Tutoring a Herdman (Best/Worst Christmas Ever Fanfic)

Day Went

The other thing about the Herdmans is everyone has a different story about them. I am not talking about the things that the Herdmans do, but the reasons why the Herdmans do the things that they do. It varies from person to person what kind of story that one would end up getting.

Alice's mom thinks that they're deranged psychopaths, but that isn't a surprise as the Herdman kids drive inanest out of every one. I mean, Alice seems to be the major target for a lot of the pranks that they pull… not to mention the most nasty ones. I have to say though, I think that Alice brings a lot of it on themselves.

The biggest blame though goes to their mother and father. Apparently there father was a hobo and rides, or rode the trains from town to town while there mom is never home and is always working. Thus they didn't have proper adult supervision when they were younger and ended up running amuck of the whole system.

But others say the reason the parents aren't home is because they were bad from the start and drove their parents away… which means that Ralph… the eldest started it… or perhaps it was a combination of him and Imogene. Many say that Ralph didn't have the smarts to drive them away, but Imogene just might have the cunning to do so.

That evening at dinner, because of the tutoring incident, the Herdmans became the topic of discussion at the table and some very interesting things were said about them.

M

Ms. Bradley had made a nice broccoli casserole for dinner and had Beth and Charlie set the table. They all then sat down at the table and said their prayers so that they could begin their meal. "So, Bethany… how did the tutoring go today?"

"Bethany has tutoring… I thought her grades were good?" Beth's father asked.

"Ha ha!" Beth glanced at her father. "My grades are really good, I make mostly A's. I'm … tutoring someone else."

"Yeah…" Charlie muttered. "Ralph Herdman."

At this, Beth's father's fork dropped and he looked at his daughter in shock. "Ralph Herdman… as in one of those six Herdman kids?"

"What other Herdmans do you know dear?" Beth's mother laughed, shaking her head.

"I'm not sure that it is a good idea," he muttered. "I mean… concidering… never mind…"

"Ralph got held back this year," Beth stated as if it was no big deal.

"Beth! Aren't you scared about having more then one Herdman in your class?" Charlie commented.

"What exactly is to be afraid of the Herdmans? That they'll punch me?" Beth commented. "Believe it or not, they can be reasoned with and they can have their anger deflated."

"Oh, come on… you should know better having Imogene, the ringleader in your class… your also going to have the oldest… who's also the strongest and said to be the meanest!" Charlie commented.

"Imogene can be nice some times," Beth glared at her brother.

"I'm glad you say that Beth… those kids really aren't that bad… just… very curious. I think giving Ralph a chance to catch up is actually a very good thing… maybe this will be a very good thing for those kids," their mother smiled.

"Beth… when has Imogene been nice to anyone!" Charlie commented.

"She got that one kid's head unstuck from the bike rack," his sister commented.

"And which Herdman got that kid to stick his head in there?" Charlie asked. "I believe it was one of her brothers…"

"It was Ollie and Gladys…" Beth commented. "Not Ralph, not Imogene… each Herdman is different. And plus… tutoring went well."

"Let me guess… Ralph got through one line of the Dick and Jane books?" Charlie commented. "I mean… everyone knows he's dumb and that's why Imogene is the leader not him and why he's just considered mean, unlike the second oldest boy. Thus he's more dangerous."

"That wasn't nice Charlie," their father scolded. "Ralph wouldn't be in sixth grade already if he was that bad at reading."

"Oh yes he would," Charlie commented. "The teachers are scared of the Herdmans… but this new sixth grade teacher… she isn't… she's crazy."

"Well, Ralph got through three pages of Tom Sawyer today… so don't be so hard on him,"

"I bet you read it all to him," Charlie muttered.

However, their father started laughing. "I wonder what schemes those kids will come up with because of that book…"

"What do you mean…?" Charlie muttered.

"I am not going to say," their father said.

"It is a pity that there is no father around," Ms. Bradley commented.

"He left because they were crazy!" Charlie commented. "May I please be excused?"

"Mom… do you know why Mr. Herdman left?" Beth asked. She saw her mother bite her lip.

"Bethany this isn't to leave the table… Mrs. Herdman got pregnant in high school with Ralph when she was sixteen and had him when she was seventeen. That's about all the details I am sure about, and I have the feeling that Ralph doesn't know that his mother dropped out of school because she was… going to be a mother," her father suddenly spoke up.

"That doesn't exactly explain why their father left them," Beth commented. "Nor why you think this is important to tell me…"

"It wasn't important at this point… I will explain it to you when you think about dating Bethany," her mother glared at her father. "It was actually inappropriate to bring up at all."