Chapter Three:

The rain was beating down on the windows of the black limousine, inside which sat Arthur, his parents and Kate. The limo arrived at the cemetery, and they all got out. Grandma Thora lay stiffly in her coffin, as it was lowered into the ground. All of a sudden, the graveyard was filled with a ringing sound. Mrs. Read pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket.

"Why didn't you turn that off?" hissed her husband.

"The police could call about DW!" she replied.

"Can't it wait until after the funeral?"

"No! This is our daughter we're talking about. I have to leave, now," Mrs. Read answered.

"Alright, fine. Go and leave. But don't bother coming back! Ever!" yelled Mr. Read.

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It was three months since DW disappeared, and the case was officially running cold. The Read family – or what was left of it – were sitting in a courtroom. Today, their future was to be decided. And so, the judge spoke, "Mrs. Read," his stern voice proclaimed, "You are lawfully in custody of your son Arthur Read." Arthur's mom shot a smile at her son, who was sitting a few seats away.

"Mr. Read," the judge continued, "You have custody on your daughter Kate. Court is now dismissed."

"What?" shouted Mrs. Read, "I… I can't live with my daughter! You can't be serious… she… Kate needs a mother! Please, you can't do this… I already lost one daughter. And – "

"Mrs. Read, if you disagree, you can continue shouting in jail. This is a courtroom, and it will stay orderly!"

Friends and relatives of the Read family were piling out of the court room, and closer to their cars to get home, none of them too thrilled to have to face Mr. or Mrs. Read. Mr. Read proudly picked up baby Kate off her seat and into his arms. As soon as Mr. Read, Mrs. Read, Arthur and Kate left the room, Mrs. Read furiously turned towards her ex-husband.

"Are you happy now?" she yelled, tears filling her eyes, "It was your irresponsibility that got DW kidnapped, and now you are taking Kate away from me! What type of a husband are you, you… you selfish, horrible pig?!"

"As far as I know," Mr. Read replied dryly, "I am an aardvark."

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The day came. That day that would completely break the Read family into several different pieces, the last day when Mr. Read could see his son, the last day Mrs. Read could see her youngest daughter, the last day Arthur could see his father and baby sister, and the last day Kate could see her mother and older brother.

"If we're lucky," Mr. Read mumbled quietly to his baby girl that he was holding loosely in his arms, "You will forget all about them," he motioned with his head towards Kate's mom and brother.

"I believe I have a right to see my say goodbye to my daughter… privately," Mrs. Read told her ex-husband. He carefully handed her the baby and she took her into her arms and hugged her tightly, tears freely pouring down her cheeks.

"And I believe I am supposed to talk to my son now," Mr. Read offered Arthur a smile, trying to stay strong and not break down in tears… for his son…

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"Oh, Katie, my baby," the woman sobbed, gently kissing her daughter's forehead, "What if you forget me? You can't forget your mommy, darling. And you can't forget your brother or your sister. Wherever you will be, wherever they will be and wherever I will be… you have to remember, Kate. You have to." Kate let out a little gurgle, then shook her tiny hands in the air and placed them on her mom's head. "Which is why I am giving you this. It's a golden necklace with diamonds and sapphires, too expensive for your father to throw away, with a picture inside. A picture of your family. Katie, you may not understand much, but you have to understand this: you can't take this off, baby. It has to stay with you. It will protect you. Your family will protect to, sweetie." Mrs. Read sobbed some more. "Goodness, Katie, I love you so much. SO MUCH!"

"I wuv you mommy" the baby replied.

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"Arthur, you can't leave!" yelled Arthur's dad after a long, awkward silence between them. "No! Arthur, please, you can't go with your mother! You have to stay with me, son! PLEASE?!"

"Dad, you know that I have to go with mom, whether you like it or not, whether I like it or not and whether anyone else likes it or not. She… needs me. And you have Kate with you."
"No! Son, I can't lose you. Please, we can arrange it like… like you are kidnapped like DW but you really won't be, and you will stay here and once your mother is gone somewhere, you, Kate and me can all live as a happy family again."

"No, dad, I can't. I'm sorry. I love you. But I can't," replied the now 9-year-old aardvark.

"Please, Arthur. Please…" Mr. Read began to cry.

"Dad, I told you, no. I'll visit – a lot. I'll write, send you emails…"

"So you are saying you like your mother better than me?"

"You can't ask me that kind of question…" Arthur felt uncomfortable. He pushed himself deeper against the wall.

"Ok. Ok, you don't have to stay. But remember, you leave now, you ain't ever coming back. You're not welcome in my house anymore, Arthur." Mr. Read wiped off his shower of tears away from his face and left the room.

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And so, the day has come and gone…