Chapter 3 : Bradshaw and the Chaos in Crypt
So Glenn led the kids followed by Kane to the basement where Bradshaw the viper was kept. "It was a gaboon viper, " Glenn explained while he unlocked the door of the basement .
"Did you bought it ? " Randy asked as they stepped into the dim lighted room.
"Nah, it was a birthday gift from my grandpa in Texas. I had always wanted to keep exotic pets, " Glenn answered.
"Your grandpa is so cool, " Seth commented, holding his brother's hand tightly. Despite the excitement to view the infamous snake, a part of him still was afraid of the dangerous creature.
"What can I say, we are all American Badass, to quote Mark," Glenn shrugged as he flicked the light switch on.
"Mark is more like an asshole, " Kane remarked, but Glenn only laughed.
"Well, here we are kids. Say hello to Bradshaw, " Glenn announced proudly as he extended his arms, showing an enormous glass enclosure, more like a large tank that were approximately around 10 ft wide, 4 ft deep and 3 ft high structure. Inside the glass enclosure, the snake pet lie on what seemed to be resembling a natural habitat. There was a tree stump and a number of real plants to filter the light in such a manner that only a limited amount of light reaches the ground level.
They gushed in awe and astonishment at the beauty of the camouflage-colored creature. "Look at its color Seth! " Randy exclaimed, " They were so pretty, they almost looked like natural leaf," He said, admiring the aspect of geometric pattern of purple and dark browns interspersed with pastel colors. Its buff-colored head was divided by a thin dark brown line, which beautifully create an impression of a fallen leaf.
"Yeah," Seth agreed, electrified by the sheer beauty of the creature, now knowing why Randy always was fascinated by such animals.
"The camouflage design helped them to prey on animals, " Glenn said, "And it is very, very dangerous animal. It can strike you faster than lightning bolt, from any direction, upward or backward, front or behind. So we gotta be extremely careful when handling this thing. Its venom is harmful and can be fatal to humans, "
"What do you feed him? " Randy asked.
"Live rats. I gave him once a week. Actually Bradshaw can pretty eat anything, but right now he prefers mice, I guess, "Glenn said.
"He's awesome, " Seth was bemused. He was taken aback when Bradshaw suddenly moved from its position and started to raise its leaf-shaped head, causing Randy and Kane to be alarmed too when the snake begin to hiss. Both Randy and Seth reflectively clutching on Kane's hands, afraid if the viper would suddenly break out of the glass.
"Oops, visiting time's over, I guess. Bradshaw was a little nervous today. He's not used to a crowd attention, " Glenn said. Randy looked slightly disappointed. He wanted to study the snake some more, but he was afraid of it, too.
"Can we watch him a little longer? " Seth hoped, but Glenn shook his head .
"Sorry kiddo, but you are too cute for me to risk the danger of sticking around. You see , if a viper feels threatened by you he will start hissing for you to back off like he did right now, " Glenn said, pointing at the snake who began to hiss louder, "And don't be fooled by it sluggish appearance, because like I told you, it tends to attack you out of nowhere and faster than a lightning bolt. Got it? "
Seth and Randy nodded in understanding. "Lets go check other stuff, alright? " Kane suggested.
"Can I take pictures of him?" Randy asked. Glenn did not answer and briefly considering it, then he nodded.
"Alright, but just one, And no flash, " He warned.
"Cool! Kane, take pictures of me with Bradshaw, please, " Randy asked his brother. Kane agreed, pulling out his Iphone from his pocket , snapping a picture of Randy strike a pose near the glass enclosure. He looked pleased.
"Do you want to take pics, Seth? "Kane turned to Seth, whose hand still clutching his brother. He shook his head, fearing the loud hiss of Bradshaw with its mouth hanging open.
"See ya, Bradshaw, " Randy bid the snake a farewell as they headed out of the basement.
Kane took the kids for a tour around the funeral house while Mark, Glenn and their father Paul watched in amusement as the kids running around , shrieking in excitement and agitation as they happily observing everything. Finally Randy begged to be allowed to play in the crypt where the deceased bodies were stored ,as well as Seth who wanted to play in cemetery earlier.
"Come on Kane, just let them. Besides there were only dead people down there, they couldn't possibly murder anyone, " Paul said, couldn't stand Seth's puppy eyes pleading to him. " Plus the caskets are all locked, " He added.
"Fine, " Kane said, "But try not to break anything, alright? " He warned.
"Yeayy! " Both of the kids yelped happily as they eagerly ran off to the basement crypt with Mark following them. He unlocked the door and let the boys inside. "Have fun! " He laughed as he returned back upstairs to rejoin Kane and his family.
"Now we can start working, " He said to Kane, who was watching Paul carving the edge of a coffin. "I hope the two did not burn the crypt or something, " Kane sighed as he heard Randy's high-pitched voice screaming something.
Meanwhile in the crypt, Seth and Randy started to go through all the locked caskets, when suddenly Seth discovered something. "Randy, check this out," He called out to his brother,"This casket is unlocked, " He said, indicating one of the coffins that was without a padlock on its lid.
