They both froze as the trigger went click

There was no following  sound and time stood still for a moment

The boy let go of the shotgun and coiled away in fear

Please don’t hurt me he cried

After checking the chamber was empty he said I am not going to hurt you boy

now tell me your name

the boy answered Daniel sir what’s yours

OK Daniel you can call me Rick

Why did you point an empty shotgun at me asked Rick

Because we aint got no cartridges 

Well that was fortunate for both of us said Rick

he glanced around the bare room and realized these folks were poor

Look Daniel I came here to steal something but it looks like there is nothing here

You can relax now I promise I am not going to hurt you

Lets go downstairs and talk said Rick as he put the empty gun on the bed

They walked down the stairs and sat at the Kitchen table

I just got released from prison this morning

I can’t find work and I am desperate for money so I came here to steal

I thought there was nobody home and I am sorry if I frightened you

Now tell me all about yourself he asked Daniel

I an fourteen and live here with my mom

My dad left us when I was a baby so its just the two of us

She works three jobs cleaning and I help around the house here

Rick looked around the paint was faded and the lampshades were broken

It looks like this place needs some fixing up he thought

why was I so dumb to think of stealing from folks who have nothing

Daniel was wearing torn and faded clothes

I was about your age when I got sent to prison said Rick

I messed up my life big time so don’t make the same mistakes as me Daniel

For a start if you need to pull a gun on somebody don’t stand close enough for them to grab it

Can you teach me how to be a man asked Daniel

Before Rick could reply the front door started to open