He stood and waited at the front door, he hoped that it would not be a long time, but he knew that Jim would understand and give him the time that he needed. Finally, a resident left the building and Amos scooted through the dirty worn door as its tired old closer at the top groaned as it pulled the door shut. Two minutes later he was out of breath as he arrived at the scarred and battered door. The children’s voices shouting and yelling inside came to an abrupt stop once Amos knocked on the door.
Everything behind the door seemed to fall silent as if the apartment itself was deciding what to do. Finally, Amos heard quick footsteps that came to door, another pause and then there was a flutter of an eye behind peephole then a loud sigh and then the chain snicked back, and the deadbolt opened.
“Why are you back so soon, I thought I told you that I could not help. I really want to Amos, but it is just impossible right now.” Amos stepped back and held up the box in his hands. “I don’t need anything Aunt Marion, I’m doing ok. I brought these for the kids. They’re the chocolate covered custards that I loved as a kid, and it was always such a treat to get one.” His Aunt’s stern expression softened a bit, but her eyes still held his with a searching, suspicious expression as she took the box. Amos reached into his pocket and brought out an envelope and held it out to his aunt. “There is cash in here for you and the kids. Hide it from Dion and keep it for emergencies or if you need something. I’ve got to go but I will check on you in a few months to see if you are ok.”
He waved goodbye and turned and walked away quietly down the hall. He did not hate his aunt, and he was actually quite glad she sent him away after his mother had passed away. If he had stayed with her and Dion in that crowded apartment…. he shuddered to think about it. No, he had been much better off on his own and he did not even feel like he was the same person that he had been just a few months ago.
“Well, well, is the big secret mission done so soon? I was just getting ready to come and rescue you.” Alanah was trying to sound serious but the smile on her face and the smile hidden in her eyes said otherwise. “It was just a relative of mine with some cousins, I wanted to drop in to make sure that they were all right and everything was fine. Let’s get going.”
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A while later after Jim had made two laps of the building where he and Alanah had made their hideout, he pulled the truck around to the back of the warehouse and got out to have a look on foot. Alanah scaled the gas pipe, and Amos used a short length of rope to help her haul up their new gear to the warehouse rooftop. “Well, I guess this is…...” Jim had to pause as a subway train trundled and rattled by. “I guess this is bye for now, I’m not coming any further until you get me a better way in. “Gravity, steep climbs and old bones make fer a bad equation.” The older man waved at the two kids on the rooftop, “don’t become strangers, please come and see me every few days, you promise? If it ever gets bad you both always have a place with me.”
Amos’s eyes stung a little bit, and he felt himself tearing up. He gave Jim a solemn wave and then stepped back to wait for Alanah. She blew Jim a kiss which he pretended to snatch out of the air. Alanah giggled and called down “we will see you soon, I’ve tasted your cooking and the more I can cook for you then the better off you’ll be.” She turned to Amos and held out her arm and after a moment of confusion he linked his arm through hers and the two friends walked across the rooftop excited to set up their new home with the gifts Jim had given them.
Later that night after a simple but filling pasta dinner, Amos and Alanah made a list of all of the things they would need to resolve and accomplish in the coming months. It was a long list but not an impossible list and with each item Amos could see how it would help them both to survive and grow as people. He was excited to begin and far less worried about the future than he had been in a long while. Then they watched one of the old movies that Jim had given them and laughed the entire way through the ridiculous slapstick comedy.
When it was time to turn in Amos did so with a full stomach and a heart that did not ache so much when he allowed himself a moment to reflect on what he had as well as what he had lost. He decided at this moment to try to not to worry about the future or to lament the tragedies of the past. He thought only of this immediate moment and how content he was and then he gently drifted off into a deep, deep sleep.
The End of Book One