The Street Rat 202

“Absolutely not!” Maria screamed. 

A baby cried upstairs. Alice went up to check on the baby while Frank stepped in between Maria and Eddie. 

“Just let me explain,” Eddie pleaded to no avail. 

“You must be out of your mind bringing him here,” Maria continued, jabbing her finger at Eddie. 

“Nows, let’s hears Eddie out,” Frank said, stretching his hand toward Maria. “Youse gos ’head now, Eddie, buts I’s has to say, I tend to agree with Maria on this un.”

After Archer had saved Eddie from the angry driver, the two had walked back to Frank’s together. If Archer was willing to try operating without killing, Eddie wanted to give him that chance. Eddie had tried to spend the walk getting to know his potential new partner, but he had gotten better conversation from the city’s pigeons. The two of them didn’t exactly receive a warm welcome at their arrival. Archer was sitting on the stoop in front of Frank’s house, waiting, while Eddie talked inside. 

“Just give him a chance. He—”

“He tried to kill Frank, Eddie! And he would have if we hadn’t stopped him. Now you bring him back here to finish the job?”

“You know that’s not true. Frank wasn’t exactly on the straight and narrow when we met him, and now look at what he’s doing. If we give people a second chance, it pays off.”

“Or we get an arrow in our chest,” Maria stated bluntly. 

Eddie shook his head. “Maria, he wants the same thing we do—for the community to be safer. His means were misguided, but his intention is good. We’re all we’ve got out here. Having someone else alongside us in this isn’t a bad thing. And if he’s with us, he won’t be killing anymore. It’s a win-win.”

“Unless you’re wrong,” Maria said, looking at her feet. “You always see the best in things, Eddie, and that’s a miracle, given what you’ve been through. But you always think things will work out, and when they don’t, you’re crushed. What happens if you’re wrong here, Eddie? Who gets an arrow in them first? Frank? You? Me? One of the kids? Think about what you’re gambling with here, Eddie.”

“We have to try,” Eddie told her. “I get where you’re coming from, but change one or two things, and that could be me sitting on that stoop. That could be any of us. He’s trying to do right by the city. He’s willing to try and do it differently, and we have to try and go alongside him in that.”

“Can I’s says something?” Frank asked, raising his hand before sheepishly bringing it back down. 

“Of course, Frank,” Maria answered softly. 

“I’s gets where yous is coming from, ‘Ria. I’s was pretty hesitant, too, whens Eddie brought him here. But Eddie’s right. Shamed as I am to admit it, the kid wasn’t wrong tos target me. I’s changed, but my past is still out there. And it’d likely be my present, too, if it weren’t for Eddie believin’ in me. I’s thinks we should give him a chance.”

“I agree.” Alice was standing on the bottom step with her arms crossed, coming back down after soothing the crying baby. 

“You do?” Maria asked incredulously. 

“I do.” Alice nodded. “There’s something about Eddie that people respond to. I had tried to get through to Frank—friends had, family, pastors, you name it. Nothing worked until one day he came home after a run-in with some kid playing superhero. And he was different; I could tell. I’m not saying there’s no risk. There is. And, to answer your question, my bet would be my husband catching the first arrow if this goes south. But if anyone can change this man, it’s Eddie.”

“Thanks, Alice.” Eddie wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. 

Alice gave Eddie a slight nod. 

“You understand this is insane, right?” Maria asked, throwing her arms out to her side for emphasis. 

“S’pose so.” Frank scratched his chin as he spoke. “But it feels mighty good givin’ hims a shot. Worked for me.”

“That’s the spirit, Frankie!” Eddie slapped Frank’s back. “I’ll step outside and bring him in to introduce everyone.” 

The three exchanged a look as Eddie opened the door and stuck his head out. 

Archer walked into the room, towering over Eddie, and stood silently as Eddie closed the door behind him. 

“Archer, you know Frank,” Eddie started, motioning at Frank before sweeping his hand to the other two. “This is his wife, Alice, and my friend, Maria. Frank, Alice, Maria, this is Archer.”

Archer nodded once while they stood still. 

“Great!” Eddie clapped his hands and continued on. “Now that everyone is acquainted and friendly, let’s talk about what’s next so everyone is on the same page.

“Archer and I are going to begin doing patrols with one another. A mutual-work-experience kind-of endeavor. There’s a lot we can learn from each other to help our community. There will be no killing on these patrols, and we are going to keep the violence at a minimum, right?” Eddie asked, cocking an eyebrow at Archer, who answered with the slightest of nods. “We’re trying to make the community safer, not more dangerous.”

“And why should we trust him?” Maria asked. 

“We want the same thing,” Archer answered, his voice flat but soft. “I’m willing to trust Eddie and try things his way. I would be wasting my time here otherwise.”

“Hmph,” Maria snorted and rolled her eyes. 

“Wells, I’s guess we’res teammates now,” Frank said, slapping Archer’s shoulder. “No’s hard feelin’s. I’s understands yer reasons fer doin’ whatcha done. Youse was jus’ tryna make the world safer in yours own way.”

Frank turned to walk to the kitchen for a snack. 

“I’m going to go check on the kids.” Alice walked up the stairs, leaving the three alone in the room. 

“Well—” Eddie rubbed his hands together and smiled from Maria to Archer and back again “—glad we got that settled!”

“I don’t trust you,” Maria told Archer. 

“Understood,” he responded. 

“That’s all you have to say for yourself?”

“It is.”

“Maria, wait,” Eddie said as Maria went up the stairs after Alice. “You could have at least tried a little bit.” He turned toward Archer. 

“It’s late. Emotions are still high. I’ll meet you tomorrow night.” Archer turned and saw himself out the door. 

“Great,” Eddie muttered for himself. “Good to see we’re all on the same page.” He clasped his hands together and shook them once before heading upstairs to check on Maria and the boys. 

The Street Rat continues with episode 203.

For more stories set in this world, buy The White Knight – out now! Subscribe below to be the first to know when new stories are released!