Chapter 20

The next morning, Flynn decided he needed a job if he was going to support them both. With that goal in mind, he got up early to prepare.

Sleepily, Eugene asked, "What're you doing up this early, Flynn?"

"I'm gonna head for town and see if I can find a job. We have enough food for a day or so, but we have to find a way to support ourselves."

"What can I do to help out, Flynn? I can't expect you to do all the work to support us."

"How about looking for stuff to rebuild our cabin? We can set up a farm. Remember, Mom showed us a little about growing things. Maybe not a real farm. Maybe just grow enough to feed us."

"I can do that. We could maybe have a cow and a few chickens. I can take care of them."

"Great you do that, Eugene. I will see you later. Gonna go see about a job."

A few hours later, Flynn returned jobless. It didn't seem to matter who he had asked, every place he had gone turned him down. He was given multiple reasons, but it all boiled down to no one needing an apprentice, regardless of the reason he was given.

"I failed at the job search today, Eugene. No one wants to take on a new apprentice. Let's see what we can do about getting the cabin fixed up and we can hunt for food as we need it."

A week later, the cabin was repaired and a small garden had been planted. Flynn had gone out every day early in the morning, continuing to look for a job, but was getting more than a little frustrated.

How am I supposed to take care of Eugene if I can't even find a job? Flynn thought to himself. And I can't tell him I still haven't gotten anything. Flynn was on his way back to the cabin, when he was intercepted by a couple of older boys.

"You're Flynn right? Word has it you've been looking for a job." The first boy said.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, Flynn. I have an idea. Rather than fight to get work, why don't you team up with our group? We just take what we need."

"You mean steal? For you? No way. That's dishonest. I have to be an example for my brother."

"Well, if you change your mind, just come and find me."

"Yeah, don't count on it. We can take care of ourselves."

The boys left Flynn and headed back to their hideout, but the idea had been planted. Flynn started thinking of what he could do if he just tried it once or twice just taking enough food and supplies to live on. After another couple of weeks, Flynn was getting desperate. No job or apprenticeship seemed to be available.

Maybe the boys were right, and thievery would be easier. I can just go out on my own. Besides, Flynn thought, Eugene doesn't have to know and even if he did it would be safer for him if he wasn't involved. Maybe I should use an alias. Then if he hears about it, he won't know it's me and nobody could accuse him if somehow someone found out. Hmmm, there was a book we all read back at the orphanage. It was about this guy who goes on all these great adventures. I can be him, Flynn Rider. Eugene will never know.

With that thought, Flynn took off, heading into town. Taking food to feed us wasn't all that bad. Soon, Flynn found he was rather good at stealing. He never stopped trying to find work, and he only stole food when nothing else could be done.

After some time, Flynn decided that it was easier to steal than to continue to look for a job. He started small, some clothes here and there as they outgrew the clothes they had. Slowly working his way up to stealing things he could sell for money, he then used that money to buy things for his brother.

The twins went on this way for years, and before they knew it they were 18. Not long after their 18th birthday, Flynn was approached by another set of twin brothers, who wanted Flynn to join them in more lucrative thefts. Flynn couldn't deny that the thought of having accomplices to help in the thefts sounded good. But in the end instead of agreeing, Flynn put them off. He had heard rumors that they weren't just common thieves. The brothers were ruthless in all aspects of their lives. Flynn had even heard that they had murdered someone who they suspected had turned on them.

After the confrontation with the other twins, Flynn decided to tell Eugene what he had been doing to support them for the last few years. It wasn't a conversation he wanted to have but knew it was important to warn Eugene that he could be approached by the other thieves. That night after dinner, Flynn broached the subject.

"Eugene, I think we need to talk. I have something I have to tell you."

"What is it, Flynn? You know you can tell me anything."

"Umm, you remember how hard I looked for a job when we first got here? I never did find one."

"You never found a job? But you go to work every day."

"I gave up looking for a job. For the last few years, I have been stealing. I don't use my real name. Everyone calls me Flynn, but they know me as Flynn Rider. You know, like the guy in those books we used to read. The one who went on all those grand adventures."

"I remember, but stealing, Flynn? Really? Didn't Mom teach us better than that?"

"Yeah but I couldn't let you starve. We had to eat. It started small. I used to just take enough food to eat when I couldn't find any animals to hunt or other berries and stuff. When we started to outgrow our clothes, I started taking people's clothes off the clotheslines. Eventually, I started stealing stuff and selling it for money to buy stuff for us."

"Ok, but can you just get a job or something now? Do you have to keep stealing? I don't like the idea of you being a criminal."

"I can try, but I will keep stealing if I have to so you don't go hungry. Deal?"

"Deal."

"There is something else though. Today while I was out, a couple of other thieves came up and tried to get me to join them in stealing bigger stuff. I told them no, but they didn't seem like the type to take no for an answer. I figure they will keep trying to make me join up with them. I don't think they know I have a brother. I was careful not to let anyone know that. I wanted to protect you. Mom would have wanted me to."

"So what, I have to watch out for some unscrupulous thieves that want to make you to help them steal bigger stuff?"

"Yeah, if they see you, they may think you're me. So be ready for that."

"Ok, I can do that, Flynn."

After the talk with his brother, Flynn felt a little better. Eugene hadn't stopped looking up to him just because he had had to resort to stealing to survive since they had left the orphanage. Flynn did keep stealing, but made sure he avoided other thieves as much as possible.

Now that Eugene knew he was a thief, he didn't have to hide it from him any longer. Instead, the twins became closer than ever. Now they just had to figure out how to keep everybody from knowing he had a brother. Not because of shame, but because for others to know, could jeopardize Eugene's safety – which was something he flatly refused to do.