AN: Quick note. Remember in the last story when Leonard told Alvin things would get ugly if he told anyone and Alvin got beaten anyway? Well in this story, Leonard does the same thing. This time I told you where he went.


As the late afternoon hours approached, the storm finally began to subside. Drops of rain continued to fall to the ground, but it wasn't as severe as before.

Dave quietly entered the boys' room, holding a small pill and a glass of water. He walked over to Alvin's bed.

"Alvin?" Dave called quietly.

Alvin stirred a little, but his eyes stayed closed.

Dave placed the pill and glass of water on the nightstand. "Alvin? Come on, buddy. Wake up for a minute" he said quietly, giving Alvin a gentle shake.

Alvin stirred again, followed by a small moan, but he didn't wake.

Dave tried again. Finally, Alvin's eyes fluttered open, though they weren't open too wide.

"Alvin?" Dave said softly.

Alvin lifted his droopy eyelids, finding Dave standing over him.

"Are you OK?" Dave asked quietly as he took a seat on the bed.

Alvin slowly sat up. "My head hurts" he moaned.

"I figured it would. But this should help" Dave said as he handed Alvin the pill and glass of water.

Alvin placed the pill in his mouth and drank the water behind it.

"That should kick in pretty soon" Dave said.

Alvin had a concerned look on his face.

"Are you sure you're OK?" Dave asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine" said Alvin.

"Alvin, I know you better than that. What's going on?" Dave said. His voice was gentle.

"I can't tell you" said Alvin. Tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Why not?" Dave asked.

"I just can't" Alvin said. His voice shook as he spoke.

"Alvin, what did I tell you when you were in the hospital?" Dave asked gently.

"I know but..." Alvin stopped. Tears flowed down his face.

"Alvin, please. You have to tell me" Dave said gently.

Alvin remained silent.

Dave sighed. He didn't want to force Alvin to talk about it. "Why don't you go back to sleep, OK?" he said.

Alvin lied down and cried himself to sleep soon afterward.


Alvin woke up early that evening. His room was empty. Where was everyone? He found a note on the nightstand. It was from Dave.

Hey Alvin,

Simon, Theodore, and I went to the store. We should be back in about 45 minutes.

Miss Miller is on her way to watch you while we're gone. Go to her if you need anything, OK?

I love you,

Dave.

Alvin climbed out of bed and started making his way out of his room. When he opened the door, he found Leonard standing on the other side.

"Hello, Alvin" Leonard said.

Alvin just stood there. He was too scared to say anything.

"I heard you talking to your father a few hours ago. What did you tell him?" said Leonard.

"I...uh" Alvin hesitated.

"Alvin, what did you tell your father?" Leonard asked again.

"N-nothing" Alvin said in a shaky voice.

Leonard slowly approached Alvin, causing the child to back up.

"Are you lying to me?" Leonard asked angrily.

"No, I swear" Alvin said, his voice still shaking.

A fist jabbed Alvin in the stomach, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Tell me the truth, you little ingrate! What did you tell your father?!" Leonard said angrily.

"I didn't tell him anything, I swear!" Alvin cried out. Tears flowed down his face continually.

"I'll teach you to lie to me!" Leonard grabbed Alvin by the collar of his pajamas.

"LET GO OF ME!" Alvin cried as he tried to get free.

"WHAT DID YOU TELL YOUR FATHER?!" Leonard yelled.

"I didn't tell him anything!" Alvin said through sobs.

Leonard still didn't listen. He threw Alvin to the floor and gave him a hard kick in the stomach.

Alvin cried out in pain.


Miss Miller pulled into the driveway of Dave's house. She walked up to Dave's front door. Miss Miller had her own key, but she knocked first just to let Alvin know that she was here.

"Alvin? Alvin, I'm here" Miss Miller said.

But Alvin could not hear her. Not only was she muffled, but he was lying unconscious on his bedroom floor. Where was Leonard? Well after beating Alvin until the child bled, he left for the liquor store to get more beer.

After knocking at least three times, Miss Miller used her key to get in.

"Alvin? Is everything all right?" she asked out loud as she placed her keys back in her purse.

Still no answer.

Miss Miller then made her way upstairs and to the boys' room. The door was closed. When Miss Miller opened the door, she saw something horrifying. Alvin was lying on his stomach unconscious. He wasn't breathing well and there were serious wonuds on his forehead and chin. Blood flowed from each one.

Miss Miller dropped her purse and ran over to the child. She shook him to wake him up.

There was no movement.

Miss Miller tried again while calling his name.

Still no movement.

Miss Miller picked up the phone and quickly dialed 9-1-1.


Dave, Simon, and Theodore pulled up to the house, only to find an ambulance in front of it.

"Dave, what happened?" Simon asked.

"I don't know, but we're going to find out" Dave said as he pulled into the driveway.

They walked into the house with the groceries, finding Alvin on the living room floor and being treated by paramedics.

Dave dropped the bags he was holding and ran over to his son. "What happened?" he asked.

"Who are you?" the paramedic asked.

"I'm his father" said Dave.

"A Miss Zelda Miller called us and said Alvin was found on his bedroom floor like this. We have no idea how he got like this, but if we don't get him to the hospital soon, there's not going to be much to do" said the paramedic.

Dave turned to Miss Miller. He walked up to her. "What happened?" he asked.

"I don't know. I went upstairs to check on Alvin and found him like this" said Miss Miller.

"Well, do you know who did this?" Dave asked.

"I haven't the slightest idea" said Miss Miller.

Then it hit Dave. "I think I do" he said. He waited until Alvin was carried out into the ambulance.

"Miss Miller, is it possible you can watch the house for me again?" Dave asked.

"No problem. I'll put your groceries away for you" Miss Miller said.

"Thanks. Simon, Theodore, give the groceries to Miss Miller and hop in the car" said Dave.

"Where are we going?" Theodore asked.

"We're going to the hospital, let's go" said Dave.

Simon and Theodore looked at each other. Then handed the groceries to Miss Miller and followed Dave.