Wearing his over-sized combat boots, Scat stomped up and down the 2A hall singing, “Madie, Madie, Madie.”
Madie pulled her mom’s quilt over her head and tried to ignore the noise.
“Madie….I’m hungry!” the boy yelled as he pounded his fists on her door.
“Go eat a potato!” she yelled from the comfort of her bed, “I’m not your mother!”
“But I don’t like potatoes!” Scat responded. “I want eggs!” His voice sounded pathetic and needy. Tony catered to the boy’s every need and treated the gutter-rat as if he were helpless toddler. The boy’s neediness drove Madie crazy.
Irritated with the boy, Madie climbed out of bed, flung open her door and leaned into the boys face, “I don’t care! Gutter-rats don’t get to be choosy; especially ones that enjoy disturbing my sleep. Now go away and leave me alone!” Madie gave the boy a stern look before adding, “Disturb me again and you die!”
Before Madie could slam the door in the boys face, She hears a familiar voice, “Mornin, Sunshine”, It was Pete.
Pete did his best to keep the lawlessness around Bear Country to a minimum, a difficult task considering the circumstances.
Madie glanced at the clock on the wall. It was much later that she thought. “Afternoon, Pete, How you been?”
“I’m well,” Pete said, “Sounds like you’re off to a cheerful start.”
Madie rolled her eyes and motions for Pete to enter her room. “Better lock me in my room now. I’m gonna kill that boy one day”.
Pete stepped into Madie’s room and sat on the edge of her desk. “The Hulk and his goons antics are getting closer to Bear Country. I’m thinking we should have an official security force for Bear Country. With your permission, I would like to throw my name into the hat as a candidate for the position.”
“Oh, Pete!, I can’t think of anyone more qualified, especially since you and your boys already take care of much of our security needs.”
Pete smiled, “I’m just wanting to make it official.”
Madie hugged Pete, “I’ll schedule a meeting. We can take care of this right away.”
Still hungry, Scat returns to Madie’s room holding four eggs he stole from the farmers market. “If you cook these, I’ll share.”
Madie couldn’t turn down the boy’s offer. She hadn’t seen or eaten an egg in weeks.