Author's note – One of the rules for this challenge is that I'm not allowed to replace a chapter once it is posted even if there is a typo. I made an exception for the last chapter though because the chapter I posted wasn't the chapter I intended to post as it was missing the last two paragraphs that I wrote.

Best Different Ever
The Funeral

My brother brought up the idea of one of the Herdman kids dying when mother said she got news of someone dying. I wonder what would happen if one of them died. Mom said it was sad that nobody would cry for them if one of them died. I don't think the other kids would cry, and there mother wouldn't be upset about no longer having one more mouth to feed

Of course everyone in our school would be celebrating if one of the Herdman kids died. That would mean that there was one less Herdman to run around making a mess of things and bothering us. Of course, any celebration would likely be ruined by the rest of the Herdman kids who had the habit of ruining anything they were involved with, or at least that was what everyone believed.

The more I think about it though, the more it does seem sad that one of them would die. Things wouldn't be the same if there was one less Herdman around here. Not to mention the idea that there is no one to cry for someone when they die is sad, no matter who that person happens to be. It means that nobody cared about them, or they were all alone.

M

News that the Bradley family had lost loved ones spread through the small town rather fast. People stopped by to console the family, one of them being Mrs. Wendleken. Mrs. Bradley let the woman into the house and they talked for awhile. One of the things that stuck with Beth though as well as her brother was the comment about how it couldn't have been the Herdman family.

Charlie sat on the stairs as he listened with his sister. "She's kind of right you know."

"Don't let mom hear you talking about that. You already upset her by saying nobody would be upset that one of the Herdman kids were dead. Plus, we need to pack for our trip."

"Strange isn't it. We're going on a trip despite the fact it is for such a said thing. It still sounds like quite the adventure, doesn't it."

"Yes... but, shush Charlie." The two children headed up the stairs and began to pack their suitcases. Mr.s Bradley had to come up and repack a few things in Beth's suitcase and pretty much everything in Charlies.

"But I want to take my comics with me."

"You also need to take clothes as well Charles. So please... I don't have time for this." When they were finished their father carried the suitcases out to the car so that they could be on their way. Of coure, Mr. Bradley was staying to take care of the house, which brought about a comment from Charlie.

"Is the reason dad staying so that the Herdmans don't ransack out house?"

Mrs. Bradley startled from the front seat. "No... your father couldn't get time off from work at such short notice. We could have gotten someone to watch the house for us if we needed to."

"So you don't deny the fact the Herdmans would go and ransack out house if we left it all alone for a long period of time."

"No, I didn't say any such thing."

Beth stared out at the road and watched as the lush green trees passed them by. She was getting to miss out on school, so there was a positive side of things. She still had to do school work and she found herself suddenly miserable due to the fact she found herself having to just stare out at nothing. Finally, she turned her head towards the front. "What is our grandfather like?"

"Your grandfather... well, he's..." The woman glanced ahead at the road. "Now look here, there is nothing wrong with the man other then him being quite a judgmental man. He didn't speak to my brother for years because he married the wrong type of person, or at least wrong type in my father's opinion."

"Is that the reason why we don't ever talk to him?" Charlie frowned. "Does he hate us as well?"

"Well... no. I'm the one who cut ties with him and flat out told him that I wanted nothing to do with him unless he was willing to reconcile things with my brother." They drove along and finally came to the place that they would be staying. "The funeral is tomorrow. So get plenty of sleep."

The next morning things were a rush to get ready. Beth found herself having to wear a black dress her mother had picked out for her, which only helped set into place that the occasion was rather somber. Charlie though was excited. "Do you think one of my cousins will be my age?"

"No... there is one around Beth's age and the other two are older from what McGreggor told me, but the youngest is still in Kindergarten." They found themselves getting into the car again and heading to the funeral home, only to find that the police were there. Beth glanced over at her mother and saw the woman's face turn red.

"Did grandfather make a scene or did he kill someone?" Charlie piped up.

"Charles."

The two children got out and followed their mother after she parked the car. They headed over to the funeral while an officer glanced up. "I'm sorry, we have a case of four kids have gone missing. We're not letting anyone on the premises."

"What do you mean my nephews and nieces have gone missing?"

"Wait... they're with the family." And older woman waved her over. "Apparently the children decided to run off during the night. They were supposed to be transferred into their grandfather's care this morning."

"And where is my father?"

"Mr. Alden is pacing back and forth in the foyer." The three Bradley family members followed the woman into the place, where they saw an old man pacing back and forth.

"Father?"

The man looked up, a rather somber look on his face. "This likely is my fault."

"What do you mean it is likely your fault?"

"Grace, I should have made up with your brother and his wife sooner. Because I didn't, I didn't get a chance to know their children."

"Father, don't talk about the children as if they're dead as well."

"No. I don't believe them to be dead. I am quite sure they've heard from their father how much I hated him and his wife, though honestly that isn't true. I just... shouldn't have said the things I did back then or been as stubborn as I was."

"Of all the... surely the officers will find out where they've gone."

"I hope so, but if they have your brother's intelligence it may not be an easy thing to do. Again. I'm sorry."