Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz! Bz–click

Henry jolted awake and sat up. He looked around, but no alarm sat beside him. Instead, Howie pulled his arm back after patting the box-shaped alarm on his bedside table. He sat up and, stifling a yawn, looked at Henry. "Hhhh…. Oh! Mornin'," Howie pushed himself out of bed and made his way to his closet.

Henry slipped out of bed and approached his closet. He pouted upon seeing that not one pair of clothes were his size. Even his pajamas needed to be pulled up on occasion to keep from falling down or the hem of the pants leg being stepped on. He brought down the black and white shirt and… jeans? They weren't as long as jeans, but not as short as shorts. Capris? Well, on him they were plenty long.

Henry picked up his plain black and white tennis shoes and waited, watching the door to the bathroom. Howie's dark brown top hat hung on one of two hooks attached to the door.

Henry let out a little hum and pulled his backpack out from under his bed. He shuffled through it and brought out the bedazzled mirror-brush. None of the previous owner's long black hair was trapped within the bristles, and the surface was still very clean and shiny. He slowly turned it over, looking at himself and his surroundings in the mirror. He got a sense of… satisfaction looking into one of his most prized possessions. Right next to his Gameboy, the mirror had been his hardest catch. In fact, he'd nearly gotten seen and then he would've had the stuffing beaten out of him. But man was it worth it!

He heard the bathroom door click. A bolt of nervousness shot through Henry and he put the mirror back in his backpack and stuffed it under the bed. Howie didn't pay Henry much heed as he traveled back to his closet. Henry took his place in the bathroom.

"Hey, Henry?" Howie asked as Henry stepped back into the bedroom.

"Huh?"

"So, breakfast is in a few minutes," Howie explained. "Ah usually go by maself, now, but if ya wanna come with that's cool! But, uh, Ah think whoever adopted ya will pick ya up? Was that Reginald?"

"Dad Reginald!" Henry agreed cheerily.

Howie chuckled. "Ah like the way ya think, little Henry. Alright, Ah'll wait here 'til we gotta leave. Hey, you didn't bring much back with ya, huh?"

Henry shook his head.

"Ah, gotcha. Well, Ah earned maself a few trinkets. Ah can teach ya how, too."

Henry perked up.

"Oh, yeah. It'll be a piece a' cake. The adults 'round here can be a little, uh, stern if ya start beggin'. But talk ta the right ones the right way and you'll weasel anything out of 'em. But mostly, ya should earn yer keep. That's not ta mention the adults on the ground who'll just trip over themselves gettin' ya anythin' ya want if ya ask the right way." Howie put on his top hat and stood at the door, grinning. "What'd'ya say? Next time we go out, Ah'll teach ya how to charm or weasel the wallet outta anyone. In return, we share some a' the profit."

Henry grinned and gave him a firm nod and thumbs up.

Knock-knock-knock!

Howie pressed a button. The doors hissed as they opened, revealing Dad Reginald and Uncle Right. Dad Reginald acknowledged Howie's existence. "Good morning, you two! Come along, now, breakfast starts at eight."

Henry marched after them, shoulders squared and head up. He tripped over himself a few times and he occasionally had to readjust his clothes. It wasn't too bad, but the pants didn't fit him well and the sleeves of his shirt had to be rolled up at the cuffs.

"We will need to get you some new clothes," Dad Reginald decided. "How do those shoes fit?"

"Good!" Henry hopped on both feet a few times as they walked, snapping his ankles up to show off the shoes beneath the pants.

"Well that's good!" Dad Reginald announced. "Now, Henry, our meals are called by table. When you go up to get food, only take what you can eat, and be respectful of when you take your food."

Henry listen with rapt attention as Dad Reginald spoke, teaching him about the cafeteria system in the airship and the manners associated with it, none of which he'd ever heard. Well, he had heard that you weren't supposed to eat with your hands, you were supposed to use forks and spoons and stuff. But there were some foods that you didn't need utensils for. They were going to go out and later Howie would teach him some cool tricks! Maybe Dad Reginald and Uncle Right would as well.

Howie left to find someone else when they got to the cafeteria, but that didn't mean Henry was low on attention. As soon they arrived at their table, Henry felt so many eyes on him.

"Aw," a woman with florescent violet hair cooed. "You must be our newest recruit, Henry!"

Henry quietly nodded and looked at her.

