THE SENTINEL

By Tessa Harvey 


    His father had come back, even angrier and vengeful, so sure the chemist would have long gone and his stupid son was hiding in a cupboard or toilet on the pharmacy premises. Well, he paused, unsure.....he had so many aliases....anyway, that boy would learn to obey.

    To his surprise, the shop door opened easily. To his further surprise, both men knew his real name. It was not Karl Schonbaum. Neither was it Tony Smith. "You are under arrest, James Stewart," declared the formidable looking man. "I am a police officer.

    Just then a car swerved and parked at an angle. A young man and young woman emerged. "Sylvia!" James gasped. "Time up, dad," she said with an icy calmness.

    He heard sirens and moved sideways, easily blocked by the three menand young woman.

    "I just want to see my little boy," he tried to bluster. "No dad," his girl said again. "Time up, and I know my real father is now."

    The pharmacist watched them all leave. He had seen much of humanity in his profession - bright people making wrong choices, ending up on methadone, dullards in power. He prayed for the criminal as he was taken away, and for the others as he helped resue the exhausted child.

    That unlikely hero, the young teacher would do well. He had the look of one who walked with the King of Love, Light and real power. Jesus.

TO BE CONTINUED

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