumball had found him, and was practically mauled by him to the point of winding up in the hospital.

"I...guess you have a point there, Leslie," Penny reluctantly admitted, her scowl dissipating for a look of uncertainty. "Gumball kinda does have a legitimate reason to hate Mr. Cuddles." Her scowl returned. "That doesn't mean I'm willing to get rid of him though."

"Not saying you should," said Leslie. "I'm just saying that maybe rather than lashing out, or having Masami electrocute him, you two should talk this out. Besides, hasn't he suffered enough in the physical aspect of things already?"

"You know, that actually is a pretty good point," said Carman. "I saw Gumball as he left school, Tina practically beat him to a pulp."

"What did he think was going to happen?" inquired Carrie. "That picture of Tina...it's a wonder his head is still attached to his shoulders."

"Can you believe she is a dyer?" asked Masami with a mean grin. "But with that true color of hers I can't really blame her. If she were to come to school looking like "that" it might really affect her tough girl image, if it hasn't already."