The rest of Saturday went on normally without any mishap of any kind. There wasn't any type of vehicle accident or anything of that nature that disturbed the usual, gentle flow of life in Elwood City. For all of the city's inhabitants, everything was just as it should be.
The tranquility carried on into the next day. Since it was Sunday, the serenity thrived at a tremendous rate throughout the majority of the day. Just like the previous day, nothing happened that shattered or disturbed the peace; not once at all. Because of it, everyone was cheerful and went about their affairs without any worrying thought.
David and Jane Read took an instant liking into the marvelous tranquility. It was still unclear to them why but, as if by a wonderful miracle, everything that went on in their house was completely peaceful and without any flaws or dilemmas. Most of the calmness that was felt throughout the house, they both noted, was from the unusual silence of their children. It wasn't that the sounds of their kids playing or interacting with one another was something they did not want. What made this fact a little concerning was that there was no interaction at all between D.W. and Arthur- for that matter, there was hardly any interaction between Arthur and his whole family.
Neither David or Jane were concerned about what D.W. was up to, but, from their perspective, it was very bizarre that Arthur was isolating himself from everyone. He was usually a well-behaved, very lovable child. It was entirely true that what took place a week ago was perhaps the first thing a person of his standards would never do in all his life, but there was still something about their son's current behavior that was making them extremely uneasy.
Both parents met in the kitchen to discuss the matter at hand. David was the one who wanted to talk as soon as possible while Jane was about half concerned as she was disgusted with Arthur's past actions. It wasn't just the incident with the model airplane that made her mad at her eldest child, it was also the event that took place in the dining room a few days ago, when D.W. threw a glass of water at him and Arthur reacted by viciously attacking her without thought.
"I should probably say this now and not when I'm angry," said Jane; "Arthur's behavior has gotten worse over the week. I don't say this because of the fight he and D.W. had; I mean, he's just not who he is anymore."
"I can agree with you on that," David replied. "Things just haven't been the same since D.W. broke his model plane."
Jane shook her head. "I just don't understand what went wrong," she said. "Arthur would always do all the right things, and now...I just don't know what to say. He punched D.W. and won't say he's sorry, and now he's ignoring everybody."
"I wouldn't say he's ignoring everybody," David said to his wife; "I would say that...well, he's upset and angry at the same time."
"As am I," Jane replied.
David stared at Jane with both shock and concern. Jane registered her husband's emotional and physical response and told him: "David, I'm well aware that you're worried about Arthur, but you really have to think about what's been going on for the past week. He hit his sister for one simple mistake, then he gets involved in a fight with another kid, then he attacks his sister like a wild animal, and now he's just shunning the world around him! God knows what's happening to our son but I don't care what it is; I just want it to stop!"
"As do I," David replied. "Did you try talking to him?"
"I've tried a dozen times but he doesn't respond at all," said Jane. "Did you try at least once?"
"I haven't," said David. "But I might try tonight."
"Why?"
"It's been a week since the plane incident; hasn't it?"
"That's right; it has been a week."
David and Jane knew that when they learned that Arthur had struck D.W. with one blow to the shoulder, they forbidden him from watching TV for one week. That was seven days ago. They knew that his punishment would be lifted that night and he would be free to watch TV again.
"What do you have in mind?" Jane asked.
"Perhaps we can sit him down on the couch and talk to him," David explained. "Perhaps we could offer the remote to him in exchange for a few explanations. What do you think?"
Jane thought about her husband's plan for a moment. She then replied with: "That could work. But what if it doesn't? What do we do then?"
"I'm still trying to think about that," said David. "I don't know; maybe we could tell him that we still love him and that we're always there for him- even though I doubt that would work."
This made Jane confused at what David had told her. "Why would you think it would fail?" she inquired.
"I guess it's what Arthur told me days ago," David sighed. "I wanted him to learn a lesson but, instead, he tells me that it's hard for him to believe that I'm his father."
"Dave, that's ridiculous!" Jane protested. "No matter what, Arthur will always see you as his father. Just because he's been going through rough times doesn't mean that you can just stand and watch as things get worse for him! You have tons of ideas on how we can help with our son, so we should step in and do those plans!"
Despite the feelings of fear, from the possibilities of his plan failing, and dejection, from the hurtful words of his son's horrid statement coursing through his thoughts, David knew in his heart that this would be their only option to solve Arthur's problem themselves. If they were unsuccessful, they would have to resort to the assistance of a psychologist to fully understand how much their son had been affected by the events of the past week and, most importantly, how they could help him restore his character into the admirable child he once was.
