Sewer Rats (7 page)

He nodded, knowing why I sounded so surprised. “I think they're getting used to the idea of being part of a family, even though it's not a normal family.”

He shrugged. “But then none of us are normal, are we?”

I thought about what some of the teachers called us: dysfunctional kids.

“No,” I said, thinking the teachers might be right. “We're not.”

I also thought of what Miss Pohl had said about it not mattering where a person came from, but where a person decided to go in life. “Doesn't mean we have to be that way forever, does it?”

Micky didn't answer. He pulled a chair up beside me. For a few minutes, we didn't talk.

“I've got to ask you,” I finally said. “Why did you come back? Don't get me wrong. If it weren't for you, we would never have
got Lisa loose. But from what you say about your Dad and how you think heroes are stupid...”

I held my breath. I didn't want Micky to get mad and leave.

Micky surprised me. He grinned.

“I've been thinking about that,” he said. “A lot.”

He took a deep breath.

“Why did I go back? It's like this. I couldn't not do it. Does that make sense?”

I thought about why I'd kept trying to help Lisa. I nodded my head to show him I agreed.

“And I've been thinking more,” he said. “About my Dad.”

I waited.

“All along I've been mad at him because I thought he was trying to be a hero,” Micky said. “But now I don't think it was like that. It was probably the same for him as it was for us. We couldn't stand by and watch. We had to do something. Or always hate ourselves.”

I nodded some more. I'd learned that
bravery wasn't about the panic that might hit. It was about allowing yourself to be afraid. And not quitting because of that fear.

“You know that's what the newspapers are saying about us,” Micky said. He made a face and shook his head. “But we're not heroes. It's just that other people have decided to call us that.”

Micky looked at his hands and thought for a few more seconds.

“Anyway,” Micky said. “For a long time I've been angry because I thought my dad died trying to be a hero. I hated him. I mean, I thought he cared so little about me and Mom that he threw his life away for the chance to be a hero.”

Micky smiled sadly. “I guess I know different now, don't I?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I guess so.”

Micky's sad smile grew less sad. “So I don't hate him anymore. In a way, it's like having him back. Which is pretty cool after all these years.”

That was all Micky said. He left me alone in the hospital room with the comics.

I picked up the top comic book. It was about a galactic soldier who never lost any battles.

I tossed the comic book onto the floor.

Micky had his father back.

Me? I didn't need Zantor anymore.

photo credit: Bill Bilsley

Sigmund Brouwer
is the best-selling author of many books for children and young adults, including
Wired
in the Orca Currents series. Sigmund enjoys the chance to visit schools to talk to students about reading and writing. Watch for Sigmund's sports adventure novels,
Rebel Glory
,
All Star Pride
and
Tiger Threat
in the new Orca Sports series in the fall of 2006. Sigmund currently divides his time between Red Deer, Alberta, and Nashville, Tennessee.