The old house creaked as the boiler began to power on in the basement. One by one the nurses began to wake up each of the children, each rubbing their eyes of sleep and clambering out of their bunks. Sly was already awake and up as usual, sitting on the top bunk and clutching his book. As the children made their way down to the food hall, Sly held back, waiting for Webster and Roy to join him, following the rest of the children at the back. Mr. Edwards had gotten used to the three boys togetherness and spent most of his time claiming that 'It's extremely healthy for the young lad to be making such friends, and only good can come of it.' Slys years had certainly been that way for the time being.
He had gotten on well when he was first brought back, and he was named Sly by a note found in the book detailing the owner, who possibly could've been the boys father. It was only fitting that the old owner of the book should share the name with the new owner. Sly had made fast friends with two of the boys in his bunk space, the first being Webster, a young bee who poured over books on engineering, science and general knowledge quizzes. His wings were very powerful, and had made him take his mechanics to an aviating point of view of flying machines and the like. Most of all, Webster would often explain parts of the Thevious Racoonus to Sly, so that not only could his friends be in on the legacy, but so could Sly with a better understanding. Webster often outshone Sly with his intelligence, and yet he marveled Slys prowess and athletic ability, and also his morals.
The other boy was Roy, a whale who hadn't hit it off with the other boys due to his clumsiness. He found a friend in Webster, and if asked why they got on, Webster would just say he'd never met a nicer person in the house. It could safely be said that Roy had a big heart, and often protected Webster when he was bullied. He was never seen without his red handkerchief wrapped round his neck, and when he laughed water would spout from a hole in the middle of his head. He and Sly also got on, often listening to Slys jokes and stories and also detailing the adventures told in the Thevious Racoonus. Roy was just happy to have friends at last.
Mr. Edwards had always enjoyed watching the boys get on, yet at lunch, while Webster and Roy would talk to each other, Sly would not utter a single word, instead munching on his food and reading the book. He was doing so now, eating his breakfast contentedly and holding the book on his lap. Sly was soon approached by Miss Dira, who began to scold the boy for reading and not appreciating his food. Mr. Edwards sighed and turned away. He knew the boy would come under fire from Miss Dira, a cat who had only been employed due to her fathers' roots. She had become the 'face' of the orphanage, and not a single person would go near her if they knew her. He pitied the boy as he quickly put the book under the table and continued eating. Edwards knew that time was getting along, and that there was nothing to help the boy. He'd have to let him get on.
Miss Dira continued to eye the three boys over the following days, not allowing them out of her sight and holding them up for every little thing they'd do, be it talking out of turn, being late for lunch…it wasn't like this was the first time it had been a problem. When Webster had been sorting out his experiments before lunch and made sure he was only two minutes late he was still forced to sit in the lunchroom at the end of the day for half an hour and watch Miss Dira eat a rather plain lunch. Sly was never one of her prime targets, but his reading of the racoonus irritated her. It was almost as though she had a sort of aversion to the book, muttering under her breath every time she saw Webster or Roy come to check the book. He did feel that injustice was around him wherever she was as well, and he knew who her prime targets were: the kids who were too young to understand why she would do these things to them, and Roy, who she would maliciously taunt in order to make him cry, and later ask if he'd learnt his lesson. Sly would keep his nose in his book and read of his fathers exploits against those who didn't deserve their wealth while he was hunted down. He was beginning to feel the same way.
One evening, Sly was reading up on his father's journey to the outback when he heard a child cry. Poking his head round the corner, he saw Miss Dira hold out a doll and dangle it out of the Childs reach. The child continued to cry.
