The New Smurfs On The Block/Part 1

Empath's personal journal.

''Today we're celebrating what could be called the birthdays of Nat, Snappy, and Slouchy, but actually it's their anniversary of being members of the Smurf Village. Since the three of them never had any official birthdays since they've been on Smurfling Island, Papa Smurf decided to designate the day of their arrival as their official birthday, which to them made some amount of sense if only because they couldn't remember on what day any of them were born. In any case, most of the Smurfs are glad that the Smurflings, including Sassette, are now part of our everyday lives...although Brainy Smurf still has problems trying to deal with the boy Smurflings having to tease him all the time for his supposed lack of intelligence. Despite this, Brainy tries to show in his own little way that he does care for the Smurflings and to prove himself to be a very useful role model.'' - Every Smurf had gathered around the X-shaped table in the center of the village, singing "Happy Smurfday To You" while Greedy brought out the birthday cake for Nat, Snappy, and Slouchy to blow out together. Polaris Psyche was sitting with Empath, watching silently without singing along, as the three boy Smurflings blew out all their candles when the cake arrived and all the adult Smurfs cheered for them.

"So how old does that make us now, Papa Smurf?" Nat asked.

"Well, that's a hard one to figure out," Papa Smurf said as he stroked his beard. "I would say that all three of you must be at least 50 years old since you first became members of the Smurf Village, and now it's been two years since that time, so that would make you...I believe, 52 years old."

"52 years old?" Snappy said. "I feel old enough to apply for senior discounts around the Smurf Village."

"There's just one problem with that, Snap...the Smurfs don't even use money since the time that they tried smurfing the money system," Slouchy said.

"Maybe they should bring back the money system, because then I would have a reason to start smurfing up money for when I'm around Papa Smurf's age," Snappy said.

"Anyway, Papa Smurf, we thank you that you allowed us to smurf with you for the past few years in your village," Nat said. "It feels smurfy to know that we can someday become big Smurfs like you and everyone else here."

"Our home will always be your home, Nat," Papa Smurf said. "We couldn't be more pleased to know that you and your friends have been welcome additions to our family."

Puppy barked out something that the Smurflings understood. "Don't forget that it's also Puppy's anniversary of smurfing into the village, Pappy Smurf," Sassette said.

Papa Smurf chuckled. "Of course we won't, Sassette. The village just wouldn't be the same if Puppy wasn't part of our lives since he came here from Homnibus' home a few years ago," Papa Smurf said.

"Well, since it's your birthdays today, I would like for you three to have a copy of my latest Quotations Of Brainy Smurf For Smurflings, signed and autosmurfed by yours truly, so that you can grow to be just as wise and intelligent as I am," Brainy said, handing Nat, Snappy, and Slouchy each a copy of the book.

"Gee, thanks, Brainy," Nat said as he received his copy. "I'm sure that the three of us will know just what to do with this smurfday present."

"I sure do, Nat, although the problem is what to do about the ink that smurfs off on my behind when I have to relieve myself in the outhouse," Snappy said, as the other three Smurflings laughed.

"Now, now, my fellow Smurflings, that's not a nice thing to do with a gift that smurfs straight from Brainy's heart," Tapper said. "You sure wouldn't be treating the words of the Almighty with the same disregard as you would your fellow Brainy's smurfs of wisdom now, would you?"

"I wouldn't be smurfing that to the Almighty's words, Tapper, even if I don't understand a good deal of what he smurfs," Sassette said.

"You will understand in good time if you're patient enough to let the Almighty illumine in your heart, mind, and spirit what He wants to smurf into your life, my little Sassette," Tapper said. "For now, I would like to smurf a blessing to the three Smurflings Nat, Snappy, and Slouchy that they would grow in wisdom and understanding, that they would not smurf their youth for granted as they become what the Almighty has intended for them to be as grown-up Smurfs. And so with these words that I smurf unto the lads and their fellow sister, I pray. Amen."

"Amen," all the Smurfs at the table said together as they bowed their heads during the blessing.

"This one is curious to know about how the Smurflings first became part of the village, starting with the day that the boys have arrived here from the island they came from," Polaris said.

"Well, that is quite a story to tell, Polaris, which I'm sure all of us would be able to tell together, since this started on the day in early summer when we were smurfing ready for the Smurfstock Festival," Papa Smurf said.

"This smurf would also like to hear the whole story straight from the beginning as well, Papa Smurf," Empath said.

"Of course, Empath," Papa Smurf said. "I would not wish to smurf you out of hearing of this story which I'm sure every Smurf present was a witness to." - As Papa Smurf began telling the story, Empath and Polaris could see that Papa Smurf was busy in his laboratory early in the morning doing an experiment. "...and two drops of smurfapirium smurfimus...there! I carefully smurf everything! And then I wait until the sandglass smurfs out before I smurf in the reagent...smurfing...now!" He turned the sandglass over to begin the counting of time. "I must not make a single mistake! A little too early or a little too late, I could smurf an explosion on my hands."

As Papa Smurf held the reagent in one hand and the sandglass in another, there suddenly came a loud cacophonous sound of music that blasted through the windows, startling Papa Smurf and causing him to drop the sandglass. "What the...? My sandglass is broken!" He looked at the broken sandglass on the floor, and then quickly turned back toward the mixture in the pestle on the table. "How much time is left? Five...four...three...too bad, here it smurfs...two..."

