them all cups of fresh coffee. Sitting around the table, they discussed the problem of Delmar’s brother.
“He’s been a problem to us for quite a while,” the officer said. “He’s had several run-ins with us, but nothing we can hold him on.”
“He has?” said Robert with open surprise. “We spoke to the director down at the social agency yesterday and she claimed that he was an exemplary citizen.”
“That’s a laugh!” replied the officer. “But it figures, knowing that agency.”
“We’ve had our frustrations with them too,” said Agnes evenly. “We tried to get them to do something about the abuse that man is inflicting on Delmar, but got nowhere.”
“You’ve got our sympathy, ma’am,” the officer said. “How is Delmar doing anyway?”
“That’s what we don’t know,” answered Robert. “After bringing him home from his graduation test yesterday, he went home and we haven’t seen him since. Then last night his brother came here thinking we were hiding the boy, so we suspect Delmar has run off.”
“That is interesting news,” remarked the officer. “You say Delmar didn’t show up here?”
“That’s right,” Robert said. “We went out and searched early this morning but couldn’t find him.”
The officer thought for a moment. “It’s probably best the boy didn’t come here. This is where his brother would look first. And if the boy is classified as a runaway, the social agency will have him sought out and arrested.”
“Do you think Dorn will report it?” Agnes asked.
“Don’t think so. If he did, they would cut off the financial aid they’re sending him to care for his brother. I’m sure he won’t jeopardize that.”
“That’s a relief,” Robert said. “I wish we could find the boy and help him.”
“Until he turns twenty-one, we can’t do a thing about getting him out from under his brother,” the officer added.
“There has to be a way,” Robert said.
The officer thought for a minute. “There might be one way, if we can find him,” the officer answered. “Of course, he has to be at least eighteen first.” The trio fell silent as they thought through the situation.
“I just hope he can stay safe until his birthday,” Robert said, shaking his head. “If he goes home, he’s in for nothing but trouble.”
“Well, he better not come here,” the officer said. “The social agency will probably have you under surveillance for a few days, especially after your visit to their office yesterday. If nothing else, Dorn and his drinking buddies will be watching your place.”
∞∞∞
The light filtering into the cold interior of the dilapidated shack fell on the huddled form on the dirt floor. With a shudder, the boy stirred and raised himself up into a sitting position. The back of his head still ached, and he could feel the bruises on his knees from hitting the floor when his brother had attacked him.
A metallic taste in Delmar’s mouth made him realize that at least one of his brother’s blows had connected. Though he didn’t recall being hit there, he checked his teeth with his tongue and found everything as it should be. His stomach growled and he ignored it of necessity.
After checking through cracks in the wall for anyone waiting outside, Delmar removed the barricade from the makeshift door and stepped out into the early sunlight. He washed and drank his fill at a nearby creek in an effort to quiet his stomach and to clear the bitter taste from his mouth. He returned to the shack to consider his options.
He knew could never return to the farm out of fear for his safety. Legally, his brother was still his guardian until he turned twenty-one. But the thought of over three more years like last night made him shudder.
His brother would check the Hassel farm, and Delmar refused to endanger them. From what Mr. Hassel had told him, he knew going to the social agency would only get him into more trouble, either with them or with his brother.
“He’s been a problem to us for quite a while,” the officer said. “He’s had several run-ins with us, but nothing we can hold him on.”
“He has?” said Robert with open surprise. “We spoke to the director down at the social agency yesterday and she claimed that he was an exemplary citizen.”
“That’s a laugh!” replied the officer. “But it figures, knowing that agency.”
“We’ve had our frustrations with them too,” said Agnes evenly. “We tried to get them to do something about the abuse that man is inflicting on Delmar, but got nowhere.”
“You’ve got our sympathy, ma’am,” the officer said. “How is Delmar doing anyway?”
“That’s what we don’t know,” answered Robert. “After bringing him home from his graduation test yesterday, he went home and we haven’t seen him since. Then last night his brother came here thinking we were hiding the boy, so we suspect Delmar has run off.”
“That is interesting news,” remarked the officer. “You say Delmar didn’t show up here?”
“That’s right,” Robert said. “We went out and searched early this morning but couldn’t find him.”
The officer thought for a moment. “It’s probably best the boy didn’t come here. This is where his brother would look first. And if the boy is classified as a runaway, the social agency will have him sought out and arrested.”
“Do you think Dorn will report it?” Agnes asked.
“Don’t think so. If he did, they would cut off the financial aid they’re sending him to care for his brother. I’m sure he won’t jeopardize that.”
“That’s a relief,” Robert said. “I wish we could find the boy and help him.”
“Until he turns twenty-one, we can’t do a thing about getting him out from under his brother,” the officer added.
“There has to be a way,” Robert said.
The officer thought for a minute. “There might be one way, if we can find him,” the officer answered. “Of course, he has to be at least eighteen first.” The trio fell silent as they thought through the situation.
“I just hope he can stay safe until his birthday,” Robert said, shaking his head. “If he goes home, he’s in for nothing but trouble.”
“Well, he better not come here,” the officer said. “The social agency will probably have you under surveillance for a few days, especially after your visit to their office yesterday. If nothing else, Dorn and his drinking buddies will be watching your place.”
∞∞∞
The light filtering into the cold interior of the dilapidated shack fell on the huddled form on the dirt floor. With a shudder, the boy stirred and raised himself up into a sitting position. The back of his head still ached, and he could feel the bruises on his knees from hitting the floor when his brother had attacked him.
A metallic taste in Delmar’s mouth made him realize that at least one of his brother’s blows had connected. Though he didn’t recall being hit there, he checked his teeth with his tongue and found everything as it should be. His stomach growled and he ignored it of necessity.
After checking through cracks in the wall for anyone waiting outside, Delmar removed the barricade from the makeshift door and stepped out into the early sunlight. He washed and drank his fill at a nearby creek in an effort to quiet his stomach and to clear the bitter taste from his mouth. He returned to the shack to consider his options.
He knew could never return to the farm out of fear for his safety. Legally, his brother was still his guardian until he turned twenty-one. But the thought of over three more years like last night made him shudder.
His brother would check the Hassel farm, and Delmar refused to endanger them. From what Mr. Hassel had told him, he knew going to the social agency would only get him into more trouble, either with them or with his brother.
Similar Books
