Menachem immediately frowned, certain the kid was messing with him. He took out the cloth. "Then why?"

"Ye're a pirate, an' yer gonna make me walk the plank!"

Menachem stared then laughed. "No.. I'm not. And I don't have a plank. I am a man of circumstances. Now, I snuck into your dad's house to see if he had anything valuable. You'd be surprised how often people who are poor have some family heirloom and they just keep it in a drawer or something. Better to sell it and help out their family, but I guess the connection to it is important or something."

He wasn't sure but then looked at the kid and ruffled his hair. "I kidnapped you because I could. Now when I let you go, you can make up some story about how you fought your way tooth and claw. Right?"

Bram nodded innocently.

He was super going to the constable straight.

Menachem sighed as he sat back. He waited and yawned a little. "You should sleep, it's late. I'll letyou go in a few hours."

"My father must be worried, ser..." Bram said.

Menachem rolled his eyes. "Fine. Give it another ten minutes then."

Bram sat and waited.

Menachem looked at him. "You aren't scared of me, are you? Even though I knocked your own dad down."

"You ain't a real pirate." Bram explained.

This made the man look more curious. "You think pirates are the only scary types out there?"

"No..." said Bram. He frowned. "But if ye would want to kill me, ye would have done already."

Menachem tilted his head. "You ever hear of ransom? I could have had other reasons to keep you alive."

"I hope you like fish..." Bram deadpanned.

Menachem chuckled. "Oh trying to talk big?" He smiled and stretched out to relax. "You are lucky I'm not a really evil man."

"Are the ten minutes up?"

Menachem shrugged and grinned. "Don't have a watch. Alright kid." He grabbed the handkerchief and tied it around his eyes. "I'm going to untie you. Don't try anything or i'll just tie you back up and leave you by the side of the road and you will have to hope the kindness of strangers holds true." He started to untie him and blindly lead him out.

Bram began to run, but stumbled, fell, and began to cry, because he had hurt himself.

Menachem grumbled and walked over, pulling him up and checked him over. Brushing any dirt away from his knees and elbows. "You ok, kid? You not too hurt are you? Why the hell did you try to run when you couldn't see?"

"I want to go home..." Bram cried, and he was suddenly trembling.

Menachem groaned in frustration. "Fine.." he lifted the kid up to carry him to his home. "Don't start screaming again or I'll drop you, got it?"

Bram nodded and sat as still as possible, still crying quietly and shaking.

Menachem sighed and patted his back as he walked with him. "Hey kid, it'll be ok. I'm sure you fall a lot when you play. Right?" He took off the handkerchief so he could see. "Is this better?"

"But...." All the fear had been pushed away for a while, and then when he had started running, it had rushed back at once. "You scared me..."

Menachem rolled his eyes and threw up his arms. "You're gonna fall again!" He sighed shaking his head. He turned and started to head back to his hotel. The entire thing was a headache.

Abraham fell hard and began to cry all over, louder this time. He was alone in the dark, hurt and frightened, and he had had enough.

Menachem shook his head and turned back. He scooped him up into his strong arms and walked back to his house. "See? I told you. Now come on. I'm gonna get you home safe and sound, okay? Just calm yourself. I haven't hurt ya yet, have I?"

But that only upset Bram more. "Let me go!" He struggled and howled frantically.

Menachem frowned and held him up at arm's length. "What do you want me to do? I can put you down and you fall and hurt yourself. Or I can take you home.Which do you want? Stop your crying. I swear." He suddenly wanted to toss the kid in a rain barrel ,he was driving him nuts.

Bram put his lips together trying to keep himself from crying, but he squirmed. If Menachem felt the fabric near his hand become warm and wet, well...

"Oy gevalt!" He gasped holding the kid far from him and glared. "Kid! What is going on???" He held him out as he tried to walk closer to the house. "You are really overreacting!"

Bram began to cry hysterically again.

Completely full of disgust he still held the kid closer so he wasn't dangling in his arms. "Hey,hey its ok! You're almost home. I think it's like.. right down this street. Isn't it recognizable?" He gestured around as he walked, but also listened in case the boy's family was out and about calling for him.

Ben turned the corner and stopped. "You let 'im go!" he shouted when he recognized the man carrying his son.

"Fatheeeeeeer!" Bram cried. He struggled.

Menachem rolled his eyes and put the kid down. "Take him!" He turned and ran off though he knew the man wouldn't catch him. He made a mental note that he'd live a long and happy life never seeing those crazy people again.