The Last Phoenix

"I'm Sorry John. There is simply no way you can return to full duty.  I can get you a desk job, but that would be just pushing paper, I'm afraid."  The Police Chief said to Sergeant Gregory as he lay in the hospital bed looking up at him.

John Gregory had been in an accident and had just been moved to a room after three full days in ICU.  He had many broken bones, and his legs were paralyzed, probably permanently.  The doctors were not at all hopeful.

"I knew that deep inside, but still, I had to ask.  I've got twenty two years service, so I guess you'd better start processing my retirement."  John sighed, "I'll break the news to Becky when she gets back from her physical therapy."

"Okay John, I'm really going to miss you on the streets.  You know you were the best.  I may call you in as a consultant, to teach some of these young up-starts how it should be done."  The Chief said cheerfully.

"Yeah, I'm really going to miss the kids, Safe Place has been my baby.  I hope you can replace me with someone who really cares for the kids."

"I was thinking of LaRue." The Chief said.

"Yeah, Bruiser will be good.  He is fair, and he doesn't let them walk all over him.  Just keep Farleigh out of there.  There is something about him that just plain gives me the creeps."

"Don't worry about that.  He's been taken care of.  He's out of the picture for good."  The Chief didn't want to be the one to tell John about his son, so he changed the subject and chatted for another few minutes, then left to catch his return flight to Philadelphia.

When the elevator doors opened, a man stepped out, recognized his old hometown Police Chief, and said, "Chief Wilson, I'm Tom Richards.  I didn't expect to see you here."

"Tom Richards?  Oh, yes, Haven Enterprises!  I wasn't expecting to see you either.  By the way, I want to thank your man, Philip, for the video.  I've got Farleigh locked up and the judge is refusing bail.  He'll never get near a kid again."

"That's great news."

"Well, I'm sorry to be so quick, but I have to run or I'll miss my flight." 

Soon John heard a huge commotion in the hall.

 Donny and Danny, John's twin sons, came bursting through the door, "Dad!" they said in unison, the way twins often have of doing things.

"Boys!  How did you get here?"

Tom Richards came in, followed by a group of boys John couldn't name, except for Neal.  "I brought them.  They were driving me insane.  Well behaved, good manners, polite...Jeez, setting such an example for my boys."

The twins looked at Mr. Richards and whined, "Uncle Tommy, we were not!"

John laughed and then coughed.  His boys, as usual, hadn't listened very closely to what had been said.

Tom smiled, "Well John, I must say, you look like hell, but actually a lot better than I expected.  The boys were very anxious to see you, and we had to make a little trip out this way anyhow.  If you are up for it, I'll leave the trouble makers here, and go take care of our business.  When we get back, I'll bring you a pizza, for lunch.

"Oh, God, real food?  I'll even suffer with these two heathens for food." He hugged his sons, delighted that they were here.  "You guys go on.  Becky will be so surprised when she gets back."

"Come on troops, let's go on our mission."  Soon the room was empty except for the father and his two sons.  Donny was still clinging to his father.

The twins dove behind the bed when they heard the door open.

"John, what in the world, what has happened to put that wonderful smile on your face?  Did they give you more drugs?" Becky asked as walked slowly with the walker she had just received in PT.

The boys popped up, "Surprise!"

Becky quickly sat on John's bed before she fell down in shock at seeing her boys.  "Danny, Donny, oh mercy!"

The boys ran over and gave their Mom a big hug.

*  *  *  Across town, in a not so pleasant area, behind a ten foot barbed wire fence  *  *  *

There were fifty eight Wards of the State registered as residents at the Walter F. Sooker, Youth Facility.  The staff had nervously lined up the residents to meet the new owners and operators of this place.  The only place large enough for everyone to gather was the Mess Hall.  All of the residents were boys, between the ages of four and seventeen.  The residents were either un-adoptables, or sent here from the State Juvenile Courts for confinement.

Everyone had been anxiously waiting for the arrival of the new owners for about thirty minutes when a commotion was heard from the front of the building.  The staff members all gasped when fifteen Pennsylvania State Police officers entered the room and took up positions at each exit to the room.  Next, a group of eight adults entered and they were followed by a smaller group of six boys.

