"Look at him Jay, remember how we was when we got thrown out of mum and dads, he's just a kid, probably wont survive out there much longer." Vince pleaded with his brother who was unhappy about taking the boy back to their hideout.
"I know what you are saying but we can hardly take care of ourselves never mind him aswell, we could take him to the police station or the hospital, he will have some family somewhere, they are probably looking for him right now." Jay argued back looking at Harry who was asleep on the couch in the derelict house where they called home. He didn't want to admit it to his brother but he agreed with him, there had to reason somebody so young was out on the streets and if they did turn him away there was a high chance he would starve or freeze to death.
Sighing he made up his mind. "Go to the shop get him some water and something to eat, when he wakes we will quiz him on where he came from." It was the bloodied clothes that swayed Jay, without any visible signs or injury on his face and arms he came to the conclusion the blood must have belonged to somebody else, his parents maybe. On the way back to the house after managing to convince the boy they wouldn't cause him any harm the boy remained in a semi catatonic state where he refused to look up at them or speak a word.
Lost in his thoughts he was brought back to reality when the front door of the house slammed shut as his brother had left in search of some food for the lad. Deciding to let him sleep Jay left Harry and went into the back room to assess their dwindling finances, the pawn shop would need to be hit in the next few days or they would all start to go hungry.
Vince sat watching the boy sleep, he had been out going on for 12 hours now and he figured he would awake any time soon. As if on que the boy started to stir, Vince watched as his eyes fluttered and slowly started to open, Vince was taken aback by the mesmerizing emerald green eyes that greeted him, it was the first time he had looked at him face to face. "Hey kid" Vince whispered.
Harry bolted not remembering his surroundings and seeing a face watching him in the badly lit room.
"Don't worry your safe here." Vince said softly realising the boy was scared. "Here I brought you some food and something to drink." continued Vince holding out the heat sealed chicken sandwich and a pint of milk.
Harry eyed the sandwich wearily not trusting the kindness of others, reaching out slowly he half expected the food to be ripped away from him before being laughed at and called names. Surprisingly for Harry that never happened, setting the milk down at the side of his he tried opening the sandwich only to find out he didn't have the strength to remove the protective film.
"Let me help you out with that." Vince said soothingly mentally kicking himself for not having expected as much, taking the packet back he removed the film and passed it back to Harry who grabbed half of the sandwich and greedily took as big a bite as he could.
Barely chewing Harry swallowed the big bite, moments later he realised it was a bad idea as he started to heave. Having not eaten in so long his body was rejecting the food intake and was doing its best to get it back up again.
Vince had been ready for this and grabbing the bucket he had put at the foot of the couch he handed it to Harry who seconds later threw up the food and started dry heaving. Vince watched in silence, anger was brewing inside him, he wanted to find out who had caused the child to be this way and he wanted to make them pay. Taking the bottle of milk he removed the lid as Harry started to calm and pulling his head of from inside the bucket. Tears streamed down from his face and sick stuck to his chin.
Harry looked up expecting to find the strange man who had been kind to him and given him the sandwich to be angry with him but instead he saw sympathy and sorrow in his face.
"Here drink this." Vince said handing the bottle of milk over. "Take it slow, just take sips and let it settle in your stomach, it will make you feel better."
Harry did as was instructed, taking small sips at first the milk soothed his hoarse throat, little by little he started drinking faster and faster until the bottle was empty. The thick texture of the liquid and the speed he had drank it made his stomach feel full. With a little encouragement from Vince, or was it Jay? He managed to eat the sandwich as well before he was hit by fatigue.
Vince noticed the yawn, happy the boy had eaten something he decided sleep was probably the best thing for the boy. "Its okay, put your head down ill make sure nothing happens to you." As the boy settled back down and shut his eyes Vince felt the urge to ask "What's you name kid?"
"Harry" was the reply before the the boy drifted off to sleep again. Vince smiled having felt he had reached a milestone, he now knew the boys name and had got his to say something. Standing up quietly he went to find his brother and tell him the good news.
