Someone To Watch Over Me
by Purple Lacey
 

Part 16


It was a week until Christmas and holiday preparations were underway. Buck had put off the buying of the Christmas tree and the decorating party he had promised Ezra in hope that the child and JD could work out a truce. When it didn’t appear that was going to happen anytime soon, he decided they needed to get on with it. He would just have to cross his fingers and hope for the best. So plans had been made for that evening to purchase the promised Christmas tree and have the whole extended family over to help decorate it.

Buck had some Christmas shopping to finish, most especially picking up the bicycle that Santa was going to be giving Ezra for Christmas and trying to find the other special gifts he wanted to get for the boy, and was taking the afternoon to get it done. He was glad he had already finished his other Christmas shopping so he could concentrate all his attention on making this Ezra’s best Christmas- one he would always remember.

Buck had played with the idea of leaving Ezra alone with JD while he went out, but in the end had decided not to chance it, and had accepted Vin’s offer to come over to play peacemaker- or more accurately, to run interference - while Buck was out. The way Ezra had been acting toward the young man in the last few days, Buck was afraid that if he left the two alone he might come home to find JD staked out in the backyard. He wouldn’t put it past Ezra if the boy could figure out a way to do it.

The child had shown a remarkable talent for guerrilla warfare. Poor JD seemed to have fallen victim to a variety of little accidents, more annoying than dangerous thankfully. While there was never any clear evidence to prove that they were anything other than accidents or that Ezra was behind them, Buck had seen the light of satisfaction behind those little green eyes often enough when the ‘accidents’ occurred to have a pretty good idea of what was going on.

Buck had to chuckle again at his personal favorite: the tube of toothpaste that had mysteriously fallen into the tennis shoe JD had left in his bathroom next to the sink cabinet. The college student had been in a rush and stuck his foot in the shoe and felt the unwelcome goosh of minty paste squish between his toes before he had even realized there was something in it. He had not been a happy camper... Ezra had been extra cheerful all day.

Buck was also amused at the way Ezra kept the promise he had given him on that very first day. No ‘accident’ ever seemed to befall JD in his own room. Ezra was scrupulous in obeying the rule about respecting another’s private space, but everywhere else was considered inbounds for the little commando. It was unfortunate for JD that his room shared a bathroom with the unoccupied bedroom. It made it too easy for Ezra to gain access to at least some of JD’s things without breaking his word to Buck.

Since there was never enough evidence to accuse the child of the crime, Buck had settled for trying to subtly warn the boy by mentioning how many unusual accidents his cousin seemed to be having while staring at the boy sternly. Ezra’s response had been to look at him innocently and just as seriously suggest that maybe JD needed to be more careful. Buck had to turn way and pretend to cough as he was overcome with laughter.

It was after the incident in the kitchen- where the bottom on the box of JD’s favorite cereal had mysteriously come unglued just as he lifted it to pour himself a bowl and the nearly full bag inside had slipped out and wound up covering the man’s lap with brown flakes and tiny marshmallows- that Buck had decided that if looking innocent was an art, then his little one was a grandmaster. The little scamp had even generously gotten up from the table to fetch the broom and dustpan for JD so he could clean up his mess.

Even while the clever deviousness of the child amused him, he didn’t need Chris to tell him that while Ezra was playing tricks on JD trying to drive the young man away he was also testing his guardian. He was pushing the envelope, trying to see if Buck had meant everything he had told him about nothing making him stop loving Ezra or ever sending him away. Buck was walking a fine line between needing to discipline misbehavior and reassuring Ezra that he would always have a place in Buck’s heart no matter what. Buck knew it was only the deep fear of physical reprisal that Ezra harbored that kept his misbehavior from being much worse than it was, a thought that definitely left the big man conflicted.

So Buck had taken Vin up on his offer and, prepared to head out and finish his shopping. Vin had arrived to find a thoughtful Ezra and a grateful Buck. Buck had left Vin with the promise that he would only be gone a few hours. Vin sent him off with the assurance that they would be fine. It wasn’t until after Buck had gone that Ezra had approached Vin with his request for the policeman to take him shopping for a Christmas gift for Buck.