"I'm Matilda." She brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear, tucking it beneath her purple top hat. "You are just the cutest. How much longer until you take this ship, huh?"

A man near her, a dark-haired man with a plain black top hat and a weirdly charismatic smile, chuckled, "Oh I think I might need to wait a little longer to worry about competition. You came in late last night, Henry! Tsh, I hardly even saw you, Reginald! Why didn't you show me your mission success?"

"Apologies, Chief," Dad Reginald chuckled. "Henry was pretty tired."

"Aw, I bet. Are you taking the day to get him settled in? Show him the ropes?"

"Oh, yes, yes, of course," Reginald answered. "In fact, Henry, I've got a guest's card you can use until we're able to get your very own."

"Don't worry," said the chief, "–you won't need to wait for long. We do things quick and easy."

"Yes," Reginald agreed. "Quite."

Henry looked between the two, puzzled. He didn't have to stay confused for long before another voice caught his attention. "Eleven, right? Where are you starting? Begging?"

Dad Reginald clicked his tongue, "Wallace, we don't beg. Henry is a sophisticated young boy. He's got some potential in pickpocketing already. As well as lockpicking. If his story about booting his scooter was true."

Henry nodded in confirmation.

"Table Three!" a voice called loud and clear. The third table in, two away from the one in which they sat, emptied as people got up and made their way toward an open wall, where a buffet was set out not too unlike the one at school.

Henry looked up at Dad Reginald, eyebrows furrowed.

"It's random," Dad Reginald explained. "Every day a different table goes first. But we all have time to eat."

Henry nodded and watched as the people slowly filtered back, plates laden with food. He could smell eggs and bacon and potatoes.

Matilda said, "You have such cute hair. I'd bet with a good brushing you'd look like the perfect little gentleman!"

This caught Henry's attention. He looked back at her and then away and mumbled, "Okay."

There wasn't much time for questions before the voice announced, "Table One!"

Henry looked around as people down the table got to their feet. He stuck close to Dad Reginald's side as they approached the bar.

Okay, now he hadn't seen so much food in his life. Whatever was in that refrigerator was dwarfed by the spread laid out before them. Henry gave himself a generous portion of scrambled eggs but stopped upon seeing the pancakes. Pancakes. There were so many of them! And they were fluffy and golden brown and looked so good!

Henry only stopped when Dad Reginald said, "Only take as much as you need, Henry. Too much food isn't good."

"Okay." Instead of grabbing more food, Henry drowned his pancakes and some of his eggs in syrup, took a glass of orange juice, and followed Dad Reginald with a skip in his step.

Henry got a lanyard after breakfast with a keycard clipped to it. Although he wasn't supposed to wear it outside of the ship, instead keeping it in his pocket, when something was wrapped around one's neck it was harder to lose. Though, in Henry's humble opinion, necklaces weren't good. Someone could grab him by the necklace and choke him out! What would happen then? Well, Dad Reginald wore that really shiny bedazzled bling, so he probably wasn't scared of it. So maybe Henry shouldn't be, either.

Their first stop, Dad Reginald claimed, was going to be a clothing store. Howie didn't come with them. Maybe next time? Well, whatever. It was just him, Dad Reginald, and Uncle Right. That was okay with him.

Their pod landed in the scrubby wilderness, close to a shiny red car like the one they had taken yesterday.

This new city in the desert, the big city and not the outskirts like where the orphanage was, was busy and hot. Henry very quickly got bored searching for clothes and trying them on. But, when he admitted this to Dad Reginald, he got a "This is important, Henry! We can't have you walking in clothes too big for yourself." That still didn't make Henry any less bored.

As they stood in line to finally purchase the clothes they needed and finish this part of their trip, Henry's eyes fell on the lady behind him. Rather, her hand. She held onto a basket with one hand, and a sparkly purse with another. His eyes went round. Whoa… sequins were pretty cheap, but they were so shiny. They glimmered like gemstones when the light hit them just right, and they were arranged in an overly fanciful design. He'd never been so bold as to take something so big. After all, Henry could fit his pretty mirror, Gameboy, and then a few more things in it. But look at that!

