Chapter 9

Jeff walked a long time. He finally stopped and sighed, he was hungry and tired. He looked around and saw that he was approaching a church. He suddenly thought of all the times his parents had brought him to church. He hadn't been back since the funeral. He stared up at the tall steeple and tears filled his eyes, "Dear God, if you can hear me, please keep him safe and help me get back to him," he prayed silently as a tear slid down his cheek. He took a shaky breath and thought, "Amen."

He wiped his eyes and looked ahead as a dark haired boy in a red and white shirt approached from the opposite direction and sat down on the steps of the church. He looked a little younger than Jeff and began rummaging in a backpack. Jeff's thoughts strayed to Sam Clemens and how he'd helped Jeff free Harriet Tubman. Maybe this kid could help him too. After all, he lived in this city. Jeff approached him.

"Hi," he said, "what'cha got in there?"

The boy looked up and answered, "just stuff."

Well, he wasn't as friendly as Sam, but right now he was all Jeff had. As Jeff tried to think of what to say, it suddenly hit him.

"They thought I was you!" he exclaimed.

"Huh?"

"Look at our shirts, and I practically told them I was alone." Jeff said.

The boy looked around nervously, "you with the police?" he asked.

"I just escaped from them, I've got big trouble. They thought I was you so they brought me to the station, but I've gotta get to the hospital."

"I was headed to the hospital too, but now I'm not so sure," the boy said.

Jeff paused, "I'm Jeffrey, what's your name?"

"Tom," the boy answered.

"You ran away from the County Home didn't you?" When the boy nodded, Jeff continued, "it must be a terrible place."

"No it's not," said the boy in a surprised tone, "it's been my home for almost 3 years."

"Then why'd you run away?" Jeff asked.

Tom looked at the ground and didn't answer.

"Was someone mean to you?" Jeff asked.

Tom shook his head, "I'm an orphan, it's complicated, you wouldn't understand."

"I'm an orphan too. My parents died almost 2 years ago. How about you?"

Tom looked at him in disbelief, maybe this was someone who could understand. "Three years ago."

Jeff sat in silence for several moments, then asked, "so what made you run away now?"

"Dan wants to adopt me," the boy said simply.

"Is he a bad guy? Don't you like him?" Jeff asked, maybe they were supposed to protect this kid from this Dan person.

"Oh no, he's great. We do everything together. He takes me home almost every weekend and sometimes over school vacations, too."

"And he wants to adopt you?"

Tom nodded.

"Why is that bad?" Jeff asked in confusion.

"I have parents!" Tom shouted, "it wouldn't be fair to them." He wiped a tear from his eye as he spoke.

"Do you think they would want you to live in the County Home the rest of your childhood? Or on the streets? I can tell you right now that if they loved you, they wouldn't want that. You have someone who you like, who cares about you, is a good person and wants to adopt you. This is a no brainer Tom! Your parents would want this for you!"

"You don't understand!" Tom shouted and stood up crying, "so just get out of here!"

"I understand exactly," Jeff yelled back, "because I'm doing the same thing!"

They stood staring at each other, anger and tears on their faces. They stood together as though they were the only people on earth, in the middle of the sidewalk in front of the church. There was a long silence.

"What do you mean, you're doing the same thing?" Tom finally asked.

Jeff looked at him and started telling him about his life, altering the details to hide the time travel. Tom was a good listener, and they both sat back down as the story unfolded.

"You have no business giving me advice, when you're making the same mistakes I am," Tom scolded him. "Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore, I decided not to go to the hospital."

"But isn't that where Dan is?" Jeff asked.

"He won't feel the same, not after what I did," Tom said miserably.

Jeff paused, "just so I'm clear, tell me just exactly what you think you did?" Jeff asked.

"I ran away as soon as they told me Dan had filed the adoption papers," Tom explained.

"And?" Jeff asked.

"That's it."

"You think he wouldn't want you because of that?" Jeff asked incredulously. Tom was silent, so Jeff continued, "listen, I don't know Dan, but if he's anything like Bogg, he'd be worried sick about you right now. And it wouldn't change his feelings at all." Jeff felt a pang of guilt as he finished, he had to find Bogg, this was taking up valuable time. "Listen, you know this area, which hospital would they take Bogg to?"

"Is he poor?" Tom asked, Jeff nodded, "then it would be St. Mary's, that's where Dan works."

"Can you take me there?" Jeff asked desperately.

Tom nodded, "I'll help you, you hungry?"

"Starved," Jeff answered, "but I can't stop to eat."

Tom opened his pack and took out two candy bars, "we can eat while we walk," he said and pointed to the left, down a side street, "that's a short cut."

The hospital was only 2 blocks away, and as they approached it they saw two police cars, one moving slowly down the street and one parked. Jeff sighed sadly, how was he supposed to get inside? "Do you have any other clothes in there?" he asked, pointing to the backpack.

Ten minutes later, Jeff was dressed in a blue shirt that was a bit tight on him. He turned to Tom, "look, if you get caught here, you can say you were coming to see Dan, right?"

"You really think he'd want to see me?" Tom asked.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Now since we're both here, you can you do me a big favor."

They talked briefly and the plan was set. Tom would wear Jeff's shirt and run past the officers, drawing them away, then Jeff would be free to enter the emergency room.

"Thanks a lot," Jeff said as Tom walked away.

Tom turned and walked backward as he answered "good luck, I hope you find him." Then he was gone and Jeff watched as the officers called to him and gave chase.

Jeff forced himself to walk casually across the street and entered the hospital so as not to draw attention to himself. Once inside, he stopped to let his eyes adjust to the change in light. As soon as he could see, he started to run forward.