A Friend in Need

by Demonwolf

When his family agrees to help care for a boy whose only relative is sick, James is initially eager to help out another boy in need. But Dylan Anderson couldn't be more different from James and not in a good way. But he's just a boy; he can't be that bad. Can he?

38. Chapter 38

Ch. 38

Centipede's prediction about the worst of winter being over certainly seemed to hold true. While most of the city was still covered in snow come Monday, the sunny weather persisted and the various maintenance crews made excellent headway clearing the streets and sidewalks during the two days following the storm. By the time school resumed on Tuesday, there wasn't a cloud on anyone's horizon.

Well, mostly.

"Is Dylan still in jail?" Ricky asked as the kids took their seats in the classroom while waiting for the morning bell.

"Yes. He has to stay there until at least Saturday."

"What's on Saturday?"

"My family said we have to go to a family court and the judge will decide where Dylan has to go."

"That doesn't sound like fun."

"I don't think so either," James admitted.

"Did you..." Tessa paused, trying to find the right words. "Did that happen to you, James?"

"No. I just had a social worker who decided where I would go. But Dylan doesn't have any other family except for his grandmother."

"And you didn't do anything bad," Ricky added.

Spiker and Sponge thought so.

James clenched his fist under his desk at the thought, hoping none of his friends noticed. "I wish Dylan hadn't done anything bad. Mrs. Ladybug said I have to talk to his social worker and tell her everything Dylan said to me because that's going to help the judge decide what to do."

"You do?"

"Why?"

"Yeah, is he gonna get in more trouble?"

"I don't know, but my family said when it comes to kids like Dylan, their new families have to know everything about them and all the things they did to see if they can help them."

"Oh."

"But you said Dylan's social worker is nice, right?"

"Yes. Ms. Gould is nice."

"Then it's no big deal," Tessa assured him.

"I dunno; isn't that like being a tattletale?" one of the boys piped up.

"I don't think so. Is it?"

"Not if your family tells you to do it."

"Mrs. Ladybug said it's the right thing to do," James told his friends. "Besides, I don't want Dylan telling any other kids they're liars or that they should have bad things happen to him."

"Yeah. Dylan's awful."

"Well... I don't know." James sighed, looking down at his desk. "I know he needs to be punished for what he did and I didn't like it when he was mean to me. But... I still feel badly for him."

"Why? He was bad and now he's in trouble. That's good."

"But Dylan still has to leave his home and his grandmother and he can't go back, ever. No one should have that happen to them, even if they are bad."

The assembled class exchanged looks, but their attention was quickly captured by the ringing bell, signaling that morning lessons would soon start. Quickly, everyone took their places at their desks, waiting for Ms. Devon to enter the classroom.

"Are you going to visit Dylan before Saturday?" Tessa whispered to James.

"I think Centipede and Miss Spider are going to see him today. Mrs. Ladybug will probably talk with his grandmother today too."

"Do you think she's going to be really mad?"

"Yes. But I think a lot of people are mad at her too. I heard Mr. Grasshopper and Centipede talking and Centipede said the city is going to try and make Mrs. Anderson pay for everything Dylan stole."

"Uh-oh."
************************************************************************************************************************************

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M RESPONSIBLE?"

"Mrs. Anderson, as I've explained, your grandson-"

"MY DYLAN IS COMPLETELY INNOCENT! IT'S ALL HER FAULT!" Amelia's flabby arm, still connected to several tubes, flopped in Mrs. Ladybug's direction.

"Mrs. Anderson," Rachel Gould began again with a sigh, "your grandson Dylan managed to steal food from no less than four different locations in the city."

"RIDICULOUS! I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW-"

"One of those locations happened to be the club that a member of my family owns." Not usually one for interrupting, Mrs. Ladybug's tone brooked no argument. "Not only did Dylan sneak into the kitchen and help himself to prepared desserts intended for paying customers, but he he threw a knife at a waitress and vomited on the carpet."

