20 Years Later Roger Got Good

Author's Note: This is just a creative piece I wrote. It probably won't have an essay associated with it.

“Oy!  Get back back here with my wallet!”

As the Roger raced after the dirty little boy he flashed back to the day he met Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.  

“You need some help sir?”  Another man yelled from across the street.
“Nope got it” Roger snapped out of his flashback and realized that the alley his thief ran down was a dead end.  That was all he needed to slow down and casually walk to the end of the alley.

“Oy! You back there! Come out here and bring my wallet.  And don’t hide the cash, I've got it counted.”

It took a minute but the boy slowly slunk out of the dark back way.  

“Here’s your wallet back sir. I’ma very sorry for stealin’ it.”
“No you ain’t boy.”
“Sir?”
“I said you ain’t sorry you stole my wallet.”
“No I’m bein’ honest!”
“Now what are you going to do once I get that wallet?”
“Run, sir.”
“That’s what I thought. Come’er then.”
Roger held out his hand.  The boy walked over and moved to drop the wallet in his palm.  But Roger was too fast for the boy and had him in a half nelson before the boy knew what was happening.

“Hey! Git off me!”  

The boy tried to kick and scream but Roger kept his hold on him

“No.  You’re face is dirty and I got a great mind to wash your face for you.”
“Fine”

The boy slouched, hoping to get Rogers arm to relax but he did no such thing.  They marched together down the block and right into Roger’s small apartment.  Once inside Roger went to hang up his coat, leaving the door open for the time being.

“The bathroom is just down the hall boy.”

But the boy was already gone.  The wallet lay on the floor, discarded like yesterday's news.  

“Ain’t that a boy like me Dad?”
“Right you are Jay.  I thought I could fix ‘im like I fixed you, and like Grandma fixed me.”
“But he don’t wanna be fixed?”

Roger looked at his adopted son.  Remembering the day he had brought him home and washed his face.

“Aye son he don’t wanna be fixed”