Little Boy Page #2

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So, like Father Oliver used to ask,

what can we do?

What can we do for

our relatives at war?

What can we do if we are

here and they are there?

And the answer is,

if we have faith

the size of a mustard seed,

we can move a mountain.

If we can move a mountain,

then nothing will be impossible for us.

Not even ending this war.

And having our loved ones back.

I already knew someone

who could move a mountain.

I wondered if the source of his

powers was the mustard seed.

This was the source

of unlimited powers?

So, if this was true,

this was all I needed to...

And there he was.

The enemy.

London!

What?

There's a Jap at Gilliam's.

I couldn't understand how

one of them was free in O'Hare.

After Pearl Harbor,

they put them all in camps.

After years of internment,

the Army, in its wisdom,

has decided to release

those of Japanese ancestry

who have proven

loyal to the U.S.

They seem harmless, don't they?

But can we trust 'em?

Well, I, for one, remember Pearl Harbor,

so I say, "Remain vigilant."

Store doesn't serve Japs.

Everything okay here?

You forgot the onions,

Hashimoto.

Put these on my tab.

Father, with all due respect...

Now, Gilliam.

These, too.

Of course, Father.

I'm getting sick and

tired of hearing again

and again and again

about Pearl Harbor,

and about how my son gave

his life for his country.

Because he didn't.

Those Japs took his life.

And they did it the most

cowardly way you can imagine.

We need to do something

about that Jap.

If I could,

I would smash every Jap with my bare hands.

That's the rat's dump.

You want to smash him

with your bare hands?

Here you go.

Have at him.

Go on.

There he is!

Take that, dirty Jap!

Maybe this'll let him know

that slants ain't welcome...

I finally understood why they don't let

flat feet into the Army.

Five groups of 10

"Hail Marys" and five "Our Fathers."

In Latin.

Sancta Maria, mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatoribus,

nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae.

Amen.

Now you.

In Latin?

Thank God nothing

happened to Hashimoto.

I've finished.

Very good.

Something else?

The seed itself doesn't do anything.

What I said is,

"If you have faith,

the invisible power..."

Like Ben Eagle's powers?

Ben Eagle?

Well, no, that's just fantasy.

How can you say that?

I met Ben Eagle and he showed

me how to move a bottle.

He can also move a mountain

just like you said.

No, no, no.

That's not the same thing.

That's not faith.

Let's see.

If you have faith,

"fides" in Latin...

Father Crispin,

I'll take it from here.

I understand.

Take a seat.

Why don't you show me

how you moved the bottle?

You want to see?

Yes, I do.

I guess that was stupid of me.

Why don't you try again?

Again.

There, it moved.

No, you moved it.

Yes, because you

moved me to move it.

See, I moved it because you wanted

the bottle to move so much.

And that, you could say,

is how faith works.

At least some of the time.

And this is as much as I

need to move a mountain?

Well, in theory, yes.

But it's up to him.

He's the mover.

How could I get bigger faith?

The list, the ancient list.

For centuries,

people believe that if you do this list,

it'll make your faith powerful.

This is what you have to do.

"Feed the hungry,

"shelter the homeless,

"visit those in prison,

"clothe the naked."

Naked?

How is that supposed to...

"Visit the sick,

"bury the dead."

Just one more thing.

In order to make

this list work for you,

I'm gonna add

one essential item.

"Befriend Hashimoto"?

Are you crazy?

It's your choice, Pepper.

What does that Jap

have to do with anything?

Everything.

Your faith won't work

if you have

even the slightest

bit of hatred in you.

Fine.

I'll do it, if that's what it

takes to bring my dad back.

Come again?

Bring my dad back.

Yes, but only

if it's God's will.

Why wouldn't God

want to bring my dad back?

I don't know.

But if I get enough faith,

nothing's impossible, right?

Yeah.

What do you want?

I'm sorry about the other day.

So were you nice to him?

Yeah.

How can anyone

be friends with a Jap?

Take him a gift,

as a peace offering.

Hey, Jap.

Want a soda?

And all he did was

throw it in the trash.

I think you'll be okay.

Hang out with him.

Hang out?

Yup.

Just, get to know him.

Ollie,

why are you getting me involved in this?

I just don't see

how this helps anyone.

Yes, yes, he did.

But I don't even drink soda.

Jeez.

Just tell the kid to stop.

No, he's back again.

Hey!

What are you doing

monkeying around my house?

I want to hang out.

Go hang out somewhere else.

I meant with you.

Okay.

Let's hang out.

Come on, get in, Little Boy.

Bad nicknames

travel fast in this town.

My family knows where I am.

Especially London.

Okay, let's hang out.

Go ahead, I'll meet you inside.

No, no.

Okay.

What's he doing here?

Come.

What can I get you?

I'll have

a chocolate sundae with...

Hey, I ain't talking

to you, nip.

What do you want, Little Boy?

Two scoops of vanilla.

I haven't had

ice cream in years.

Why are you eating my ice cream?

You can get ice cream anytime.

Next time, try chocolate.

Now are we finished hanging out?

Then can I scratch you

from my list?

What list?

Father Oliver's ancient list.

Golly.

You told the boy that

if he waves a magic wand,

he can bring his father back.

You don't believe that, do you?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

If it's God's will,

yes, he can do anything.

He could turn you into a

rabbit if he wanted to.

Have faith, Hashimoto.

You should try it.

Not again.

I do have faith.

Faith in oneself.

Not in your imaginary friend in the sky.

Let's hope this

little game of yours

doesn't mess

with the boy's mind.

Two weeks?

But what about the list?

I already finished with the Jap.

Really?

We're friends now.

You continue

with Mr. Hashimoto

till I can't see the hate

in your eyes anymore.

Go and visit a prisoner.

You already know one.

I'll help you with the

list when I get back.

I promise.

Befriend that rat

in order to get Dad back?

By doing this stupid list?

By befriending him,

all you're doing is betraying Dad.

Hey!

Where do you think

you're going, Little Boy?

Come on.

Jap lover!

You can drop me off here.

I don't have anyone

to help me with my list.

Okay.

First things first,

my name is not "Jap."

It's Hashimoto.

All right, come in.

Okay, come.

Show me what you got.

Where do we start?

"Visit those in prison."

Why is this crossed out?

My brother.

At least that schmuck

was good for something.

"Visit the sick."

I can help you with that one.

Okay, just wait for me

over here.

I'm here for my

monthly check-up.

Who's your friend?

He's not my friend.

Thank you.

Pepper.

Come on.

He's not his friend.

Hi.

I was just visiting.

You can keep it.

Thanks, kid.

"Shelter the homeless."

Is that one-eared oaf

still working at the shop?

Teacup?

Yeah, he sleeps there.

Not quite a home, right?

What about London's vacant bed?

Hey, they fit.

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