Written for the Challenge "Bustin' Out"
Stealthily, thirteen-year-old Han Heyes slipped out of the upstairs older boy's dormitory at the Valparaiso School for Wayward Boys. The dreary nighttime hallways were dimly lit with just enough light to maneuver, without wasting fuel oil. Making no noise, he crept downstairs into the younger boy's dorm and stepped inside the door. He stood still, letting his eyes adjust to the one dim lamp left on in the corner so the younger boys wouldn't get scared.
He identified his younger cousin, Jedidiah Curry's bunk in the back, fourth from end, and made his way there. One step, stop and listen. Another step, then listen to make sure no boy stirred.
Bending over his cousin's lower bunk, Heyes watched him sleep. Gramma Curry would have called it the sleep of the innocent.
Han closed his eyes, taking a breath to calm his racing heart. Then, he reached over and at the same time put one hand over Jed's mouth and with the other grabbed his right hand as it reflexively reached for the homemade slingshot laying by his side. When Han was sure that Jed was awake, he released his arm and his mouth and put his fingers to his lips to shish his cousin.
Jed smiled with blue trusting eyes and slipped into his pants Han handed him. Then, the cousins fled the dorm quietly. Wondering where they were going, Jed knew it didn't matter, he would follow Han wherever he led.
Jed kept watch while Han opened the back kitchen door with a handmade lockpick. Outside, the air smelled better to them; it smelled of freedom.
"We bustin' out, Han?"
By moonlight, Jed could see Han's smile. The smile that told him they were in the middle of a Hannibal Heyes adventure.
"Not tonight. Come on, I got something else in mind." Han said as he raced for the lemon trees growing in back of the school.
Jed followed, reaching the trees first. "What's the plan?"
"We're going to bust into the guest house."
"Oh, no, Han. The nuns that arrived tonight are staying there. I ain't stealing nothing from nuns."
"Don't worry, we ain't going near the sleeping quarters. Now shish." Han again held his finger to his lips. Jed did as he was told.
Han circled the guesthouse, looking in the windows to get his bearings. When he found what he was looking for, he handed Jed a small candle and a match. Jed's eyes grew bigger and more blue at the forbidden objects and held them protectively.
Trying a window, Han smiled over his shoulder at Jed as he found it unlocked. He slid it up painfully slow, stopping at every creak and squeak. When it was open enough, he pulled himself through the window, motioning Jed to follow.
Han stood very still as his eyes adjusted to the moonlight that gave the room a vague haze. Jed did the same. When he could make out a row of tables, stacked with clothes, Han nodded his head to Jed and moved forward.
"Han?" whispered Jed. "What are we doing here?"
Suddenly, a bright lamp was lit in front of them. "That's what I would like to know." demanded the nun standing, hands on hips in front of the boys. "What are you boys doing in here?"
Jed took two steps back, but Han walked toward the nun, forcing a smile onto his nervous face. "Han Heyes, Sister. This is my cousin, Jedidiah Curry." he extended his hand not sure if sisters were allowed to shake hands.
"Sister Julia," she said amused, shaking the extending hand. "And you have not answered my question."
Han eyed his objective, the stack of clothes on the table. "Well, Sister, my cousin here is bustin' out of his pants. I thought we'd come in here and see what was donated."
Sister Julia looked from one to the other. "And figuring you'd get the pick of the clothes before we distribute them tomorrow?"
Han did not answer.
"Come here, Jed." Sister Julia said firmly, pointing to a spot right in front of her.
Jed looked at Han then at the scary figure in front of him. If he could have run, he would have.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Sister studied the pants that ended far above his ankles. She saw the places where the cloth was so thin that the pants would rip with any pressure. She saw the many patches on the knees and bottom that were sewn on with long, uneven stitches.
"Who patches your britches, Jed?"
She marveled at the color of the deep blue eyes that Jed flashed at Han. She knew who had tried to patch the pants. "Han patches them?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Is this your only pair of pants, Jed?" He looked down ashamed of the pants and the fact that he did not even have a pair of Sunday pants.