David and Jane decided to execute their plan after dinner. It was 6:38 PM when they entered the living room and sat on the couch in front of the television set. Jane picked up the remote which was resting in between her and David and held it in her hand. They were both a little anxious about the upcoming conversation they were about to have with their son. It was plausible that he would raise an argument with them, but they were determined to not let something like that separate them from their objective.
While they sat in silence and built up mental courage, D.W. sauntered into the room and stepped up to her parents. "How come the TV isn't on?" she inquired. "Is the TV broken?"
David and Jane looked down at their second youngest child. "No, honey, the TV isn't broken," Jane replied. "We're just waiting for Arthur to come in so we can talk to him."
"Why?" D.W. asked raising an eyebrow.
"Your father and I just need to ask him some questions," Jane told her eldest daughter. "It's nothing we need you to be a part of."
This only increased D.W.'s interest. She didn't know what they wanted to talk to him about at first, but then she remembered everything that happened over the course of seven days and became both curious and devious.
D.W. was about to say something but her father David spoke before she could. "D.W., could you please leave the room for a while?" he said. "Your mother and I need to talk to Arthur privately."
"Why can't you just go up to his room?" D.W. questioned. "I'm sure he's in there. He oughta be thrown into a circus cage and sold to the zoo. He should be regretting every stupid thing he did; am I right?"
David and Jane were outraged. "Dora Winifred Read, those words are unexceptional!" Jane roared. "Your brother is constantly angry and we're worried sick about him! There is no excuse for you to say something like that about your brother!"
D.W. was quickly devoured by intense anger. "But that monster-"
"That will do, young lady!" David yelled. "We have heard quite enough from you!" He then pointed to the staircase. "Go to your room, now!" he ordered.
An expression of utter rage formed on D.W.'s face, but it slowly faded as she sighed and ambled out of the living room and up the stairs. David could have sworn that he heard the young aardvark grumble, "That stupid animal deserves to be in jail forever!"
David ignored what D.W. had said to herself. He wasn't sure if Jane had heard the little girl but that was eventually forgotten as they both got themselves ready for their talk with Arthur.
During their time of mental preparation, their ears detected the sound of footsteps coming from their right. Surely enough, it was Arthur casually walking towards the stairs. David stopped him by calming calling out to him. "Arthur!"
Arthur ceased walking and turned around. David and Jane immediately noticed how apathetic their son appeared. It was especially noticeable in his voice as he asked, "What?"
"Come and have a seat," David told his son. "You mother and I would like to spend a little time with you."
Arthur's expression and voice didn't change one bit. "Why?" he asked in the dull, annoyed voice he spoke with.
"Just come and sit with us," Jane said gesturing for Arthur to enter the living room and sit on the couch with them.
Arthur did not move. He instead asked, "Why do you want me to?"
David and Jane felt hope slowly slip away. They couldn't bear to listen and watch as one of their own children disobey them in such a manner as Arthur's. It didn't fill them with anger and disgust, it just left them stunned.
"We just want to talk to you," David finally replied after a long moment of hesitation.
"Yeah, it's nothing to be afraid of," Jane added. She lifted up the TV remote and said, "After our talk, we'll let you watch TV. After all, your punishment is over."
They thought that the offer of the TV remote would lure Arthur into the room and their conversation with him would get underway. Unfortunately, their son remained where he stood. It was as if he knew something dark and atrocious that they didn't want him to know. They were afraid that their 8-year old son would become mad and indignant. However, he simply stood in place and stared at his parents.
Eventually, Arthur spoke, saying, "I don't care what stunt you're trying to pull. Whatever it is, it's not going to work. Besides, I don't have any time to watch TV. I have much more important things to do than watch cartoons all day."
Arthur then turned around and began walking to the stairs again. Before he went up the first step, he glanced at his parents and said, "But thanks anyway."
The despair David and Jane felt within surged to an intense level. This was the thing they would not allow to get pass them no matter what. They simultaneously bolted off the couch and hurried up the stairs after their son.
Arthur was on the top step, looking down at them with the same, unamused expression. "Why are you both so scared all of a sudden?" he inquired. "Aren't you happy that I'm giving up watching TV?"
"Arthur, something like that is just impossible," Jane responded in a tone of voice that defined the potency of her concern. "It's also something that doesn't go well with your personality."