"He what?" Dr. Harmond, who was supervising Mrs. Ladybug and Rachel's meeting with Amelia, raised his eyebrows as his face turned into a mask of shock. "That boy threw a knife at a waitress?"

"DYLAN WOULD NEVER-"

"Thankfully, the knife in question was a butter knife, but the fact that Dylan was so quick to attempt such a stunt is more than a little concerning. What's just as concerning, Amelia, is your refusal to believe the numerous complaints about Dylan."

"THEY'RE ALL LIARS! MY SWEET BABY WOULD NEVER-"

"Amelia, I need you to calm down." Dr. Harmond laid a shoulder on the woman's shoulder. "I understand you're upset, but I cannot have you getting so agitated so soon after surgery."

"HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ME TO STAY CALM WHEN THIS HORRIBLE WOMAN AND BUG ARE SLANDERING MY GRANDSON!"

"Rachel Gould and Dr. Ladybug are doing their jobs and I must do mine. Now please, stay calm and listen."

Amelia clenched her teeth and seethed, but she managed to lay back in her bed and settle somewhat into the pillows. The tubes and wires emerging from under her blankets twitched a bit as she did and Dr. Harmond quickly checked that Amelia's IV fluid hadn't been disrupted before nodding at Rachel and Mrs. Ladybug once more.

"Thank you, Dr. Harmond. Like Dr. Ladybug said, your grandson's behavior this past week was bad enough, but his actions on Friday are inexcusable."

"If you had let him stay home from school that day, all of this could have been avoided," Amelia hissed.

"I explained this to you, Amelia, remember?"

"I don't think it's a tale anyone could forget, Dr. Ladybug," Dr. Harmond said dryly.

"I fail to see any reason for you to treat my grandson so poorly, doctor!"

Mrs. Ladybug sighed as she recounted the tale yet again. "Dylan already admitted to faking an illness Thursday evening after taking a treat he was not meant to have."

"And why not? I imagine you gave that boy of yours a treat!"

"Yes, because James was not ill nor did he claim to be. If Dylan really was feeling poorly, the last thing he should have eaten was a rich dessert. But after sneaking into the kitchen and helping himself, Dylan freely admitted he was not sick."

"My baby is not a liar!"

"Really? Then what do you call telling a diner you're with a large party when you're not? Or giving a false name to a snack bar in order to obtain a $2.00 sundae?"

"Ridiculous! Have you any proof?"

"The waitress who served Dylan at the diner gave a spot-on description of your grandson and was adamant that he said his grandmother would pay for the meal," Rachel explained.

"Not to mention the meal in question was chocolate pancakes with chocolate syrup. Dylan's favorite breakfast, as you yourself stated," Mrs. Ladybug added. "And as for the snack bar at the Locke and Key Department store? Not only did the young man working there give an identical description of Dylan, but he said the boy in question gave the name Johnny Trotter when asked."

"Sounds like it might have been your son sneaking ice cream then!"

"My James was in school when all of this took place and in any case, I can say with certainty that my son would never trick someone into giving him sweets like Dylan did." Of course, even if James did do such a thing, he would have been a lot more clever than Dylan, but Mrs. Ladybug thought it best not to say such a thing.

"Indeed. In fact, it was the use of the name Trotter that got the store's attention, was it not?"

"Yes. The young man working the snack bar was already a bit suspicious, given the name, but when Dylan ran off, he made sure to mention it to security and that's what allowed us to connect the dots as to Dylan's whereabouts."

"I'm still not entirely convinced this little thief was Dylan!"

Rachel chose to ignore Amelia's words. "One of the Locke and Key's managers spotted Dylan getting on a bus with another large party. That was how police knew he was headed for the Grand Deluxe Hotel. However, even if he hadn't been spotted, we have confirmed his location anyway."

"Oh really? And just how would you have done that?"