Han stepped up next to him. "Yes, Sister, he ain't got no other. That's why I patch them."
"Surely the school has other donated pants you could have?"
Han hesitated. He knew that the headmaster sold any clothes that were donated in good shape, keeping the older rags for the boys. He was unsure how much he should tell this nun; unsure how much he could tell her and not get a beating.
Sister Julia had been a teacher for years, and she knew children, especially boys. She was the oldest of nine and the only girl in her family. She knew Han was hiding something. Her superiors had heard rumors before they came here of administration working for their own best and not the best of the boys.
"Boys, if I ask you a question, would you answer it honestly?" she asked, looking at each of them in their eyes, catching their full attention.
Jed said nothing, he had been taught nuns were to be respected always.
Han was quiet then replied, "I suppose it would depend on the question."
Sister smiled, "Thank you for your honest answer."
"Come here, sit down back here. I was spending some quiet time reading. I couldn't sleep and my reading light would have woken the others. They followed her to two chairs set up behind the table. Jed's eyes fixed on the untouched sweet roll on a plate.
"Go ahead, Jed, eat the sweet roll, I can tell you are the kind that is always hungry."
It was not necessary to ask Jed twice, he grabbed the plate. Thinking for a moment, he offered some to Han who refused.
"What will happen if you boys are caught here?"
Han took a breath. Jed stopped eating. Surprising his cousin, Jed answered truthfully. "I'll get a beating. Han will get a beating and have to spend time in the dark room." He took a bite and smiled, happy for a few moments.
Sister Julia studied Han watching Jed. Han was pleased to see Jed happy. She thanked God these two had each other.
"Han, why did you break in here to get pants for Jed? Won't the headmaster distribute them tomorrow? That's what we were told."
Han knew this adult would turn them in. He knew a beating was already in their future and a few days in the dark room for him. Nothing was going to change that.
Sister Julia could almost see Han's thought process as she waited, letting him come to his own conclusions.
"Well, maybe, they might get distributed tomorrow if you all stay and watch." That much truth would not make their beatings worse. Han looked at Jed, so happy with his sweet roll, not listening to what they were saying.
"Sister, when you tell on us, please only tell on me. Don't say nothin' about Jed being here." Han pleaded, "Please."
She was stunned. She saw fear in his eyes, for himself but more for his cousin.
"I try always to tell the truth." she answered.
"Well, this would be the truth, just not all the truth."
"Are you Catholic, Han?"
Jed looked up at her, "No, Ma'am, were Kansans."
Purposefully, she changed the subject. "Tell me what happens to donated clothes, Han" she asked again.
Deciding to trust her, Han looked her in the eyes and explained. "Well, if the donors stay, they get to watch them being distributed. When they leave, we turn them in and never see them again. I think they are sold."
Sister Julia was quiet, the rumors her order had heard confirmed.
"Thank you, Han, for telling me the truth even though it has consequences for you. Now, I have another question for you. Why were you here to get Jed new pants? Surely the staff would notice, and they would be taken from him.?"
"Wasn't gonna steal a pair of pants for him," Hannibal answered. "Was gonna steal a pair in good shape that I can use to patch the ones he's wearing better. He keeps growing really fast and bustin' out of them. I can't do nothin' about the length, but I can make sure he don't have holes you can see through."
Sister Julia liked this clever boy and said another prayer his cleverness would not send them down the wrong path in life.
"Jed, take off those pants. Han, go pick out a pair of pants with good strong fabric. I've got my mending basket here. I'm going to show you how to make them longer and sew proper patches."
The boys didn't move, just stared at her.
"Move. We've got to finish this quickly so you boys can get back to your beds before they find you're gone."
Han and Jed looked at Sister Julia, "You're not going tell on us?" asked Han.
"What would I say? When I was sleepwalking I gave sewing lessons? Who would believe me?"