Chapter 2.4:

A week passed and I could see that Abram was doing his best to try to be optimistic for our sake. But I could feel his frustration everytime we wiped down empty shelves in the storefront.

“So… should we stop by the Permits Office later?” I asked hesitantly as I sweeped the floor.

Abram stopped reading the documents in his hands and seemed to be choosing his words. “You’re right, it’s been a week already. I nearly forgot.”

Paul and I exchanged glances. Abram had been leaving the house every afternoon to go on “walks”. But when we followed him yesterday, we saw he was visiting the Permits Office.

“Well, right-o lads. One week was what they said, and one full week passed. Why don’t I head over there after lunch and get our trade permit?” Abram said in a jovial tone.

It’s scarier to see you pretending to be happy, Abram.

“Why don’t we go with you, pa? We’d love to get a better feel of all of these rules and regulations, and you know it would be helpful for Adi and me to know where all the important offices are located.” Paul suggested.

Abram looked distraught for half a second but he immediately recovered.

“Nonsense Paul, it’s really not much of an experience. Just waiting in a long line, you know. Very crowded. You two should go out and play. We’ll be pretty busy once we get that permit.” Abram said uncomfortably.

Paul looked at me and I moved towards Abram and grabbed his arm.

“Please, Abram? We’d love to go with you. We won’t be bored! We’ll behave, we promise!” I pleaded.

Abram looked at me and his expression softened. “Ah well… I mean… if you insist. But I tell you there’s really not much to see…” Abram absent-mindedly stored his documents and headed into the kitchen.

Paul and I watched him close the door.

“Right. Chances are that old frog in the Permits Office still won’t cooperate with us.” Paul said savagely. “We have to make sure dad doesn’t explode when that happens.”

“I’ve never seen Abram angry before… Is it bad?” I asked.

Paul looked at me dead in the eye, “I think he can be scarier than Lady Vela when he gets mad.”

I could feel a cold shiver throughout my entire body. “Crap.”

After a very tense meal, with Abram still trying to actively dissuade us from going, we all headed out the main road towards the regulation sector of the city.

On the way there we passed by the market.

“Look Adi, that’s the clothing shop where I bought your clothes.” Paul pointed.

I saw a small stall with heaps of clothes piled on at the front and a kind-looking grandmother waving at us. A lot of the clothes hanging there were very similar to the shirts and pants that now occupied my small dresser. I waved back at her and pointed at the shirt I was wearing.

After a few more minutes of walking through stalls we passed through a stone arch that had a sign that said, “Regulation Sector”.

On the other side were small buildings with tons of people lined up inside with some spilling into the streets.

I looked on to see different licensing offices throughout the entire stretch of the street as well as the disgruntled citizens lined up to transact. Eventually we arrived at a building bigger than most that had a sign reading “Permits Office”.

Abram took a deep breath and turned to us, “you lads can wait right here.”

Paul gave me a small nudge.

“Ah! We’d love to see inside Abram. Besides, we’re already here.” I insisted.

Abram glanced inside and sighed. “Alright boys. Come on then.”

He lead us into the building and my eyes widened at the extravagance of the interior: fancy curtains, a giant chandelier, gold plated railings in the staircase, and a very lush carpet leading from the entrance to the reception desk.

I was gawking at all the decor when I suddenly realized something.

Why aren’t there more people lined up?

Abram strode right up to the reception desk and did a small bow. “Pleasant day to you Master Quincy.”

The receptionist paused his scribbling to look at Abram. He sighed and went back to writing. “It’s not yet ready, Sir Abram.”

Abram looked like he was slapped in the face but he forced a smile. “Ah, but you informed me it would be ready in a week.”

The receptionist removed his glasses and started wiping them with a cloth. “No, sir. I said it may take AT LEAST a week.”

Abram closed his eyes and started breathing slowly. His fists started clenching and his forearms were tensing up. Paul looked panicked and signaled to me. We both grabbed on to his arms.

Abram was startled by our sudden touch and he seemed to remember himself. He let out another sigh and tried a smile again. “Master Quincy, please be reasonable. I have a business to run and children to feed.”

Quincy peered over his desk to look at both Paul and myself. He sat back down and sighed. “Look, it’s not my call to make. I’m just the frontline clerk. For the most part my functions are ministerial. You know that all licenses are personally approved by the Permits Officer.” Quincy explained as he gestured to the ornate door at the top of the stairs behind him.

“Then might I request an audience with Lord Buck?” Abram asked politely.

Quincy let out another sigh, then he stood up and proceeded to the top of the stairs. He knocked at the door three times and then entered.

After a few minutes, he came back down. “Lord Buck agrees to grant you an audience. Kindly proceed to the top of the stairs, knock three times, then enter. Once you’re inside, wait for Lord Buck to offer you a seat.”

Quincy then unceremoniously returned to his scribbling.

Abram looked at Paul and me and gave a small nod.

We then proceeded to the top of the stairs and followed Quincy’s instructions.

The inside of Lord Buck’s room looked even more lavish than the reception area. There were giant paintings and beautiful urns and jars around the room. Sitting behind a huge mahogany desk was a small man, only a head taller than Paul. He was very thin with a wide face and big eyes that kind of made him look like a frog.

