Church Buddies!!!1

Passage 11

"Sir Heaux?" Daniel's maid knocked on his door, having not seen him for hours. "Daniel Heaux? Sir?" She called out again. Her voice became slightly more curious towards the end as her mind became muddled. Daniel had never not called back to her before, and she was sure he was in his office the last time that anyone saw him.

She twisted the doorknob curiously, the door immediately popping open and moving slowly. Suddenly, she was hit with a smell. It was foul, as if she had opened the door to a hall filled with 600 feminists paired with 400 middle-aged hippies. Covering her nose, she pushed the door open further to reveal a terrible sight.

None other than Mr Heaux, dead, at his desk.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Daniel Heaux, a lover, a friend, and an unforgettable father. He was a pleasant man, truly, and I know that Joseph Heaux had nothing but good things to say about his father."

Smith spoke, being the person holding the funeral for the man. It was inside. Out in the church. Where the aisles were filled with grieving people, all average, everyday people who'd never have been considered special by Daniel. Yet, they arrived anyway, to show their respects for the billionaire. So many people turned up that they had to personally escort some out, as there was not enough space inside.

Joseph's mother, Jane, and himself along with Johnny were sat in the very front row. Jane was weeping, her hands filled with clumps of tissues as she cried into her palms. Joseph had his arm around her as he too cried, but not as hard as Jane. Johnny sat with a concerned expression on his face as he turned towards his broken friend.

"Does anyone have a speech they'd like to share?" Smith spoke, sorting through his flash cards. "Actually.. I'd.. I've got something." Joseph raised his hand and the audience gasped, unsure that the small boy would consciously volunteer for something like that.

"Uh.. sure! Joseph. Come on up." Smith moved to sit down and take his place as Joseph wandered up to the front of the hall. He cleared his throat before sorting the microphone so that it was down to his height. "Eh.. hello? Hi. After my dad died, I was lost. I had no idea what to do with my life. But then.. my best friend arrived! They came back into my life and showed me that it's not that bad, and that everything happens for a reason."

Johnny smiled to himself, as he saw where it was going. He was sure his friend shouldn't take all the effort to mention him, but he wasn't about to complain.

"I can't exactly say I've been there for them recently. Actually, I've been kind of a jerk. I haven't really spoke to them properly in a while but I know they've meant well.." Johnny felt slightly odd. He was sure Joseph hadn't been too distance from him lately - maybe he was talking about the Wilfred incident or all the times he'd betrayed in in some way.

"Of course, my best friend.. or should I say, best friends, are the Kid-Mafia! I couldn't ask for any better than you guys. You really understand me! More than Johnny or anyone like that. Pfft, I'm not sure why I haven't spoke to you more! You're the best people I've ever met."

Johnny sat wide-mouthed in shock at the Kid-Mafia exchanged grateful glances in the row behind him. "Wow." He whispered under his breath, crossing his arms.

"Okay.. so.. I managed to preserve one of my dad's famous pieces of poetry that was yet to be released. I have it here with me now, and I'm gonna read it in honour of him. It's called.. Dear White People. Okay.

'Smoking a blunt in my new Aston,
Borrowed it from a man who wants it back,
Said I just gotta take it to get some crack?
Oh.. woah.. in my new car..'"

Joseph's face became increasingly more confused as he continued reading, half of the audience either weeping or having zoned out completely. Johnny turned back to look at the Kid-Mafia, staring specifically at Polly. "Hey, Polly, you bored?" He asked, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Uh.. kind of?"