Papa Smurf poured the reagent into the mixture, which suddenly caused an explosion in the laboratory, shattering some of the nearby vials and tubes on the table. He was able to regain consciousness when he still heard the sound of loud music pouring in and wondered what was going on.

He left his laboratory and saw that Brainy was conducting the village symphony orchestra very early in the morning. He was so focused on his job as the conductor that he could faintly hear Papa Smurf call his name until the village leader ended up shouting it. He suddenly stopped the music and turned to face Papa Smurf. "Oh, Papa Smurf...I'm glad to see that you're up and about," Brainy said. "I just want to thank you for letting me smurf over your job as the conductor of the..."

"Brainy Smurf, what's the meaning of all this noise at this time of the morning?" Papa Smurf demanded to know. "I was in the middle of smurfing on a very crucial experiment that smurfed me all night to finish before this noise smurfed up!"

"Didn't you remember, Papa Smurf?" Brainy said. "The Smurfstock Festival is going to start tomorrow, and I need to get the orchestra smurfing together and smurfing their best if we're going to start smurfing tomorrow night. As you always say, practice is what smurfs things perfect, and we're going to need a whole day of practice if we want the orchestra to smurf in perfect pitch together."

"A whole day of practice?" Papa Smurf said. "Well, of course you're free to practice your music, Brainy...but may I suggest in the future that you don't start your practice sessions until a little later on in the morning."

"Oh, of course, Papa Smurf," Brainy said. "I can see your need for silence in the wee hours of the morning, when you may be busy smurfing in the laboratory on any crucical experiments that require lots of concentration and fastidious timing."

"Thank you, Brainy, for your cooperation," Papa Smurf said, with a sigh of relief before he walked away.

"All right, you Smurfs, let's smurf it straight from the top," Brainy said as he raised up his conductor's baton. "And one...and two...and..."

As the orchestra started up the music playing again, this time sounding a little less cacophonous, Papa Smurf was wondering what to do about his broken sandglass. "I'm going to need to smurf another one from Father Time's workshop, but I'm going to need three Smurfs who aren't busy smurfing anything this morning to..."

"Ah, smurf o' the morning to you, Papa Smurf," Tapper said, as he, Barber, and Sweepy approached the village leader. "We wanted to smurf to you about an idea that the three of us have been smurfing in our minds to smurf together and..."

"Tapper, I'm going to need three Smurfs to pay a visit to Father Time's workshop this morning in order to smurf a replacement for the sandglass that I have broken in my laboratory during a crucial experiment," Papa Smurf said.

"A broken sandglass?" Sweepy said. "Aye, that's a terrible thing for you to smurf for your work, Papa Smurf."

"Well, me and Sweepy have nothing better for either of us to smurf, and I'm sure Tapper wouldn't mind smurfing with us to smurf you a replacement," Barber said.

"Good, my little Smurfs, good," Papa Smurf said. "As long as you Smurfs stay away from anything in his workshop that have anything to do with time, then you should have no problem smurfing me a replacement. Just remember above all else not to touch a single thing, not even the Sands Of Time."

"Aye, Papa Smurf, that we will heed to," Tapper said. "Come along, my friends, we might as well be smurfing to Father Time's to smurf us a new sandglass."

And as Papa Smurf watched the three Smurfs start heading into the forest for Father Time's workshop, Smurfette approached him, looking rather sad. "My poor little Smurfette, what seems to be the problem?" Papa Smurf said as he turned towards her to address her situation.

"Oh, Papa Smurf, it's been four years since I became a real Smurf, and now I'm starting to feel lonely," Smurfette said.

"I don't understand why you should feel that way, Smurfette," Papa Smurf said. "Your fellow Smurfs all seem to care for you."

"I know that they care for me, Papa Smurf, but the thing is is that I'm lonely for the presence of another female Smurf," Smurfette said. "The other male Smurfs are mostly nice to me, but except for Vanity, they can't understand the things that I like to smurf: flowers, pretty dresses, the things that smurf on in a girl's mind. I feel like that part is missing in my life, and I wonder if there's a way you can help me smurf the missing part."

"I'm sorry to hear that, and I wouldn't want you to feel that there's something missing in your life, Smurfette," Papa Smurf said. "The thing is...you're a unique creation of Gargamel that I have managed to smurf into a real Smurf, and even though the spells I have smurfed to smurf you into what you are have worked, it was all a matter of chance. I don't know if I could replicate the same success that I smurfed with you, and frankly I'm rather hesitant in trying to smurf the same spell that Gargamel used to create you in order to create another female Smurf for you to be friends with."

"So you're saying there's nothing you can do to help me feel less lonely for another female Smurf," Smurfette said, realizing what Papa Smurf was saying. "I understand...this is going to smurf some time for me to get used to, but I'll manage. Thank you for listening to me anyway, Papa Smurf."

As Smurfette walked away with the same look of gloominess, Papa Smurf looked at her and felt his heart going out to her. He didn't expect to find himself dealing with a Smurfette's loneliness for another female presence in the village, but apart from doing anything that would violate the safety of the Smurf Village, there just wasn't anything that he could do to fix the problem Smurfette was now faced with. He only hoped that with time he and the other Smurfs might find some way to help ease that part of Smurfette's life that seems to be missing.

To be expanded on.