"There is no place for selfishness and no place for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice."
-Pope John Paul II
Chapter 3 – A Family that Sacrifices Together, Stays Together
Simon, look at him smiling while he’s sleeping. I love it. I know you won’t say anything about it because it would make you sound weird.
What do you want me to say? The only thing I can pull from your mind is something positive, which is incredibly general.
You don’t understand at all, do you? Maybe it’s a motherly thing.
You’re not even his mother or one to begin with. What do you know about it?
I know that I’m feeling it. Do you think he’ll ever call us his parents?
I don’t know. It’s best not to get your hopes up.
He seemed to like what we got him yesterday. We should get it again for him.
I guess it’s better than nothing. Remember that we’re running out of money.
We’re good for a while. I pickpocketed some money at the party if you didn’t notice.
That’s great, but don’t let Curly know. We’re supposed to stop being thieves.
That’s right. We have to start becoming a real family.
If we really want to become his family, you’ll need to learn how to cook.
And you’ll have to learn how to be a real man and work.
You’ll have to come with me to work.
And you’ll have to learn how to cook with me.
What do you think we should make first?
He really liked those ice cream pancakes yesterday.
Breakfast sounds like a great idea. It’s the kind of meal that can be served at any time of day.
I’m full of great ideas, aren’t I?
You are. Hey, doesn’t that guy over there look familiar?
He does. I think we’ve seen him on the thieves’ network before.
The three thief groups being arrested should’ve been big news. Maybe they suspect us of double-crossing them because we are the only ones who haven’t been arrested yet or they might think we’re colluding with the authorities.
That’s true. We should get back to Alastair fast and get out of here.
They’ll think we’ve betrayed them if they catch us with him. We have to draw them away, get rid of them, and then haul out of this city.
Aren’t they experts in following people? Won’t they know if we’re leading them into a trap?
We’ll have to take a chance to protect Alastair. You ready?
Ready.
Let’s go to that one alleyway that leads into the building with the kidnappers. That’s right. Keep following us. Okay, so it looks like there’s three of them. Almost there. Where should we hide-Oh!
There were already two of them looking through this building.
Thankfully our reactions are still sharp.
Their friends are outside calling them now. They won’t come in until they respond.
Maybe we should use their friend’s unconscious body like a puppet. Lure them in that way.
That’s not going to work.
I know you don’t have a better plan let alone a plan at all.
Okay, we’ll go with that.
This is so stupid.
But it just might work.
Peek out. What can you see?
They’re confused but the three are coming this way.
Okay, now let’s use this guy as a body shield once they come in. And…action! One, two, three! That’s all of them.
You owe me again.
We didn’t bet-Let’s just get back to Alastair.
Do you think there’s more of them?
Probably. We have minutes before they converge on this area.
Let’s hurry up then!
I can’t make our legs move faster! That only stalls us.
Just try to think positively then.
“Alastair! We need to go!”
“What’s going on?”
“There’s a thieving group that might be after us. We aren’t taking any chances so pack your things and let’s go-damn! Get down, Alastair! Ack! Get off us!”
“Wow. What happened to you two?”
“None of your business, just let go of our kid!”
“Did the kid’s parents have some kind of special weapon to use on you? Did they do a kind of special surgery?”
“We said it’s none of your business!”
“I love the “we” routine you got going on there. I’ll tell you what. Because I respect your work and you so much, I’ll take the kid off your hands, maybe sell him to a rich family in a foreign country. You’ll thank me later. In the meantime, we’ll try to get you fixed up. Let’s get’em back to base boys.”
…Where are we?
We’re strapped to some surgery table.
We have to get out of here fast!
Maybe we can combine our strength to break these binds.
These binds are too tough!
Are you going to make that stop us? Alastair is in trouble. I can feel it. He’s going to be sold off or worse if we don’t do anything now.
You’re right.
“Rahhhh!!!!”
That’s right! We did it! Look how shocked they-oh boy.
Get down! We have to do something to stop them from firing at us.
What’s this stuff?
Medical stuff? Looks flammable. Let’s throw it at them. Woah!
They’re explosive too!
Really explosive.
I think we broke something important in the building. We might need this fireproof jacket for later.
Let’s take the rest of these.
Yeah keep running from us and our explosive …whatever it is! Uh oh.
I think we accidentally hit the power room. The building might be catching fire now.
That’s good and bad. Let’s make the most of it and find our weapons.
Here we go. We’re going full auto shotgun mode. This’ll give them a real headache when they wake up after getting hit from these rounds.
Now we’re ready. Where do you think they’re holding Alastair?
Top floor?
I’m not betting on it. Plus, it doesn’t really matter. We’re clearing this place out until we get to him.
Move out the way! Two pissed off parents coming through!
That’s right! Two heads are better than one!
We have one head.
It’s a technicality.
Whatever. There’s the guy that took us here! He’s got Alastair.
“Let go of our kid and you might live.”
“You guys don’t kill unless you need to. I know your history. Agh!”
“We don’t kill but we do hurt. Are you okay Alastair?”
“I’m okay. How are we going to do this? How did the building catch fire?”
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll care you through this. Here, we’ll wrap you up in this fireproof jacket, so the fire doesn’t touch your skin. Keep your head down.”
“What about you?”
“We’re going to be fine. All that matters to us is your safety. Trust us.”
“Okay.”
The flames are really tearing through this building, but we have to make it through this.
It’s so intense in here. I don’t know if we can make it.
We have to for our sake and Alastair’s. We have to give him the family he deserves. We put him in this situation and we’re taking him out of it.
I feel so strange.
Keep going! We’re going to make it!...Sylvia? Can you hear me? You see the exit? We’re going to make it! Just give it one final push and…we’re out! Smell that fresh air of victory and…woah.
“Simon, we’re back to normal.”
“But how?”
“You putting yourself at risk for me must’ve satisfied God. It was a literal trial of fire.”
“Thank you, God, for having mercy on us.”
“Oh, the firefighters are coming. Let’s get out of here. What are we going to do now? We’re flat broke with no home and nothing to our name.”
“That’s fine as long as we’re together.”
“Are you sure, Alastair?”
“We’re used to the homeless life, but you…”
“You’re my parents now. I don’t care as long as we love each other.”
“Alastair!”
“…I’m a father now…”
“Don’t cry or else you’re going to make me cry too.”
“You’re right. We’re going to be the best parents ever. We promise you that.”
“Are our minds still connected? Because you just took the words right out of my mouth.”
“I love you, mom and dad.”
“We love you too, son.”
The End
“It is worthwhile to live as a family, that a society grows strong, grows in goodness, grows in beauty and truly grows if it is built on the foundation of the family.” – Pope Francis
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