The Adventures of Alice and Max
Chapter 6: Reginald's Mistake
Max opened the door to his room. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” said Alice as she stood there, awkwardly.
“Well, you wanna come in?”
“Sure.” She came in timid and afraid but did not dare show it to Max. She sat on his bed and Max stood by his closet door as he stared at her and waited for her to speak. But Alice looked at the ground.
Then looking away out the upper window to the outside, she could see the morning sky, dark and dreary as before. The sky was always dark. Thick clouds had started to approach them. It was now the time for their departure and they could hear Mr. R preparing for his “delivery” as he called it.
Max said, “I don’t think we know what we got ourselves into,” chuckling to himself. Alice didn’t look up as Max frowned. He didn’t realize why she couldn’t laugh with him. She was usually amused by little jokes of his, but now she didn’t even look at him. He was scared and he wanted to be comforted even if she at least laughed with him. They were friends after all.
“What’s the matter?” But Alice again didn’t say a single word. “Why can’t you look at me?” Max asked curtly. “If you’re not going to talk to me, then leave.”
Alice sat there with a blank stare. She looked at him and then quickly got up and left. Max, confused and angry, punched his closet door.
Alice did want to talk, but she didn’t know how to start. Wanting for so long but never having the words to express herself, she didn’t want to seem weak. The orphanage had taught her that. If you showed fear or weakness, a group of boys or some disturbed girl would beat you to a pulp. They would beat you until you showed no emotion. That was ingrained into her. She was scared like everyone else but didn’t want to face reality.
She felt the ship move abruptly, as it shot into the morning air.
Mr. R navigated through the rainy day avoiding the platforms and oncoming traffic of other ships. He had everything under control. All was as planned.
A little later, they arrived at the border of the City.
The border was a high wall above the raging sea. Stone pillars held up the brick border that stretched as far as the kids could see. The bridge border had an enclosed dome on the entire bridge except for varying ports all along where all flying ships came to be checked. Each checkpoint had at least three guards. Some ports also held men not in a guard uniform, they had on regular street clothes: jeans, and button-downs or shirts. The guards were armed with assault rifles while the other men had weapons concealed if trouble arose. These other men worked for the government. They were medical professionals, some said. Others regarded them as criminals and others, as freeloaders. The guards regarded them as lower than dirt.
Mr. R glided the ship over the port as it hovered and slowly lowered into the bay. This was a different port, however. It had a massive station that housed the working men. It was larger and was off to the side more, hidden away from the busy flow of traffic. It stationed more men, about fifteen. The kids noticed they were all civilians.
Max finally entered Alice’s room as they watched what unfolded through the window of the spare bedroom. They both stood on top of the bed to peer out.
As the ship came to a complete stop and the propellers ceased, a skinny and youthful man came out of the dark station. Men had gathered outside and seemed to wait for this one ship. It seemed important. Mr R approached the man whom the children figured was Jiggs. He dropped down from the ship. As Mr. R drew near, the man pulled a gun on him.
“Don’t come any closer. Search him.” Two men began to frisk Mr. R.
“Is that really, how you greet a friend?” he said, smirking.
“You ain’t no friend,” the young man said sternly as they finished up, “You work for us.”
“When Jiggs tells me not to carry, I do what he says.”
“I’m just makin’ sure you ain’t gonna pull anything,” he waved the gun in his face. Then he quickly put it away.
Just then a large man of strong build came out of the shadows confidently. He was intimidating in appearance and when he spoke, he commanded attention. He wore a long black overcoat blowing in the cold air. A shaved head and a golden necklace he wore showing his power and wealth. He had brown bushy brows and his green eyes shined in the neon lights with a broad mouth that smelt of alcohol and tobacco.
“Reggie, you never looked better.” Jiggs walked down the steps to meet Reginald at eye level. The young man stepped to the side and let his boss take the reins. Jiggs and Reginald stood close together as their forearms embraced.
“How ya doin’?” Jiggs said cheerfully.
Mr. R looked at the young punk and then back at the boss.
“Are you guys being extra cautious?”
“Whadya mean?”
“Who is that?” Reginald said softly to not let the other men hear. He referred to the young man.
“Oh, him? New kid.” Jiggs said just as softly, “What? What did he do?”
“He waved a gun in my face. I told him, I don’t carry while doing business. If you tell me to do something I do it. You know me, Jiggs. I’ve been coming around a while now.”
“Did he really?”
“They frisked me too.”
Jiggs chuckled, “Well, we can’t let that happen. He’s gonna have to learn a lesson.”
“No, I didn’t mean that. I don’t want him getting in trouble. I just thought I’d tell you so it won’t happen again.”
“Oh, it won’t happen again.” He turned around to his men, “Brothers!” He called, “When we have a guest or a delivery or a friend, we must have manners, correct?” They all yelled in agreement ‘Yes!’
He turned to the young man. “What’s your name?” He came real close to the boy.
“Saul, sir,” he said proudly.