One of the boys walked out in front of the lined up boys, "Hi, I didn't think I'd ever see some of you guys again.  We need to get everybody sorted out now.  I want everybody who is nine or younger to go over there with Brian."  Brian waved.  "The rest of you need to just chill for a while, and the police will be asking for your names, and we will be taking things from there."

Neal walked up and down the row of boys, and then went over to the man in the Sheriff's Uniform.  Then he spoke quietly, "Uncle Eric, two of them are gone, but those six huddled over there are the ones." He pointed to a group of very angry looking older teens who were huddled together talking quietly to each other.
The Sheriff nodded his head and said, "Got it covered, Neal. Thanks."
Things progressed pretty well from there.  Brian got hugs from a couple of the younger boys.  A name tag with his name was given to each boy, and the names were recorded and then Brian led them out of the Mess Hall.  The police soon had the older boys sorted, and the older boys were individually interviewed by Linda.

One of the older boys snarled out loud "Hey, Bitch?  Why the fuck did you take all the little shits? You could have taken some of us instead."

Andy stepped forward, but Neal stopped him. 

"Well, I see you are still a real clueless idiot. I guess it just goes to show you that a Tiger don't change its stripes." Neal sighed. "You know Jason; I thought for sure that you could be different if you just had a decent chance. I can't believe you could be that damn stupid. Couldn't you see that she was gonna help you? I'm really sorry; I thought you might just have a little bit of sense. I guess I was wrong. I told Mrs. Harris, there, you know, the woman you just called a bitch, that she should give you a chance. I told her that when I was here, you showed signs of caring what happened to some of us and that you stood up for us little kids once in a while; that you might be able to make something out of your life if you were just given that chance.  And what do you do, you dumb ass?  You get an interview with the one person here with the authority to sign you out of the so called justice system, the one person who could actually help you, and you open that conversation by calling her a bitch. She is one of the kindest most understanding people I have ever known, and without even hearing what she had to say to you, you open your big stupid mouth and call her a bitch.  Well, loser, I hope you enjoy your next three years in confinement. I sincerely doubt that you will get another break."

Andy smiled and added, "Have a nice day." he slapped Jason on the back and walked away, as one of the officers opened a door so he could join the other boys who would be relocated to other detention facilities.  Tears began running down his cheeks, as he finally realized what a stupid mistake he had made, and that he had most likely thrown away his last chance to separate himself from his former life. Only time would tell if he might get one more chance. He certainly would be watched. 'Philip' was watching through the closed circuit monitoring system and noticed Jason's tears and made a note to keep an eye on the boy. Perhaps a few more life lessons were in order.  Linda, who sometimes saw things in people that others didn't, was still seated at the table where she had been conducting her interview.  She had been listening and watching. She made a few notes on the pad in front of her, and made a decision. She would be watching Jason's progress as well. Maybe something had seeped through his thick skull. At least someone had planted a seed.  She held out little hope, but little hope was better than no hope.

Travis was showing Mitch around, when they came to a closed door.  Mitch asked, "What's in there?"

"I don't know, I've never seen that door open."  Travis reached out and the knob didn't turn.  "Hmmm, locked."

"Well, we own it now.  Do you have the key?" Mitch asked.

Travis took out the keyring he had been given, and tried the first key he grabbed in the lock.  The door opened, and the smell from inside the room, if you could call the tiny space a room, immediately came to the boys, "Yuck, what is that smell?  Smells like old piss and poop." Travis choked out.

The boys entered the room, and there was a shabby dilapidated crib, with a small kid in it.  The kid was in a diaper, his hands were raised up, covering his face, and he lay there, his whole body shaking in absolute terror.  Mitch and Travis approached the crib.  The kid had long blond hair, he was covering his face, like he was afraid he was going to be hit.  One of his legs was badly deformed and one of his hands was just a single finger, not the whole hand.  His diaper was obviously in desperate need of changing.

