"He Will Always be With Us"
"Okay kids, remember, don't touch anything," Della Duck told the little 11-year-olds.
"Relax mom, I've got this in the bag." Dewey chuckled, clearly trying to impress his mom, which made Louie annoyed.
"Spike pit! Okay, let's go the other way around." Scrooge McDuck said.
"Wow! A real spike pit! Those spikes could easily impale anyone who-"
Webby Vanderquack was cut off by Louie and Dewey arguing.
"I want to take the gear!"
"No, you'll lose it!" Dewey hissed
"But I saw Scrooge put his wallet in that bag!" Louie whined.
Both boys were tugging on the bag, and Dewey's back was to the spike pit.
"Stop! This is too dangerous! Someone could get hurt!" Huey exclaimed.
Louie yanked the bag out of Dewey's feathery hands; causing him to fall backwards. And right into the spike pit.
Dewey's shrill wail was cut off when he hit the ground. Della immediately roped her way down and grabbed Dewey to bring him back up.
But it was too late.
"Dewey! No!" Louie screamed. Blood was welling at the big wound in Dewey's stomach and stained his shirt.
"It's okay, Louie. I-I still love you." Dewey's body twitched and a minute later he lay still; all light drained from his eyes.
Dewey was dead.
-A WEEK LATER-
Louie Duck lay in bed, still in shock from what had happened. He hadn't gotten up from his bed for 7 days now. His older brother's last words still echoed in his head.
It's okay, Louie. I-I still love you.
Stupid Louie. How could you be so stupid? He didn't even die peacefully! He died in pain….all because of you.
Tears streamed down Louie's face.
"Louie, aren't you going to have dinner? You already skipped breakfast and lunch." Huey's gentle everything-is-going-to-be-okay voice made Louie tear up even more.
"It's all my fault!" He sobbed.
"Shhhh…no it's not." Huey responded gently. His younger brother flung himself onto him in a sobbing mess.
Huey had always been there for Louie. Being the oldest, he always would be the one to help his younger brothers with their homework, support them, keep them from arguing, take care of them when they were sick, etc.
Huey tried hard not to cry. If he did, Louie would cry even more. Louie fastened his hand onto Huey's leg, not letting go.
"Ummm….Louie, come on let's talk about this on your bed. Yeah, it's comfier there. What do you say, Captain Lost?" Huey tried to sound cheery and coax Louie onto his bed where maybe he could sing a lullaby or something to calm him down, but his efforts ended in vain.
Louie didn't move, and Huey sighed. He would have to do things the hard way.
Huey grunted, lifting Louie of the ground and cradling him like a baby, then putting him on his bed.
Louie let out a little squeal of happiness when lifted, just like he used to do when he was four years old.
So much was the same…yet so…different.
Louie resumed crying, and Huey sat next to him on the bed. As soon as he sat down, Louie clung to him.
"Louie stop it….oww!"
What am I supposed to do? I can't make a good joke like Dewey or anything! Gah! The right side of me is soaked with tears! I can't move either, thanks to Louie, so I can't get my Junior Woodchuck Guidebook. Okay Huey, just access the situation. Think logically. Louie's in a panicked state, so I need to make him calm down….oh, a lullaby. But which one? I know!
Huey started to sing:
"Look at the stars, my darling little brother
Life is strange and vast
Filed with wonders and joys, things like no other
Face each new sun,
With eyes clear and true
I'm not afraid of the unknown
Because I'll face it with you
Look to the stars
And gaze at the dark night
The faintest light
Dewey's out there
Watching us now "
Louie started to quiet down, but he was still crying softly, so Huey decided to continue.
"I understand your hurt
But we'll make do
See, brother mine
We'll get through
Birds of a feather
Just me and you."
Louie's breathing had slowed down, and he wasn't crying, which meant that Huey had successfully put his little brother to sleep. He looked so cute; just curled up in a little ball.
Huey stroked Louie's head feathers then lay down next to him. He was on Louie's bed, but going to his own bed would mean climbing up the ladder to the third bunk, and Huey didn't want to lay eyes on the second bed, which had belonged to his deceased brother.
Huey could have sworn that he saw Dewey; out of the corner of his eye.
And he was smiling.
Dewey Duck was happy.