Caomhnóir – Manny - 8

Gebhard looked across the desk at Manny, while Mr. Shadrick sat in another chair, one leg crossed over his knee, listening.

“So,” Manny continued, “I’m really at loose ends now. I can get a job doing something menial, but—” He shrugged. “What I want to do is be here, helping out in some way. This place was my home for the last three years, and the kids are like family, the only real family I’ve ever had. Does that sound stupid or something?”

“Not really,” Gebhard replied. “The problem is, what would we do with you?”

“One possibility,” Mr. Shadrick interjected. “Let him be a counselor. It would make our lives easier. He could watch the boys in the evenings, make certain they studied, did their chores, got to bed on time. That way you and I could have time for ourselves, which God knows we don’t now.”

Gebhard nodded. “Not a bad suggestion. Of course we couldn’t pay you much, Manny, but if we hired you, you could go back to living here. Since Mr. Shadrick has taken over Mr. Wyndham’s former quarters, his old room is vacant now.”

“So you’ll consider it?” Manny looked hopefully at both men.

Gebhard glanced at Mr. Shadrick, receiving a nod in return. “Tell you what; we’ll give it a month’s trial. If it seems to be working well then we’ll hire you on permanently.”

“Thank you,” Manny said, heaving a sigh of relief, not at all feigned. If this hadn’t worked he had been at a loss as to what other ploy to use to remain connected to the house and the boys. He needed the in, in order to find out if Gebhard had connections to the Scriostóir responsible for having him shot.

“You’re welcome. Where are your belongings? Do you need a ride somewhere to collect them?”

Manny snorted. “Belongings? Everything I own is in my backpack except what I left here, which has probably been doled out to the kids by now.”

“I should have known, and they have been I’m afraid,” Gebhard replied with a smile. “Alright, let’s get you settled in and then we can let the boys know you’re back.”

An hour later, Manny was facing a room of excited teens. Five of them he knew already, two others were newcomers. Gebhard explained that, as there was room, he and Mr. Shadrick had decided to continue Cerdic’s good work and take in as many kids as could fit comfortably in the house. Manny had bitten back a snort of derision at that, wondering how either of the men could have missed exactly what Cerdic had had the boys doing. There are none so blind-- he decided as he was introduced to the newest residents.