Mitch looked around and there were some clean disposable diapers and other stuff.  "Travis, have you ever changed a diaper before?"

"No, have you?"

"Yeah, I changed my little brother, when Mom was busy.  It looks like everything we need is here."  Mitch cleared off the changing table.  "Travis, pick him up and lay him over here, will ya?"

Travis reached out and touched the kid.  The kid flinched and whimpered.  "It's okay, little one." he said, very gently, so as not to frighten the little fellow.  "We aren't going to hurt you."  Travis then gently lifted the kid and set him down gently.  Mitch went to work, removing the soiled diaper.  The baby wipes got the cute little guy cleaned up, but the poor thing had diaper rash totally covering his bottom and privates.  Mitch applied the baby powder and ointment and put a clean diaper on him.  "Don't worry little guy. We'll take care of you now."  Mitch pulled the small boy close and hugged him. The boy gasped, having never in his entire young life felt anyone hold him close or show him any affection what so ever. It felt wonderful. He could feel the love radiating from Mitch.  He buried his head in Mitch's chest and tears began to run down his cheeks.  Mitch held him close and gently rubbed his back.

Travis looked around for a wheelchair, "Those tight assed mother fuckers, They don't even have a wheelchair for the little guy.  It's a fuckin' wheel-barrel with a pillow."

"Bring it here." Mitch said, and then he gently put the little boy on the pillow.  He and Travis then gathered up anything that looked like it might be useful and didn't miss the stuffed bunny that was in the boy's bed.  "This room is so awful. Let's get him out of here."

Mitch and Travis got back to the Mess Hall just as the state police were reading the rights to the employees.  Dr. Leo Turnman saw the twins enter, and when he realized the missing child was in the wheel barrel he ran over to them.

Mitch spoke first, "He's in pretty bad shape, Uncle Leo.  He's nothing but skin and bones, and he hasn't been changed nearly often enough."

Dr. Turnman reached to pick up the boy and he let out a scream that shook the room.  Mitch laid a hand gently on the boy's shoulder and he immediately quieted.  "He likes me." Mitch said.

Mitch picked him up and Dr. Turnman did a very quick check.  "Poor little guy, He probably had a drug addict for a mother, judging by the birth defects.  Looks like he has Congenital Cataracts so he's practically totally blind, and," he snapped his fingers, "he's deaf too. There was no reaction what so ever to my snapping my fingers.  My guess is he's been kept alive here because the State pays for special services that he hasn't gotten."

"That's crummy.  What do we need to do for him?" Mitch asked.

"Well, right now, he needs someone to be his eyes, ears and voice.  Someone to look out for his needs." Doc told Mitch.

"I can do that." Mitch said.

About that time, the other adults came over.  "Mom, Dad, we've got to keep this one.  He needs our help. I know he's the one we were supposed to find.  Our house will be perfect for him when he grows up."

Lee and Linda Harris looked at each other then laughed, "Mitch, you are adding to the family before we could."

"Huh?" Mitch answered.

Travis figured it out though, "A baby?  You guys are having a baby?"

There was a moment of shocked silence, and then everyone was offering congratulations to the recently married couple.

When they got outside, there were two buses there.  One was from the State Corrections Department and in it were the staff and 17 of the older juveniles.  The other was the huge luxury bus that most of the people here had come in, and it had the kids Brian had brought out and the older kids not being taken to another State facility in it, along with Oliver Jones. Everyone was getting along quite well.

At eleven o'clock The Phoenix van and bus pulled up to the hotel.  Tom Richards got off the bus and went into the lobby.  "Hello" he said to the employee lounging behind the counter, reading. 

The balding fortyish man looked over his half-eye reading glasses.  Obvious disdain in his voice, "How may I help you?"

Tom didn't like the attitude one little bit.  "Yes, I would like to rent a floor for let's just say, a week."

The man snorted and said, "Of course you do.  Now I have work to do if you don't mind."

Tom raised an eyebrow.  "'Philip'?"  He hit the little bell on the counter.  A gong sounded and the man's computer screen went blank.

The lobby speakers came to life, Lurch's voice, 'You rang, sir?'