"That was long ago," Arthur stated. "I am no longer that kid."
"Arthur, you can't just change your attitude like this," David said taking the side of his wife. "For someone like you, it's just not naturally. You don't have to-"
"Well, look here, buddy," Arthur said angrily; "and you better listen good! I've changed since D.W. broke my plane and didn't care about me or my feelings at all! If you don't like it, well, you're just gonna have to accept it!"
Arthur turned around to walk to his room but David, obviously offended by his proclamation, stopped him in his tracks by grabbing his shirt sleeve. "Now, just a minute!" he barked. "Just because we're being sympathetic doesn't mean that you can be in such a bad mood!"
Because he had his back turned towards them, neither David or Jane saw Arthur roll his eyes, but they did hear him emit a loud growl that resembled one of a ferocious lion. The young aardvark sharply spun himself around to face his now angry parents. "You just can't help but make me mad; can't you?!" Arthur snarled. "Neither of you care what happens to me!"
"That's not true!" Jane protested, marching up to her son to confront him more sternly. "You're father and I love you very much, and to say that we hate you is like saying you want someone to die!"
"Well it's true I want someone to die," said Arthur; "but it's not either of you!"
Arthur furiously stomped towards the door which would lead him into his bedroom. His mother and father didn't make another attempt to stop him. They simply kept their distance from their indignant son.
When he turned the knob to the door, Arthur heard his father shout, "Arthur, you know better than to say that you want someone in your family to die! D.W. is 4-years old, and you're 8-years old; you should-"
"TO HELL WITH D.W.!" Arthur screamed, not caring at all if D.W. heard him. After entering his room, Arthur stared at his parents with incensed eyes and yelled, "There is no way I would ever forgive that brat for all she did to make my life terrible! I don't even care what'll happen to both of you! I won't feel any sympathy to anyone of your standards! You call yourselves great parents? I call you stubborn, ungodly hypocrites!"
With that, Arthur violently slammed his bedroom door, leaving David and Jane stunned. As outraged and appalled as any parent would be, they were also sad that their plan to reestablish their relationship with their son had failed. Both parents were speechless and the intensity of the verbal fight had stiffened their limbs and they were practically frozen. Neither of them moved until they heard Kate's loud wailing and Jane left her husband to comfort the infant. David eventually descended the stairs to the living room in silence.
Nothing else uncommon happened until the next day.
Monday started off normally for Arthur and D.W.; they ate breakfast and went to school as usual. Neither child spoke to each other, nor did they ever exchange sour faces while their parents weren't looking. Their kinship as brother and sister had turned extremely pungent, and it seemed plausible that it would never be refreshed.
David and Jane were unnaturally quiet as they helped prepare their children for school and saw them off as they went on their way to their respective schools- Arthur walked to Lakewood Elementary School, and D.W. was dropped off at Elwood Community Preschool. Both husband and wife were still shaken up from the fight with their son and it was hard for them to look at, talk, or even get near Arthur without getting afraid of the possibility of another verbal battle. Arthur took no notice of his parents' odd behavior. D.W. did the same. But, unlike his younger sister, Arthur relished the silence that came in the aftermath of the fight the previous evening. He believed that his parents had finally received his thoughts and theories, and he could now carry on with his life without any more issues.
For Arthur, it was another day in his new life. When he woke up that morning, he sensed the familiar sensation of bliss, satisfaction, and confidence all in one. He had a bowl of cereal and stuffed a fresh pair of clothes for his after-school boxing lessons that week into his backpack. On his journey to school, visions of a magnificent future popped up within the aardvark's mind. The sensations he felt when he woke up reappeared stronger than ever. Because of the ultimate sense of euphoria he felt, he became more active and productive in some of his classes, mostly gym class. It also kept strength because none of his former friends, who Arthur considered to be shadows of a rotten life he left behind, never approached him or tried to get his attention- not even Buster tried to communicate with him as he did the previous week. He was more happier than on every other joyous event in all of his young life.
At three o'clock, the final bell rang and everyone was on their way home. Because of the remarkable lack of all things bad and misfortunate, everything that happened in school that day ran like clockwork. The students were glad that nothing happened that would have a negative effect on their good moods. They were even more happy when it was time for them all to go home. While the youths did the usual things they would do as they left the building for the day, the atmosphere over them all was more potent with all the cheeriness from all the children chatting with their friends and such.
