As Bobby and Nathan were pondering about each other, Robert thought it might be a good time to check on his son and his pet.
Knocking on the room's door, he cleared his throat.
" Son ? " he did ask. " Is everything alright ? "
Bobby frowned - though not as much as Nathan.
" Um... yeah, sure ! " he unconfidently responded.
But his father had heard his hesitation. Cautious, he started to open the door.
" Hey, are you mistreating your mouse or anything ? "
" No no no, don't come in here ! " Bobby screaming despite himself.
Having opened the whole door, Robert saw his son, holding the weird device that he had stolen last Christmas, and what appeared to be a large white-furred cat on the floor.
" Hey, wait a second... " he said, brows twitching in a confused manner, recognizing Nathan's breed and species.
He picked him up, the latter making a feline yowl of surprise.
" What's an Angora cat doing here in my house ? " he added, curious, but not angry at all.
He glanced at the window. But it was firmly locked from the inside.
" That's no ordinary cat, dad. It's my mouse ! " replied Bobby.
Robert looked around, but did not manage to see the rodent at all.
" Uh ? " did he only find to say as a reaction.
" I swear, it's true ! The machine that you brought me... It apparently can alter things on command ! "
Robert chuckled.
" Come on Bobby, there's no such things as transformation devices... "
He turned around, reaching out for the front door in order to deposit the cat outside.
" But wait, I can prove it to you ! " shouted Bobby.
Pressing the device, he aimed it at Nathan. The cat soon reduced greatly in size, simplifying into his former rodent aspect.
Robert quickly had put the mouse on the kitchen table, before looking alternatively at the rodent and his son.
Bobby re-used the device, and after bringing back Nathan's cat form (for he did like it), he stared at his father, puzzled.
" Dad, be honest with me : did you really bought this thing without knowing it's functions ? "
Robert kept being silent. Nathan waited, in anticipation of the unfolding truth.
" Dad, please... "
" Bobby. " broke through his father. " Don't make this harder for me. "
Bobby looked confused.
" But... but why ? "
Nathan stared intensely at the burglar who had snatched him out of his home, as the latter deeply sighed.
" That machine... the pet... I... I stole them. "
Bobby's face contorted itself with shock and disgust.
" You had promised me to stop ! You told me you'd keep your words ! " he shouted.
" Bobby. " replied Robert. " I had not enough cash for your Christmas present... The last thing I wanted to see was you being sad for the holidays. "
" I'd rather be sad once in a year, than being disappointed by you ! " cried Bobby, running to his room.
" Bobby, come on ! It was only a rich kid's house ! I'm sure they'll be fine without one... "
Nathan's tail twitched back and forth, annoyed that he'd be name-dropped like this. But overall, he couldn't help but feel sad for the family.