Spongebob has gone to the sea

Spongebob is not a regular character in our house. My kids only know about Spongebob from the media and random appearances as we flip through the channels. I don't know why we have such a grudge against Spongebob, he hasn't done anything extremely outrageous... just seems a bit on the rude side I guess. ( Ryan seems to dislike Spongebob a lot more than me,, I'm a bit indifferent)
Well, of course Grant knows all about Spongebob, and we happened to go to a local cheesy amusement park where Grant really wanted to play the game where you shoot water in the clown's mouth to make a creature rise on a pole. I played against him, I won ( against a 4 year old- luckily he didn't figure out the object of the game until it was halfway over). He then got to chose one of the hideous prizes. The least awful was a small Spongebob, I carefully steered him that direction ( there is a tiny part of me that wanted to see the reaction from Ryan... I have to be honest here). Well, Spongebob came home with us, and was adopted by Grant as one of his "lovies"/luv' ez/. ( Ryan also detests that word- I happen to think its endearing).
At this point in time, Grant is going through a stage of hitting. We have tried many different tricks to get this to stop, none of which are working particularly well at this point. Well, of course, Grant had another big hitting incident with Grace. After a second warning that Spongebob would be given away(thrown away), fate and a bit of Ryan's evil lust to get rid of Spongebob- as well as the convienience of trash night- made Spongebob leave for good.
( I'm a bit of a softy, and I would of probably hidden Spongebob secretly).

Grant woke the next day, asking where Spongebob was and sadly was told that Spongebob was gone.
Grant: " Is Spongebob gone?"
Ryan: " Yes, I told you he would be gone if you didn't stop hitting"
Grant: " Did Spongebob go back to the sea?"
Ryan: "Yes, Spongebob has gone back to the sea with Patrick"

Ashley ( thinking: if you hate Spongebob so much, how do you know about Patrick?)

Grant: Crying.... I miss Spongebob.

2 days later at a random moment, "I miss Spongebob mommy"
Mom: I know honey, but Dad said he'd sent Spongebob away if you hit again.
Grant: ( fully crying) Mommy, I'm sorry I hit you and Grace. I promise to never do it again.
I miss Spongebob. I want Spongebob to come back from the sea.

Mom: ( secretly thinking.... I wonder when that might happen- when will Spongebob surface again?- in spite of your Father).