The next afternoon the six were in the middle of cleaning the pad. Mike was in the middle of dusting when he heard a knock on the door. It was Carol.
"Howdy!" Mike grinned.
"Hello. I have some really good news for you. Jack's backed off. He signed his rights away. I don't know what that English fellow told him. Something to do with money but he backed off."
"That's great. But I have no idea what you're talking about." Mike frowned.
"He threated...what's the kid's name?"
"Davy! He threated Davy?!"
Davy went downstairs. "Hey Mike? Do you know where the broom is?"
"Jack threated you and you didn't tell me?!" Mike demanded.
"I'll get it later." Davy replied. He started to head back upstairs when Mike grabbed his arm.
"Well?"
Davy sighed. "Yes Mike. He threated me. So what?"
"So what?! Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I knew you'd get mad and do something stupid." Davy replied.
Mike sighed. He knew Davy was right. That's exactly what would've happened.
"Boys! Let me finish! Jack backed off."
"He did?" Mike asked.
"Did what?" Micky asked as he and Peter went down the stairs.
"Davy got Jack to back off." Mike explained.
"He did? What did you tell him Davy?" Peter asked.
"Oh this and that." Davy replied with a grin.
"Listen to him!" Micky laughed.
"Basically I told I have a rich grandfather and a nice landlord who'd also help us with the kids. He tried to intimate me by saying we have no money. When it's really him who doesn't have any."
"Well good job buddy." Mike patted his shoulder.
"Thank you. Thank you." Davy bowed.
Carol cleared her throat. "I have more good news than this."
"What's better than Jack leaving?" Micky asked.
"I found the kids a good foster home."
The room grew silent.
"What's wrong? I thought you'd guys be thrilled."
"We are. It's just..." Micky sighed.
"We don't wanna go!" Jesse cried.
He and his sister had been standing there listening to the last part of the conversation.
"Don't you guys want to meet the people who might be your new foster parents?" Carol asked.
"NO!" Jesse cried. He ran in the downstairs bedroom. Mike started to go after him, but Peter stopped him.
"No, Mike. Let me."
Mike nodded.
Peter entered the room and seen Jesse sitting on his bed. He was crying softly.
"Can I come in?"
Jesse nodded. Peter sat next to him.
"Don't you guys wanna us here anymore?"
"Of course we do. But it's not up to us. It's up to the courts. And I don't think they'd allow two kids staying with guys who are only in their twenties. I'm surprised they let you two stay here for this long."
"What if these people aren't nice? What if they're like our dad?"
Peter smiled. "I don't think the courts would let you stay with them if they were mean."
"Well you guys are nice. Why can't we stay with you?"
Peter sighed. "That's a good question."