Chapter Three

The Street Rat

I had been watching the kid for about two weeks, nothing really interesting happened. He would go to the market, buy a loaf of bread and then run home to his mother where he would practice his chivalry. Why he needed to practice chivalry at all was a mystery to me, he seemed like a decent person enough, he shouldn't need to practice it. Then the day came that everything changed.

It was raining, it had been going steady for the better part of the previous night and hadn't let up since. I was perched in a nearby tree, having managed to slip away from Jafar, after convincing him that I was on official court business dealing with the Street Rat situation. From the way that Aladdin ran into the house, I could tell that something was wrong. So, showing concern for the kid, I flew directly into the house.

Forgetting the rule of secrecy that the father had set for me, I hid behind the vase almost in plain sight and saw the second worst thing in my entire life. Aladdin was crouched over the limp, bleeding and manipulated body of his mother. Her head was spilt open from a concussion and in her torso had large cuts from a sword or knife. Near the mother's body, was a broken pot and a white rag. To make matters worse, the smell of semen was in the room.

It was obvious what had happened. I watched as Aladdin continued cradling his mother's head and I couldn't help but cry because in a small way, she was my mother too. With nothing else to do, I began to sing "Sweet child, light of my world...let your worries disappear and know that I am here." Singing the song made me feel better and I noticed that Aladdin felt better too, for he had heard me. I panicked and fearing that I would be discovered and realizing that singing calmed him, I continued, "Don't cry boy...I am here, let me shield all your fears and cast away the tears...The light of the world you shall always be, for I am your mother...and father to be" I made that up on the spot, and I knew that not only was it a song, but an obligation.

After that I left him alone, leaving through the same window that I came through, I accidently knocked over a pot, which sent Aladdin running out the door.

Aladdin looked left and right, he was in full panic mode. I had to do something, if he ran away it would mean breaking my promise and I was not about to do that. He ran to the one place I knew he would go, the market. As luck would have it, Jafar had gone to the market that morning. I would be dead if I were discovered protecting the boy, so I followed him and did the worst thing that I could ever do to anyone.

Aladdin ran past the bread makers, a candlestick maker and lamp dealer before running into a fish stall. But that didn't stop him, flying ahead of him to try and find something, anything to stop him from leaving the city or stumbling into Jafar I began knocking over every random thing I could find. he did stumble a bit, but still continued running. It was then that the guards began to take notice and chase after him.

"Get back here" one of them shouted, trying to intimidate and failing, only making Aladdin run faster through the streets. It was difficult trying to stay ahead of him to be honest, the boy could run. I was just about to turn around and see how his progress was going when I ran into Jafar himself. His staff was long and his beard was shorter than what you're probably used to but it was still unmistakably the Grand Vizier. Looking down at me and then turning towards Aladdin who had followed the path I had made, Jafar smiled, "Good work Iago" he sneered, "I suspected nothing less from you" Patting my head, he walked towards Aladdin and turned towards the guards, "Execute him"

I rushed in and met Jafar's gaze of complete and utter shock. I was standing between Jafar and a guard's sword, a very uncomfortable position on either end. "Iago" Jafar said, his voice getting higher and hot with rage, "What are you doing?" Sweating and thinking fast I came up with an answer, "Taking this boy" I said, "to where he belongs." I then leaned in, "There's too many people here for the execution of a child Jafar. Wait a few years for the boy to grow up, then you can execute him properly!" Jafar nodded and apparently saw wisdom in my words. "Release him!" he yelled to the guard, who immediately complied, turning to me Jafar continued, "Make sure he goes where he belongs"

After that encounter, both the guards and Jafar left, leaving me with breathing room. I knew what I had done would technically be considered damning a boy to live on the streets for what I hoped would be the remainder of his life, but on the upside I had saved him. Aladdin looked at me with curiosity, "You can speak?" he asked, I cringed, I knew I had forgotten something! I turned around and did the only I could do, I squawked. Aladdin shrugged and scratched his head, "I could've sworn that I heard you speak" I replied the same way I did before, which had thankfully convinced Aladdin that he was hallucinating. Aladdin sighed, "Well you may not be able to talk. But you're definitely smarter than any bird I've seen before" I smiled at his compliment, almost saddened that I had now prevented myself from speaking.

The night was closing in and the market was closing. Aladdin stared at me, "Lead the way, I suppose" So I did. I brought him to the one place that I knew that Jafar would never think to look, in the heart of the city, and the view of the palace-to die for.

Two months had passed since the death of Aladdin's mother. At night, I still dream of the body, I can still see the blood and the semen that covered her. I could hear the sound of Aladdin's crying and then nothing.

Most days, Aladdin would sit around the flat, enjoying the view. I managed to bring what little food I could find to him, I barely ate anymore. I couldn't help but feel that Aladdin felt like he was being watched by Jafar, he did see my conversation after all. No one should ever feel like they are watched by the Grand Vizier, so as much as it pained me to do it, I had to leave.

But as much as I knew what needed to be done, I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it because Aladdin would be all alone, which is worse than being watched by Jafar. So I decided to find Aladdin a friend, I found Abu.

Abu was a short little monkey who was sitting on a rug in the marketplace. From the looks of him, he seemed pretty smart, he was busy doing rope tricks for a small crowd when I came up to him holding a bag. Without so much as a second thought I scooped him up and brought him to Aladdin. So apparently, he's not that smart.

When I opened the bag, I found a small scared little monkey in the place of Abu, well it was Abu. I am happy to note that Aladdin took to him instantly and Abu did the same for Aladdin. Smiling and with the knowledge that Aladdin would be alright, I left the flat. But when I was well enough away, I sat on a tree branch and cried my eyes out.