Chapter 3
January 15, 2026 at 9:33 AM
The leader could barely hear him. His answer was reluctant but it was said. “Fletcher, what type of name is that boy?” Fletcher said “That ain’t my first name, but I prefer er better than Alberto or William.”The boy's ankles crossed and uncrossed in a gesture of anxiety. The leader's hard voice says “ I like Fletcher too, Alberto and William just don’t suit you too well, They mean noble things and you don’t look so, noble boy. Fletcher is a well meaning name too but it doesn’t get you either. ”
The leader's muscular chest puffs out as he takes a deep breath, then looks to the boy to see what his reaction was but he looks offended. “ What did I say to you to give me that look?” The leader barked softly. Fletcher wrinkles his nose and answers “Fletcher was my ma’s last name sir” he hissed in a fiery tone. The boy began to get angry by the second. The leader knew something other than just asking his name, and commenting on it caused this fiery temper. The boy's face softens “My pa’s last name was Verdugo, which I’s didn’t like at all. So I’s chose my moms last name instead”. The leader looked at Fletcher and said “You can change your last name? That is very weird. How old are you anyways kid?”
The vehicle hit a bump in the road and Fletcher body hopped a little in his chair. His body swiveled towards the leader and his head went to his middle abdomen. Because of the height of Fletcher his head was basically under the leader's armpit. The bump in the road caused his head and body to go more limp than it should have. Fletcher rump was on the edge of the seat. He straightened up in his seat and looked to see the expectation on the leaders. His hands had gone up in the air in a movement of “Back Off ”. Fletcher looked at him and said “ I’ma sorry sir I didn’t mean ter. It was just an accident”.
The driver cursed the road as he took it at a great amount of speed. Fletcher's silence was just as frightening as the men who were in the vehicle. He was thinking of the life he was and had lived. The leader interrupted his thought with a question he had already asked. The question had went on without being answered. “My age sir?” The leader was never called sir like the boy was calling him. He hated it. He looked forward as he said “Yes, your age, what is it? And stop calling me sir. I feel old when you put it the way you do.” Fletcher looked straight into the eyes of the leader and said. “ I'm nineteen years old, mister.” The leader's head snapped as he yelled “ MISTER, THAT'S WORSE THAN SIR YOU DISRESPECTFUL CHILD!” Fletcher flinches back as the leader yells right into his face.