"Dylan was involved in a scuffle with one of the hotel directors. She was supervising a children's event and Dylan apparently did not meet the dress code criteria. When told to go back to his room and change, Dylan kicked the woman in question and ran away. The security guard managed to grab his backpack, which contained the boy's winter garments. Both his coat and his backpack had tags identifying him as Dylan Anderson."

"Well... he... that boy could have stolen Dylan's things! Did you ever think about that?"

"The boy matched Dylan's description and the coat inside matched the description both the diner and the department store employees gave. If Dylan was indeed the victim of a robbery, it likely would have occurred when he was at school. No such incident was reported, but Dylan's absence was," Mrs. Ladybug said firmly.

"Speaking of the Grand Deluxe Hotel, Dylan found yet another snack bar and told the woman working there that he was staying in at the hotel and gave her a specific room to charge the snacks he obtained to. In fact, the reason Dylan lashed out at the employee supervising the party was because the children staying in the room Dylan claimed to be in overheard him and told the truth." Rachel looked up from the notes she had gathered and frowned at Amelia.

"And that's when the hotel employees let my poor baby run into the storm, is it not? I should sue them for that!"

"While you may have grounds to sue Dylan's elementary school for him running off- and I emphasize the word may- the Grand Deluxe is the one with a legal case against you. As is the diner, the Locke and Key, and Miss Spider's club."

"Indeed. Centipede and Miss Spider were both at the club when Dylan ran out of the kitchen. As we stated, he had eaten several prepared desserts and when he was caught, he threw the knife at one of Miss Spider's employees."

"You mentioned the knife in question was a butter knife correct?"

"Yes, Dr. Harmond."

"Was the employee harmed? Did it hit her eye or graze her head?"

"Thankfully no. According to both Centipede and Miss Spider, the knife barely glanced off the girl's arm. It startled her more than anything."

"There, see? Dylan wasn't trying to hurt this girl; he was just scared! And now, you've locked him up for that!"

"Dylan was brought to a juvenile detention facility because of the numerous counts of theft against him. I promise you, Amelia, no one was happy with the decision, least of all my family and I."

"Is that so, Dr. Ladybug? Then WHY haven't you gotten him OUT of there?"

"Dr. Ladybug and her family have rescinded custody to the state, which means I'm in charge of his placement," Rachel answered. "I managed to get a family court date set for Saturday and then-"

"Wait, family court? What are you talking about?" Amelia struggled to sit up, her eyes darting about in their sockets like small trapped animals as sweat dripped down her face. "I'm his grandmother; there's no need for you to take charge of Dylan!"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Anderson, but between your health issues and Dylan's overall behavior, I had no choice but to open up a case regarding your capability as a guardian."

"WHAT? HOW DARE YOU? I'LL-"

"Amelia!" Dr. Harmond laid a hand on Amelia's shoulder. "You've already torn your stitches once; I'll not risk you doing so again!"

"BUT THEY-"

"Amelia, you won't be able to return home for some time," Dr. Harmond said firmly. "In fact, I've already had to push your release date back because of your stitch tearing."

"But I-"

-will need bedrest and a strict diet before you're fully recovered and that will take time and care. I'm sorry, Amelia, but I'm having you transferred to the Pinewood Health Clinic next week. It'll be up to them to determine when you can go home again."

"BUT WHAT ABOUT DYLAN?"

"That's what family court is for." Rachel sighed and spoke in a much softer tone. "I am sorry, Amelia, truly I am. But Dylan needs a lot more than you can provide right now."

"I can care for him! Truly I can! I-"

"No, Amelia, you cannot." Like Rachel, Dr. Harmond's voice was soft, but firm. "Your body needs a lot of rest and care, not running after a young boy."

"Dylan is a quiet child. He-"

"Dylan is a quiet child when he has what he wants," Mrs. Ladybug interjected. "But a life of television and sweets has been doing a lot more harm than good. Already, Dylan's had to repeat two grades and is well on his way to repeating a third, he throws awful fits when he doesn't get his way and has made it clear he cares nothing for the well-being of the people around him. Is that the kind of person you want your grandson to be?"

