Chapter 3
Broken Water


Jack looked up, and was surprised to see it was the old man, who was peeking out the key hole.
“Looks like he’s gone” said the old man, the old man shuffled into his kitchen,
“I knew they wouldn’t stay long” he said, and he beamed at Jack and Phil. Phil looked like he was not going to say anything, and just stood there. SO jack decided to talk,
“Uh, we have to be going actually” jack just had a wonderful idea,
“Do you know where a Frank Ulmer lives?” asked jack, there was a sparkle of amusement in the old mans eyes,
“Uh, good old Frank. He’s quite a beauty, handsome really” said the old man,
“Uh, that’s nice of you to say, do you know him?”
“Yes, in fact he is a great friend of mine” said the old man; Jack could tell he was not lying by the look in his eyes,
“Great, can we meet him?” said Phil excited, it was the first time he had spoken,
“I’m afraid I didn’t catch you two boy’s names?” said the old man,
“I am Phil, and this is jack” motioned Phil towards jack.
“And your last names?” jack wondered why the old man was curious, people didn’t just hand out there names around the Siberia’s,
“Um, our last names? Well” Phil and jack glanced at each other,
“Our parents never told us” said jack, looking at his feet in embarrassment.
“I thought so” said the old man, “because your Parents lived in the Siberia’s, and came from America” said the old man, Jack looked up in amazement, how did he know? Then he realized. It was kind of obvious,
“And you two just got over the cold, attend home school and love potatoes” said the old man with an smile, this time both Jack and Phil looked up, How’d he know they liked potatoes, the old man had an smile which split across his face, making jack feel better.
“Because I am Frank Ulmer” said the old man, relief flooded through jack, there little adventure was over, now they could return to Siberia’s or America! Phil handed the message which there dad had given jack and Phil to Frank, and walked over and sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. Franks eyes scanned over the message, over and over. He then walked into his bedroom, and they heard a good deal of noise. Jack and Phil looked at each other mystified, and peeked into the bedroom. Frank had a suitcase out, no two suitcases out, and was packing stuff which looked like the contents of his cupboard, and then Frank rushed away and got stuff from his draws. Jack and Phil quickly withdrew to where they were before, and Frank came out.
“We’re leaving tomorrow night, all of us” he said with a stern look at Phil, Who was about to protest. Jack was tired after two weeks of sleeping on the ground, and walked into Frank’s bedroom, where there was a mattress layer out for him, he fell asleep at once.
**********

Jack woke up with a yawn, noticing how warm it was, and temporarily didn’t know where he was. Then he remembered they were in Rankovick. He got up, stretching his muscles, which groaned in protest. Jack trudged out into the kitchen, ruffling his hair, to find Frank and Phil sitting there, and deep in conversation.

“So it’s definitely us, right?” asked Phil, Jack didn’t have a clue what they were talking about, Frank nodded. The look on Phil’s face was amazing, and his eyes flickered slightly over to Jack.
“Morning” muttered Phil, Frank leaned back, watching Jack. Then Frank got up and walked to the door,
“I’ll be back soon, no causing trouble, and don’t leave the house!’ said Frank sternly. Jack nodded, as did Phil.
“Good” And Frank creaked open the door, and the sunlight poured in, the buzz of talk coming in from the street. There were people badgering Merchants for more stuff, traveling in packs, one had an cute dog, but these scenes were cut off as Frank snapped shut the door. Phil sat down next to Jack, and they sat in silence for minutes,
‘Why isn’t he speaking?’ thought Jack, he looked over.
Phil’s head was leaning back, looking at the roof, his eyes closed. A peaceful expression his face as he snored slightly, deep asleep. Jack chuckled and closed his eyes, absorbing the peace and quiet of the house, the slight buzz as people talked outside. Then the door creaked open, and sunlight once again poured inside. Jack opened his eyes and looked over, it was Frank. He was holding several bags of food, murmuring to himself,
“Oi! Wake up!” said Frank, Phil snorted a same time as he said that, Franks face twisted into a smile. He pulled out a bucket from the kitchen cupboard and filled it with water. Jack snuck away, dreading when Phil would wake and see Jack at once, Frank tossed the water onto Phil, he jumped like he’d been shot, and spat out some water. Soaking wet, he wiped his eyes. Jack roared with laughter, as did Frank.
“Never…do…that...again, an alarm clock better” grunted Phil; he stormed off, into the bathroom to dry himself. Jack stood where he was, watching the bathroom door so he could start laughing at Phil again, savoring the moment of when he finally got his brother. Phil appeared, jack was about to start teasing him when he felt a giant splash, and massive amount of water went over him, going down his back and making him shiver. Cold as, jack turned around in shock. Standing behind him with two buckets was Frank, grinning.
“We’re not all immortal to water” he said grinning; now it was Phil’s time to laugh, and he laughed hard. Jack also spat out water, and walked forward slightly. He snatched the bucket out of Franks hand, and filled it with water, then tossed the whole bucket at frank. With lightening reflexes Frank kicked the bucket out the window, which shattered, glass throwing it self over the floor, but Frank couldn’t avoid the water, which splashed over him. Frank grinned,
“ya caught me there. But you have wrecked my house” he said, waving his hand over the mess. But Frank suddenly pointed at Jack, and then Phil.
“You have better get some sleep, our trips this afternoon, and we will be up all night” ordered Frank, jack obeyed and went into Franks bedroom, where he collapsed onto the mattress on the floor, Phil came in a while later, also collapsing on the bed next to Jack. Phil fell asleep at once; jack was amazed he could get to sleep so fast. Jack heard muffled swearing from the kitchen, and slowly lifted himself off the mattress, curiosity going, jack got up and creped over to the door, where he could spy on Frank without being seen. Frank had a cloth, and was trying to soak up all the water, and get the pieces of glass; he stood up, rubbing his back. A look of frustration went over Franks face, and he threw the cloth away.
“I’ll do it the easy way” muttered Frank; he pointed at the water, jack stood stunned, the water slowly raised to his finger, forming a small sphere. Jack was amazed, how’d he do that? Then slowly Frank clicked his fingers and the water disappeared, moments later Jack heard a thunderclap outside, and it started raining. These powers seemed supernatural, was Frank human?
‘It’s probably just a coincidence, nothing to worry about’ thought jack, calming himself. That was until Frank pointed at the glass, and it flew into the window, forming an window again. This time jack was fearful, maybe Frank was the robed man from there house, and he was undercover? Jack went over it in hs mind, but was startled when he saw Frank heading towards the bedroom, jack sprinted over to his bed, fear running through him, and jumped into his bed, pretending to be asleep, Frank came inside, and layed down on the bigger bed, minutes later small snores came from the bed. Jack couldn’t sleep with the combined snores of Frank and Phil, but managed to doze off.