Scott Lancer entered yet another of the mansions lavishly decorated rooms and sighed with pure boredom. He wished for the thousandth time he had someone to share the place with. His grandfather was away on business, again, and had left him alone with only the household staff for company. Every other boy he knew had a parent or a sibling to turn to. Well he had no such luck, if only he had a brother then life wouldn't be so boring. Looking out the window, Scott glared balefully at the sun and the bright blue sky. The weather had no right to turn nice when he was restricted to the house. Maybe it was his own fault, but if he had to get in so much trouble his plan could have at least worked. He had only tried to get his grandfather to take notice of him, perhaps he had gone a little to far. Setting off the crates of firecrackers in the basement of his boarding school had been a lot of fun though. Hearing the teacher's screams and watching them call for the police had been the best entertainment of his life. It had brought his grandfather home early from Europe, but it also got him expelled and grounded. Turning away from the window in disgust, Scott wondered why he was even bothering to obey when his grandfather was across the ocean in another country.

Deciding to completely ignoring his punishment Scott hurried out of the elegant room in search of his grandfathers butler. Thankfully his tutor was gone so he only had to worry about avoiding Robert. On his way out Scott grabbed a jacket and a pair of riding boots from his room. Slipping down the stairs, he tiptoed into the kitchen where he took a loaf of bread and some apples. Sneaking out before Cook saw him, he continued on to look for the butler. Peaking into a small study, near the servants entry, Scott was relieved to see Robert focusing on his business. Carefully opening the door, he made his escape into the stables.

Happy to have made it successfully to Thunder's stall, Scott pulled an apple out of his pocket and held it out. Nickering the horse stuck his head over the rails and gently took the apple, the hairs on his chin tickling Scotts hand. Grining in delight, Scott saddled the horse keeping a sharp watch out for any of the stable hands. It wasn't long before he was on Thunders back and headed for freedom. The narrow cobblestone streets of Beacon hill led Scott down to the river below. The further Scott rode, the busier the city became. It seemed as though everybody was in a hurry! Once he reached the docks everyone in Boston seemed to be there. Scott stopped to watch the dock workers unloading the giant ships. Pretending he was a pirate, the boy eyed the crates as if each contained treasure. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of the salty air Scott could almost imagine the feel of the sea rolling beneath him and the exhilaration of a chase for treasure!

"Get a move on lad 'fore someone drops somethin' on ya," hollered a rough voice.

Scott avoided the burly sailor and continued on his way. His destination was a tenant building at the end of a dark stinky ally. Tying his horse in front of a store so it wouldn't get stolen, Scott advanced on the ally his senses alert. Having made the trip with his friend Shawn, Scott knew what he had to look out for in the rougher side of town. Avoiding the mass of people and garbage, Scott entered the building and climbed up the dilapidated steps until he reached the correct floor and room. Knocking on the door, he was pleased when Shawn answered.

"And to what to we owe this great surprise," asked his friend in mock formality.

"Well, if you want you can blame my grandfather," he teased.

"Eye, and how many dinners have ya missed when ya visited after yer grandda forbade ya," scolded Shawn's mother as she welcomed him into the small room.

"Enough to know what it feels like to be hungry," grumbled Scott, enjoying as he always did the soothing lilt of her Irish accent. "That reminds me, I brought some food for lunch."

"Scott no..."

"I'd rather not eat it alone," he added so the family didn't think it was charity.

"Alright lad this once."

The woman set the table and sat Shawn and his twin sister Shannon down alongside Scott.

"Thank our heavenly father for us Scott, then dig in."

Scott happily did as he was told. The food always tasted better when he ate with this family. It had since the first day he had found Shannon hungry and crying near the shipyard.

"Scott, has school been goin' better?"

Scott choked on his bread at the unexpected question. Trying to look innocent, he glanced over at Shawn and noticed his friend was just as shocked as him. Neither one of them could guess how much the woman knew.

"Afraid not Ma'am, I was expelled."

"Saints above lad, again? And how did ya pull that one?"

Scott heard Shawn let out a startled breath. His friend was in the clear, his mother had no idea how much her son had helped with the prank.

"Well Ma'am there was a bit of an explosion..."

"Sweet Mary, and ya stated it did ya?"

"Well it kinda did get pinned on me when I started laughing."

Shawn snickered and Shannon eyed the two of them knowingly but didn't say a word.

"Aye, and I suppose you thought it was funny watchin' people run fer their lives."

Yes, it had been worth it. Seeing the boys, who had treated him so cruelly, for not having a family, with something other than proud disdain on their faces had been worth it.

"Wait, how did you know people were running for their lives," asked Scott suspiciously?

"My word, why are you lads always so surprised when you're found out," Shawns mother asked?

Reaching over she slid Scott off his seat and before he could blink had him over her knee for a quick swat.

Laughing in surprise, Scott jumped up and danced away from her repeted threats. Turning to his friend, he challenged him to a race down the docks. Shawn never hesitated, slapping Scott on the back, he raced out the door and down the stairs. Shouting threats, Scott followed, ignoring Shawn's mother yelling after them that the docks were no place to play. The stairs slowed Shawn down so by the time Scott reached the street he was closing in on his friend. They reached the end of the dock almost at the same time and slid to a stop before they ended up in the water.

"I won," teased Scott bending over to catch his breath.

"Ha, you wish," panted Shawn! "Sure am happy Ma never realized I was apart a yer plan, she woulda skinned me alive."

"Yes she would've! The headmaster, the constable, and my grandfather already worked me over."

"Ey, how did that go?"

Scott shook his head and sat down on a pile of rope. That day had been one of the worst in his life, not even the beating the head master gave him hurt as much as his grandfathers three simple words, "you shame me."

"Aww, I'll recover in a couple years," laughed Scott trying to covering up the hurt.

"That bad," sympathized Shawn?

Scott just nodded, not sure how to explain the pain. Looking for a something more intresting to do, he pointed at a boat moored a few piers down.

"I dare you to climb to the crows nest of The Falken."

"Are ya daft? They'd never let us on."

"Aww come on Shawn, where is your sence of fun? It is my grandfathers ship, no one will mind."

"Scott are ya sure?"

"Come on, what are you waiting for? The ship won't sail till next week."