Here's chapter 10!!! I hope you've liked the story so far, there are only 6 chapters left so yippee!!!!! Disclamer: I don't own anything.

CHAPTER 10 Mr. Myrtle and Mrs. Spice

"How'd it go?" Ham asked as they sat down in the tree house.

"Perfect." Bo grinned. "My Dad fell for it again! The policemen thought he was crazy!"

"Same with my Dad." Benny grinned, but returned to his straight face quickly, "But my Mom told me that she's going to work every day now. To help pay the bills since my Dad got fired."

Everyone looked at him in sorrow.

"So what are we going to do to stop this?" Smalls asked.

Bo shook her head.
"You're going to do nothing about my situation." She replied.

"Why not?" Ham demanded.
"Because I like it here." Bo explained somberly, "And if I get taken away from my Dad, then I'll have to leave and go live with some people I don't know."

"But we can't just let you get beat all the time!" Kenny objected.

"Be reasonable, Bo!" Benny said shocked.

"I can fair fine." She argued, "I've lived with this all my life now. I know how to avoid getting seriously hurt and it's not a big deal."

"Child abuse is a big deal!" Tommy replied.

"A really big deal!" Timmy agreed.

She just shook her head no.

"What about you, Benny?" Smalls asked. "What can we do to help you?"

"Nothing." Benny told them, sighing. "If my Dad gets taken away then I'll probably be sent away too."

"But your mom!" Squints said shocked.

"My mom is working full time now," Benny explained. "She won't be able to take care of me."

The team sat in silence for a minute thinking of ways to help.

"I know!" Yeah-Yeah suddenly exclaimed. "Mr. Myrtle and Mrs. Spice!"

"What?" everyone asked at once in confusion.

"We tell the police that you two are being abused and suggest that Mr. Myrtle could take Benny and Mrs. Spice could take Bo!"

"But there old." Squints said uncertainly, "Don't they put foster kids into homes with young people?"

"Not all the time." Bo announced. "I did research on it once when I thought about telling the police. If there is anyone in the town or city who would give the child a home, whether they are young or old, and the child agrees then they can live with that person!"

"But how can we get Mrs. Spice and Mr. Myrtle to agree?" Smalls asked.

"Mr. Myrtle will take Benny." Kenny replied, grinning, "He likes him like a son."

"Bo," Tommy asked, "Have you ever met Mrs. Spice?"

"Yeah, have you?" Timmy repeated.

Bo nodded. "We got along real well when I met her in Vincent's Drugstore and I helped her at home for a little money."

"Let's go talk to them right now!" Ham exclaimed.

Everyone agreed and they all hurried out of the tree house and across the sandlot to Mr. Myrtle's house.

A large dog barked and ran up to them as they walked through the back yard.

"Hey Hercules." Smalls said, patting the dog on the head.

"That's a big dog!" Bo exclaimed.

"We'll tell you the story later." Benny said quickly as they walked onto the back porch. "Mr. Myrtle! He called as he banged on the door.

An old black man wearing dark glasses opened the door and smiled.

"Hello Benny, everyone." He greeted.

"Mr. Myrtle," Ham said quickly, "We have something to ask you."

"In a minute." The old man replied, "Would you like to introduce me to your girlfriend, Benny?"

"She's not my girlfriend!" Benny blushed, "Mr. Myrtle this is Beauregard Evans."

"Hi." Bo said shyly.

Mr. Myrtle nodded in the direction of her voice and asked, "What's so important?"

"We don't want to be overheard." Kenny told him.

"Come on in." he said, walking back inside.

In less then five minutes, they had filled Mr. Myrtle in on everything.

"Are you sure your mother wouldn't be able to care for you, Benny?" Mr. Myrtle asked.

"I'm sure, Mr. Myrtle." Benny replied, "She barely makes enough now to keep us with food. After a couple of months or so she might be able to make enough, but for now she doesn't."

"I'll do it." Mr. Myrtle wasted no time in saying. "I can't believe someone could do such a thing to someone as nice as you Benny."

"Thanks Mr. Myrtle!" they all exclaimed.

"We need to go." Smalls announced.

"Just tell me when you need me again." Mr. Myrtle said as they left.

After their meeting with Mr. Myrtle, the gang ran straight to Mrs. Spice. They were in luck as she opened the door at there second knock.

"Beauregard?" she said in surprise. "What are you doing here? Benjamin!" she added seeing Benny, "I have never seen so many young boys at my door. Minus you of course Bo."

"Mrs. Spice," Bo said seriously, "May we talk to you about something, something important?"

"Of course dear," Mrs. Spice said, looking at her strangely, "Come in! Come in!"

They all filed into her living room and sat down. Bo told the kindly old woman her dilemma. By the end of the story, Mrs. Spice was furious.

"I can't believe that you had to go through all that, Beauregard!" she fumed, grabbing Bo into a tight hug, "Why, if I had just known I would have helped you in every way I could! Certainly I will take you in as soon as you tell the police."

"Thanks Mrs. Spice!" Bo smiled, hugging the woman back.

"Come now!" Mrs. Spice ordered, standing, "Let's go get Mr. Myrtle and go tell the police this instant!"

She didn't wait for any arguments; she grasped Bo's and Benny's arms and dragged them out of her house. The rest of the gang followed, chuckling in spite of themselves at there friends being dragged by an older woman with gray hair.

In no time, they had picked Mr. Myrtle up and headed to the police station.

"Should we tell my mom first?" Benny asked.

Mr. Myrtle's hand was on his shoulder as Benny led him to the police station.
"There's no time!" Mrs. Spice replied, "She'll learn soon enough."

Benny looked upset, but he followed everyone none the less. It took less then ten minutes to reach the police station.