The Gift: A TAWOG Story

Chapter 15: The Errand

Gumball felt things had started to level with him at school, now that Penny has chased Tobias too. He felt slightly relieved that the attention has shifted away from him.

Still, Gumball was trying to eat his lunch but could not. He was contemplating on his visit into his father's dream. Never had he thought before that his mother was a big bully in the past, in her years in junior high. The very thought that Nicole used to roam the halls harassing and threatening kids to get what she wanted sent chills up his spine. It was no wonder Miss Simian did not like Gumball; he must have reminded her too much of his mother when she was a student.

Gumball just picked at his spaghetti when Darwin joined him with a baked potato.

"What's good, bro?" Darwin said as he knelt on the seat so his head could be level with Gumball's. "You still not hungry? That's the third day in a row. You sure you feelin' all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Gumball. "Just not that hungry." Gumball pushed his tray a couple inches in front of him as Darwin sliced into his baked potato. He stuffed a bit into his mouth.

"Mmm, fluffy!" He said with his face right up to Gumball's, though Gumball did not laugh like usual, but just wiped off the bits of potato Darwin spit on his face. "Oh, come on," said Darwin with a huge grin on his face. "Where's that smile? I wanna see that smile."

"I don't have it," said Gumball, feeling more down.

"Yes you do," the goldfish said, beginning to poke his cheek with his fin. "I know it's there."

"Darwin, stop it," Gumball said. "It's not..." He was no match for Darwin's silly tactics. Eventually, he started giggling, and that giggling evolved to laughter.

"Poke poke poke!" Darwin said as he kept poking his adoptive cat brother.

"Aw, come here!" Gumball said, bringing Darwin in for a hug.

"Listen, I know you're sorry about what happened last Friday," said Darwin. "And that stuff I said about you and Penny, I don't mean one word of it."

"I know you don't, buddy," Gumball said. His appetite suddenly came back, and he felt free to eat his spaghetti.

"Hey guys, what's new?" said Idaho the Potato as he hopped up and set his sandwich down in front of him.

"Not much, Idaho," said Gumball.

"Um..." Idaho noticed a bit of potato still on Gumball's right cheek. "You got a little uh..." Gumball felt his left cheek. "No, other side." Gumball then felt his right cheek and wiped it off. "Okay, it's off now. So, do you guys wanna come to my house afterward? I just got Laser Assassin 4 and it is epic."

"Yeah, that sounds awesome," said Darwin, who then got out his phone. "I'm just gonna text Mrs. Mom really quick and let her know our plans."

"I don't think that'll be necessary," said Gumball, which surprised Darwin. "It's alright, I'll text her."

"With my mind," he thought to himself. He sent the transmission about him and Darwin's plans to Nicole's mind. She thought back to Gumball that it was okay.

"Mom says it's okay," said Gumball.

"How do you know?" said Darwin. "You never got out your phone." Gumball's stomach tied in a knot.