Deliver Us from Evil
Chapter 1 Special Moments
They walked together companionably down the dirt road outside of Munich, Germany in June of 1912.
"This is really nice," Jeff observed. "I mean, we landed soft, it's a beautiful day, we haven't found the red light yet, I just feel like running. I bet I could beat you to that tree," Jeff said pointing to an old gnarled tree farther down the lane and jumping sideways in his excitement as they walked.
"My legs are twice as long as yours," Phineas said smiling at Jeff's enthusiasm.
"But I'm fast ...."
Phineas took off while Jeff was answering him and a half-second later Jeff was racing him to the tree.
As Phineas approached the tree, he realized he would get there first so he slowed down to let Jeff catch up. They touched the tree at almost the same time.
"I won!" Jeff shouted and Phineas laughed out loud. With his long legs he couldn't help but get there first, but it was so much fun to watch Jeff win that he just had to lose the race.
They collapsed on the ground beside the old tree, still laughing.
Once they had stopped, Jeff spoke, "You aren't fooling me, you know," he said.
"What?"
"I know you let me win," Jeff said smiling as he leaned up on one elbow.
"How can you be so sure?" Phineas asked.
"My dad used to do the same thing, get close to the end and then all of a sudden slow down," Jeff answered. "It's so obvious."
Bogg glanced at him, but he didn't look upset, like he did every other time he'd mentioned his parents. "Smart kids give me a pain," he muttered and Jeffrey laughed again.
"Now what?" Bogg answered.
"I was just thinking, that was one of the first things you ever said to me," Jeff told him.
"Do you remember every single thing I ever said to you?" Bogg asked amused.
"Only the important stuff," Jeff answered, "and there hasn't been much of that." He laughed again as Phineas Bogg leaned over and began tickling him, "stop," Jeff gasped, "I give up."
"Say you're sorry," Bogg ordered, continuing to tickle his young partner.
"I'm sorry," Jeff gasped out and Phineas stopped and rolled over onto his back on the warm grass smiling. He sighed, sometimes these special moments snuck up on you so unexpectedly.
Jeff sighed too as he settled down beside him.
"We sure aren't gonna find the red light this way," Jeff observed.
"Well, remember what I told you about revolutions?" Bogg asked.
"They find YOU" Jeff said without hesitation.
"You don't really remember everything I've ever said, do you?" Bogg asked, a bit worried. He didn't think everything he'd ever said deserved to be remembered. Jeff smiled, but didn't answer, "well, anyway, red lights tend to find you too," Bogg finished.