He glanced up at Dad Reginald as they started swiping items across the scanner. Uncle Right, however, was not as much paying attention to the clothes as he was Henry. Henry looked back at the clothes, nonchalantly throwing another glance beside himself at Uncle Right. He knew he'd get in trouble if he made a scene. Ooooh but that bag… he needed it. That was that, he'd never had something so pretty and shiny with him. Even when he looked away, it nagged at the back of his mind. He could do it, he could. Even with Uncle Right watching him, he could do it.

But just as they were leaving and Henry started to pass the woman, he heard, "Oi, kid." Henry stopped and looked up at Uncle Right. "Time and place."

Henry frowned at him. Of course this was the time and the place! The lady was distracted! She'd never even notice it was gone until it was too late. He looked back at the lady, but she had her attention on Henry, now. She made a soft cooing noise at him and then turned to the cashier, hoisting her purse up and setting it on the counter, out of reach forever. He shot a dark look at Uncle Right, but then turned ahead. He could've gotten it.

Before they left, Henry was encouraged to change into one of the new outfits–similar to one he wore before being black with white sleeves and fitted jeans.

Dad Reginald said, "Now, Henry. There is a time and place for everything. Remember the repercussions of your actions. That woman was going to be using that purse before we left. No matter how sly you were, she would have caught onto you."

"I could've!" Henry burst out. If Uncle Right hadn't given him away.

"Right Hand Man was doing you a favor," Dad Reginald chided. "Now, we will see about those skills of yours. Henry, you have a good base, but your technique could use some work."

Finally! Henry listened to every word Dad Reginald told him. Throughout the day as they walked, Dad Reginald would pick out targets. When Henry completed his mission, Dad Reginald would critique him, telling him what he did right and what he did wrong. Eventually, Henry picked out a few targets of his own. Henry very quickly learned he had to be particularly good at improvisation, as Dad Reginald called it. After all, people didn't like discovering someone was trying to steal from them. So being able to make up a story on the spot was almost as valuable as being able to run. But not every plan went off smoothly.

Henry screamed as the man whom he'd snuck up on spun around and grabbed him by the wrist. "What do you think you're doing?" the man roared.

Henry struggled in the man's grasp, but that only made the man's fingers tighten. Henry looked around, but no one approached. There were plenty of people, and all eyes were on them. But just like any like-minded crowd behaved, no one moved to help or hinder. The man shook Henry's arm to grab his attention. "What do you think you're doing?"

Henry whimpered and tried vainly to pull back the man's fingers.

"Oh, no, you little thief," the man hissed and yanked Henry up so he was standing up straight. "I'm taking you straight to the police!"

Think fast, Henry! Henry dug his heels into the ground and screamed. Ehhh, what was the word? What was the word? "Kidnap!" That was the word!

Suddenly, the crowd was moving. A young woman took Henry by the arm and smacked the man's hand away while another man dragged Henry's would-be victim off. "You let go of this poor boy!"

Henry wailed, summoning big, fresh crocodile tears, and holding onto her skirt for dear life. He whined to the lady, showing off his wrist, which was starting to show signs of bruising.

"What? No!" the man who captured Henry complained. "He was stealing from me! I-I wasn't kidnapping him!"

"Liar!" "Someone call the police, already!" "Don't move!"

"Henry, boy!" Dad Reginald called, he and Uncle Right searching the crowd as they speedily approached.

Henry raced away from the woman and tackled Dad Reginald and pointed at the man that nearly caught him.

The man crossed, "Learn to control your child! The little brat tried stealing from me!"

"How dare you!" Dad Reginald gasped. "My boy would never do something so undignified and barbaric as petty theft!"

"Yeah," the lady who saved Henry said. "He's just a little kid!"

The lady's husband agreed, "You're just a creep trying to kidnap this kid. Don't let him get away!"

Henry's would-be victim's eyes widened, and he tried to flee. He was promptly tackled by two people.

"No, no," Dad Reginald said. "I think our little boy just needs to sit home for a little while. We aren't going to stoop to his level. Just keep an eye out for your own children around this man."

"If you're sure, sir," the lady said. "I'm sorry, again. It's okay, little boy. That man won't be able to hurt you again."

Henry gave her a watery smile.

Of course, Henry knew that he had just been taken out of the frying pan and took a swan dive into the fire.

"Henry," Dad Reginald said, his voice calm as they left.

Henry wiped his eyes and kept his hands to himself. "…yeah?"

"Never involve the police." He sent a subtle look back. A few cop cars had arrived, but they had already taken a corner and the sound of the crowd was all but gone. "It is good to work with what you have, but they very well know little boys can be thieves."

