Rick woke up early but did not get up straight away

Hard to break the habit of waiting for a cell door to be unlocked

After a hearty breakfast Evelyn asked Rick if he could tidy up the yard

Daniel usually hated going to school but today he was in good spirits

When he got to school he spotted the bully in the playground

He was terrorizing a younger boy and taking his lunch money

Daniel approached and yelled hey you leave him alone

The bully turned round laughing and lunged towards Daniel

Daniel grabbed him by the arm and side stepped

perfectly executing the judo maneuver that Rick had taught him

The bully landed face down in the dirt with his arm twisted up his back 

He started to cry in pain but Daniel held him down

By now a crowd was gathering and a teacher came marching in

He witnessed the bully tearfully apologizing and returning the stolen lunch money

Nice work Daniel said the teacher as the crowd dispersed

Daniel was now the King of the playground

When school finished he ran all the way home

Rick was working in the yard and asked how it went

There will be no more bullying at my school said Daniel with a big grin

Rick hugged him and whispered best not tell your mom about all this fighting stuff

Evelyn was very impressed with the work Rick had done

He had even fixed the broken mower and cut all the grass

She told Rick that Mr Jones was looking for help on his farm

When you go there tomorrow tell him I sent you

Rick thanked her and promised to pay her rent for his stay

that won’t be necessary said Evelyn you will be able to find your own place soon

Daniel begged his mom to let Rick stay with them

I am sure he wants to do better for himself than sleeping in a barn said Evelyn  

Lets have an early night we all had a busy day

She gave Daniel one of those lingering Mom knows everything looks

Rick was a very light sleeper and a noise outside the barn woke him 

He opened the door to find Evelyn in her nightgown holding the shotgun

Rick stood up as the door opened

A fine looking woman stepped inside and Daniel ran to greet her

Hey Mom this is Rick he is just out of prison and came here looking for work

Rick held out his hand pleased to meet you mam you have a fine boy here

He is indeed she replied thrusting out her hand my name is Evelyn

Rick noticed her firm handshake and well worn fingers

These are the hands of a hard working woman he thought

Daniel please make some coffee for us I have to go to work shortly

Evelyn sat at the table opposite Rick and looked at him intensely

What kind of work are you looking for Rick

I will do anything that does not involve computers said Rick with an embarrassed shrug

Evelyn understood and said she would ask Mr Jones next time she cleaned his farmhouse

You are welcome to stay for dinner Rick but its only soup

That would be great said Rick who had not eaten all day

Daniel will get it ready while I am working

I will be back in a couple of hours

After she left Rick turned to Daniel and asked 

Why didn’t you tell her I broke in to steal from you

Because I think you deserve a second chance

And I want you to teach me how to be a man

I will do what I can to help you said Rick

What do you want to learn first

Daniel explained that he was being bullied at school

OK said Rick lets step in the yard and I will teach you some self defense moves

Evelyn came home and they all ate dinner together

Daniel went to his room and Evelyn told Rick he could stay over

You can sleep out back in the barn for a few days

While you look for a job and get back on your feet again

Thats much appreciated and I will pay you rent as soon as I earn some cash said Rick 

Evelyn smiled and said Daniel seems to like you but he is still very naive 

He thinks we have no cartridges for the shotgun but I always load it when I go to bed

Goodnight Rick and sleep well we eat breakfast at six thirty 

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