"What floor is available?" Tom asked.

'Both the third and twenty seventh, sir.' answered the deep resonant voice.

"Okay, we'll take the twenty seventh, it has a much better view and it's a lot quieter for the forty seven boys." Tom said, smiling at the man.

"Now see here, Just who do you think you are, coming in here acting like you own the place?"

The screen on his computer showed Tom's picture, his name and the fact that he owned 100% of Haven Enterprises that, as it happened, owned 100% of the hotel.  "Any other questions?" Pause. "Good, 'Philip' unlock the doors for us. Please."

In Marvin's voice (Paranoid Android from 'Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy), 'Brain the size of the planet, and he wants me to unlock the doors, Want me to leave a light on for you?  Like this is Hotel 6..."

"Yeah, Yeah, enough with the cracks, 'Philip'.  We'll talk later.  How about ordering some pizzas for the crew and two large ones to go for me to take over to the hospital." Tom said.

Still in Marvin's voice, 'Now I'm Room Service?'

The man who thought he was in charge stood there in shock, as all the boys filed in, looking around in awe at the plush surroundings of the stately very well cared for hotel.

The man behind the desk couldn't stop himself when the wheel-barrel came in.  "Just what the hell do you think you are doing?  You can't bring that, that, thing in here."

Neal carefully set the wheel barrel down and approached the counter, Mitch, Travis and Brian converged there also.

Mitch said, "You'd better take that back you, you..."

Travis continued, "Tight assed son of a bitch."

Mitch continued, "Nobody, and I mean Fuckin' NOBODY, talks about my new little brother like that."

"Brother?  I was talking about the farm implement." the clerk defended.

Lurch added, 'Little man, you need to correct your attitude now, or you will need to find a new line of work, say cleaning cages at the pound for instance, if even they would hire someone with an attitude like yours, which, after I have a word with them,  I certainly doubt!  No, I'm sure they wouldn't have you as an employee; that would be most unfair to the dogs, I'm afraid.'

Tom returned and sized up the situation.  "Neal?  Is there a problem?"

"The help leaves a bit to be desired, Dad." Neal said.

"I meant the wheel barrel honest, sir."

Neal looked into his eyes, "You'd better have, or I will fire your sorry ass, myself, and don't think I can't do it either."

"Neal, watch the mouth." Tom corrected then nodded, "I certainly wouldn't contradict him. He's my son. Most of the time, when it comes to hiring decisions, he has the final word."

The little man paled and went back to trying to look busy and he deliberately ignored the passing boys.  Even with all six elevators, it took some time to get forty seven boys, and nine adults up to the twenty seventh floor.  Tom and Leo, Martha and Nick and Jim took the rooms nearest to the elevators.  Linda and Lee, and Sheriff Henry took the rooms at the other end of the hallway.  Mitch and Travis and their new brother took the room next to their Mom and Dad. Oliver took the room across from Jim's. The rest of the boys took rooms two to a room.  Andy and Jimmy took a room about halfway down the hall and Brian and Neal took the room across the hall.  About the time that everyone got settled, room service arrived with a huge stack of Pizzas.  Tom counted the boxes, twenty eight in all.  He signed the room service ticket, and added a forty dollar tip.  He took the top two boxes before announcing down the hall, "Pizza! Come and get it!"

As the stampede began, he told Leo good bye and headed for the hospital.

* Back to the hospital *

Tom arrived carrying the pizzas and was very much welcomed into the room.  John had his bed set up so he could talk with his boys, and now could eat.  Both of his legs were in casts and so was his left arm.  His chest was bandaged and he looked extremely uncomfortable and tired.  However when he saw the Pizza boxes, he perked right up.  "Bring one of those over here.  I think I can eat it all by myself."

"Daaaaaaddddddd!  What about us?" the twins whined.

Becky held out her hands for the other box, "You two look fat enough, you don't need any of this."  The parents made like they weren't going to share any of the pizzas, until the boys' puppy dog expressions had them both laughing hysterically.  Soon everyone was enjoying the supreme pizzas.

