Chapter 3: The Kidnapping
Bradley and Once-ler passed sign after sign and town after town. After a while it was getting much to o late to drive anywhere and they spent a night at a hotel. "Dad, where are we going?" asked Once-ler who had never been outside of Villville before.
"I'm trying to figure that out. " said Bradley looking at a map of the US at a desk in their hotel room. There were so many places to go. He did have family in Quechee, VT and he knew it was nice there this time of year. He figured he could work at his family's old maple tree plantation. It wasn't much but it would be something. "How would you like to go to see your grandparents?" asked Bradley. Once-ler was very surprised the only grandparents he knew about were Will and Millie Vill and they had both died when he was little.
"But, grandma and grandpa are dead." said Once-ler.
"No, I didn't mean grandma and grandpa Vill… I meant grandma and grandpa Beanpole. They live in a town called Quechee. I haven't seen them in a long time but I think they'd be very happy to see us. I've told them all about you. " said Bradley "What do you say?"
"Yeah! I'd love to see them!" Once-ler yelled excitedly
"Ok… then Quechee it is. That means we'll have a few more hours to go in the morning" said Bradley
Elysia had been talking with her brother Phil, sister Grizelda, and Ubb for hours it seemed. "Maybe, we should just let them go. It seemed all Bradley wanted was what he thought was best for the boy. He's done it. Let's just move on." said Phil
" Phil, that is the stupidest idea I have ever heard of ! I mean think, we had him locked in a basement and had our next door neighbors arrested for his kidnapping! He's going to tell someone and we're going to prison. I mean Jesus Christ man, this is not some story based off an animated kid's movie or a Dr. Suess book . We can't just ignore what's happened and let it magically work out so we all live happily ever after! Sometimes, I wonder why we backed you for mayor. You're an idiot!" said Elysia
" Of course, he won't tell anyone, Elysia. I told him no one would believe him when I…I'm getting tired. I'm going to bed." said Ubb
"You let him out! I swear all men are morons… no wonder Brett and Chett are so dumb there is so much stupid in this family the intelligence couldn't get through." said Elysia "Didn't you think that even if he couldn't tell anyone here someone would believe him out of town?" yelled Elysia
"Calm down, dear. You're getting yourself all worked up. Why did you marry, Bradley ? Because he's spineless all you have to do is give him a reason to listen to you. " said Grizelda
"You mean like press kidnapping charges against him? I love it!" said Elysia "Phil, can you set that up? and let's add a restraining order. We'll make this man wish he never stood up to a Vill."
"If you want to. I could get that arranged. I'm assuming you want a restraining order that gets him out of town." said Phil
"Can you do that?" asked Elysia
"Since, we are doing every other illegal and immoral thing we can think of. Why not?" said Phil
"Wonderful, but first we need to find them. Any ideas where they might have gone?" asked Elysia
"Does he have family outside of Villville?" asked Phil
"Yes, his parents live in some place called Quechee. They harvest sap from trees and make maple syrup with it, or something ridiculous like that." said Elysia. "Of course, Bradley would be the type of man to think that there is no place like home. He has quite a few hours ahead of us though." said Elysia
"Did you forget who we are? We're Vills, we can fly and beat him there." said Grizelda
"It's in the middle of nowhere. No airports." said Elysia
"That's never stopped us before." said Grizelda "Let's go."
The next morning, Bradley did his usual routine and then he and Once-ler hit the road. The car ride went by pretty quickly and before they knew it they were in Quechee, VT and were pulling up to a white cottage surrounded by a huge garden. "Wow, I've never seen so many flowers." said Once-ler.
"Yes, you're grandmother loves to garden." said Bradley as they walked up the path to the house. Bradley knocked on the door and it opened to reveal an old man in his 70's wearing pastel colors .
"Bradley?" asked the old man in surprise.
"Hello, dad." said Bradley.
"What are you doing here? I thought the spawn of Satan wouldn't let you see us. " said the old man.
"She doesn't know we're here. I hope. " he said
"We're?" the old man asked.
"O, yes… Dad, this is your grandson Once-ler" said Bradley
The old man suddenly noticed the little boy "Of course, he looks just like you Son, hello there, Once-ler. I'm your grandfather John. It's very nice to finally meet you. Your dad has been telling me all about you." he said "Come on in both of you. Your mother will be so happy to see you, Bradley."
They walked into a the nice cottage and into the wooden living room where an old woman was watching TV. She looked up as they came in "Bradley! Once-ler! O my…" she ran up and hugged them.
"Mom, it's so great to see you!" said Bradley
"What are you doing here?" the old woman asked
"I finally did it. I stood up to Elysia and I took Once-ler and left. " said Bradley
"Really? How did that happen?" asked his mom.
