The night was unusually cold for Louie. In the summer it's normal for the boys to sleep with only a thin blanket and be perfectly comfortable. It shouldn't be cold, because the air conditioner was broken and it's not like Donald has time to fix it.
Louie can't take it anymore and climbs to the top of the bed with Huey and curls up next to him for warmth, it's easier then looking for another blanket and it's definitely safer then Dewey who kicks.
"Louie?"Huey whispered, "You ok?"
"Yeah..."He says, "Cold."
"Cold?"Huey laughed, "It's summer, how are you cold?"He asked.
Louie shushed him in response. Huey sighed shaking his head, Louie doesn't often admit his true feelings but Huey knew he just missed Donald. Where was he anyway? He should've been home hours ago. He had a bad feeling that something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what it was. Being with Louie right now helped him bare that feeling so Huey was glad he was there, but it didn't go away, all he could do was hope Donald was ok.
The boys woke up that morning with the sound of talking in the kitchen, Huey thought Donald must be home, but something was still wrong. What was it?
The other two got up and they walked to the kitchen, to their surprise they found a police officer and another woman in a suit talking to mrs Nesbeak.
"So we'll see if there's anyone who can take them . Preferably family members".
"Those poor dears"Mrs Nesbeak said.
"Hello..."Dewey greeted unsure about the situation.
"Good morning boys"Said the lady in the suit, "Please sit down."
The three of them glanced at each other confused. "What's going on?"Huey asked, "Where's Uncle Donald?"
"Boys..."She sighs then takes a seconds collect herself, "Your Uncle isn't coming home."
"What do you mean?"Huey asked.
She sighed sadly, "I'm really sorry. He's gone."
They thought about it, they couldn't even move, they couldn't even cry or say anything. It just didn't make any sense. "What happened?"Dewey asked.
"He was working for a man named glomgold on a dangerous expedition and got caught in a explosion at sea."
For a second they thought she meant that he left them willingly, they weren't sure which was worse,"Did you find the body?"Huey asked.
She was surprised at the question but she still answered, "Sweetie, we couldn't-"
"Maybe he survived"Dewey said.
"This isn't a movie. The odds of him surviving are very slim. You need to face the reality that he's not coming back."
Huey and Dewey were about to say something else but then saw Louie's face, "Louie?"Huey asked, he didn't really have a question for him but he wanted Louie to know that even if Donald wasn't there now, his brothers were.
Louie didn't make eye contact with Huey, he almost ignored him entirely, he couldn't believe this happened, he refused because this wasn't ok. He sunk deeper and deeper into his thoughts to try and escape from this horrible reality, not even realizing that he was doing it- he built up enough strength to finally ask "What's going to happen to us?"
The lady smiled, "That's why I'm here. Are there any relatives you can stay with?"She asked.
The boys thought about it and shook their heads, they had no relatives that came to mind except maybe Gladstone but they didn't even know where he was. Their whole life just seemed to crumble before their eyes.
"Get something to eat then pack a bag with everything you'll need"She says, "We're going on a little adventure".
"Mr mcduck, why won't you take them in?"Beakley asked.
"Not now Beakley"He said.
"They are your family, don't abandon them again".
"Again? Beakley the best thing I can do for those kids is stay far away, I'm the reason they don't have a mother and now I'm the reason they don't have Donald."
"You're not responsible for Della and Donald's decisions. You're only responsible for your own."
"I didn't ask for yer input Beakley."
_
Huey, Dewey, and Louie waited outside the Lisa's office, they wondered what was going to happen to them.
"Good news boys, your uncle Gladstone has agreed to take care of you while we find you permanent homes"She announced.
They didn't smile, not even a hint of excitement, they love Gladstone and all but all of this was too scary to process right away, "Did you say permanent homes?"Huey asked, "With an s?"
Lisa looked stressed out, like she didn't want to be the one to explain, she knelt down to their level and smiled, she was probably just trying to make them feel safe but it only made this situation harder for them, "Boys, you have to understand that we'll try to keep you together as long as possible, but it's just not very realistic. Nobody wants three ten year old boys in one house."
"So you're going to split us up?"Huey asked.
"No, of course not"She says, "I just, I want you to be prepared for the worst, just in case we have to", even with her nice voice and caring attitude, there was nothing scarier, "Your Uncle will be here to pick you up soon, hang tight".
She went back to her office and left them waiting, they couldn't think about what to say next, "So uncle Gladstone how...fun."
"Yeah, that's got to excite you, right Louie?"Dewey asked trying to get a reaction from him.
Nothing.
Not a word, no emotion whatsoever.
"Louie?"Huey asked.
They finally pulled him out of his thoughts, "What?"
"Are you ok?"Dewey asked.
"Are any of us?"Louie asked back.
"Hey kiddos"Gladstone said walking In. "You ready?"
They nodded and grabbed their bags and followed him quietly to the car.
"Looks like you'll be hanging with me for a few days"He says, "is there anything else on the houseboat you might need?"
They shook their heads. Even if he went through the same thing, Gladstone wasn't sure what he could say or do to help them now.
"Uncle Gladstone?"
"Yeah, dew drop?"
"Do you think uncle Donald is ok?"
He sighed, "I don't know, but I hope so. He's survived a lot worse then this".
"He did?"Huey asked.
"Ok maybe not worse, maybe just as bad. He may be unlucky but he's strong and stubborn. If anyone can survive it, he can."
Dewey smiled, that single bit of hope would guide him through this whole situation. No matter what happened. He had hope.
They drove to a casino only a few minutes away, Gladstone told the kids to stay close as they walked through the building until they reached their room. "Two bedrooms, what luck huh?"He says trying to lighten the mood, "Hopefully you'll be comfortable here until.."
"Until what?"Dewey asked.
Gladstone rubbed his neck anxiously, "I don't know, until whatever comes next I guess."
"Why can't we just stay with you?"Louie asked, "we're not that bad are we?"
"Of course not, as much as I love spending time with you, I'm always moving from place to place, partying and stuff, it's not exactly a good life for a kid. Besides you'll be happier in a real home, with people who care about you."
"Like who?"Huey asked.
"How about your Uncle Scrooge?"
"Who?"Dewey asked.
"Oh, you haven't met him yet. Well he's nice, sometimes, maybe a little stingy but he's alright. I'm sure he'd take you in, if not you could have a real family with a mom and a dad, it could be like an adventure."
"Adventures are supposed to be fun"Dewey said.
"Who knows, maybe it will be. It's about lunch time, anyone hungry."
"Not really"Huey said, the other two shook their heads too.
"Alright, if you need anything, I'll be in the other room, alright?"
"Thanks uncle Gladstone"Huey said.
He smiled and left, not exactly sure what to do, he's taken care of the boys before but usually they're so full of energy and excitement, he didn't expect anything more but it hurt him just to see them so distraught.