When the pizzas were history, Tom decided now was the time to ask, "Ah, John and Becky, I have a question for you.  It would seem that I just acquired forty one boys.  These boys have been in an awful place.  You remember where Neal was; well these are the boys from there."

Becky asked, "Tom, what in the world are you going to do with all those boys?  Is it fair to the sons you already have?  Are you prepared to handle the problems they will have?"

"Well, you see, that's kind of where you two could come in, if you are interested.  I have this really nice facility set up, and I need some qualified people to run it." Tom began.

Becky asked, "So you want us to find the people?"

John groused, "I wish I wasn't a worthless cripple, I'd like a job like that."

Becky and the twins said, "You are not worthless!"

"Right, I'm all busted up and I may never even walk again.  I can't work, so I'm pretty much worthless." John went on feeling sorry for himself.

Tom looked at him, and in a quiet firm voice said. "Stop!  You will not talk like that in front of your boys, or your wife.  I thought you knew better than to lie, especially to kids."

John snapped his head up and stared at Tom, who then continued, "Yes you have a setback here. There is no doubt about that. Do you think God did this on a whim?  He has something he has planned for you to do.  I happen to think I know what that is.  Are you interested or would you rather we leave and let you sulk?"

Becky piped up at this, "Tom, what is it.  I, for one, am very interested."

Both boys were wide eyed; they had never seen someone talk to their Dad like that.

"Okay, Tom, I'm listening." John said.

"Good.  Two of my boys and two of Lee's, have acquired an estate near Haven, and a Juvenile Detention Center and an Orphanage.  We closed the Detention Center this morning."

Becky broke in with a great deal of concern in her voice, "What happened to the children?"

Tom grinned at her, "Well, seventeen of the older boys were returned to the State, to complete their detention sentences.  Ten other older boys that Neal vouched for, were kept along with the Thirty One orphans and they will be returning to the new estate.  I think one of the boys is going to be adopted by Linda and Lee, but that leaves forty boys between the ages of four and fifteen."

John's eyes got big, "Forty boys?  Tom, are you out of your mind?"

"Yes, completely, and I'm hoping you two are too.  There are forty lonely rejected boys, who need a chance to pull what's left of their lives together out of the ashes.  They need lots of love, caring, love, direction, love, discipline and love and more love and maybe even more love.  I look at these two young men here and can see that you know how to do the job.  John, think about it. Even if you never walk again, you have the love and insight to do this job."  Tom paused while what he said began sink in.

Danny asked, "We would have forty brothers?  Awesome!"

Donny added, "Boy, Dee and Mom will be way outnumbered."

Tom smiled and continued, "If you take the job, you will be employees of Haven Enterprises, at least until The Phoenix Youth Foundation takes over.  The job has a nice salary for each of you, and a full benefits package, which includes any and all health or accident protection, which, by the way, is retroactive from the time that you left your boys with us.  The estate is called Phoenix, and this is so fitting for these boys to grow a-new from the ashes of their lives.  Their last chance, so to speak."

Becky said, "The Last Phoenix."

A smile slowly came to John, as he studied the faces of first Tom and then his wife.  "So you both think I can do this?"

Tom looked at him and answered, "No, not by yourself.  You will need lots of help.  You and Becky will be in charge of the daily routine, there will be a full time kitchen staff for the cooking, the boys will all," Tom's look at the twins let them know they were included, "pitch in and help with the chores, like cleaning, washing dishes, cutting the lawn and so on.  The boys will be enrolled in the Haven School, and the Boy Scouts.  We have a very nice luxury bus and an eleven passenger van for transportation, and a driver is on staff, so you don't have to drive.  There will also be another live in adult there to keep the business end of the place going and to act as a part time counselor."

Tom motioned to the twins, "Come on boys, your Mom has to reason [she has some splainin to do] {read argue} with your father for a while.  Let's go see how your new brothers are doing."  Tom and the boys left, as Becky and John began talking.

* Back to the twenty seventh floor of the hotel *

Mitch sat in his room, holding the fragile young boy in his lap.  The little guy looked like he was only about two, but Mitch knew he had to be three or four.  Kids had to be at least three to be placed in that festering Hellhole.  And it seemed he had been there for some time.  Travis had gone to find out what he could about the little fella.

