Laura and Jerry ran outside the cafe and looked for the cause of turmoil that had broken loose minutes ago.
Pandemonium reigned in the street with a rise of voices, and even in that frenzy, Laura fixated on something across the road that was distressing.
Across the street, within the mob stood a victim, no older than she predicted to be sixteen years. He looked beaten and helpless, he was their captive.
This boy's oppositional face was both dirty and frightened; Laura winced at the pure horror reflected in his eyes.
"Do you see this?" Laura gasped, her voice tight with horror. She turned to Jerry, the disbelief and disgust clear on her face.
Violence had never been something she could tolerate, no matter the circumstances. She felt her pulse quicken with an urge to intervene.
"I'm going to stop them," she said firmly, her gaze locked on the boy, empathy welling in her eyes. She took a step forward.
"No, hold on. Don't rush in," Jerry cautioned, catching her by the hand. His grip was gentle but firm, an anchor pulling her back to reality.
He could see her determination, but the risk unsettled him. This was her first day at the cafe, and he didn't want her getting involved in a dangerous situation.
"But look at him, Jerry. He's just a child," Laura whispered, pulling her hand free with a sad, steady resolve. "Throwing away human dignity in such a way is completely uncalled for, no matter what he's done or has not done."
"Whatever it is that he did, at the very least we should know the details," Jerry begged while he checked the people around with alertness.
His concern was not only about her safety; he could witness how hard this was hitting her but also understood the consequences of an agitated crowd.
"I cannot just sit back and do nothing, please, I'll be fine," Laura replied with determination flared in her eyes.
Before Jerry could protest further, she took off toward the mob, her heart pounding as she approached the hostile crowd.
"Wait! Stop! Please, everyone, just stop!" Laura's voice rang out, commanding attention as she drew closer. Her eyes remained fixed on the terrified boy, her voice carrying a mixture of urgency and compassion.
The mob turned to her in shock, an intruder in their midst. Some were annoyed, others were baffled.
There stepped in a man with a rough-looking face and a courtesy beard equipped with a frown, the boss.
"Who are you, little girl," he said, freezing her in silence, arms crossed. "And who allowed you to give commands to me?".
"It doesn't matter who I am," Laura replied, her voice firm even if trembling. "What does matter is that you are about to harm a child. Isn't there another way to do this?".
She could feel their eyes on her but could not look away from the boy. The crowds around her were a blur, and her only focus was on mobilizing her voice in order to express her call for help.
Jerry was standing by the side, anxious, and twisting his stomach in all that panic as he looked at her. He has never in his life seen Laura this aggressive, this fierce, and most importantly, this unyielding.
"He's a thief, miss!" a woman shouted angrily. Her face was tight with resentment, eyes blazing. "This boy has been stealing from me and my store for weeks now. I've tried to be patient, but today we caught him red-handed!".
"Yes! We're teaching him a lesson!" another man bellowed. "If he won't learn, he'll never know the value of hard work!".
"Please," Laura implored, stepping closer. "I understand he's done wrong, but this… this won't teach him anything except fear. Please, let me handle it. I promise he won't do it again."
The crowd exchanged skeptical glances, the tension barely easing.
The man in charge gave a short laugh, his lips curled in disdain. "Why should we let you get involved? You don't even know him. Why do you care?".
Laura swallowed and her voice trembled.
"Because I have a little brother around his age, and the thought of him being dragged through the streets like this…" Her voice cracked. "Please, show mercy. I - I beg you."
She fell to her knees and reached for the boy as if trying to protect him from their eyes. She could feel him quaking against her, small and frightened. He was scared, it could be felt.
A hush fell over the mob.
The man with the harsh voice relented slightly, though he still spoke with authority. "Fine. We'll let him go this once. But if he so much as takes another piece of candy, he's done for. Understood?".
"Yes, understood," Laura replied quickly, her heart thudding in relief. She clutched the boy close, murmuring words of comfort. "It's okay. You're safe now."
The kid choked on his breath and muttered, "Thanks." His soft voice was thicker than usual with shame and gratitude, hence almost invisible.
He avoided her eyes, his face shadowed with embarrassment.
Jerry approached to disperse the crowd, waving them back to their business. Gradually, they began to shuffle away, their complaints and murmurs trailing off into the distance.
As the crowd thinned, Laura knelt beside the boy, searching his face. "Why, sweetheart? Why did you steal?" She asked gently.
The sadness was evident in the way he looked or how he had lowered his head in what seemed to be avoidance of an impending judgment.
"I didn't want to, ma'am," he said in a choking voice with tears filled in his eyes. "My mom… she doesn't care if I eat. I didn't know what else to do."
Laura felt her heart shatter, the full weight of his words sinking in. "Oh, child" she murmured, placing a comforting hand on his cheek. "But you have to promise me, after today, you won't do this again. Please. I don't want you hurt by anyone."
"I promise", Jack uttered as he put his arms around her and hugged her. He held onto her as though his life depended on it. His death grip saddened her.
"What's your name child?" She inquired in an almost inaudible voice. "And your mother, where is she?" She asked further.
"I - I am Jack Hale. My mom… she should be at work," he replied, his gaze evasive, as if he didn't want to share too much.
Laura offered him a warm smile. "Well, Jack Hale, I'm Laura Wells. I work right there at the cafe. You're welcome to come by anytime, alright?".
Jack nodded the hint of a smile brightening his face.
Laura reached into her apron pocket, pulled out a few bills, and pressed the money into his hand, her gaze full of compassion.
"Get yourself something to eat, okay? And stay out of trouble. I have to get back now, but I'm here if you ever need anything." Laura pleaded as she stared into his eyes.
"Thank you, Miss Laura," Jack said, his eyes gleaming with gratitude as she kissed his forehead. She rose, giving him a reassuring smile before walking back to the cafe with Jerry.
Just as she neared the cafe entrance, Laura glanced back for one last look at Jack.
To her surprise, Fred Walker, a figure of shadowy authority in their neighborhood, was standing beside him.
Laura's heart skipped a beat as she watched Fred lean in, murmuring something to Jack before ushering him into a sleek black car parked down the street.
Without a word, the vehicle pulled away, leaving a sense of suspicion in its wake.
Laura felt a chill run down her spine. Who was Fred to Jack? And where was he taking him?.