Wild's First Christmas/Part 6

The sled full of Smurfs finally stopped at the house of the toymaker. The Smurfs all jumped out and looked through the window to see if there was anybody there.

"Oh no, Pappy, we're too late," Sassette said. "They've gone to bed."

"That's not a problem for us, Sassette," Papa Smurf said. "We'll just simply leave a little present for them on Christmas morning."

"Smurf me some help with this Christmas tree, there, Empath," Duncan said. "I don't have any idea where Hefty has gone to, but I'm not going to smurf this all by myself."

"This smurf would be honored to help, Duncan," Empath said, as he and Duncan lifted the Christmas tree from the sled.

The other Smurfs helped push the door open as quietly as possible as Duncan and Empath carried the Christmas tree in together. "Smurf the tree near the fireplace, so that the humans could smurf it when they wake up," Papa Smurf said.

"This smurf acknowledges, Papa Smurf," Empath said, as he and Duncan carried it to the spot in the main room.

"Oh, this room is just so bare, I could hardly stand to smurf myself in it," Vanity said after looking around.

"Don't worry, Vanity," Smurfette said. "After we're done in here, it will look really smurfy and it will feel just like Christmas."

"We might as well proceed with the decorations, and try to do it as quietly as possible so that we don't attract any unwanted attention upon ourselves," Empath said.

"I couldn't agree with you more there, youngster," Grandpa Smurf said. "The sooner we smurf this place all up, the better."

And so the Smurfs quickly proceeded with the task of decorating the main room and the Christmas tree they brought into it. Vanity and some other Smurfs went to work with hanging the ornaments, while Painter set up his easels and worked like a Smurf possessed with inspiration to create some paintings for the humans to enjoy looking at. Wild and Chitter worked on hanging tinsel upon the rafters, while Empath and Smurfette hung wreaths together.

"Smurf at how happy Wild and Chitter are together, Empath," Smurfette said, as she watched them work. "They really know how to hang tinsel now."

"They really are inseparable from each other, Smurfette," Empath said, smiling as he watched. "For him to live with a family of squirrels his entire life would have to mean he would make every minute living among them count for something."

"I just wish that he wasn't so alone in the forest as the only Smurf living by himself in it," Smurfette said.

"This smurf would very much want him to be happy in whatever life he chooses to live, Smurfette, even if he does share only brief moments with us around the holidays," Empath said.

Just then, Wild appeared where Empath and Smurfette were standing. "So how do you like how I hang the decorations?" Wild asked.

"Oh, you two were just smurfy, Wild," Smurfette said, sounding pleased. "I can see that you finally have the holiday spirit smurfing in you."

Then suddenly Wild slipped Smurfette a kiss on the cheek. "Oh, Wild, what was that for...not that I didn't like receiving it?" Smurfette asked.

"Don't look now, but this smurf can see that there's something hanging over you," Empath hinted.

Smurfette looked up and saw that there was mistletoe. "Hmmm, now I wonder who's the Smurf that smurfed it right in that spot," she said with a hint of suspicion.

"Don't look at this smurf, Smurfette," Empath said, shrugging his shoulders. "This smurf was with you all the time when we were hanging wreaths."

"Arrrrrh," Wild said with a growl, looking at Smurfette with suggestive eyes.

Smurfette snorted. "Well, the kiss is all you're going to smurf from me this holiday season, Wild...so don't expect me to smurf you much else."

Wild felt himself groaning as he and Empath watched Smurfette walk off. "What did I do wrong with her, Empath?" Wild asked.

"Smurfette is very protective of her purity, Wild," Empath said. "There are things she won't give to any Smurf unless they are totally committed to marrying her."

"But I can't help smurfing this way about her," Wild said.

"This smurf knows that you mean well, Wild," Empath said. "We'll just have to let Smurfette make her own decision as to who she wants to give herself to." - Meanwhile, Hefty and Brainy were out in the streets trying to find the thief until they saw him just walking in the open, carrying the rich man's bag of gold.

"There he is," Hefty said. "Let's go after him."

"If only Empath was here instead of me to smurf after this thief," Brainy said.

"I don't need Empath's help for smurfing down a thief," Hefty said. "You may not be in my strength level, but I think you can help me figure out how to catch him."

"You sounded earlier like you were much better off without me," Brainy said.

"Empath is the one I'm much better off smurfing without, Brainy," Hefty said. "Besides, don't you think that you could be the only Smurf in the village who's really smart?"

"Well, sometimes I do wonder what it would be like if I didn't have to compete with my own brother when it comes to being so intelligent," Brainy said.

"If you want a chance to prove yourself, Brainy, I'd say now's a good a time as any," Hefty said. "I think you'd want to see the smug look on Empath's face disappear when he finds out things that you can smurf without his help."

Suddenly the hooded figure stopped and emptied out the bag of all its gold coins. "Soon I'll be home free," he said to himself as he dumped the empty bag in the front of the door of the toymaker and then proceeded onward.

Hefty and Brainy continued to follow him until he came to his hideout. He opened the door and then closed it behind him, not caring to know who was behind him.

"We have him cornered now, Brainy," Hefty said as they reached his door. "Come on."

They both slipped inside through a crack at the bottom of the door.