Henry looked up at him, his head tipped.

"You learn," Dad Reginald answered the unasked question. "You do what you must to survive. There will come a time when even the best of us are defeated. You were able to use your resources effectively. Do you know what you did wrong?"

Henry nodded. "…clumsy."

"Precisely. Now, don't be too obvious with your escape. You don't want people becoming suspicious of you. But it's better to run when you know you're outmatched."

Henry took a deep breath and glanced at Uncle Right, who still hadn't said anything.

Dad Reginald went on, "But we have been out here for a while! Are you hungry?"

Henry turned his attention on Dad Reginald and nodded enthusiastically.

"Hmm… there is a sandwich shop here. Right Hand Man?"

"Sandwich City?" Uncle Right prompted. "Yes, I've 'eard of it. Is it wise to stay 'ere for much longer?"

"I'm sure of it," Dad Reginald said. "The shop's fairly busy."

Henry followed Dad Reginald's gaze. Indeed, a large shop with a sign proudly proclaiming "Sandwich City" sat on the street corner, buzzing with life in and around it. In his humble opinion, pizza would have been great. There was a pizza joint just down the block! But Henry had screwed up pretty bad, and plus he wasn't paying for the food.

In line to order inside the airconditioned, fragrant shop, there was another boy of his age and a girl perhaps a little older. The girl whined at her well-dressed father insistently, tipping her head back and shuffling her feet. Her vibrant red hair, cut just past her shoulders, fluttered messily in the air-conditioned breeze. The boy beside her said something, messing with his zipped up green bomber jacket as he did so. The man sighed and waved his hand. The kids bolted, running into the main area, free of their bonds.

Henry watched them go, a hollow feeling stirring in his chest. The boy tripped over his own shoes and was caught by the girl, who pulled him to his feet, shoved him off balance, and then ran again.

Then, the boy in the bomber jacket saw Henry and stopped running. He looked to the girl and said something. Soon, both the children were approaching him.

Henry panicked. He stood stock still, straight as an arrow, by Dad Reginald's side, half-hoping that if he stood still long enough, they wouldn't be able to see him, like a T-Rex or something. A thousand thoughts flitted through his mind, each worse than the last. That girl was going to find him and convince Dad Reginald and Uncle Right to let her steal him. And then she would just drag him along and make fun of him with her younger brother or friend or something. O-or she wouldn't, and Henry would go with her and then do something stupid like trip or run into something or say something dumb. Or–

"Hey, Kid!" the red-head announced. "Who are you?"

"Henry," he mumbled.

The boy chipped in, "Hello, Henry."

The girl went on, "We've never seen you people around here before. Hi! My name is Ellie. This is my friend, Charles. Can Henry play?"

Dad Reginald looked down at Henry. Henry leaned forward to take a better look at the two. The girl was innocent enough looking, bearing jeans and a pink shirt with a thin white jacket that didn't button in the front or reach her belly, and pretty red shoes. The boy beside her, Charles, was just a few inches shy of her–Henry's height, perhaps a little taller. Henry couldn't see anything past his weirdly heavy looking dark green bomber jacket streaked with dust that reached his palms and hips. Why was he wearing that in the heat?

Dad Reginald asked, "What do you say, Henry?"

Henry hid further behind Dad Reginald.

Dad Reginald said, "Not today, then."

"Aww," Ellie complained. "Fine. Come on, Charles! Let's find a table!"

Henry watched the boy and girl. They quickly found a table and sat down. They hadn't stopped moving for a second before engaging in "Rock, Paper, Scissors." Ellie seemed to be fond of scissors, like Charles took to rock. Knowing this themselves, the game quickly went to randomness.

Henry couldn't understand what they were saying. Dad Reginald and Uncle Right talking next to him as well as the many other people in line helped with that. But whatever they were talking about seemed to be funny as they took quite a bit of enjoyment from it.

Eventually, the man whom Henry assumed was Ellie's father approached the table, a tray of sandwiches in his arms. The kids calmed down long enough to retrieve their lunches.

As they got further in the line, he craned his neck to look back at Ellie, Charles, and Ellie's father, who happily ate their sandwiches. Ellie explained something with great exuberance, sometimes holding her hands in front of her and making wild gestures, probably to accent the story.