"Do you know why I have taken this from you, spiteful little one?" Dira gave a sly smile as the child shook her head. "Good, then I hope you've learnt your lesson. You shall have no supper with us tonight." So saying Dira turned a corner to leave the weeping child. Sly clenched his fist in anger, but he knew that all he could do was walk away. He prayed she wouldn't look their way at supper. As he continued down the hall, Dira grabbed him from behind and gave him an evil sneer. "Now listen, boy, everything you have seen just now is none of your horrible little business. Perhaps you really do have the penchant for being a young vagabond thug like your wretched father." This made a lump rise in Slys throat. He tried not to cry. He knew that word of his fathers thievery had spread through the orphanage. He wished that the orphanage had given him a false second name. He soon found himself flung forward as Dira locked him in a broom cupboard. He waited until she had gone, and quickly unpicked the lock. A few moments later, he had disappeared upstairs once more.
It was midnight, and Sly was fast asleep in his bunk. He awoke with a start as Roy suddenly began to sniff loudly, and Sly looked down to see he was crying. He leaned from his top bunk.
"What's the matter, buddy?" He queried.
"Miss Dira, she's taken Humphrey. He was my only toy after the fire, and I can't sleep without him. He reminds me too much of home…"
"Aww, cheer up Roy. Hey, Webster!" Webster gave a start.
"What is it, moron! By my calculations, it should be one in the morning by now!"
"Yeah, sorry about that…listen, Miss Diras taken Roys Humphrey and we need to get him back, so I was thinking…"
"Yeah," Webster was curious now, and he always knew when Sly had a brainstorm, it was normally a good one.
"How 'bout we act like my folks in this book! We can take it back ourselves, right?"
Webster was now on alert. "Sounds like a plan, Sly. Here's an idea…."
Sly hid behind the line the guys had tied to each side of the doorframe. Roy stood outside the other hallway with the vent shaft leading to Diras room, and Webster admired his work.
"This is great!" He whispered, "With the string down here, Roy'll make the noise on his trumpet, she'll come running out and trip right up on the line."
"But how will we know she'll have Humphrey?"
Webster gave Sly a knowing look. "Look, you know what she's like, right? The most possessive person out there, she's bound to be holding it while she sleeps. I guess she gets her kicks out of possessions and confiscations. Now ready yourselves in 3…2…1…go!"
It all kicked off. Roy blew the trumpet, the loud sound instantly causing the sounds of a scream and movement inside Diras room. She burst out, and with a cat-like screech tumbled over the line. Sure enough, Roy's teddy sprung from her outstretched arms, and he grabbed it and hugged it with all of his might. He did not notice the furious Dira rise up over the three, shoulders hunched and breathing angrily. She slapped Sly out of the way and bounded towards their dorm. Not knowing what was going on, they quickly rushed to see her holding up Slys book, now with a lopsided and wide-eyed expression on her face. She pointed accusingly at the boy.
"I knew you were a trouble-maker right from the start! This book must be some filth that teaches children how to be petchalant and disobedient! I know truly of your family boy, for I too have read this book as you slept. I know of your thieving ways and I shall not let it continue! Damn you and your idiotic friends! Damn this book!" And with a triumphant smile, she ripped the pictured of his father from the books inlay. She began to tear out another page, then another, then another, and Sly could only stand and watch, tears in his eyes. It was at this point that a low hum pervaded the air. Miss Dira stopped as the hum sounded nearer and nearer, closer and closer. And then…Dira fainted as a huge pair of yellow eyes; belonging to an unseen body was seen at the window. The hum continued and the yellow-eyed shadow seemed to begin to scowl, large fingers appearing and pointing to the boys. They simply ran as fast as they could, down the stairs, as the metallic cry grew louder. Sly had no idea what it was he'd just seen, and he didn't want to stay to find out. Webster suddenly pulled Sly into the garden and pointed at the children's buggy that could fit all three of them. They jumped into their new personal buggy, and Roy peddled as fast as his fins could carry him, glancing back to see the yellow eyes casting light on the house. Roy mopped his brow, thankful that his bear was once again by his side. Webster looked up at Sly.
"Well, this is it pal…do you think we'll ever…y'know…"
Sly shook his head. "Not now Webster. Not now or ever. We've decided to be like my dad and…and…" He tried to find the words, but they wouldn't come. The buggy continued to sail into the night, and Roy could swear that a huge, lumbering figure with yellow eyes was plodding away from the house in the direction of the sea….