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Rufus then made a quick turn and ran in the middle of the road. Unfortunately for him, and for the three siblings, he didn't notice the oncoming truck.

Fortunately, the truck passed over Rufus not harming him at all.

"Phew." The three said. Rufus then ran back to the front yard, but just then, a car came down the street and ran over the poor chinchilla. The three siblings just stood there with their mouths open.

"Oh my God!" Ami shouted.

"We are so dead." Calvin said as he ran out in the street and picked the chinchilla up. He then walked over to the others with a saddened look on his face.

"He's dead." Calvin said shocked. "We killed Dennis's chinchilla." Ami just burst into tears as Rumiko went over to Calvin.

"Calvin, don't say that." She said. "Besides, it was your fault."

"My fault?" Calvin asked. "You're the one that opened the door, Rumiko!"

"You're the one who didn't catch him!" Rumiko shouted.

"Well, you could too. He ran by you!" The two just continued bickering as Ami was still crying. Finally, they stopped.

"Look, blaming each other isn't going to solve anything. I mean look at Ami. She loved that animal." Rumiko said as she went over to her sister. "Don't cry, sweetie. We'll get him a new chinchilla."

"Huh?" Calvin asked.

"Yeah." Rumiko said. "We'll just get a chinchilla exactly like Rufus, and replace it before Dennis gets home."

"Rumiko, the chinchilla's been extinct for five years." Calvin said dryly. Ami just cried even louder.

"Nice going, Calvin!" Rumiko said sarcastically.

After a few minutes they went back inside. Yumi then came up to them and saw Ami crying.

"What happened?" She asked. "Did someone get hurt?"

"No." Calvin said. "We accidentally let Dennis's chinchilla out and he got ran over by a car."

"Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry, you guys." Yumi said. "Did you tell him yet?"

"Who, Dad?" Rumiko asked.

"No, Dennis." Yumi said.

"Tell Dennis? Are you crazy?" Rumiko shouted. "That chinchilla was like his best friend. He'll hate me."

"Rumiko, you'll have to tell him eventually." Yumi said. "If it comes from somebody he loves, maybe he won't be so hard on…"

"He's here!" Ami shouted as she saw his brother's Lamborghini Reventon pull up to the front of the house.

"I'll talk to him." Calvin said.

"Calvin, don't." Rumiko said. "It's my fault. I'll take all the responsibility."

"Rumiko, I'm already used to losing a friend." Calvin said. "I'll be able to handle it better." Calvin then went out to the porch as Dennis walked up the front path.

"Oh, hey Calvin." Dennis said.

"Hey, Dennis." Calvin said. "Find any good colleges?"

"A few." Dennis said. "So, where my little Rufus?"

"Well, uh…"

"Is there something you need to tell me?" Dennis asked.

"Well, yes." Calvin said. "You see…"

"Rufus is dead. Isn't he?"

"Well, uh…yes." Calvin said. Dennis just sighed.

"I should have said something." Dennis said. "You see, Rufus has been suffering from kidney problems for the past month and a half. We knew he was gonna die soon so I decided to let Ami see him one last time while I was gone. I'm surprised he lived as long as he did."

"Dennis, you don't understand, we…"

"Don't worry about it." Dennis said. "The important thing is that it wasn't your fault." Rumiko quietly opened the door.

"Did you tell him he got ran over, yet?" She asked.

"HE WHAT…?" Dennis exclaimed.

About an hour later, a funeral was held for Rufus in Dennis's backyard. Ami brought out a small box and placed it in a hole that Dennis had dug up. Behind the hole was a picture of a 7 year old Dennis holding Rufus as a baby; they then filled up the hole.

"Shouldn't we say a few words?" Ami asked.

"Okay." Dennis said. "Rumiko, you go first."

"Let's see…uh…" Rumiko said. "Rufus was…um…a chinchilla." Dennis just cried.

"He was my best friend." He said. Just then, William Jr. came over.

"Oh, don't tell me the stupid rat funeral is still going on!"

"Go away, Will." Ami said. "Can't you see he's having a moment?" William Jr. just left without saying anything.

"I'm gonna miss him." Dennis sighed. "Let's get some sandwiches."

"Right behind you." Calvin said.

"Okey dokey." Ami said.

"Off we go." Rumiko said as the four headed out.

Well, summer's here, which means more updates, more often.

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