One and the Same
4
George breaks the silence Albert didn't realize was going on, "I've kept you long enough, and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you where he is."
Albert nods and walks deeper into the building and stops at a plain door. A wooden plate hanging just below eye level reads Samuel L. Wick. Albert takes a deep breath and tries to get rid of any negative thoughts. He glances down at the dogs before knocking. "Dad?"
As Albert enters he sees a withered old man sitting in front of the television. His dad's face warms with life as he smiles at his visitor. His eyes clear ups as he recognizes his son, "Little Albert."
Albert stiffens, it was never a good sign when his dad called him by his childhood endearment. He sits in the free chair, hoping his dad didn't think something was wrong. Albert looks at the beat-up shoe-box in the older man's lap. The box contained all the letter's his parents had exchanged as well as some mementos. Its used to reside in a closet of the family home but his dad couldn't bear to leave it behind when he came here. Albert forces his attention to the dogs, "I brought Margie and Rosey with me."
Margie plants her head on his dad's knee. Doing what she can to comfort the old man. Sam smiles at her and strokes her fur, "Thank you for watching over my boy."
Albert picks up the waiting Rosey, putting her on the chair next to him. On the TV, a reporter talks about a protest going on behind her. The background is filled with people dressed in black holding up signs and fists. Smoke drifts over streets covered in paint and broken glass. Sam's eyes sadden as they watch the crowd throw rocks not seeming to care who or what they hit. Albert sighs, knowing Charlotte has thrown some of those rocks. he just hopes she wasn't one of those dumb enough to throw them at the police. Not that it mattered since he wasn't going to be the one to bail her out of jail this time.
Sam lightly touches the box, "They are so reckless and full of energy like Tutala herself is leading them into battle. It's the sort of energy we lose as we get older." Margie pushes her nose to Sam's arm and he goes back to petting her. "Their values sound similar to Charlotte's, is she with them?"
Albert nods, "She wanted me to come too, even showed up at my door this morning."
Sam shakes his head, "If she could see beyond her rage maybe she would find something to make her happy."
Albert gets the feeling that statement was directed at him too, but he ignores it. The protestors move through the city like a landslide. Occasionally the camera shows the devastation they leave behind. "That...that won't happen anytime soon. Those who don't share her ideals, or don't feel the same level of hatred are enemies in her mind."
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