08: Brother's Keeper (Matthias and Henry Dugan)

"MOOOOOOM! Henry's on my side!" Matt whined. For the record, Henry was nowhere near Matt's side.

Mr. Dugan tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I swear, if we weren't two days from home, I'd turn this car around."

Mrs. Dugan patted him on the arm. "I know, honey," she whispered. Then she turned around and addressed her boys. "Henry, stay on your side. Matthias, stop making trouble."

"Yes, mommy," Henry said. "Yes, mommy," Matthias repeated, in a much more annoying voice.

Matthias turned to make a face at his brother, when he saw an old ICM Jamboree passing them. "Jam slam!" he shouted, and punched Henry in the arm.

"Matthias Montgomery Dugan!" his mother shouted. "Do you want to spend all week in the hotel while the rest of us have fun?"

"No..."

"Then behave yourself for once! Your behavior has been awful ever since we left--"

"SHIT!" Mr. Dugan yelled, as the Jamboree ahead of them suddenly blew a tire and swerved into their lane. He tried to steer around, but he clipped the back fender of the other car and spun out of control. The car skidded to the edge of the road, and started rolling when it hit the ditch. Matthias screamed, and Henry started to cry.

On the second roll the windows shattered, sending shards of glass into the car. On the third, Matthias slammed his head against the door, knocking him senseless. After the fifth, the car collided with a billboard post, finally coming to an upside-down stop.

Matthias didn't know how long his eyes were closed, but eventually he felt brave enough to open them. Once he had wiped away the tears and blood, he saw his father's arms hang limply, his hands dragging through the pool of his own blood on the roof.

Tears streamed down his face as he looked toward his mother, who was still alive. Her hand was clutched to her abdomen, and as she coughed, she spat up blood.

"Promise," she rasped.

"Huh?"

"Take care of your brother, Matty." Her eyes were pleading, even as the light faded from them. "He needs you. Promise me."

"I promise, mommy."

And then, Matthias blacked out.


"You 'kay, Matty?"

Matthias Dugan snapped out of his reverie. He'd been counting the day's take--nearly six hundred dollars. Not bad for a day of rigged card games, but he'd have to find something more lucrative soon. Henry needed new clothes, and he ate so much...

Matthias looked up at his little brother, who now stood at over seven feet tall. "I'm all right, Hank. Just thinking about Mom and Dad again."

"Oh." Henry had always been quiet, but he'd been almost silent since the accident, fifteen years ago.

"It's all right, buddy. We'll pick you up some new shoes tomorrow before we go to work." He flashed a warm smile, ignoring the fact that new shoes would mean he'd have to skip dinner for a few days.

Not that it bothered him, of course. After all...he made a promise.