Chapter 2
As Chris made the announcement the other boys all turned to look at him with surprise.
"What do you propose we do with the cherub?' Ezra asked.
"We keep him." Chris said.
"We don't know the first thing about taking care of a baby!" Buck protested.
"What do you think Vin was when we took him?" Chris countered.
"Vin was already walking and talking, eating food, and using the toilet proper-like…not drinking a bottle and wearing nappies. I'm not changing any dirty drawers. "Buck told him.
"Yes, you will." Josiah said. "We all will. If we're going to keep him it's going to be all of our responsibility to look after, even Vin."
"Josiah's right." Nathan added. "We can't keep him here though. It's just too dangerous a place for a baby."
"What's wrong with our alley?" Buck asked indignantly. "We done raised up Vin here in this alley and you had no problem with that."
"Vin came into the gang with you and Chris, Buck. He caught on real quick and learned to stay with one of us at all times, even when we were working. He also figured out that he could use that face and drawl of his to our advantage. This baby is far too little to do any of that." Nathan said.
Vin beamed at Nathan's words. It meant a lot to the six-year-old to know that he could help the others get the money and food they all needed for day-to-day survival.
"True." Buck had to concede.
"We need to do more than agree to take on the responsibility for caring for him." Josiah said. "We need to become a family."