Chapter 5 A Life Saved

The next morning while Michael was making breakfast, the man finally woke up. "Where am I?"

"You're in my home." Said Michael as he was walking out of the kitchen.

"How did I get here? The last thing I remember is being pulled into an alley and robbed."

"I found you with a knife in your side and the men running out the other side of the alley. I brought you to my home so I can stitch you up. Be careful not to move around too much as you may reopen the wound. You were lucky that they didn't hit any of your vital organs."

"Are you the one that stitched me up?"

"Yes. When I got to you there had already been a puddle of blood around you, so I had to quickly cover the wound and get you here so I could clean and stitch it up. Otherwise, you would have bled out in that alley."

"Thank you for saving me. I owe you my life. Is there something I could do to repay you?"

Thinking it over for a moment Michael asks. "Would you be able to give me a job? I'm new to the area and finding a job at my age is a little difficult."

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you and are you alone here? This place seems a little empty for you to be living here."

Thinking about how to answer Michael Responds. "I'm 16 and yes, I'm alone here. I was kicked out of my family just after turning 16 and had just enough to rent this place for the month. Unless I can find a stable job then I'll be out on my own. My name is Michael by the way."

"Wow, I'm sorry that you had to go through that. You can call me James. Listen Michael, though I'm not sure about a job at the moment, I owe you my life. I would be willing to take you in and help you get your life back on track. We have a spare room at our house, and I can help you go back to school so you can make something more out of your life. Would that be acceptable?"

"I'm not sure what to say. Are you sure that would be OK? What about your family?"

"I'm sure it will be ok, as for my family, they will understand. Just let me deal with that."

Michael stood there and thought about it for a moment before responding. "OK, I agree but with the condition that you allow me to work around the house. I cannot allow you to fully care for me. It would not be right. I can work as a housekeeper or something to earn my way while I am under your roof."

"I can agree to those terms. Now, do you by chance have a phone so I can contact my family to have them come and get us? Also, I would like to stop by the hospital and have them look over this wound as well."

"I apologize but I don't. If you want though I can help you over to the hospital though, we are just a few blocks away."

"Thank You, that would be great as I can contact my family from there."