That morning Mr. Sir woke up from possibly the best sleep he has had in years. He sat up and stretch but almost jumped at the extra weight on him. He looked down and remembered what had transpired last night. The lad was still peacefully sound asleep.
Mr. Sir did a quick check and pulled David's underwear down to see if his bottom has healed and with only a slightly pink hue he knew that the boy would be ok if only a little stingy bum. He smirked as he redressed the boy and looking at his completely at ease face, but knew that it's time to get up.
"Time to get up lil man." He called softly patting the boy's back. But all he got was a mumble and David furthering digging himself onto his side. The man shook his head humorously.
"Time to wake up lil one." This time he applied semi soft pats on the boy's bottom. Soft, but with enough force to rile the boy up. After a few seconds it seemed to have worked as the boy stirred awake. He sat up and rubbed his tired eyes and looked up at him.
"Mr. Sir?" He questioned softly making the older man chuckle.
"Time to get up tiger." Was all he said as he got up and lifted the still tired boy up. He placed the child on the floor but David was tiredly leaning on him.
"C'mon now, you gotta get dressed." He said trying to coaxed the boy.
"But I'm tired." David wined cutely.
"Well you wouldn't be so tired had you remained in bed when I first told you." He responded with a smirk making David blush in embarrassment remembering what happened last night and further buried himself on Mr. Sir's stomach.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled on the man's stomach.
"Hey, now none of that." Mr. Sir said gently grabbing the boy's chin and making David look up to him. "We sorted all that out last night. Today's a new day and we learned our lesson right?" David nodded his head. Yeah he definitely learned his lesson.
"Then we're good. Now go ahead and get dressed." David went off and took his shirt off while putting on the khaki overalls, following a clean pair of socks and finally his boots.
Together they got breakfast where he met Dr. Pendanski, or Dr. Pen as the man told David to call him. He was a funny man, David liked him. Breakfast with Mr. Sir was quiet with the occasional overview of what they are going to do for the day. First they have to report to Warden. They went over to the Warden's home. She was on the couch again. She perked up when they entered.
"There's my little cowboy," She said happily picking David up and setting him on her hip. "And how was our first day yesterday?"
"It was good. Everyone was kind to me." David responded quietly. His answer made her smile.
"That's great sweetheart, but I heard we was a little naughty last night too." David blushed knowing what she was talking about, but knew better than to deny it. Hopefully she won't spank him too.
"Yes, ma-Auntie Walker. I'm sorry." He apologized.
"Yes, I know sweetheart. And now you'll know what happen to naughty boys. We won't do it again right?"
"Yes, Auntie Walker." David confirmed nodding his head which was a satisfactory answer for the Warden.
"Good. No more being naughty, or you'll find yourself having a hard time sitting." She said giving him a soft pop on the bottom before handing off David to Mr. Sir, who nodded his head as well and left carrying David out. The morning was spent helping Mr. Sir organize files, carrying new shipment of food and other things that the man needed.
After lunch David found himself being carried into the rec room again. This time the other boys didn't pay as much attention to him after getting used to him on the first day. Mr. Sir looked around and then began walking. He stopped right in front of Caveman and Zero.
"Caveman!" Mr. Sir bellowed making the other boy jump. He looked up at Mr. Sir nervously.
"Ummm. Yes, Mr. Sir?" He asked meekly before he was completely stunned when David was dropped on his lap.
"Lil man is your responsibility until I get back. Make sure he stays out of trouble. Be good." He warned both Caveman and David.
"I will." David promised which earned him an affectionate pat on the head before Mr. Sir left the room. Many were curious but once Mr. Sir left they all went back to their own devices. Caveman looked dumbfounded at the child currently on his lap.
" looks like you'll be with us. Sorry about last night, you must have gotten in trouble cause of us." David smile at Caveman, he liked the older boy.
"It's ok," He said. He looked at what the two were doing and got curious. "What are you doing?" Caveman chuckled nervously while Zero blushed.
"Well, I'm helping Zero here how to read and write." That got David's attention. He liked reading.
"Can I join?" David asked enthusiastically. Both boys were surprised that David didn't make a joke or jab at Zero not being able to read or write. Zero smiled.
"Sure," Zero said shocking both Caveman and David that he spoke. Caveman for the fact that Zero actually spoke to another person and for David as it's the first time he's hearing Zero's voice. "Come here."
David waisted no time to walk over to Zero and sat on the other boy's lap and actively participated in the lessons that Caveman was giving Zero. He had a lot of fun. So far Zero and Caveman are his favorite.
"Baby Boy!" David perked up to the familiar voice of X-ray who was looking for him. David hopped off Zero's lap and went over to the other boy.
"Hi X-ray!" David greeted.
"Oh, there you are," He replied grinning. "Where you been at?"
"With Caveman." X-ray rose an eyebrow at his answer.
"Why you with Caveman?" Before David could answer Caveman was right behind him.
"Mr. Sir told me to watch him for a while." Caveman said leaving nothing else up for question.
"Uh-hu." Was the only thing X-ray said before looking over to where Zero is currently sitting and signed with a smirk. "Again with the reading thing Caveman? Keep telling ya it's a waste of time." David didn't know what he meant by that, but Caveman was looking troubled.
"It's fine really. I enjoy helping out Zero." He tried to defend his friend.
