"Where's Phillip?" Barnum asked as he walked into the ring the next morning to catch up on the rehearsal that he missed the day before. He explained that he and Phillip both had to learn the newest steps.
"He didn't tell you?" Lettie questioned.
"Tell me what?"
Everything was quiet for a while. Barnum looked around in confusion waiting for someone to tell him why his apprentice was not in rehearsal. Anne sighed and glanced at the ringmaster.
"Phillip's parents kicked him out yesterday." She said. "He's trying to figure things out right now."
"What? Why did no one tell me this? Where is he right now?" Phineas didn't know what to feel.
"Billy's b&b. It's the cheapest." Anne said. Phineas nodded a little. Told the group to keep rehearsing. Then he went out, found a horse carriage and told the driver to go to Billy's. When he arrived, he told the driver to wait for him and then he walked inside.
"I'm searching for Phillip Carlyle." He said to the receptionist.
"Mr. Carlyle has asked to not be disturbed." She smiled kindly. Phineas looked at her. Told her to give him Phillip's room number. Said that he'd tip her well. Knowing the quality of Billy's b&b, Phineas knew that this trick would work, which it did, so she told him the number and he tipped her.
"Phillip?" Phineas knocked on the door. "Phillip. It's P.T. Let me in, Phillip. I just wanna talk."
Silence filled the air for so long that Phineas didn't think he was going to open at all. But then it happened. The door knob was twisted and Phillip's body was visible in the frame. His head was hug low. His blue eyes slowly meeting his mentor's.
"My god, Phillip. Your face!" Barnum exclaimed and brushed his thumb over the bruise covering Phillip's cheek bone. The poor boy was trembling under his touch. Barnum quickly invited himself inside the room, allowing Phillip to close the door.
"Did he did this to you, Phillip? Did he beat you?" Barnum asked and took a seat on the bed. Phillip shook his head frantically.
"No. No. I slipped! I slipped, I swear!" Phillip said, looking at Barnum.
"Phillip, you're shaking! You didn't just slip! You're hurt!"
Phillip looked at the ground again.
"Anne told me," Phineas said softly. "Come here, Phillip. Let me see."
Phillip hesitantly walked to his mentor. Phineas took his face between his hands and gently examined the bruise and the area around it.
"Have you seen double or had any headaches?" Phineas asked.
"A little headache yesterday but it wasn't bad."
Phineas nodded and asked Phillip to tell him what happened. Phillip started shaking at that. He spoke shakily. Was tearing up. He told Barnum about his fight with his father but only getting to the punch before being too choked up in tears. Phineas stood up and wrapped his arms around his apprentice. Phillip cried in his shoulder and Barnum massaged his scalp.
"I think you should come home with me, my sweet boy." Phineas whispered and Phillip nodded slowly.