Chapter 19 - Joshua Heyes

Although the Sheffields were getting along very well with Tom - whatever his other faults may have been, the boy knew how to charm people - their obvious disapproval of Han was plain to see.

It wasn't long before they discovered the truth of his ignoble parentage and were horrified, immediately assuming - like everyone else - that his mother was unmarried and may even have been a woman of ill repute.

Unlike Elizabeth, they were quick to ascribe the mother's sins to the boy, and they constantly chided him for everything he did. He began to think that Elizabeth had been going easy on him.

He talked too much and too fast, he slouched, his hair was always messy, his table manners a disgrace - the list seemed to be endless. After only a few days, the boy was thoroughly miserable.

Jed told Maggie what was happening and she was quickly came up with a solution.

Before the end of the first week, she went to visit them. Elizabeth was very happy to see her. She loved her parents, but even she felt the strain of them.

Once Maggie was seated and had greeted everybody, she began, "Elizabeth, I was wondering if I could ask a favor? Jed hasn't been doing very well in mathematics and I wondered if Han could tutor him a little?"

The Sheffields looked surprised. Reginald Sheffield frowned. "Why Han? I'm sure Tom would be happy to do it!"

Maggie gave a tight smile. "I'm sure he would," lied Maggie, who knew how lazy the other boy was, "but Han is top of his class in the subject and very good at explaining things. I'm sure he'd be able to help Jed improve."

As much as Elizabeth loved Tom, she was happy to see Maggie presenting Han in a better light to her parents. She hoped they wouldn't ask about his other subjects. She could just imagine what their reactions would be if they found out the boy could barely write and that even little Jed Curry could read better.

Mr. Sheffield looked stunned. "Han is top of his class in mathematics?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, it seems he has a natural aptitude for the subject. His teacher is very impressed." She and Maggie exchanged a smile. "I'm sure he'd be delighted to help."

"Well, there's a little more to it. Jed is so far behind, I thought that perhaps Han could come and stay with us for a while. We could swap; Adam and Joseph could come and spend some time with Tom, and Han could come to us? Jed would love it and they'd have more time to study."

Elizabeth could have wept with relief. It was a perfect solution. Even she was getting tired of hearing her parents constantly admonishing Han for everything, and she knew the boy must be feeling picked on. The only concern she had was that David would miss the boy terribly. She decided that he would be able to bear it, as long as it took Han away from her parents.

"Yes, that's a wonderful idea! I know we'll all enjoy having Adam and Joseph here."

Maggie smiled and added pointedly, "And we always love to spend time with Han. I'll come over this afternoon with the boys and their things, and I'll take Han back with me. Jed will be delighted!"

Jed was delighted, as was Han. The only one that wasn't happy was David. As Elizabeth had predicted, he found the place very quiet without Han and he missed him every day. He was grateful to Maggie for suggesting the plan and taking Han away with her, but the days seemed long and empty while he was gone. David found himself visiting Maggie at every opportunity, and he couldn't help but notice how Han seemed to thrive in the Curry household.

He knew Elizabeth hated the way her parents seemed to pick on Han, but she didn't seem to be aware that she was also constantly telling the boy how to behave. The Currys were more relaxed and seemed to be perfectly happy with Han just the way he was. David watched as the boy gained confidence, he and Jed telling stories back and forth over dinner and laughing. He felt a little sad that at home, Han was only ever like that when they were alone. David didn't like to think about how happy the boy was while he was living with the Currys.

Grandpa Curry had taken Han under his wing, and the boy grew to love him as if the old man was his own grandpa.

Eventually - when Han was sure that he could trust him - Francis Curry heard the story of Han's first meeting with David. After hearing about the game of 'Follow the Lady' - Francis knew it as 'The Shell Game' - Curry wondered how much like Joe Heyes the boy actually was.

He started to tell them stories about Joe Heyes, and before he knew it, he was telling them about some of their tricks. The boys begged for him to show them how he and Joe had picked pockets when they were children. After he showed them, it became a game, and Han and Jed would practice doing it themselves. Both Han and Jed proved to be good at pickpocketing.

One day, Maggie came in while they were playing and saw what they were doing. Maggie was no saint herself, but Francis did worry what his daughter-in-law might think when she saw what he was teaching the boys.

He cleared his throat. "It's never a bad thing to have a few skills, Mags. It's a harsh world out there."

Her expression showed nothing. A perfect poker face, thought Curry.

"What have you taught them so far?"

"Just a couple of sleight of hand tricks, nothing serious."

She looked disapproving and Francis hung his head guiltily. "You haven't taught them how to pick locks? Wouldn't that be one of the first things they'd need to know! Wait here, I'll get my lock picks."

They others exchanged a look of delighted surprise as Maggie disappeared and returned a few minutes later to show them how to pick a lock.

Jed couldn't seem to get it at all, but Han seemed to know exactly what was needed. He practiced on lock after lock, soon opening them all with ease.

Curry sniffed. "All very well if he has lock picks with him wherever he goes, but what about if he doesn't?"

Han examined the lock picks carefully. "It looks like you could probably do it with a knife or a letter opener, couldn't you?"

Maggie grinned and handed him a small knife. It took him a little longer, but he had the lock quickly opened. He was a natural.

David called in to see them late one day and was invited to stay for dinner. They all knew how much he was missing Han.

When they'd finished eating, Grandpa Curry asked Han, "So, do you know anything about your people? Your mother's family, for example - do you know who they were?"

Han shook his head. "I remember her telling some people that her parents were from Kent. That's in England. That's the only thing I know about them."

"What about your Da?" Seeing his look, Francis clarified, "Your father. Did she ever say anything about him?"

Han bit his lip and looked around him. He saw no judgement. "Ma said he was a magician, but I don't know if it was a joke." He started to dig at the table with his fingernail. "She said his best trick was his disappearing act."

Maggie and Francis exchanged a raised eyebrow as they thought about Han's sleight of hand skills. Except for the part about the disappearing act, they didn't think Han's mother had been joking.

Francis continued, "Do you know where his people were from?"

Han shook his head. "Once, when I asked her, she told me that all my grandparents were in England. That's all I know."

Curry leaned forward and lifted the boy's chin. He examined Han's face.

"I can't help but wonder. Joe had a brother, Joshua, that left Ireland and went to England. They never heard of him again. It was years ago, long before we all came over here. He could have married and had a son - I could certainly see a Heyes boy becoming a magician! Who knows, lad, you may really be a Heyes for all we know!"

Han gave a smile, only to be followed by a large grin when David picked him up and whirled him around. "Of course he's really a Heyes! He's my son, isn't he?"