Travis entered his parents' room after knocking and being asked in.  "Mom, Dad?  Mitch and me,"

"I" Linda automatically corrected.

"Yeah, sorry, we wanted to know about the little guy." Travis finished.

Lee picked up one of the folders laying on the table, "Well, son, as you know, he is multi handicapped.  Besides his limb malformations, he is deaf, and has congenital cataracts.  Since he can't hear, and nobody has worked with him, he can't speak or use Braille.  The doctors think he might be severely brain damaged too."

"Daaaad, we can see all that, and his brain is just fine, Mitch said so.  What's his name?" Travis asked.

"Louis Adam Bradly." Lee answered.

"Lou, I like it.  He looks like that.  Kewl.  What can we do to fix him?" Travis then asked, with the full belief that any problem that could possibly arise could be solved in one way or another.

Linda looked sad, "Travis, honey, some things just can't be fixed."

"Travis rolled his eyes, "Moooooooommmm, Jeez, I know that, but there has to be some things we CAN do."

About that time Leo knocked and entered the room, carrying his laptop.  "Where is the wheel barrel kid?" He blurted out.

"His...Name...Is...Lou." Travis said, firmly through gritted teeth.

"Huh?  Oh, good, where is Lou?" Doc asked.

"He's with Mitch." Travis answered helpfully, not.

"He has a three o'clock appointment at Children's Hospital." Leo said.

Travis got a determined look, "We're going too.  We found him, he's ours."

Lee and Linda exchanged looks.

Travis led the doctor down the hall to their room.

Neal had been visiting up and down the hall, and in all the rooms, the boys were sitting there like they were afraid they would ruin everything if they moved.  He went and found Andy, Jimmy and Brian. "Look guys, all these boys are scared shitless right now.  I'll bet they don't have a clue about what is going on.  What can we do to help them?"

Jim, Tom's personal assistant overheard Neal's comment. "I might suggest we go get them some things.  All they have right now is what they were wearing when they left that horrible place.  There is a large Macy's right across the street..."

The boys lit up, "Yeah."  They were off organizing the boys into groups of about ten.  Everyone left at the same time, Leo with Mitch, Travis and Lou; Martha, Nick, Linda, Lee, Jim and Eric left with the rest.

*  Children's Hospital  *

Lou sat in Mitch's lap holding on with a near death grip as the group of experts examined the boy.  The Ophthalmologist was the first to look, "Looks like simple congenital cataracts.  We should be able to take care of that pretty easily.  Next, the Audiologist examined Lou.  "Cochlear Implants and Speech Therapy should have this little guy fixed right up."  Next the Physical Therapists did a quick evaluation.  "He should be able to be semi-ambulatory, but prosthesis will be difficult until he has finished growing.  We'll need to get a chair with controls he can manipulate; that should work pretty well."

The Doctors talked and planned and Lou was to be checked into the hospital overnight, so he could be prepped for surgery first thing in the morning.  Mitch absolutely refused to leave him, and Travis refused to leave Mitch.

Leo watched the battle of wills between the hospital staff and the two nine year olds.  Finally he said, "If it will make things easier, I will write orders as lead physician on this case for the boys to remain here with Lou."

The staff was relieved and so it went.  Lou was checked in and the lab tests were ordered.  When the nurse came to take a blood sample, Mitch asked for a minute.  Lou tensed, then relaxed and held out his good arm for the nurse.  She carefully took her sample and Lou whimpered softly but Mitch stroked his head and he calmed down almost instantly.

Dr. Turnman left for a little while and returned with a large bag of burgers from a fast food place and a large milk shake for each boy.

*  Macy's  *

As soon as they entered the store, the clerks hit the security buttons.  It looked like every street kid in Chicago had just walked in the store.  They headed past the women's clothes and towards the boys' clothes, except that the electronics section was in between the two departments, and about half of the boys slipped off to check out the new tech.