“Saul, huh? Saul, what you doin’ wavin’ a gun in this guy’s face for?”
“Sir, I’m bein’ careful!”
“Who told you, you could do that?”
“No one, sir.” His face fell.
“So, why the hell, you pull a gun on my friend?” Reginald began to ridicule Jiggs, but he quieted him turning to Saul.
“What makes you think you can do that?” Jiggs said louder.
Saul had no answer as he hung his head.
“I’m waiting.” Still nothing.
Jiggs punched him in the stomach and he fell to the ground. He stomped on Saul kicking him. Then picking him up, he gave him to the other men.
“Let’s teach this kid a few manners, gentlemen! Let ‘em have it!” Jiggs led Mr. R to his private quarters. All of Jiggs’ men rushed upon Saul. They seized him and trampled him. It was a terrible sight. The children looked with horror.
Jiggs called back, “When you’re done with him, unload the truck!”
The children knew they had to be quiet. They saw Mr. R disappear into the station. They both stepped down from the bed and decided to hide underneath.
Jiggs’ private quarters were on the top floor of the station. All of the men occupied the rooms there. But his was the grandest of them all. He had Mr. R sit at his desk with him in the higher chair.
“Sorry about that Reggie. These young men don’t know how to behave, nowadays. I gotta tell ya, I don’t know what’s going on with this generation. You know what I mean? These kids have no respect, no respect to guys like you and me. Back in the day, men had values, men had respect. Now look at ‘em.”
“And what about us, Jiggs? Huh? What about us? Are we any better?”
“These men have to realize something. You gotta show respect to your elders. Oh, I don’t mean any disrespect, Reggie,” he said waving his hands with a smile.
“None taken,” Reginald said.
“But we gotta put these guys in their place. If I spoke that way to my boss, I’d be killed. We all gotta learn, one way or another.”
“I didn’t mean for you to punish him.”
“Hey, a boy’s gotta learn. He had it coming to him. Discipline’s good for ‘em. Anyway, ya got the stuff?”
“I got some right here.” He pulled out a shrink-wrapped bag out of his coat pocket and put it on the table.
“Nice, that’s the shit!” Jiggs said with glee. He picked it up weighing it in his hand. “This is a big bag. All for me?”
“Yep. Every bit of it.”
“You ain’t holding out on me, Reg. I like that.” He laughed as he prepared to open it, “You want some?”
“No, thank you. I got a long ride still.”
“Oh, right! I won’t tempt ya,” he laughed loudly. “Good, Reggie. Everything’s good. There’s just one thing: You got the rest of my shipment you promised?”
Reginald’s heart stopped. He had forgotten about the shipment. His heart racing, he remained silent. He made sure he would remember, but it had slipped his mind. With picking the kids up and then the diner situation, he had utterly forgotten that he had to pick up more supplies to give to Jiggs. He tried to come up with an answer, but couldn’t. He thought the truth would be best.
“Jiggs, I forgot. Don’t get mad. I’ll go get it,” he said calmly.
Jiggs leaned back in his chair without saying a word. He stared blankly at Reginald. Then after a moment.
“You forgot my shipment?”
“Yes, Jiggs. I’ll go get it.”
Silence.
“Well, you better because I’ll have the Queen up my ass. I have a quota too, Reggie,” he said sternly.
“Jiggs, I apologize.”
“No apology needed, Reg. Just get my shipment,” snarled Jiggs. “But before you go, I need something.”
“Like what?” Mr. R asked, confused.
“I need a keepsake while you’re gone. Something to hold on to, so I know you come back.”
“I’ll give you my gold watch.”
“Not that. I want that ship,” Jiggs said pointing outside.
“My ship? How’ll I get your shipment?”
“I don’t care how you get there. Just get there.”
“You can’t do this!” Reginald yelled.
“Oh, I can, Reggie. I own you. I gotta get the Queen what she wants. She has customers waiting on this shit. The people need their medicine.”
“What about trust, what about friends!”
“Oh, you’re my friend alright, but like I said, we all need discipline. We all need to learn our lesson!” Jiggs stood up and was shouting now.
Reginald had nothing more to say. He knew this was it and he knew he couldn’t convince Jiggs. But then he thought of the kids on the ship.
“Well,” Jiggs said, “We’ll unload your ship and someone can escort you to a spare ship. In the meantime, I’ll be waitin’ for you.”
“Can I at least get my things-”
“No, Reggie. You need to move. I need that shipment by the afternoon or it’s your head.” Jiggs left the room while Reginald followed after both walking outside.
“Please, let me get my things.”
Jiggs stopped in his tracks. The men were unloading now.
“Men!” Chez called. They all stopped working.
“We’re taking this ship until Reggie, here, can get my other shipment.”
“Check the whole ship for his belongings.”
But Reginald knew they would find the children.
“No, they don’t know what I-”
“Enough, Reggie!” He called back without looking over at Reginald. Reginald remained silent and waited terribly for what came next.
To Be Continued…
