A Stitch Undone

Four times in two weeks Matt has heard the same lecture. Fighting is not the answer to your problems. Well, maybe if some of the others would keep their mouth shut about shit they don't understand, Matt wouldn't have to shut it for them by other means. Now, still angry and forced to wait in the hallway while Father Lantom and Sister Maggie discussed his punishment.

"Paul, this is his fourth fight in two weeks. A series of Hail Mary's isn't going to cut it."

"To be fair, four fights in a half a month isn't even a record for him," Father Lantom countered. "At least it was with only one other boy this time."

"I have not forgotten the one where he took on three at once. This is becoming a terrible pattern, especially in the last year."

Paul sighed. "Maggie, to be fair, Matthew didn't start all of these fights. Many of them he is defending himself. The boy was speaking ill of Jack and Matthew was defending the memory of his father. I happen to recall Jack doing that on more than one occasion and Matthew is his father's son."

That lit a fire under Maggie. "Paul, you don't need to lecture me about what Jack did. I am fully aware of what my husband did both in and out of the ring. I'm also aware of how often he came home with his head bashed to bits. I can tell you how many of my kitchen towels couldn't be left out because they had blood on them. Ask me how many nights I mended clothes as well as stitched Jack back together. I loved my husband and I still do but I will be damned if I stand by and watch my son go down the same road as his father!"

"I'm thoroughly tired of repeating myself with this but maybe it's high time you told him the truth. He's been here for going on three years. He has the right to know," Lantom insisted.

Matt's stomach rose into his throat at what he just heard. Sister Maggie was his mom?! He didn't wait around any longer to hear her response. Matt ran down to his room, slamming the door behind him. He grabbed his backpack, shoved some clothes in it next to his schoolbooks, grabbed his cane and his jacket and then slipped out his window. It's not the first time he had done it. One good thing Stick had actually taught him.

Once Matt was clear of the church yard, he had to quickly orient himself and figure out where he could go. School would call the orphanage in a heartbeat if he was found there. Being in a park after dark was a recipe for disaster. Then Matt thought of the perfect spot. Home.

Matt's feet found their way to Fogwell's gym without a second thought. The sounds of boxers training were downright comforting right now. He slipped in the door and started to scan the room while the guys had called out their greetings to him. He walked up to the center ring. "Mr. Fogwell? Can I talk to you?"

Fogwell was working with a pair of sparring boxers. "Yeah, sure Matty. What do you need?"

"Tell me about my mother. Tell me about Maggie."

Those words out of Matt's mouth felt like a knockout blow to Fogwell. He waved over another trainer to work with the pair he was watching as he turned towards Matt. Even with his glasses on, Fogwell could see the hurt written all over the boy's face and he could feel the anger radiating off of him. "Come with me, Matty," he said gently as he wrapped an arm around Matt's shoulders and guided him over to a heavy bag off to the side away from everyone.

"May I?" Fogwell asked, gently touching Matt's backpack as he urged him to sit on the bench. "How much do you already know?"

Matt shrugged his backpack off and let Fogwell set it down for him. "I heard her talking with Father Lantom. Dad said she left us. Why didn't anyone ever tell me? Why did everyone lie to me?"

Fogwell gently took one of Matt's hands and started to tape them up. The boy was angry and he needed a safe way to get it out. "Your dad didn't lie to you. Your mom did leave you and him."

"Why did she leave?" Matt asked.

"She was sick. Your dad never said more than that. It hurt too much."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Matt asked sadly, clearly trying to fight back tears.

Fogwell finished taping Matt's hands and pulled him close so he could hug him. "It wasn't my place, Matty. I wanted to. I wished your dad had told you more."

"I asked but it just made him sad. I stopped asking," Matt admitted as he rested his head against Fogwell's shoulder. "Why didn't she tell me?"

"I don't have an answer for that, Matty. Only Maggie can answer that."

That just fueled Matt's anger again. "I don't want to go back there right now."

"Well, I'm not kicking you out but I'm not going to lie if they come looking for ya. How about we go through a little workout?" Fogwell suggested as he brought Matt over to the heavy bag. He was not surprised when the boy balled up his fists.

Maggie shot a look in Paul's direction that clearly meant they were not discussing this further. "Matthew, you can come back now," she called out to him. The door didn't open. Maggie got up to call Matt again. She opened the door and discovered that Matt wasn't there. This wasn't like Matthew. He wasn't usually deliberately disobedient. "Paul, Matthew's gone."

"He couldn't have gone far," Father Lantom replied, trying to be comforting. "I'll check the bathroom; you check Matthew's room."

Maggie's frustration was building as she walked down the hall to Matthew's room. She rapped sharply on the door. "Matthew, open the door please." No answer. Maggie knocked again. "Matthew?" No answer again. She tried the know and found it unlocked. She opened the door to an empty room and an open window. A quick look around the room and she noted that both his backpack and cane were missing. "Damn it to Hell," she muttered under her breath as she stepped into the hall to intercept Father Lantom. "Matthew's run away."

"He must have overheard our conversation. He can't have been gone long. Where would he go? Matthew is a smart boy. He's not going to go where he is not safe."

"He's a blind boy, Paul. He's not safe anywhere," Maggie snapped as she mentally ran through places he might have gone.

"You don't give him enough credit. He may be blind but he is also smart. Matthew gets around places he knows very well. Jack taught him well and his skill grew exponentially after..."

"Please...do not mention that man in my presence," Maggie interrupted. "Whatever help he did provide was negated by all the pain he caused."

"My point is that Matthew knows this neighborhood well. He's going to go somewhere he knows," Father Lantom explained.

Realization hit Maggie. "I have an idea where he went."