Chapter 1: PickPocket

"Stop you brat!" A man yelled after a boy and threw a can at him. He kept on running laughing as he went. His dirty black hair flew in the wind as He ran along and ran into a dark alley. The alley was filled with broken glass and old newspapers. Nearby was a sitting drunk, passed out.
In the boy’s hands clutched an old satchel. His clothes were ripped and stained and wore no shoes. His feet blacker than burnt toast and disgusts most.

My name is Gavin. I have been living on the streets since I was eight. I’ve been living in an old abandoned church that was consumed by fire years ago. I was abandoned by my parents and doing quite well on the streets.

I slowed down and laughed as I looked back. No one was following me. I leaped in the air and ran towards the end of the alley. As I excitedly left the alley, a guard was standing there. Startled I stopped abruptly. The guard grabbed my arm firmly.

"I finally got you." He smirked. The guard wore a blue uniform that was a little tight on him and wore a funny looking black hat that rose high in the air. Hanging on his side was a rifle. He smelled very sweet from all the cologne he wore.

"Let me go." I cried out and kicked.
"Hand it to me son." He said gruffly he reached for the satchel. I held on tightly to it. The guard gripped tighter around my wrist. I grunted and looked at into the guard’s eyes. They were dark and seemed pleased. "Or ill snap your fingers off one by one you trash." The guard blurted out. I looked towards the ground, and closed my eyes tightly as the guard squeezed tighter.

We both froze when we heard a growl behind us. The deep growl sent a cold chill down the guard’s spine. He jerked me around so he could look.
"Bonnie!" I cried seeing the small dog. Her paws were spread out; her tail was up and showed her teeth. The man seeing her, he growled and squeezed my wrist. Again I let out a small cry in pain. Seeing this Bonnie Leaped on top of the guard. We all fell towards the ground. The guard loosed his grip and then I ran as fast as I could with Bonnie by my side, with the guard screaming at us but not following us.

I heard something about trash but didn't stop. When they went about a mile, I leaned against a brick building and breached heavily. Bonnie went right beside me.

I sniffled and let out a weak laugh, and whipped my eyes; I bent down and petted her on the head. "Thank you girl." Bonnie tilted her head and whined. She was a light brown dog. She was smaller than she should have been. She was a lab mix. But couldn't tell with her dirty and ratted fur, her paws were worn down and mud clung to the pads on her feet. I hugged her and she wined and licked my face with her warm tongue. We started on our way.

"Hey Gavin." A voice called out to him. He turned around to see Mark waving and running up to him. "I’ve heard you got in a little mix up with the guards today."
"Not now mark. I’m just trying to get home."
"I see you still got Bonnie.” He ignored Gavin and bent down to Bonnie’s level and scratched her head. Mark was 12, a year older than Gavin. Gavin was nothing like Mark at all. Mark had strength and had a broad face. He looked much older than he actually was. Mark is from the rich part of town. He was always bragging to Gavin making him feel bad. That he gets three meals a day, and a warm bed.
Gavin is short and thin. His ribs were always sticking out and fighting for any food he can find. Now Gavin wanted to go to school like Mark, even though Mark says it melts his brain and worthless. Gavin didn't care. Mark was about to say something but his friends called of him and he took off.

I walked on with my hands jammed in his pockets. The satchel hung by my side. Gavin had no friends. He was what they called "Trash" He curled his hand into a fist and wrapped his smelly old scarf back around his neck and fixed his hat. Bonnie followed close behind. As the came across and abandoned church that was mostly burned from the fire that happened a year ago. Gavin has made it his home. He crawled in through a small opening, for all the doors and windows were boarded. He held the wood open for Bonnie to crawl through. She panted as she did. He closed the opening and lay down on the cold, hard floor. Bonnie lay right next to him, Her body heat felt good on his cold body.

"Oh." I sat up straight and as did Bonnie and reached into the satchel and took out a small piece of bread. It had flattened and now dirty form the run in with the guard.
I tore it in half and gave it to the anxious dog that gobbled it up before I got a chance to take a bite form mine. I sighed way down deep and gave her my share of the bread. And again in no time at all ate it all. I lay back down and looked up. The roof has holes in the roof where he can look up at the stars and go someplace where he wasn’t. He soon fell asleep, as Bonnie placed her head on his stomach and closed her eyes.

Chapter 2: Life on the streets

A high-pitched whistle screamed out and made Gavin jump as he was walking by. The train started onward and zipped by him. Early in the morning people are always running about. Trying to get to work and rushing to the market. Two women with fancy long dresses walked by. He held his breath and they glared at him. Than the women walked past and he led out the air. He hates when all people want to do is stare at him.

"How about we find some breakfast girl?" I said and looked down and smiled at Bonnie. She whined in agreement.

I looked around and saw a woman carrying fresh fruit in a basket that lay on her arm. I smirked and hid among the crowed. The women's dress swished when she walked. She stopped to talk to another women with a sharp "hello."

I walked up and when I was about to reach in and take a green apple from the basket. I heard the sound of a whistle and took my hand back. Not far from me was the same guard that has caught him yesterday. He didn't see Gavin, instead he was barking out orders to others in the same blue uniform. Gavin slipped out a sight.

"Come girl we'll look elsewhere,” I said with deep sorrow.
A bus roared by and I ran across the street and walked along the sidewalk. I ignored the nasty stares and rude comments. When I walked by a school, I stopped and watched. The playground was full of kids his age, romping and laughing as they swung on swings, chased each other, and climbed up tree's nearby.
A man saw him and told him to move on, he did.

