Three Brood Instigators

41. The Unfortunate Funeral

Nanny's at it with her signature move. "Checkmate!" she declared.

"Oh come on, Nanny," Wilkes moaned a child. "How exactly do you win every time?"

"That is what practice is, Wilkes," she said. "I didn't just play it with my mother, but my grandmother, and my great-grandmother too."

The doorbell rang. Nanny opened the door, a little kid with glasses was present. "Oh, uhh, are, are you looking for Beni, little one?" Nanny greeted

"Ben?" Rob reacted. "Oh, oh, sorry, uhh, it is not him, sorry, uhm, where was I?" Rob realized and returned to his sense. "Awkward," he said unnecessarily, creeping Nanny out. "Oh, uhm, is, is Wheelex here?"

Wilkes heard, and approached the door. "Uhm it is Wilkes," he clarified. "How may I help?"

"Uhm, nothing granted," Rob said. "Uhm, do you, do you know some... guys... by the name of Pastuzo and Clayne."

"Uhh, yes?" Wilkes said. "How, how did you know them?"

"Well, that's why I came, uhm, here," Rob tried hard to explain.

"Uhm, came for what exactly?" nanny asked.

He breathed in deeply. "Pastuzo's parents were murdered last night in a... burglary... I... I thought you should know," Rob announced.

"Dear God," Wilkes reacted with Nanny with grief condolences.

At his house,

"Yeah, uhh, I am sorry, Pastuzo," Principal Betch said on the phone call. "I am dearly sorry, but uhm, we are busy people, our line is important now. I am sorry," he said. "I uhh, I believe the police will know what to do. So uhh... I wish you good health, bye."

Principal Betch ignored him, just like that. "I am sorry, kid," the priest said after offering his phone. "It is very endearing to lose the ones you loved, I understand that," he said, Pastuzo still looked down in tears. "The... police... would... like to talk to you, after the... burial," he announced. "I... I will leave you in your space."

Pastuzo was filled with a lot, inside out, with such feelings inside his body, and with only his very few neighbors who came to fill the prayers, his circle of friends, and Clayne coming to visit him. Clayne arrived as early as he could, wearing the tidiest and nicest of uniform suits, and still, he couldn't push himself to enter the house, as feared, and feared the challenge he must face.

The first pack of visitors came, and the people of Tavernier were surprised. "Don't mind me, folks," he said. "I am just here to walk my nephew." Kevin's Uncle said.

Kevin approached to Pastuzo, which made him cry even more, and for many years, Kevin thought it would be a good time for him to hug Pastuzo. "Kevin, I, I, I..." Pastuzo shivered.

"No," Kevin calmed his tears. "I am right here. I am not going anywhere, friend."

Just in time, the other three of the circle came. "Pastuzo, we just came," Quinn said, approaching Pastuzo. Knowing Pastuzo needed support, Quinn gave the time to hug him out too. Then Scent did the same, he tried his best not to cry. Rudy did the same, he tried his best not to be disgusted hugging a crying boy.

"I am sorry," Quinn said. "We all are."

"I can't believe this," Pastuzo cried.

"Excuse me, kid," a neighbor greeted Clayne. "Are you... one of Pastuzo's relatives, friends?"

"Uhm, yes," Clayne said. "I am sorry, I don't have a suit."

"Very well... A friend is fine. Get in there," the neighbor said.