Nick and Jim herded them back on track, and soon they arrived at their destination.  As Jim was looking for the department clerk, a tough looking guy in a dark suit and Macy's name tag approached.  "Who's in charge here?"  He was answered by several giggles (Linda and Martha, to name a few).

Nick said, "There's forty five kids and only six adults, what do you think?"

The man scowled.  "I must ask you to leave the store, if you are not buying anything."

Jim stepped forward, "I assure you, we are planning on buying.  We need the clerk for assistance."

"Right, you're going to tell me that you are buying all these boys a new Sunday Outfit, and then you are going to steal as much as they can carry.  I don't think so." The Head of Store Security said.

Jim remained perfectly calm, "No, actually we were buying quite a bit more, and I hadn't considered a suit, boys grow so fast...no, sorry, no suits.  And we will be paying for everything with this," Jim handed the man an employee Macy's Card. 

The man laughed when he looked at the card, "This is a Store Santa Card, You can't think there is enough credit on this...?"  He was laughing out loud.  "Okay, you've had your joke, now leave."

Martha said, "I think you should check Granddad's credit limit."

"Sure lady."  He went to the register and swiped the card.  "Now I know this is a joke, no one has unlimited credit, not even Mr. Macy, himself.  Now leave, or I'll call the police."  The boys were pale and scared, except Neal, Andy, Brian and Jimmy, who were getting increasingly angrier and angrier.

Neal walked up to the man, "Call the cops, and see who gets into trouble."

The man pressed the button on his pager and instead of the buzzer he expected, a jazzy version of 'Jingle Bells' came over the store wide address system.

Brian said to Andy, "Cool, 'Philip' is here."

"Okay, all of you are under arrest..."

*

Up on the tenth floor, in a very plush office, the intercom said to the balding septuagenarian behind the desk, "George, you are needed in Boy's Wear.  Right now."

The man got up and started across the office, "Philip?  Is that you?"

There was no answer.

*

The Head of Security was angry now, and he reached out and grabbed Dante Jackson, a ten year old black boy, and started a search. 

Neal reacted with fire in his eyes and kicked the security man right in the shin, hard. "You leave Tey alone, you rotten creep!  He hasn't done anything!"

*  Back in the Hotel  *

Tom and the twins arrived, to find the entire floor deserted.  In his room there were two notes, one from Leo, telling him he had gone to Children's Hospital and why.  Then there was a note from Jim, Tom thought that was a marvelous idea.  "Hey, boys!  Everyone's over at Macy's, let's go see what kind of trouble outfitting forty boys can cause.

And so it was that Tom walked in the store, just in time to see Neal kick a huge man in the shins.  "Neal Huxley Richards!" Tom roared.

Neal froze in the process of kicking the man's other shin.  The man however wasn't frozen, and backhanded Neal, knocking him down.  Tom grabbed the man's arm and pinned it behind his back, "If you want to keep your arm, you'd better calm down, right now."

It was at this point that the old man appeared, he took in the scene, a large crowd of shabbily dressed boys, a few well dressed boys, some adults, Shorty's granddaughter, a well dressed man, with his head of security pinned to the counter, a boy sprawled on the ground holding his nose that was bleeding.  Shorty's granddaughter?  "Martha?  What are you doing here in Chicago?"

"Uncle George!"  Martha went over and gave the man a big hug.  "Nick, come here.  This is Uncle George Macy.  Grampa used to work for him at Christmas, for years.  Uncle George, this is my husband, Nick Regnad."

The security man mumbled, "Oh, shit, Uncle George?  Shit."

Tey helped Neal stand.  Linda went to Neal and helped stop the bleeding. 

Nick shook the old man's hand.  "Nice to meet you, Sir.  Any friend of Martha's and Shorty's is a friend of mine."

"Thank you, Nick.  Could you please tell me just what is going on?" Mr. Macy asked.

"Well, this big bully was trying to hassle the kids and throw us out, so we couldn't buy what we came here to buy.  He grabbed this young man and then when Neal protested, he hit him." Nick summarized skipping a few minor details.

"The little bugger kicked me."  Tom raised his arm an inch.  "Ooow!"

