Elijah sighed and walked over to him. "Yes, but you aren't going to get much going with a dirty fire place. I'm afraid I never cleaned it since I was so busy. We need to get rid of all of this first." He gestured towards it. "You did a good job putting in some kindling and wood though."

"Oh..." Bram started sweeping out the ash. "It's hard, bein' a grown up all the time..."

"It is, that's why you shouldn't worry about rushing it. If I could go back to being a child..' He frowned remembering how some kinds and people treated him. He shrugged and ruffled the boy's hair before helping. "I might rather stay, but I am used to being an adult."

"But you'd have to go to school." He removed the last ashes and put them in the ash box.

Elijah shrugged. "I did fine in school. It wasn't hard for me, no more than most I would say. That's why I didn't mind going to York for school to be a good constable." He smiled and patted his shoulder. "And I think I do an okay job, right? School isn't always bad."

"Well..." Bram thought. "I think I'd rather be a grown up."

This was a surprise and Elijah looked at Bram wondering why. "Is there.. a particular reason?" He closed his mouth tightly trying to hide any questions or theories that bubbled to the surface.

"Because I don't like school... and if I'm grown up, no one can tell me what to do and I can tell other people what to do!" Priorities.

Elijah bit his tongue to keep quiet for a moment. "Ah.. what makes you think you'll be able to tell others what to do? I can tell some because I'm a constable, but it doesn't mean they will necessarily listen. If the law is on my side, I can try to convince them. But it isn't easy."

"Well, I'll be a big man and very strong, so they'll listen to me, because they'll be afraid of me." Bram nodded. "Can we start the fire now?"