"Yeah it's a lot of fun!" David spoke up, "Me and Zero are learning a lot." He said enthusiastically causing both Caveman and Zero to smile.
"Oh is that so? Well good for you Baby Boy." X-ray said encouragingly and was about to leave since Caveman has the little guy occupied until a loud voice called out.
"Oh yeah, must be real fun trying to teach a fucking toddler and a retard how to read." Came the voice of an older boy that David didn't know. He didn't know what the word retard meant but he knew that he basically called Zero stupid. Caveman growled at the comment, but X-ray held him back. Both of them were shocked when David ran up to the older boy who made that comment.
"Take that back." David said. The older boy looked down at David with scorn but the little boy didn't falter.
"What was that you little shit?" He sneered.
"I said that that back! Zero isn't a retard, just because he doesn't want to talk to you! He's really smart, but you're just too stupid to see it." David fired back. The reaction was immediate when he felt himself being lifted by the straps of his overalls.
"Care to say that again you little bastard!" He growled in David's face. David started to wiggle and fight out of the other boy's hold.
"Let him go!" He heard Caveman yelled.
"Shut the fuck up!" The older boy fired back. "If the little bastard is man enough to talk shit then he's man enough to back it up. I don't care if he's that pig's new boy toy, I'll teach this little fucker how shit runs here." He said with a few of the boys that was with him getting up daring anyone to oppose them.
"Fred," This time it was X-ray that spoke up and now everyone that is in D tent got up and started gathering showing that they're not the least bit afraid. "Let him go now. Forget Mr. Sir, imagine what the Warden is going to do to you if you so much put a scratch on that kid. That after we get done whopping your ass. So….Let. Him. Go!" The boy looked at X-ray with narrow eyes and at the others that gathered around him including Zero who looked like he was about to go completely feral knew a losing battle when he saw one.
"Tche, whatever. Have your brat." He said as he roughly tossed David on the ground.
"Ah!" David hissed when he landed on the ground harshly. He clutched his leg in pain, the boy's in D tent seethe in anger and was about to go off until the door got kicked open.
"What the hell is going on here?!" It was Mr. Sir and all the boys froze. He scanned around the area and his heart almost stopped when he saw David on the ground .
"Move!" He yelled and everyone got out of the way as he got down to where David is. He could see some bruising forming on the boy's ankle. David was super relieved that Mr. Sir was here that he couldn't help the tears coming.
"It's alright tiger, I'm here." The man said softly as he scooped the child in his arms.
"Name, now." He said in the most dangerous tone any of the boys had heard from him. This wasn't a man to be messed with and everyone was scared including Fred. No one said a word until the unexpected happened.
"He did it!" Everyone was shocked when they heard the voice of Zero calling out as he pointed directly to Fred. Mr. Sir got over the shock very quickly. The glare he gave Fred made the boy in a cold sweat, it was a look that promised pain.
"Well, Mr. Topain looks like you and me are gonna have a nice chat with the warden." Fred gulped knowing full well what that entails.
"Out. Now!" Fred flinched and hurried out of the rec room. Mr. Sir turned to Zero.
"Thank you Zero." Was all he said before leaving. What transpired afterwards was heard throughout the whole camp. Saying that the warden was furious was an understatement. David knew why all the boys and even Mr. Sir was afraid of the Warden. The moment she saw his tear stained face and the bruise on his ankle she became a deadly rattle snake.
David almost felt bad for Fred by how the warden was yelling and threatening him. David didn't fully understand everything she said but by the end of it Fred was deathly pale at all the punishments the warden listed out that he would be getting.
Warden called Dr. Pendanski who checked David's ankle and everyone was relieved when he said that it was only a sprained ankle, but recommended that David stay off his foot for the rest of the day. So for most part of the afternoon David spent with the Warden, which he found out she was much nicer than he thought.
She completely took care of him, making sure he was well feed and they watched tv together and even played some games. He wasn't too fond when she made him take a nap, but he didn't make a fuss. The time was spent either being on the couch or being carried. He was forbidden to put extra weight on his leg for the rest of the day and warden warned him to not walk on his own.
Not wanting to get in trouble again he made sure to listen. The sun was starting to set when Mr. Sir came to collect David and he scooped the boy up and carried him out. David thought that they would be going back to the cabin but was surprised when he was brought to D tent. The boys were even more surprised to see Mr. Sir coming in with David.
"I figured little man would have wanted to see y'all." He said at he placed David on X-rays lap.
"I'll be back in two hours. Make sure he stays off his foot." He said before turning to leave but was stoped buy caveman.
"Mr. Sir? I'm sorry, I was supposed to look after him." He apologized thinking that Mr. Sir was mad at him, but the man surprised the boys again.
"It's fine Caveman, I know you tried. Just keep a better eye on him next time." He said then left. Soon all the boys surrounded X-ray and David bombarding him with questions after questions. David did his best to answer them all.
"Most importantly, are you ok?" X-ray asked him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." He said with a smile on his face. Caveman was still feeling guilty but David reassured that it wasn't his fault. David spent the next two hours with the fellas playing card games and telling scary stories. It seemed all the excitement for the day caught up to him as he had fallen asleep on X-ray's lap.
When Mr. Sir came back David was fast asleep. He picked the boy up and when he returned to the shack he bath the sleeping boy and put on his pjs, luckily David was so light that it wasn't an issue. Mr. Sir placed David on his hammock and decided to turn in for the night as well.