The Family Reunion |The Amazing World of Gumball Short Story|

Part VII

The Family Reunion Part VII

Everyone gathered in the living room, all dressed in their cozy nightwear, snug in the blankets. It was later in the night, after recovering from the chaos from earlier, they all decided to do the last Christmas Eve tradition: When Richard would read The Night Before Christmas to the family. The elders were willing to listen to, making the couch much more crowded and cramped. The kids were sitting in Nicole's lap, laying their heads against her. 

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there," Richard said in an energetic, story-telling voice, "The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap."

The story and the way he read it aloud brought a smile to everyone's face, including those who never usually smiled. Even Mr. Senicourt was grinning to himself. Nicole was impressed, she'd never seen her parents smile before; it honestly made her surprised that they had teeth.

"When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer."

Mrs. Senicourt constantly glanced between her daughter and her son-in-law. She couldn't help but notice the two occasionally making eye contact and grinning at each other sweetly. She bit the inside of her cheek, uncertain on how to feel about them. For the entirety of raising Nicole, she never approved of their relationship and wanted nothing to do with Richard. But seeing the way he made her smile for no reason, the way they'd raised their kids and would do anything to protect them and each other, Mrs. Senicourt began to question if she was right to disapprove of their love.

"With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

Gumball yawned and purred softly, curling his tail up in his lap as he nuzzled against his mother and siblings. Mrs. Senicourt couldn't help but smile at the sight. In fact, she felt a few tears dwelling in her eyes.

"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound."

"He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow."

As the kids began to drift to sleep, they suddenly forced themselves to hear the ending. Plus, they didn't want to torture their mother by going dead weight on her lap.

"The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;"