ANOTHER PUPPET

John's eyes widened, and his mind travelled far and wide. "Is he thinking of what I'm thinking too? Does he hate my uncle already? Does he know of someone who can help me take my uncle out, now and forever? By chance, is he also an assassin?" He swallowed the spit stuck in his throat and asked. "Take him out as how?" He didn't allow him to respond. "Do you mean killing him?"

"If killing wasn't a sin, then yes." Neo nodded and took a few steps back. "If killing was legal, then yes."

"But it's a sin and isn't legal, so what do you think we can do?" John asked again.

"We have to give him a taste of his own medicine-" He paused. "Or, do I say poison?"

"I'd appreciate it if you could be more clear with your words." John walked to his mom and smiled at her. "You look so tired."

"Do you know of something we can also bully your uncle with?" Neo was blunt. "If we can get to bully him, probably he'd learn to keep quiet when he sees your mom."

John sighed heavily and shook his head. "Nothing."

"There is something!" Mirabella retorted with her eyes burning in anger and pain. "I know of something we can use to corner that bastard."

"Mom."

"We could use his good-for-nothing son with so many crime records." She whispered gently with a devilish smile.

"We shouldn't do that, the one who offended us is my uncle, not him. I am not in support of it."

"That's fine." Neo clapped his hands. "I think all we have to do now is watch your mom suffer from your bully uncle."

John stood, infuriated by his new friend's last statement. He faced him and said angrily. "Watch what you say, man! I am also not happy about what is going on."

"Your mom is suffering! Look at how she is!" Neo pointed to Mirabella who was still in fear. "We have an opportunity to put an end to this rubbish your uncle is doing and you are strongly against it. Are you sure you aren't a psychopath who enjoys seeing people bullied?" He didn't stop. "There is no difference between your uncle and you. I expected you to go down and punch him in his face, but you stood there trying to comfort your mom like a day-old baby."

"Neo! Stop right this instant!" John yelled.

"If you want to be a man, be a man and fight it through. If you choose to be a coward, resign from your honorary post and allow your uncle take over it."

"It's not as easy as you think. This is my uncle and cousin we are talking about here." John said calmly trying to convince Neo.

"Williams John," Mirabella called and walked up to her son.

"Yes, mom." His head was down, down in frustration, pain, and disappointment.

"Today, you will have to choose between your uncle or me."

"Ma'am," Neo called gently.

"This is no place for you to interfere," she replied in haste.

"Don't try to manipulate me, Mom. My cousin didn't do anything g wrong, the only wrong thing about him was he was born a Williams." He patted his mom's shoulder and walked out of the heated atmosphere.

She couldn't believe her ears, what did she just hear? Did John still try to protect his living dead cousin despite all that his uncle had done to them? "Why is this young boy treating me this way?"

"I'll talk to him on your behalf ma'am." Neo hurriedly followed his boss.

******************

"Where are you off to?" He had a tough time trying to catch up with him, John was walking pretty fast.

"Next time, never try to act up in the presence of my mom, you might as well turn into a puppet. You have to thread carefully if you want to survive. I'm not stupid, I know it's my responsibility to protect my mom." John stopped walking suddenly and looked at his driver Neo. "But until you prove yourself to be my enemy, you'll always remain innocent and untouchable to me."

"So is your uncle innocent?"

"My cousin is." John replied and continued his walk. Right behind him, Neo followed.

As soon as the secretary sighted him, he stood by the entrance and said. "Mr. John, it's so good-" A man in his late forties tried to deny John entry as he stopped him for some chatty talks.

"Get out of my way." John cut him off.

"Allow me info-" The man persisted and Neo pushed him out of the way.