Page 13 of Garr

“Adam, I don’t have time to be waitin’ on you all day. Carry them bags. Use them big muscles of yours and follow me. We got stuff to do.”

Ruby smirked at the young man, knowing he was trying to figure out how his grandmother was able to move so quickly, and he was struggling to keep up.

“Grandpa, I’ll get that,” said Ben, running towards his grandfather at the sporting goods store. Matthew reached up to the second rack and pulled down a bicycle, George grabbing a second one, and Sven grabbing a third.

“Why am I here?” frowned Ben.

“You’re here to help us get all this back. We’re not feeble,” smirked Matthew.

“I never thought you were, Grandpa, but you lifted those bikes like they were nothing.” Matthew gripped his shoulders, kissing his forehead as he always did.

“When you’re on a mission, son, you become focused. You don’t know your own strength sometimes. I’m sure you’ve encountered that a time or two.” Ben stared at his grandfather, then the other two gentlemen.

“Not like that,” he frowned.

“Grandma!” yelled Carl. “Grandma, why do we need thirty-four pairs of running shoes?”

“I told you. Are y’all deaf?” she frowned. “I swear I’ve said this a million times. The families all need shoes. Mama, Daddy, boys, girls, all of ‘em. Do you understand now?”

“Yes, ma’am,” nodded Carl. “The store manager is sure gonna like us today. We’re about to make his sales for the month.”

“Doesn’t matter,” said Matthew. “We’re going to make a few families happy, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll believe again. We’re here for a reason.”

“I wish I had your faith, Grandpa,” said Adam.

“One day you will,” he grinned.

“No one move!” yelled a young man standing at the register. His hands were shaking, but he held a pistol pointed right at the lines of people. “Pull out your cash.”

“Shit,” muttered Carl. “I’ll go behind him.”

“No,” said Matthew.

“Grandpa, this isn’t one that you can tell me what to do. I’m going behind him.”

“And I said, no.” Matthew’s tone was stern and severe, something the boys hadn’t heard in ages, and it was unsettling.

Carl just stared at Matthew, watching as he slowly moved forward toward the young man. He was standing on the counter of the register, the young girl crouched behind it. Men and women had baskets full of items, waiting their turn.

“Old man, don’t move. Give me your wallet.”

“That’s just it,” smiled Matthew. “I don’t have my wallet. I forgot it today.”

“Bullshit!”

“You’re afraid,” said Matthew calmly. “So are these people. Let them go, and I’ll give you whatever you need.”

The young man stared at the old man in front of him, shaking his head. He seemed sturdy and solid, but there was something else about him that was making him squirm.

“I-I can’t. I can’t,” said the man. Matthew could see the emotions building up in the young man. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. He didn’t want to be here. But he was.

“What’s your name, son?” asked Matthew.

“Joe. Joseph,” he stuttered. “Please. Just give me your cash. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“Let them go. I promise you I’ll give you whatever you need. You have my word, Joseph.” Matthew moved slowly toward the lines, nodding at the people. “Just leave your baskets and move on. Go on now. Joseph isn’t going to hurt you.”

The stunned customers quickly moved out of the store, turning to stare at the strange old man.

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