Page 26 of Ranger's Rise

“He’s in the living room with the Ms, Js and Banks,” I tell him.

Cort stands. “Thanks for coloring with me, Aaron. I need to change for my Enforcer shift. I’ll see you when I see you.”

Aaron smiles up at him. “Roger, Boss.”

“Do you need help cleaning up, Freedom?”

I wave him off. “I’ll help.”

“Thanks, Brother.”

Aaron watches him leave then starts putting crayons away. I help.

Freedom gets a box and puts it at the end of the table. I help Allen clean up the paper she was using while they watch her pull out balloons. She has hot air balloons that will hang on a string, beads or chain. When she pulls push pins in a box out, Allen stands by her watching.

“We need someone tall to reach the ceiling,”she tells him.

He climbs up on the table making her laugh. I saw stools against the cabinets yesterday and get them from the kitchen. They have six of them in here behind the big island. Being short sucks. I put two on the table about a foot apart.

Allen steps up on one and reaches the ceiling then smiles down at me. “Thanks, Boss.” He talks faster than some of the others.

“You put the loop at the pin like this, then into the ceiling.” Freedom gives him the how and I hold his legs and move stools while he hangs balloons over the table. She’s got them at different heights and they’re all different colors. It looks cool for a house with kids.

Amos comes in and laughs. “I like it. I have a picture of the Balloon Fiesta. I can bring it tomorrow.”

“We can get it, Boss,” Amal says. His stilted words surprise me, but he says everything right.

Amos smiles at him. “I don’t live on the grounds. I live in town.”

Amal sits looking up at the balloons. “Sorry, Boss.”

Amos looks heartbroken over Amal. I really want to laugh, but he’s genuinely sad. He’s a good Brother to be here. “The Prospects can get it. I’ll call before we cook.”

Amal jumps up happy with the possibility of a balloon picture. Freedom is laughing. I take her two empty boxes and stack them. “What do you want to do with these?”

“I have a Prospect bringing a set of drawers up. They’re probably outside the door. Amal said Prospects don’t come in here.”

I nod and check. It’s a cool little wooden cabinet thing. Where the hell did they get this? I carry it in and pull shit out of the boxes while Freedom fills drawers. Allen pulls Web in and he laughs. “You put them up?”

Allen is proud. “Yeah, Web. Boss helped.” He points to Freedom and me.

“Bosses is two. You did good. I like the colors in here. Open the blinds and make that better.” Web points to the window and Allen runs making me smile. They’d make some great messengers.

Banks has Jacques and the two Js following. Marco and Mateo come in holding a bunch of paper like someone stacked it in their arms. Aris takes them gently and starts putting them at the center of the table. When the blind goes up everyone stops. I hit Freedom’s arm and point. With a quick turn, she’s sitting on the floor watching the wonder on all the kids faces. The balloons are throwing colors around the room.

“Ha-ppy!”

Web’s head whips around and I see his tears. “Very happy, Mateo. I’m glad you told us you’re happy too.”

The As jump in with ‘Happy’ making me laugh.

“Contento,” José says and Web is on his knees in front of him speaking in Spanish. I swallow hard. The boy talked. It was thick and slow like he had to reach deep to get it out, but he talked.

“Boss!” I turn and Anton has tears on his face.

I didn’t see him come in. “They’re all happy, Anton. Like us, they feel that too.”

He smiles with his head nodding fast. Freedom stands up. “I need to go. I’m glad you like the balloons and paper. The drawers have the supplies, so you can make your own decorations. I’ll see them the next time I come over.” I hear the emotion in her voice and take her hand.