A Surprise for Mr. Mischief is a story from the 1980 Annual.
Plot[]
It was Christmas Eve and there was one creature that had just finished stirring up trouble...Mr. Mischief! Unlike most people who worry if they are naughty or nice, Mr. Mischief was always naughty and proud of it. That Christmas Eve, he pulled all sorts of dastardly deeds.
- Glued Mr. Grumpy's slippers to his bedroom floor
- Filled Mr. Muddle's new hat with cold, lumpy custard
- Went to Mr. Quiet's house and put a mouse in Mr. Quiet's teapot
- Sawed a leg off Mr. Dizzy's bed!
Upon arriving home, Father Christmas arrived with a present for Mr. Mischief. It wasn't a lump of coal but a cuckoo clock that had the cuckoo bird peck and grab Mr. Mischief's nose with their beak. And the bird didn't stop there, it pecked at his ears and his toes too. Mr. Mischief begged Father Christmas to take the clock back, promising that he'll be good from now on. Father Christmas agreed and took the present back. Mr. Mischief kept his word for a week before resuming his mischief. He just couldn't resist pulling the plug at the indoor swimming pool!
But Father Christmas knows all whether it's Christmas or not! He also knows a little birdie to remind Mr. Mischief of the promise he had broke! CUCKOO!! CUCKOO!!