Bonnie barked and I turned to look at her. She was waging her tail and what seemed like smiled at him. Reading her mind I said, "Don't worry we'll get something to eat." And was able to choke out a weak smile. He rushed across another busy street. In the market he saw so much food, his mouth watered.

He joined the crowed and tried to blend in. But with his clothes the way they were, its hard to blend in when all around him where dressed up in fancy dresses and tuxes. One man glared down at him and muttered to himself, Gavin hurried on. He was drawn to the smell of freshly made bread and fresh fruit.

He watched as the streets crowded around the market. He did not like the market. He thought it was to loud and crowded place, but a good spot to take things that weren’t watched.

A horn signaled somewhere nearby, he spotted a women with flowing light hair and her dress all puffy. Hung by her side was a basket of wonderful goodies. He walked his way around and waited for the right moment. When she dropped some change, he moved in. His target was some bread that stuck out of the basket. It was at least a foot long.

As she bent over to grab the nickel she dropped, he nearly ran into a man nearby that gawked at him. He walked right behind her and with his stealth he hurriedly walked on with his shirt stuffed.

When he got out of the crowd and jumped in the air and shouted with glee. He had their breakfast. They hurriedly walked to an empty ally and took the bread out from under his shirt. He was so happy that he had done it without getting caught.
Bonnie who never leaves his side whined and wagged her tail. He was about to rip a big piece off when Mark came around the corner.

"Well, well lookie what you got." My smile disappeared and tried to leave but Mark blocked my path.
"How did you get that?” Mark looked down at the bread in my hands. I said nothing. "Oh I see, you stole It." he looked down at Bonnie than looked back at Gavin. "Their “ “They’re going to catch you one day Gavin." he said in a deep voice with a nasty smile.
"Out of my way Mark." I bravely burst out.
"Maybe I should call a guard. Then what Gavin? Their going to lock you and your mutt up." he said disgusted.
"Shut up."
“Or what?” Mark pushed me and I just glared back at Mark.

Mark grinned and stomped on Bonnie’s paw. She yelped and with a tail under her legs hid behind a box lying at the edge of the ally. That was too much for Me. I aimed at Marks eye but missed. Mark grabbed my arms and twisted me around so fast I got dizzy. In a flash I was on the dirty ground with Mark sitting on top of me still holding my arms, Mark started shouting as loud as he could. "Thief! I caught the Thief!" guards surrounded them. "Run girl,” I hurriedly screamed at her who was still behind the box. She unwillingly ran out of sight. The guards picked up Gavin and carried him away.

Chapter 3: The Richest Man In London

I started to scream like mad and kicked anyone who got to close. Two guards held me tightly and led me towards a vehicle with bars on the end. I went mad and my screams got the whole street his attention. A man peeked behind his stall and watched. Several women who stared at the scene started whispering to one another.

“Quiet now” One the guards said in a gruff voice. I led out another scream and one of them slugged me across the cheek. My hat got knocked off my head and silently hit the ground. That shut me up.

Tears shot out of my eyes as the bared door closed on me. I stood up and could barely look out beyond the bars, I gipped them tightly. All I could think about was a way out.

“Hey.” A friendly but firm voice called out to one of the guards. I glanced at the man. He wore an expensive black suit with a top hat. His face was friendly and had a light colored moustache. I watched as they started getting to an argument. I couldn’t hear a word for I was not in earshot. My vision was blurred and my legs were shaking. I didn’t know how long I could stand up.

Then I noticed who the man in the suit was. It was Mr. Moore, the richest man in London. He owned a huge mansion with mighty halls that shown brightly and his clothes were fine and gentleman like. “What is he doing in the part of town?” I thought to myself and kept watching. He also wore a black top hat to go with his black suit. He was tall and somewhere in his 40’s.

Finally their argument calmed down and the Mr. Moore handed the guard £200. The guard greedily took it, then they both looked my way. My hands got sweaty, Then the guard walked and gave me a nasty look.

“One day.” He said quietly for only me to hear then unlocked the door and grabbed at my arm and threw me out harshly. With a grunt I hit the ground, and the vehicle drove off. I whipped his eyes, wondering what has happened. I stared at the ground for what seemed like hours.

“Up you go son.” A friendly voice held me by the armpits and stood me to my feet. Mr. Moore grabbed the hat and put it on my head and adjusted it.
“Their no harm done.” He said as he brushed the dirt and sticks off my clothes. Mr. Moore smiled at me I looked into his friendly gray eyes. His smile disappeared when he noticed the big red mark on my cheek. “You watch yourself you here.” And with that he walked away from site.

I recollected myself and dragged myself home. As I started crawling through the open space to enter the church, a warm tongue greeted me and washed my face, before I even crawled my whole body through.

“Hey girl” She replied with a whole lot of whimpering. As I closed the board and crawled to the middle of the room, Bonnie trotted off to one of the corners and started bringing it to me.
“What is it girl?” I asked wonderingly. She dropped it on my lap and I stared at it dumbfounded. It was the bread that has caused me so much trouble. Her friendly green eyes met mine and I wrapped my arms around her and let out big tears. “I love you.” I whispered before I tore off a huge chunk and gave her the dirty, staled bread.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 01.11.2012

Alle Rechte vorbehalten

Widmung:
This book is dedicated to all my friends when I needed a lending hand.