Ezra Acker Age Ten

EZRA ACKER: AGE TEN

The first time it happened, I was ten. I was living with the Kimbers, my fifth foster family. I got off the school bus and started walking the five blocks to their house. It wasn’t in a great part of town and, Natalie, my foster-for-now mom, always said to keep my head down and walk fast. So, I did and never had a problem…until today.

I’d made it three blocks when I crashed into something solid. I fell backwards, my school bag flattened on the ground under me.

“You should watch where you’re walking.” I didn’t recognize the voice but when I looked up, I did recognize the face. Morris Fieldman. He was sixteen and loved bullying younger kids. He’d never bothered me before but likely because I stayed off his radar. Until now.

“Sssorry, Morris. I was trying to get home; dinner will be ready soon and I have to be on time.”

Morris’s laughter was cruel and that was when I noticed two other people with him. Them I didn’t know but it likely didn’t matter.

“It’s not really your home though is it, Ezra? You don’t have one, or a real family for that matter. Mommy and daddy didn’t want you and left you on the doorstep of a church like an afterschool special. Only, there’s no happily ever after for you, is there?”

I swallowed down my sobs as Morris taunted me and his friends laughed. When I made to get up, Morris pushed me down with his foot.

“Stay down there, that’s where dogs belong.”

A sound in the alley behind Morris made us all jump and when the three of them turned to see what it was, I didn’t pass up the opportunity. I grabbed my bag and ran faster than I ever had before.

That night as I was getting ready for bed I heard Natalie talking to Mr. Kimber—Alex.

“That’s the path Ezra takes home, Alex. Police said those three boys were almost unrecognizable. Animalistic tears over their faces and chests. Alex, their hearts were gone.”

“Then find a new route for Ezra to take, Nat. What do you want me to do? Coyotes are a thing.” Alex didn’t like me, but he tolerated me because Natalie was a kind woman and loved children.

“That’s not a solution.”

“Nat, it’s sad, but what choice do we have. We both work.”

I’d find my own route if I had too, but I wanted to know about the boys. I rushed to Henry’s room, he was another foster kid who I knew had a tablet.

“Henry,” I whispered.

“What?” He was groggy because it was well past our bedtime.

“Can I borrow your tablet? I heard three kids were killed and?—”

He jumped out of bed and hit the light. “Dead?”

I nodded and he pulled his tablet out of the bedside drawer.

“Natalie said they were torn apart.”

Henry’s big green eyes widened and as soon as the tablet was powered up, he searched local news and read the article out loud.

“ Three boys were found in an alleyway between Henderson Boulevard and Cooper Street this evening. It appears they were mauled by animals, likely coyotes. Their hearts were missing, and identities weren’t revealed right away .”

That was the same alley that noise came from…where I ran.

“Oh wow,” Henry said. “There’s an update. The identities of the boys are Morris Fieldman, Issac Cooper, and Larry Hillston. I know those kids.” Henry was twelve, older than me.

“I…Henry, I was there.”

His head jerked my way. “When?”

“Today. Morris and those other kids were bothering me. When we heard the noise in the alley, I ran.”

Henry placed the tablet down and gripped my shoulders. “Don’t tell anyone.”

“What, why?”

“You’re a foster kid, Ezra. Don’t make waves, just be good, quiet, and no drama. Take a different way home, try going around Bonnie’s Bakery. It’s a little longer but it’s on a main street.”

Like I said, Henry was older and I looked up to him.

“Okay, Henry, I won’t say anything.”

I didn’t say anything, and their deaths were ruled as a freak animal attack. The search for the coyotes lasted weeks but no one ever spotted even one.

That was the first time I was saved by my silent knight, only I didn’t realize it until years later.