Arthur himself was filled to the top with exhilaration. With the temptations of his next boxing lesson going up to the next and final level, the happiness within him was so great that it could be defined as "exuberance". The aardvark was so excited that he could hop like a little bunny all the way to the boxing gym. He didn't want to travel there like a little kid, though, so he contained his eagerness inside and controlled it without a hitch.
Upon exiting the school, the anticipation of his next boxing lesson was at its greatest. Arthur sensed it as it added more power to his legs and he walked at a much faster pace. The aardvark accepted his exhilaration and he continued on his way to the boxing gym.
He abruptly halted as a deafening car horn rang out. Arthur, once he calmed down from the shock, turned to see a familiar red car idling near the school entrance. It wasn't the vehicle that caught his attention, but the person in the driver's seat. Oh, God! Arthur thought as he turned away and began walking faster than before.
From behind, Arthur heard the car horn blare as he broke into a frantic run. He then heard the car advance toward him. Up ahead was Sharkbite. He saw his student and the car pursuing him. The rabbit pointed to his left and called out to the aardvark: "GO RIGHT! I'LL BE WITH YOU SOON!"
Arthur watched as Sharkbite darted to a fence and hopped over it. He did as his friend told him and he ran to the right. He raced down a long sidewalk that led him into a quiet neighborhood. There was no one in sight from what Arthur could see, and he prayed that no one would see what was going to happen when the car and the person driving would catch up to him.
Even though fear was the predominant emotion Arthur felt as he tried to outrun the car chasing him, the boy felt a new sensation growing deep inside. The memories flooded in as quickly as his feet guided him down the sidewalk. Arthur clenched his teeth as vexation overpowered fear. He thought he had taken care of that bastard the night before; but, clearly, he didn't, and the fury he felt caused his hands to mold into fists.
Arthur saw that the street was a few steps away and he sharply turned to the left to continue running. He would have been able to sprint to the next sidewalk if the red car hadn't screeched to a halt right in front of him. This didn't scare him as much as the loud honks of its horn did, but it faded away as the rage in his soul told him: "Do what must be done."
The man driving the car popped out of the driver side door and slammed it shut as he yelled, "Arthur!"
Arthur crouched down low and awaited the confrontation. When he saw his father David march towards him, he, in the same manner as he attacked Binky Barnes so many days ago, charged towards the man and delivered a powerful blow to his lower right rib.
David cried out in pain and he fell onto the solid asphalt. He clutched the area where Arthur's fist had struck. It wasn't that much of a hard punch, but, given that they were heading straight towards each other and that his son had dashed towards him, it was a very powerful hit.
Arthur did not regret his own action against his own father; instead, he stomped up to him and proceeded to release his anger with one furious punch after another.
Naturally, David tried to summon his strength to at least attempt to fight off his son, to try and tell him to stop, but it was hopeless. Despite the obvious age difference between them, the young aardvark was able to dominant the older aardvark in a brutal manner.
Just when he could take it no more, David realized that Arthur had stopped attacking him. He took the opportunity to regain his role as Arthur's father and prepared to do all he could to get his son into the car. But, when he got up, another character stepped forward and his fist struck the left side of David's face, causing him to fall back onto the rock-solid road. As the man moaned in pain, he heard a teenage boy's voice say, "Nice work, Arthur; your skills are getting better and better!"
There was no vocal reply from Arthur but David did hear them run away from him, their footsteps gradually decreasing in volume. After he was certain that they were gone, David struggled to his feet and reached out to the handle of the car door. When he was in the driver's seat and he had closed the door, the beaten aardvark drove carefully down the street.
During his drive home, David was overcome by anguish from the assault conducted by his son and the fact that one of his own children would do such a thing to him. He couldn't comprehend that the child he loved and looked after would attack him like a savage beast. He wasn't sure how his wife would take the news. Jane's reaction would probably be a mixture of horror and outrage, and she would solely put the blame on Arthur, even when she was greatly concerned about the major decline of his mental health. To him, there was no need to debate whether the relationship between them and the 8-year old boy who was Arthur Read would be restored or hopelessly lost forever.
David silently drove down every street until he was at the home he shared with his wife and children. He didn't care what was yet to come, he just wanted to lay down and try to forget all that happened between him and Arthur. He didn't care that Arthur had gone off with a random stranger- he no longer cared about him. It was unthinkable for a father to neglect one of his children, but David wouldn't care who would bring up the argument against him; he knew that Arthur would eventually return home, just as he did for the past eight days.