"Really? Can we open it? " Randy eyed the coffin curiously. He had been in few funerals before but he never was allowed to see dead body inside a coffin.
"Are you crazy? Kane will be mad at us," Seth said.
"He doesn't know, so he won't get mad. Or are you scared ? " Randy scowled.
"I'm not scared! " Seth denied.
"Then lets open it, " Randy grinned. He tried to lift up the lid, but it was too heavy. "Seth, help me, " He asked.
Seth obeyed him hesitantly, helping his brother slowly rising the lid of the casket until it was opened. Inside was a preserved body of an old man dressed in suits, both his hands folded neatly. For a few seconds, Seth almost afraid it would open its wrinkled eyes, but Randy was laughing in amusement.
"This is awesome! " He said, and began to fiddle with the old man's face. "I wish I had brought a pen marker so we could paint his face," He stated as he tried to lightly punch the dead man's nose.
"Randy, you cannot do that to him!" Seth began to grow restless. He used to watch a horror movie where a dead spirit was resurrected after his body was disturbed, and he was afraid if this old man's spirit would get angry too.
"What, are you scared? You are chicken ? " Randy taunted his brother.
"I'm not a chicken! " Seth shouted.
"Yes, you are scaredy-cat chicken, Seth is a chicken! " Randy kept on mocking his brother. Seth grew so angry, he pushed Randy to the point he almost stumbled into the casket.
Randy responded by punching his brother's face, but Seth refused to admit defeat. He tried to hit Randy back but he missed his shot,resulting in Randy kicked him straight into the casket that Seth fell on the old man's body inside. Randy climbed in to the casket along to keep on hitting Seth but unfortunately their combined weights adding inside causing the wooden coffin to tumble down to the floor and they rolled out along with the dead body.
"Look what you've done! " Randy screaming.
"Its not my fault! " Seth countered and they resumed back to fighting.
Upon hearing Seth's high pitched crying voice, Kane and Mark were alarmed and rushed down to the crypt in full speed folowed by Paul and Glenn.
There was a dead body of an old man lying on the floor while Randy was attempting to put Seth into the casket while his brother kicking and screaming.
"Stop! " Kane roared as he pulled Randy off while Mark picked Seth out of the casket.
"Did you forget to lock the coffin, Glenn? " Paul asked Glenn in shock.
"Ooops..my bad.. Oh God, the Anderson family will be pissed off ," Glenn sighed as he saw the dead body of Mr. Greg Anderson had stumbled down to the floor. Every once in a month, the Anderson family would come to the funeral home to pay a visit for the late Mr. Anderson , and if they knew what had been happening tonight, he would be in trouble. Paul shook his head as he carried the body of Mr. Anderson and placed it back into the casket, straightening his clothes back.
"That's it, we are going home, " Kane declared once they got upstairs. Both Randy and Seth remained silent, knowing their brother was really fuming .
"Man ,your kiddos were handful, " Mark sighed, as he rubbed Seth's head, who was now sitting on his lap.
"Its almost midnight, anyway, " Kane looked at his watch, " We need to be home before The Authority gets back, " He said, indicating his parents. "What do we do? " He asked his little brothers ,whose heads hanging down in remorse.
"No telling Mom and dad," They replied in unison.
"Good, Now apologize to Mr. Bearer and Glenn to what you had done down there, " Kane commanded, and the boys did what they were told.
"Aww, you don't have to be that mad, Kane. They were just kids and too cute to be blamed, " Glenn smiled.
"Too cute to almost murder each other, " Kane grunted. "Now lets get home. I'll see you tomorrow , " He told Mark. Mark nodded as he followed Kane to his car outside.
"Goodbye kids," Paul kissed Randy and Seth before they went into the car.
"Bye Mr. Bearer, bye Glenn, " The kids bid farewell to the family before Kane started his car engine and sped back to their house.
Upon arriving, Seth already had fallen asleep at the back ,so Kane had to carry him into the house. He was halfway on the stairs when he heard his father's engine outside. Randy immediately looked up to his brother. "Go! Hurry up to your bed! " Kane demanded, knowing his parents would first check the kids when they arrive home. Randy quickly scrambled into his bedroom, and jumped on to his bed as soon as he took off his jacket.
Meanwhile Kane scrambled to Seth's bedroom, hurriedly removed his sweaters and pulled up the blanket over Seth's body as soon as he laid him down, but it was too late. He heard Stephanie and Hunter's voice just outside the bedroom, wanting to check on Seth. He had no choice but to throw himself on the bed, pretending to be asleep while cuddling Seth. I'll tell them I fell asleep while tucking Seth in, he decided.
He heard the door was being opened and his parents stepped in, walking to the bed. "Look, Kane slept wth Seth! Isn't that weird? " Hunter was surprised,as well as his wife.
"But they were so cute together. Such a bromance," Stephanie complimented , admiring the way her eldest son was cuddling his baby brother.
"Lets not disturb them, " Hunter said as he bent down to kiss his youngest kid. "Goodnight sweethearts," Stephanie said quietly as she kissed Seth. Then she kissed Kane as well, making Kane almost want to fall off the bed,but he tried to steady himself.
His heart almost sank with relief as his parents left the room.