They all sat down and Bradley started the story:
( The day before)
Bradley had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he walked into City Hall. He walked passed friends and co-workers giving the usual greetings half heartily. He finally got to his cubicle and started to get to work. It had been a pretty easy day he even got a call from Jerry Peach wanting to have lunch. Sounded like a plan but plans changed. Bradley got a visit from his wife at around 11. Everyone acted like she was the boss as she entered the office and walked over to Bradley. "Elysia, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"You forgot the kids lunches but I took care of it. So, don't worry. Now, I don't want you hanging out with our new neighbors." said Elysia
"You don't even know them. They are very nice people." said Bradley
"Exactly, they are losers. Most nice people are." said Elysia
"I'm a nice person" said Bradley
"Need I say more?" asked Elysia.
"My parents were nice people too." said Bradley
"Of course, what is there to be mean about in a place called Quechee." said Elysia
" I don't think it's fair for you to jab at my family and my home town. I don't jab at yours and I'm sick and tired of you making fun of me. I'm not some child that you can just poke fun at til they cry! I'm an adult! And I'm decent person and I deserve respect and another thing, I don't care if you're the mayor's sister you have no right to treat me and our children like we're slaves born to serve only you! And if you don't start treating us with the respect we deserve I'm leaving you and taking the kids with me!" he yelled.
The people in nearby cubicles applauded him but became quiet when Elysia glared at them and then stomped out of the office without a word.
The rest of the afternoon went by pretty quietly but little did Bradley know that the bad feeling he had was about to be justified. As he walked out the building a pair of strong hands grabbed him and dragged him into an alley. He was then roughly handed a cell phone. "If you had any plans... cancel." said Grizelda
"Grizelda? What are you doing?" asked Bradley
" Just do it" she said
Bradley dailed the number Jerry had given him "Hey, Jerry. I'm sorry I won't be able to make lunch. Something very important just came up. Thank you for understanding… I was really looking forward to it ." said Bradley hanging up "Now, what is this about ,Grizelda? Wait, is this because I stood up to Elysia? I have every right to stand up to her. She acts like she's queen of the world and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
" Well, the Vills stick together and here's our response." said Grizelda and hits him over the head with a bottle….
"Then I woke up in the basement and decided to come here with Once-ler. That's pretty much it." said Bradley ending the story.
" Pretty good but could be a little better." said Elysia from behind them.
"Elysia Vill, What brings you here?" said John
"I came for Oncie." said Elysia
"Over my dead body you're taking this boy." said Bradley going over to protect him.
"I don't think killing you will be necessary but if you don't hand him over I will press kidnapping charges." said Elysia
"Kidnapping? We have joint custody because we're still married." said Bradley
"But you took him without permission and fled town." said Elysia
"Listen, Ms. I think I own the world, you may be able to make up and twist laws in Luciferville but here in Quechee we follow the laws like normal people and since you two are still married my son is completely within his rights so the boy stays here" said John "Now, I suggest you go back to ordering around your minions in hell before I have you arrested for kidnapping my son. "
" O, dear. I wish I had a restraining order or something that made it possible for me to take Oncie so Bradley would never be able to see him again. O, wait, I do." said Elysia and takes a document out and hands it to Bradley.
" You are the most evil person on the planet! This type of evil defies logic. It's like you're a villian from a children's movie or something. How are people like you able to exist?" asked Bradley
"Stop asking dumb questions and hand over the boy. " said Elysia.
Bradley looks at Once-ler. "Once, you have to go with your mother, ok? Now, this doesn't mean I don't love you because I do but I just can't be with you anymore. But I'll always be thinking of you, Slugger. And whatever happens remember you're a good boy and you'll make the right decisions if you try hard enough. Goodbye, son." he said and then moved out of the way. "Congratulations, Elysia. "
Elysia took Once-ler's hand and dragged him out of the house. "Are we going home, Mom?" he asked
"Yes, your father is not a well man and we need him to stay away for a while." said Elysia
Once-ler looked back at the house and then got in the helicopter with Elysia as they took off for home. When they got back to the house Elysia called up the Peaches on the phone and asked them to come over.
" This is a little hard for me but I owe you an apology. It turns out you were right, Mrs. Peach. Bradley ran away. I caught him trying to take Once-ler earlier this evening. So, I deeply apologize for all that I put you through and hope we can start over on a friendlier foot." said Elysia
" I'm sorry, Elysia but we can't accept your apology. We have been picked on by you and your children just because we're the new people in town. We really tried our best to be nice to you and your family and you threw it back in our faces by throwing paint on my daughter, insulting my wife, and getting me arrested for a crime that I never committed. We may have to live next to each other but there is no reason we have to get along. So, you can't take that phony apology and shove it,lady!" said Jerry "From now on the Peaches and Beanpoles are sworn enemies!" yelled Jerry. "And that goes for your kids too!"
Jerry stomped out of the house followed by Sarah. At first ,Elysia seemed unmoved by this and then a smirk closely formed on her face. She was very proud of herself.
The End
Author's note: Thanks for reading! I know this is very short but this felt like an ending. Thank you again and please review.