"I want my grandson to be happy!"

"But he isn't happy," Mrs. Ladybug said. "I know you didn't want to Dylan to feel the way your daughter did. Yes, Amelia, we know about Dottie, and I completely understand wanting Dylan to have the best life possible. But giving a child the best life means allowing them to grow and experience the world so that they can live in it as proper adults. Tell me, Amelia, aside from television, what else does Dylan like to do?"

"He likes comic books."

"Well, did he ever express an interest in writing or drawing his own comic books?" Mrs. Ladybug asked.

"No. He doesn't like to draw!"

"Did you ever encourage him to do so?"

"Believe me, that doesn't work!" Amelia's eyes narrowed to slits.

"What about helping him find other hobbies?" Rachel asked. "Surely there was something else Dylan liked to do?"

"Dylan was happy with me. He needed nothing else."

"I see." Rachel exchanged a look with Mrs. Ladybug. "Amelia, again, I'm sorry, but since you are unable to care for Dylan-"

"I can!"

"You cannot," Dr. Harmond insisted.

"And since Dylan needs a home, the decision is out of my hands. I have to let the family court decide and the judge is going to need to see all of the information we have regarding your grandson. That includes statements regarding his behavior, especially from this past week."

"I want to talk to the judge! It's my right! It's-"

"If I think you are well enough, I will see about getting you to the court appointment on Saturday," Dr. Harmond promised. "But that's all I can do!"

"See that you do! I'm getting my grandson back and then we're going home!"

"We shall see. Rest, Amelia."

With a tired glare, Amelia settled back into bed. Her chest, still heaving with anger, nonetheless, slowed and began to rise and fall in a steady rhythm as her eyes closed. Dr. Harmond bent down over Amelia, checking her vitals carefully so as not to wake her.

"Rachel, is there any chance Dylan will be placed back in the custody of his grandmother?" Mrs. Ladybug asked in a hushed tone.

"Highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened."

"If that is the case, could a home nurse be arranged to look after Amelia, Dr. Harmond?"

"It's possible, but she'll have to pay for it herself."

"That'll be tricky, given that the damages Dylan caused will also have to come out of her pocket. Something else the judge will have to take into consideration on Saturday," Rachel replied.

"And quite frankly, I cannot recommend home care," Dr. Harmond said, leading the group out of Amelia's room and into the hall. "Between having a kidney removed and the high likelihood of Amelia developing diabetes, she isn't going to have the same energy she used to. Plus, going back to her home so quickly could result in her continuing her bad habits for both her and her grandson."

"Dr. Harmond, is she going to have to pay for her stay in the clinic?" Mrs. Ladybug asked.

"No, thank goodness. I was able to file an insurance claim on Amelia's behalf and the policy Amelia had covering her and Dylan agreed to cover the cost of it. But if Amelia or Dylan develops diabetes, it may come down to the company deciding to pay for either the stay in the clinic or insulin."

"I see. Well, let's hope neither of them actually develop the disease, then."

"I think Dylan will be alright. The staff at the juvenile detention have been alerted to his health issues and they can make sure Dylan sticks to a healthy diet while he's there."

"And younger bodies tend to bounce back faster overall," Dr. Harmond said with a chuckle. "Good. But Rachel, there is a good chance that Amelia may not be able to attend court on Saturday."

"I understand. Family court can appoint legal counsel for her if that is the case. Can you let us know by Friday if that will be the case?"

"Yes. And I can give you a full written statement regarding Amelia's status as a guardian from the point of view of a medical professional."

"Excellent. And Dr. Ladybug, I am ready to speak to James tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes, he knows. How long do you think that will take?"

"I'll try to keep it to an hour at most."

"Thank you, Rachel. And I know Centipede and Miss Spider are visiting Dylan at the juvenile center this afternoon. They can talk with you tomorrow after you're done speaking to James."

"That would be most helpful, thank you, Dr. Ladybug. I'm sure they'll have quite the story to tell."