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Chapter Seven: A Father Figure
That evening, after Dan had gotten back, he and Mr. Maypenny were starting supper. A pounding on the door startled Dan, and he dropped the forks that he was holding, he stood staring at the door as Mr. Maypenny, after looking at him in concern went to the door and opened it.. A angry Bill Regan stormed in, and headed for his nephew. Maypenny reached for his arm to stop him, but Regan was too fast. In a matter of seconds Dan's uncle had crossed the room, and was standing infount of him.
Dan felt a flash of fear as he stared into the angry eyes of his uncle. He had a feeling he knew what was going to happen next.
"Why would you take it? Are you really so ungrateful for all I did for you? Do you even know what I had to do to get you here? And now you're just wasting it on your petty life of crime! How could you hurt a sweet girl like Honey?" Ragan's voice became louder and louder till he was yelling the last words in Dan's face.
Dan stayed silent, willing this to end soon, but that seemed to fuel Regan's rage. He reached out and pushed his nefew against the wall hard, "I had enough trouble in my life without you adding to it-"
Dan began to breath rapidly, as he looked into Regan's face. His uncle broke off when Mr. Maypenny shoved him away from Dan, the old man spoke, his voice dangerous and hard, "If you touch the boy again, I am going to have to ask you to leave." He cast a quick look at his young charge, "In fact if you don't go to the other side of the room right now I will make you leave."
Regan stared at him for a moment then moved away, watching as the old man helped Dan to his feet from when he had slid to the ground. Mr. Maypenny led Dan to his room. Maypenny sat Dan on the bed and then sat next to him, putting a arm around his young charge's shoulders. After a moment, when Dan was calmer, the old man got up, and slipped out of the room, leaving the door open a crack.
Dan sat on the bed, listening to the voices. They had been talking for close to a hour, but there seemed to be no conclusion reached. His uncle wanted him sent back to the city, to go back to the Juvenal Detention. Mr. Maypenny on the other hand was insisting that Dan be able to tell his side of the story. Eventually Dan heard the two men getting up,
"Mr. Maypenny. Just take him back to the city. Let the judge put him in Juvenile Detention. It'll do him some good."
The older man's voice was tired "I'll bring him to the city by the end of the week." Dan felt his heart sink. He wouldn't even get to stay with Maypenny. He didn't here the door opening then closing, nor did he hear Maypenny open the door to his room.
He looked up startled when the bed that he was sitting on shifted with added weight. Maypenny was sitting on the bed looking at him with compassion. He touched Dan on the shoulder. "I know you must have heard what I said in the end."
Dan looked away, hiding the hurt in his eyes, but his head snapped back at the old man's next words. "I mean what I said about taking you to the city. But what I'll do instead of leaving you at the mercy of the judge, I will do my best to get full rights to you, so I can be fully your gaurdien with out your uncle having the ultimate decision about your life. If the people here will not accept you then we would have to move. But I will not just leave you alone."
Dan stared at him, blinking, as he processed the words. Mr. Maypenny smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "You should get some sleep."
He rose and left the room, casting one more look back at Dan before he closed the door.
To God Be The Glory