Chapter 52
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2022, Planet: Grimoire
For some reason, he felt very worried about Shamus. Doyle needed to find some way of getting him to take a break. How to accomplish that fantasy was something else he'd yet to figure out though. A sigh escaped Doyle as he headed back and was greeted by Shamus when Grimes just vanished from sight.
Oh, now that was worrisome when he heard Shamus wheezing. "I'm useless in that particular battle. I was sent back without doing a single thing." Doyle shrugged. "Do you have medication you can take?"
Shamus told him and Doyle handed him a bottle of water. "Now please take some and then go rest." He requested Shamus.
Shamus frowned. "I'll do that when I'm done with my duties." He insisted stubbornly. "I want to hear more of how you're going to handle some of the trickier aspects of those troublesome boys." He cocked his eyebrows at Doyle. "I'm sure you want to know more about how those ruffians were stopped, yes?"
Doyle sighed when he realized he would have to be patient. "Fine, I'll talk more about it." He conceded and gave a small glimpse into his plans. He gradually guided Shamus to an area where he could sit down and rest. They were almost to the ramp that Doyle hoped would be easier to ascend. He wanted to avoid the other way of getting inside that involved those twelve dozen plus stairs that were hard as hell if someone were to hit one's head against them if tripped.
Doyle was perturbed, to put it mildly. It seems his latest security measures hadn't been quite enough. He would have to come up with some new variants. Oh well, he was curious to find out who'd managed to catch and stop the intruders this time.
Fortunately, Shamus knew better than to waste his time. "This time though, it was the delinquents that caught all of them in the act of trying to break through the barriers." His grin faded away. "They were very brave when taking down some of the burlier men who had cudgels."
Doyle nodded with satisfaction because this was more in line with what they tended to indulge in. Okay, that explained some of the bandages decorating their bodies where the coats and jackets didn't hide them.
This time he would forgive their choice of using their fists rather than their brains. "Hmm, have they all gone through another growth spurt again?" If he recalled correctly, they were in their teens.
Shamus nodded and then he sighed and shrugged in disbelief. "Yes, but none of them want to ruin more newly made clothing if they were to get into fights."
His explanation fitted what Doyle observed in finding interesting colored patchwork pieces decorating their clothing. "Oh, I see." It was an interesting innovation when before it was all uniform dark greens, browns, grays, and black.
Shamus wrapped up his explanation. "So, they've been learning how to patch what they already own." He hesitated. "I was wondering why they chose that method of handling the problem."
Now it was his turn to explain what made them change up their tactics when it came to preserving their current clothing. Doyle had taken a drastic decision when dealing with them. Especially since they were the main cause for having to get more than twice the amount of allotted cloth when it came to tailoring clothing. He'd gotten tired of them taking the seamstresses' and tailors' efforts for granted.
"I took matters into my own hands the last time they got into trouble." Hmm, well Doyle did have an indirect effect on them. "I told them that they would have to start working in actual jobs to earn money with which to begin paying for their room and board." He sighed when Shamus gaped at him.
"Since when did those types of laws come back into effect?" Shamus demanded. "Why haven't I heard anything about this?"
Uh oh, Doyle needed to calm him down fast. "This is all legislation that hasn't been approved officially yet." He sighed as he continued explaining. "However, I know they will pass because there are people who want to exploit the street children that haven't wound up in orphanages and similar organizations yet."
Shamus shook his head. "Shameless officials." He growled angrily. "It is bad enough they cut funding in other areas of the national budget and now this?" He was furious.
Doyle nodded. "Yes, I was enraged as well." He knew others were listening intently to what he was telling Shamus. "I also know that a few allies were doing their best to provide modified bills as alternatives so the more punitive versions would be discarded."
Shamus rolled his eyes. "Yes, I've been able to read about those." He made a sour face. "They're actually more lenient to those exploitive bastards than the opposite."
Hmm, well he knew that's what it came off as. Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot he could do about the situation. Resigned to a possible argument about to break out, Doyle held up a hand. "New regulations are going into effect of when adolescents can start working in supervised positions for payment in small blocs of hours." He shook his head. "While I don't necessarily approve, it will teach them responsibility, I hope."
Recognizing that Doyle was giving him a silent warning to stop while things were still peaceful, he pursed his mouth in a grimace. In this case, he would heed the Director's unspoken signal to stop with his complaints, Shamus nodded. "Yes, I think it will." He paused. "Oh, that's right. Grimes' Missus Jane safely gave birth to a small girl. She named her, Annabel Iris Grimes."
Doyle smiled. "I'll be sure to give Grimes time off so that he can help support her." He thought about it and then told Shamus. "In fact, I'll make sure to give both of them sufficient leave to welcome the newest member of their family in peace and privacy."
That made more sense than merely giving them limited time off. Well, that was next on his list. For now, he would go into the kitchen and consult with the stand-in housekeeper.
"Ah right, Shamus..." There was a thud where Shamus had been standing.
"Dammit, Shamus, why didn't you take a rest earlier?" Doyle crouched next to him, checking for a pulse.
Nothing, he'd died instantaneously.