I stifled a laugh at the image of him squatting on a lilypad.

“Ah, Abram, come in come in. Just the man I wanted to see.” Lord Buck said as he stood up to welcome us. “Sit, sit.”

We entered the room, did a formal bow, and took a seat on the couch in front of his desk.

Lord Buck stood right in front of us and leaned back against his desk.

“I understand you’re having some trouble with your trading permit.” Lord Buck said as he fiddled with a small golden figurine of a cat.

Abram looked momentarily furious but immediately plastered a smile on his face. “Why, yes, Lord Buck. As a matter of fact, I wanted to see you today to ask what could possibly be the problem. Did I perhaps miss a document in my application?”

Lord Buck shook his head. “No, no. In fact your documents are all in order. But we seem to have hit a little snag with the security division.”

Abram paused at that. “Sorry, why is my application with the city’s security division?”

Lord Buck seemed perplexed at the question. “Why, I forwarded it to them of course.”

Abram looked incredulously at Lord Buck.

“Now, now. I don’t want you thinking that I’m being malicious. But the fact is you’re an outsider trying to set up shop in our fair little city. I just wanted to make sure there weren’t any security threats.” Lord Buck explained with a fake hurt expression.

I instantly disliked this man.

“Surely you jest, Lord Buck.” Abram replied.

Lord Buck looked at him and gave him a smirk. “But of course, as North Haven’s Permit Officer, I could override this protocol if I saw some merit in the application or the applicant.”

“We’re only trying to run an honest business, Lord Buck. Isn’t it in the city’s interest to see more commerce conducted? Besides, our reputation as merchants is beyond reproach.” Abram argued.

“Ah yes, well. Competence only makes one part of an upstanding citizen in our fair city. There are other factors at play…” Lord Buck replied as he picked up a gold coin on his desk. “Like loyalty.” He flipped the coin in Abram’s direction.

Abram caught the coin and stared at it. He looked up at Lord Buck who gave him a wink. “I trust you understand what I mean.”

Abram’s face darkened. “I’m afraid I do.”

“You see…” Lord Buck started as he made his way to his window. “I am but a humble civil servant. I have to make sure I do my part to support Lord Helm’s efforts in the city’s upkeep.”

I was starting to put two and two together on what was happening. That’s when I noticed Paul pulling out something from his pocket and dropping it to the floor. Paul smiled at me.

“I’m sure you can prove your loyalty to Lord Helm by means of… a little token. I can be persuaded to expedite your papers.” Lord Buck smiled.

Abram stood up suddenly and placed the gold coin back on the table. “If it’s all the same to you, Lord Buck, I think I’ll allow the security division to continue on with their task. I am confident they won’t find anything that should hinder my application.”

Lord Buck smirked. “As you wish. You may go.”

Abram gave Lord Buck a bow and we did the same.

When we exited the door, Abram muttered under his breath, “stupid, vile, corrupt, old frog.”

So that’s where Paul got the moniker for Lord Buck.

I looked at Abram sympathetically and held his hand. Abram smiled at me.

“Don’t worry dad. I took care of it.” Paul said as he grabbed Abram’s other hand.

“What did you do, son?” Abram said with a slight panic.

“Nothing. Just left a… little token for Lord Buck.” Paul said with a mischievous grin.

Suddenly we heard a scream from the other side of the door. “QUINCY! GET THE BROOM!!!”

Quincy got up from his desk and took out a small broom from underneath and proceeded to go up the flight of stairs. He looked at Paul who couldn’t meet his gaze and he let out a deep sigh. “Yeah, just go.”

Abram gave him an apologetic look and shooed us out of the building.

“What exactly did you leave for Lord Buck?” Abram said sternly.

“Well… I heard frogs liked bugs. So… I left him some cockroaches I found in the back alley.” Paul said meekly.

Abram was stunned. Then he started cackling with laughter. “That’ll do, my boy!” He said happily as he patted Paul on the back.

Paul gave me a winning smile and I smiled back at him.

Abram was in a noticeably better mood as we walked back to the store.

When we arrived I asked, “what should we do now?”

Abram paused and looked at me thoughtfully. “Don’t worry lads. I have some ideas. In the meantime. Why don’t we take care of your unfinished business Adi?”

I looked at him confused. “What unfinished business?”

“Well, we still haven’t been to the Orphanage to finalize your adoption right? Why don’t we do that tomorrow?” Abram asked.

I was a bit startled at the sudden suggestion. “Um… there’s no rush right? I mean don’t you and Paul want to think about it more first?”

Abram looked at me in surprise. “Are you having second thoughts, son? Don’t you want us to adopt you?”

“NO! I mean yes, of course, I want you guys to adopt me. I just… I don’t want you guys to regret it later, thinking you made a mistake.” I said quietly.

Abram put his hand on my head and gently stroked my hair. “Aye. We won’t regret anything, son. You’re part of this family. Besides, we have to focus on the things we can do rather than the things that are out of our hands.”

I looked at him and nodded.

“Alright then. So tomorrow let’s head to the Orphanage.”