Jackson was finally out of the orphanage. He wasn’t free yet though. He could hear sirens screaming and heading towards the orphanage. He ran to the safety of a dark and damp alleyway. He saw rats scuttling everywhere. Jackson stayed there for a bit and decided to wander for a little bit. He had to figure out how to get a bunch of kids out of the orphanage. That could wait for a while. Jackson kept walking and soon found a simple spot to settle down for the night. It was a simple alley, hidden from view and was quite nice. Jackson wandered for a little bit and found a little hangover that could shelter him until tomorrow. He pulled out his blankets and laid down on them. It was very cold, a breeze would pick up and then cease. He would hear a noise and jolt awake. Then, when sleep was useless, he stood up and wandered around and then decided to explore. He gathered his things and walked off. He felt so excited to be wandering a place that he had dreamed of walking in, but could only look through an attic window.
Jackson was starting to feel quite hungry; he looked at his clock and figured that he hadn’t eaten for nearly six hours. He heard his stomach growl, because the last thing he had eaten was a few bites of macaroni from the orphanage. He dug around in his backpack and found the bag filled with his food supply. He took a biscuit and took only a couple small nibbles and put it back, worrying that he would run out of food.
He stopped in front of a pastry store. It smelled so good! But he had to stay focused on finding places for kids to live. He kept wandering and exploring every nook and cranny. He stopped at a telephone post and found a sign that had his picture on it. He was surprised that they had made signs and gotten them up so fast. He looked around and saw someone putting up the signs. He ran off and hid, tearing down every picture and he ran. He stopped and saw someone point at him. He turned around and ran, hearing a man shout out. He looked back and saw the man run after him. He yelled and ran faster. The man soon caught up to him and was right on his heels. He tried to run faster but the man grabbed his arm and stopped him. Jackson tried to break free but the man had a firm grip.
“Damn you kid, hold still. I’m not after you. I want to help you.”
“Yeah right gramps, like you could help me. You’re like what, sixty?”
“Fifty. And if you call me gramps again, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
“Whatever. Now would you mind letting me go? I have some business I need to attend to.”
“In your dreams Jackson ‘cause you aint goin anywhere.”
“My name isn’t Jackson.”
“And I’m related to the queen, of course you are,” he said sarcastically. “And I know.”
“How do you know that it’s my name then? Maybe I’m someone else.”
“First of all, it’s not hard, your picture’s on every poster, and second of all, I know you ‘cause Jayson sent me the news that you finally ran away.
“Jayson? How do you know him?”
“Remember when Jayson would shout down the window? He was talkin’ to me.”
“How does he know you in the first place?”
“Cause I’m his second cousin twice removed.”
“Prove it. I don’t believe you.”
“Fine. Jayson’s parent died in a fire when he was nine and no one would take him in. The reason why is because they couldn’t contact anyone. So the orphanage took him in and apparently put him in the same room as you. I now pity him for having to spend his life with someone as annoyin’ as you. Anythin’ else you wanna know?”
“What is the age difference between us?”
“Two years, three months, eleven days, ten hours, and forty-five minutes. Satisfied?”
“No, but that’s okay, all though that last question was wrong.but why didn’t you take him in. You’re older than him.”
“At the time, I was in court tryin’ to tell them that I was innocent in the fire his parents were in.”
“Why were you accused in the first place?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Fine. Why do you want to help me anyway?”
“Cause I admire your guts to run away and I want my cousin to live with me. The only problem is that they won’t let me have him.”
“Well, if you can find a place for more than thirty kids, you’re free to help.”
“That’s a crazy thought. What are you plannin’ on doin?”
“Rescue any orphans who want to leave. They don’t deserve to have to endure living in that cursed place.”
“That’s a bold thought, but you’re gonna have to plan that out for ages.”
“Aye, that’s why I need to start with the basics; shelter, food, warmth, and something for them to sleep on. Then it comes easy.”
“Well, if it means gettin’ Jayson out, I’m in. What do ya want me to do?”
“Send word to Jayson, tell him I’m okay and tell him to keep doin what I told him to.”
“And what might that be?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Touché. You’re a bold kid. I’ll do what ya say as long as I get Jayson once he’s out.”
“Deal.”
They shook hands and the man walked off.
“Hey! Wait! Meet me at the fountain on Center Street.”
“Whatever ya say Jackson.”
Jackson continued wandering and tearing down signs about his escape. He was
worried that he might get caught before he got everyone out. That would not be good.