'Philip' inserted, 'That is not what the Security Cameras show.'  Over in the electronics section, all the TVs showed a scene where Tey was grabbed and then an innocent looking Neal is backhanded."

Starting to struggle again, the man said, "That ain't what happened!  He kicked me!"

Mr. Macy ignored the security man.  "So, just who is this?" he asked indicating Tom."

"Oh, that is Tom Richards, our dear friend." Martha said.  Tom nodded without releasing the large black man.

George Macy thought for a moment, "That is Philip's voice, and you must be the great nephew he always talked about."

Tom grinned, "You knew Uncle Philip?"

"Sure, he and Shorty helped get the stores through the war years.  Didn't you know; you are a major stock holder?" George said.

"Oh, fuck," the resigned bully muttered.

"Jamal Rankin, file your retirement papers before you leave the building, and never set foot in one of my stores again."  George said.  "You should be ashamed of yourself, especially after all that Shorty did for you.  Now go before I turn Neal and the others lose on you."

Tom released Mr. Rankin who stalked off in a fit of indignant fury.

George then asked, "Well, now that's settled, exactly what do you boys need."

Lee said, "Everything, from skin out, and toes up."

Mr. Macy called, "Oh, Mr. Humphreys, are you free..."

Authors Notes:
Well, there we go with the first chapter of a brand new story.  Lets see AAKD (Add A Kid Disease) in the extreme, forty kids for Phoenix and one for FIRE.  Maybe Tom needs to pick up a couple on the trip home for Haven.  Hmmm.
The thing that scares me is I actually do have names, ages, races and religions for all forty one boys.  I am sick, very sick.  I think I have set a new standard for AAKD, maybe this is AACD (Add A Clan Disease) (I think AC Fan, Jeff's Fort and Akeentia have a bit of that in the CSU). 
The next chapter will have some interesting turns and maybe a twist or two.  Tey is going to have a talk with Neal about his violent behavior, so is Andy.  That will be interesting.
Let me know what you think of the new story. 
Str8mayb

Mr. Humphreys is � BBC

Editor's Notes:

Thanks Str8mayb, for the great chapter. This story is starting out to be a wonderful addition to the other stories, and I for one, can hardly wait to find out what will happen next. Lou is going to be one kewl little dude. I can only imagine what a great and complex person he will be. He certainly will have no shortage of love and caring from all his new brothers and friends. Now we know what the 'Special Needs' Room, that 'Philip' designed, will be needed for, don't we? 

I also wonder what is going to happen to Jason. 'Philip' noticed that he showed a little remorse as he was being led away. I wonder if 'Philip' will somehow intercede on his behalf sometime. Neal seemed to have some hope for him as well; at least until Jason opened his mouth and put his foot in it so incredibly deeply. 

Oh yes, I loved the line, "Jamal Rankin, file your retirement papers before you leave the building, and never set foot in one of my stores again."

I refuse to admit that I had anything to do with thinking up that line. {Male Bovine Excrement}

If there is anyone who has started reading this story without first reading Haven, Fire and Haven Two too, I highly recommend that you read those stories before you embark on this one, since many of the characters and situations that have and will occur in this story will make a lot more sense once you have familiarized yourselves with the previous stories.  You could read this story as a stand alone, but you would be missing a lot of background information that would help you understand the personalities and motivation of many of the characters in this story. 
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Fort Chief Editor's Notes:

This is a wonderful new addition to the "Haven Universe" and I am definitely waiting for more.

I think we are going to have a lot of fun between Linda and 'Phillip'; I can't wait to see who has met their match.

It is going to be very interesting to see Neal, Brian, Mitch and Travis in charge of all those kids and The Phoenix House.  I would like to draw and quarter and then boil in oil the persons who mistreated Lou so badly. It is a lovely thing seeing all of the love and care Mitch and Travis are bestowing on Lou. I hope that Lou is able to get all of the surgeries he desperately needs; but if he can't I am sure the love of Mitch and Travis along with Lee and Linda will help pull him through.

Fort Chief Editor AKA  TSL