A blaring alarm jostled Gruff from his sleep. He fought off his blanket from on top of him. The alarm clock's buzzing filled the room, and Gruff sighed.

The pungent smell of cricket stew wafted through the air, and his toes curled as Gruff's bare feet touched the tiled floor. Rushing across the room, he quickly reached the door, where a loud creak broke the continued buzzing of his alarm clock. Milk spewed out of Master's nose and mouth just as she noticed him enter the room.

Jonah rolled back and forth on the couch; his roaring cackle added to the morning noise. "What happened to your hair, Gruff?"

Gruff rushed to a nearby mirror to find his pin-straight black hair became a multicolored afro. "That's real funny, Jonah. Change it back!"

Jonah stuck his tongue out, and Gruff charged at him. The older boy quickly pinned Gruff to the ground and sat on him. "Make me pipsqueak!"

"Let me up, you turd!" Gruff pinched Jonah on his side.

"Oh, we are resorting to name-calling now, are we?" Jonah cackled.

"Jonah, act your age and let poor Gruffy up." Maria pulled Jonah up by the ear.

Gruff quickly found his way to his feet, "Change it back, you jerk!"

"Fine," Jonah rubbed his sore ear, "Normal." Gruff's hair fell to his forehead. "You guys are no fun."

"Why do you insist on torturing Gruffy like this every year?" Marcia firmly placed her hands on her hips.

Gruff turned red, "Marcia, I told you not to call me that!"

Master once more began laughing, "It looks like we don't need a Christmas tree this year. Gruff's face can light up the room."

"Just like Rudolpho," Jonah poked Gruff's face. "Happy birthday week, little brother." A sinister smile crept onto Jonah's face, and Gruff rolled his eyes.