Buck had allowed Ezra to keep all the extra change that he had gotten from the change machine at the bowling alley a few days ago, and Ezra had decided he wanted to spend it on a Christmas gift for his guardian. He had laboriously counted it and found he had a whole eight dollars and seventy five cents to spend. He was sure he could find Buck a wonderful gift with a fortune like that. Vin had been only too happy to help. So Vin and Ezra and, much to Ezra’s displeasure, JD had climbed into Vin’s Jeep and headed for the mall.

The mall had been packed with Christmas shoppers, and Vin had made Ezra hold on to not only his hand but HIS hand too. Ezra was not happy with that stipulation, but accepted reluctantly because he really wanted to get a present for Buck. The trio had wandered up and down the mall, popping in shops to scout out their merchandise, but nothing seemed to please the little boy.

They were standing in front of the food court a couple of hours later (still present-less) while Vin and JD tried to decide which fast food stand they should try for a little snack when Ezra’s attention was caught by a song that he heard begin playing in the record store that was next door to the food court. As Vin and JD argued the merits of each place Ezra slipped closer and closer to the store listening to the song. Casting a look at the two men and deciding they would be there for awhile, Ezra walked through the record store’s front door and looked around.

It was a busy place too, full of shoppers of all ages. Ezra looked around until he spied a man in a blue vest that had the store’s logo on it and a tag that said Manager then walked over and tugged on the man’s trousers to get his attention. The startled man looked down at the little boy looking up at him seriously and asked, “Can I help you, son?”

Ezra nodded and answered, “I want that song, please.”

The manager looked puzzled for a moment, and asked “Which song?”

Ezra waved toward the speaker in the ceiling and said, “THAT song.”

The man listened for a moment and then replied, “Oh. Okay, I know which one you mean. It’s this way.” The man started leading the boy toward a section of the store. As the walked he looked down at the boy with as smile and asked, “Is this for you?”

Ezra shook his head and answered him solemnly, “No. It’s for Buck, ‘cause he’s the best.”

“The best what?” the man asked as he began to thumb through a rack of CDs.

Ezra shrugged and replied, “The best everything. Buck came to get me from the hospital and took me home with him and promised nobody would ever hurt me again, and he bought me new clothes and really cool toys, and he let me have my own room, and my own swing set and fort. He promised he wouldn’t let my stepfather hit me ever again because he’s bigger and twice as mean when somebody tries to hurt somebody he loves and he loves me so I’m safe now and don’t gotta be scared anymore. That’s why Buck’s the best. He’s special.”

The father of two looked down at the child and smiled sadly, understanding just what the boy had casually revealed. “You’re right,” he said gently. “He does sound like the best.”

Ezra’s little head nodded seriously in agreement. “I got eight dollars and seventy five cents. Is that enough for the song?” he asked anxiously.

The store manager smiled down at the apprehensive little face looking up at him and felt some his own Christmas spirit that had been buried under the harried work of the year’s busiest shopping season free itself and take wing. He said, “You’re in luck, son, because that CD is on special today. It costs exactly eight dollars and seventy five cents.”

Ezra beamed back at the man. The store manager led the boy to the check out register and rang up his purchase while Ezra emptied his pockets of quarters, placing them on the counter proudly. The man slipped his CD and receipt into a bag and handed it down to the happy little boy with a smiling “Merry Christmas.” A very pleased Ezra skipped out of the store and headed back to the food court and his two companions.

When the boy reached the food court he found JD and Vin were not where they were when he had left. The little boy began walking around the area, searching each line at the every food stand for the faces of the two men, but he made it all the way around and back where he started and didn’t find them.

Ezra was standing in front of the food court entrance nibbling his bottom lip worriedly and wondering what he should do when he was suddenly grabbed by his shoulder and spun around. To his absolute horror he found himself looking into the terrible face of his nightmares. There before him, with uncontrollable rage burning in his eyes, was Howard Sawyer.

Part 17

Part 15

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