Veggie boy munched on a carrot as he walked through the dark alleyways of New York City. Not the best place to be at night, he thought. But unless he found somewhere to sleep quick, it looked like it was going to be benchbeds today.
He turned the corner. Several thugs were standing by a wall with a couple cans of spray paint, writing obscene words on the walls. Veggie boy walked towards them.
“Excuse me,” he said.
The thugs turned around startled. But when they saw that it was just a kid, most of them went back to their graffiti.
“It’s not very nice to draw on other people’s things,” said Veggie boy. “How would you like it if someone drew on your stuff?”
One of the bigger thugs turned to Veggie boy. “Whatcha gonna do, kid? Tell on us to the police?”
Silence.
“Huh. Thought so. Now get lost.”
“Conrad, maybe you should take this kid in. He could be like a witness or something if we ever got caught,” said another thug.
“Ah, stop being a wimp,” growled Conrad. “This little guy ain’t gonna say nothing. That is, unless he has a death wish or something.”
Veggie boy walked past the thugs.
“See? He ain’t gonna do nothing. Now finish up and let’s get outta here.”
Quickly, Veggie boy grabbed a can of orange spray paint. While the thugs were finishing their graffiti on another part of the wall, Veggie boy drew a giant carrot over their work. Conrad noticed.
“HEY! What are you doing? STOP! You’re messing up my drawing! I worked hard on that!”
Veggie boy had just enough time to make a quick smiley face before he ran. He sprinted down one alleyway and stood on a trash can to reach a fire escape ladder.  Smiling, he watched the thugs look around in confusion as they passed by.
Then Veggie boy noticed a couple of kids walking in his direction. Toward the thugs. Were the thugs going to…
“Hey, look who’s here,” Conrad snarled with a smug grin on his face. “It’s my good friend Tommy.”
Tommy, the oldest of the group of kids, tried to turn around and leave. Conrad grabbed his shoulder. “What you got for us tonight, Tommy?” The thugs grinned and started jumping up and down excitedly like little beavers with a log.
When Tommy didn’t reply, Conrad tapped his foot impatiently. “C’mon Tommy, I know you got something for us.”
“I don’t got nothing, Conrad,” Tommy muttered.
“Uh-huh. Weren’t you at the supermarket this morning with a load of change?”
“I spent it all.”
“I’m sure. Claire, did he spend it all?”
Claire, a little girl probably no older than six, hid behind Tommy. “Is he going to hurt us Tommy?”
“I might,” said Conrad threateningly. “If Tommy don’t give me nothing.”
Right then Veggie boy dropped from above, landing in between Tommy and Conrad. “Then you better leave,” he said. “Cause Tommy did give you nothing.”
Conrad growled in irritation. “Don’t get smart with me, carrot kid.”
“I promise, I will never get smart with you.”
There was a pause as Conrad tried to figure out Veggie boy’s words. Then he realized. A menacing glare came over his face.
“That’s it,” Conrad growled and reached for Veggie boy.
Right as Veggie boy pulled out his carrot gun. Conrad blinked and put his hands up.
“Whoa, whoa, c-calm down. Aren’t guns illegal?” the thug stammered.
“Whatcha gonna do, Conrad? Tell on me to the police?” snapped Veggie boy.
Conrad said nothing.
“Huh. Thought so. Now get lost.”
Conrad and the other thugs fled.
Veggie boy turned to the group of kids. “’Sup.”
Tommy nodded. “Thanks for jumping in.”
“No problemo.”
“Nice gun.”
“It only shoots carrots.” Veggie boy shot one into the sky and caught it, popping it into his mouth. “What are you guys doing out here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at home?”
“We have no home,” Tommy replied.
“Oh.”
“Can I have a carrot?” asked Claire.
“Sure,” said Veggie boy. Claire munched on it happily, her eyes beaming with joy.
“She likes carrots,” Veggie boy noted.
“Nah, she just hasn’t had anything to…eat.” Tommy’s voice faded into the distance.
“You guys don’t have any money,” Veggie boy noted.
“Yeah.”
“Well that makes two of us.”
“At least you got carrots.”
“Can I have a carrot too?” asked another boy behind Tommy.
Veggie boy handed carrots to all the orphans. They all looked very grateful.
“That two times we owe you,” said Tommy. “Are…you going somewhere now?”
“Nah, just looking for a place to sleep.”
“You want to come with us?” Tommy asked. “We have some shelter in an old building.”
Claire’s eyes lit up. “You’re staying with us?” she asked Veggie boy excitedly.
Veggie boy smiled back at her. “I guess I am.”

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Copyright © 2009 Joshua Jackson