Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Justified (02/26/26)
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TITLE: The Gold Button | Previous Challenge Entry
By Yvonne Blake
03/04/26 -
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He was much like a dirt clod, from his muddy bare feet up to his matted hair, blending into shadows of the city wharf. He danced a victory jig with the button raised high. “I did it! Look! I’ve got proof. Now can I be part of the gang?”
A handful of scoundrels gathered around him. The biggest one, Stan, spit and crossed his arms. “I don’t know. Yer still just a scrawny kid. Ya might get in the way.” He snatched away the button. “Lemme see it. How do we know you didn’t just find it on the dock?”
“I stole it right off his coat! See? It still has a thread on it!” He jumped up, trying to get it back, when suddenly the gang scattered. The button clattered to the ground. A heavy hand clamped down on the boy’s shoulder and turned him around.
It was the captain in the white coat! He squatted down. “Are you the one who stole my button?” He lifted his arm with the torn sleeve. “What’s your name, boy?”
“M . . . Manny.” He picked up the button from where the gang leader dropped it. “I’m sorry, sir. They dared me. I’m so sorry. Please, don’t take me to jail. Here, you can have the button back. Please, don’t be angry with me, sir.”
The captain took the muddy button and tossed it a couple of times while staring thoughtfully at the little boy. “Manny, I’m not angry. I forgive you.” He looked around. “Where do you live?”
The boy shrugged.
“Are you hungry? Why don’t you come back with me?”
Manny’s eyes lit up at the thought of food, but then his eyes narrowed with suspicion, and he took a step backwards. “Nah, I’m fine.”
The captain stood up. “Well, I’ll tell you what, my ship leaves in a few hours. If you change your mind, you’re still welcome to come onboard.” He looked around and yelled, “That goes for all you other boys. Come to the ship before it leaves, and I will take you in.”
After the captain left, Manny meandered through the alleys trying to make sense of it all. His stomach growled, and he hunched his shoulders as a drizzly rain soaked through his rags. A long bellow from the ship echoed through the air. He looked in that direction. Why would the captain care about him? He was nothing but a thief and street rat. The horn blew again. Don’t leave without me!
He scampered through puddles and jumped over broken bottles. Rounding a corner, he almost bumped into Stan and the gang.
“Where ya goin’, Manny?”
“Get out of my way. I’m going to the ship with the captain.”
“He’s a liar. It’s a trap. Why would he want us? He just wants us to work for him like slaves.”
“No! He’s good. I know it.” Manny tried to slide past.
Stan stepped in front of him. “We ain’t goin’ and you ain’t goin’ neither. We don’t want you squealin’ on us or nothin’.”
“Get out of my way!” Manny skittered between their legs and sprinted up the wharf toward the huge ship with the hundred bright lights. He was halfway up the gangway when he heard a whistle behind him. A policeman grabbed the sleeve of his shirt.
“Where do you think you’re goin’, you little stowaway!”
Manny twisted out of his clutch. “I ain’t no stowaway. The captain told me to come.”
“Yeah, right . . . and I suppose you got a ticket too? ”
“I don’t need a ticket. Let me go!”
“We've been looking for a boy who attacked the captain today. Was that you?”
Manny melted at those words. “Yeah, that was me. I stole his gold button.”
“I thought so! You’re coming to the station with me.” He dragged the boy by his collar.
Manny flailed his arms. “No! No! He forgave me! He said I could come.”
A familiar voice rang out. “Stop! Let go of that boy. That’s Manny, and he’s mine.”
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