“He’s afraid that someone is going to catch him and separate his sister from him.He said that she was all he had.”He asked him how long did he think this was going on.“Weeks and weeks.Ishould have told you sooner but he asked me not to.And he’s my friend and I didn’t want to tattle on him.But…well Dad, he’s really sick.So is his little sister but not as bad as he is.All he does is cough and cough until the teacher sends him to the office.I don’t think she likes him all that much because sometimes he’d dirty and other times he’s sleeping.He told me that he stays awake at night trying to do his homework by candle.Their power got turned off a while ago and now he’s afeared that the water will be turned off and they won’t have anything to wash up with.That might have already happened.He’s been coming to school with dirty clothes again.”
“Put your sister in bed there and we’ll go over there.You can tell him that you were extra worried for them and I’ll take it from there.And I’m also going to have your grandda go over there to the school and find out why no one reported him for having no food at lunchtime.We set up a fund there that he and his sister can use anytime they need it.It’s not right that they aren’t getting the food they need.”He asked him again if he was mad.“Never, I told you this.I’m very proud of you for thinking of him and making sure that he had something to eat.Very proud.”
After telling Henrie where they were going, she handed him some cash that she’d gotten from the bank to take to the school and made sure that there was enough to pay up their fines and a lunch ticket.She was spitting mad but she also told him how proud she was of him.He loved his wife so much, in that moment.
It didn’t take them long to get to the house.And just as his son had said, the grass was overgrown and there was a notice for it to be taken care of by the police.The health department had left a note too saying that anyone living in the house was to vacate as there was no power and they had to get out.As soon as he knocked on the door, the little boy opened it and the look of complete fear on his face startled him enough that he pulled him out of the house and told the two boys to wait until he came out with the little girl.He walked into seeing the little girl being tied to a chair and it looked like they were going to beat her.
“Who the hell are you?”He told them and why he was there.“So what?Where is that idiot boy of ours?He’s supposed to keep up the house and just look at this mess he left.And the power is off.Should have gotten him a job to pay it off instead of talking to people that don’t got any never mind to be talking to.”
Trevor wasn’t sure what the man meant but he untied the little girl and sent her out.But not before having to knock the woman out for trying to get at her.He leaned down to the girl while she was sobbing and told her to tell the boys to go to his house with her and have Henrie call the police.She ran out of the house so quickly he hoped that she’d stop long enough to gather up the other two.
He was smiling at that thought when he faced the parents.“Where have you been for the last several weeks?”They told him that they’d been in Vegas having some fun and he didn’t have it right, they said, they’d been there for four months.“You left two small children alone and without food in the house, not to mention power in their home for four months?What the hell is wrong with you?”
When his cell phone rang he knew that it was Jenson.Having found out so quickly what he was doing more than likely had to do more with his wife than him hearing about it on the news.As soon as the front door burst open, he took the call from the president of the US, his big brother.
“Henrie called me.”That was enough for him to laugh.“Laugh it up little brother but don’t be surprised if you’ve adopted two more children by the end of the day.”
“Gladly.”He told him that he figured he’d say that.“I hope that whomever is coming into the house now is someone you sent?”
“It’s the calvary.”
Sure enough it was who he said.Not only were there FBI agents in the room with him but the welfare department, the police—it seemed like all of them as well as the secret Service men that would go with any of the family when they were out and about.There were more of them than he’d seen in one place in some time.Glad they were on his side, Trevor let them handle the couple while he made his way home to see to the kids.He shouldn’t have worried.
Not only were they in clean clothing but had had a bath, washed their hair and were eating asandwich at the counter in the kitchen.Kissing Henrie, his most wonderful partner and wife, he asked the kids what they wanted for supper.There was no doubt in his mind that not only would they be watching over the kids from now on, but they’d also have two more Strongs in the family too.His life couldn’t have been better than it was right now.And he’d not change a single thing about it.
