Millard
Millard started laughing, as if by doing so he could distance himself from his father's troubling delirium in the sight of his cousin. Maybe if he pretended he thought the whole thing was a big hilarious joke that he was more educated than and far above, Kent would understand that Millard didn't really belong here!
But when he started laughing, he suddenly realized he couldn't stop. He laughed so hard it began to hurt and tears of pain and hysteria mingled and poured down his face. Peacorn, his aunt, Guido Jr singing in his ear--it was inescapable! All of it! Then his fingers tingled with an energy unknown to him. He felt around for his ukulele. He felt.. the need to sing about his feelings. Maybe this is what artists called a moment of... Inspiration! Yes, that was it! He began strumming random chords.
Just as he opened his mouth and a cracked note croaked from his throat, he was forced backward into his seat as the RV slammed into gear, speeding crazily onto the road. Millard whirled his gaze around. Where was Phoenie?!
Movement caught his eye. He whipped his head around. There, in that mound of gray dusty stuff--ashes! Millard's eyes widened with an awed glow as the rodent lifted its head, a pile of the ashes sitting atop like a little hat. Millard gingerly, tremblingly, lifted his hands toward the creature to pick it up. He lifted it, light as a feather, its eyes glowing with a sincerity Millard had not yet known in another human being. He felt tears beginning to mist over, he was so inspired.
Just then, Phoenie sneezed, and rodent snot combined with gray tobacco debris sprayed over his face.