The Iron Giant: Confrontation

After looking up at the sky for a few seconds, Hogarth turned back around and faced Annie and Dean. He then walked back over to them.

"Mom, Dean, there's something that happened that I want to tell you about." said Hogarth

"Sure thing Hogarth. What is it sweetie?" asked Annie

"Yeah, go on Hogarth. You can tell us." said Dean

"Well, when Kent was staying with us, he interrogated me. It was the night you were working late mom. He asked me where the Giant was, and when I didn't tell him, he got really mad. Then, he put this wet and weird smelling rag over my mouth, which caused me to pass out." said Hogarth

"Chloroform." said Dean, in a low, angry voice

"Oh my goodness! Oh honey that's horrible! I'm so sorry that happened to you. But why on Earth didn't you tell me Hogarth? If you did he would've been out of the house in a minute, and you know that." said Annie

"The reason I didn't tell you mom was...he said that I'd be taken away from you!" said Hogarth

Hogarth began to tear up.

"I didn't want to lose you mom. So I didn't tell you. I would have mom, honest, but I didn't want to be alone. You're my only parent left, and I, I..."

Suddenly, Hogarth could speak no more. He began to sob. Annie brought him into a hug, and began caressing the back of his head.

"Ssssh, it's alright Hogarth. I would never let anyone take you from me, I promise. It's ok." soothed Annie

While Hogarth sobbed and Annie soothed, Dean grew extremely angry. Hogarth hadn't told him about the interrogation either. He had only said that Kent had found out where the Giant was. With an angry look on his face he turned around and walked over to Kent, who had been handcuffed and was now under the guard of two soldiers.

Dean stood right in front of Kent and was looking at him angrily

"What are you looking at beatnik?" asked Kent rudely

Dean didn't care about what Kent said and started talking.

"How DARE you chloroform that boy! What the h*ll gives you the right to do that to a child, huh?!"

"The government does. I did what I had to for the safety of all of us. How was I supposed to know that the Giant wasn't a threat? You saw what it did!"

"That's a load of garbage!." said Dean "And he only did that because he thought Hogarth had been killed. But if you're so worried about our safety, WHY THE H*LL DID YOU LAUNCH THE D*MN MISSILE YOU MORON!?"

"I, uh, that-" stammered Kent

"And then, you tried to abandon all of us, Mr.I'm-So-Worried-About-Our-Country!"
Kent didn't answer. He couldn't.

"Well I just have one last thing to say to you Kent." said Dean. He grabbed Kent's suit and held him close to his face. "If you ever, EVER, come near Hogarth or Annie again, I'll make you wish you were never born!. Hogarth is a kind and clever boy, and he did NOT deserve to be chloroformed by some jerk just for standing up for what he thought was right!"

General Rogard, who had heard the conversation, walked over.

"I hope for your sake I didn't hear that right Mansley. Did you really chloroform that boy?" asked the General

"Yes he did sir. Hogarth told me himself." said Dean

"YOU CHLOROFORMED A CHILD MANSLEY?! You're even worse than I thought! In all of my years Mansley, I have never met such a spineless, cowardly, and selfish man as you. That boy has more GUTS than you'll ever have. H*LL, THAT GIANT HAS MORE GUTS THAN YOU!"

Suddenly, Annie walked over. She looked at Kent angrily, then slapped him hard across the face.

"That's for chloroforming my son!" said Annie "And this is for nearly killing us all!"

Annie then punched Kent hard in the gut, causing him to wheeze and for the air to leave his body.

"We'll take it from here folks. You can rest easy tonight knowing that this sorry excuse for a man will pay for what he's done, including what he did to Hogarth." said the General "Put him in the truck boys."

The two soldiers took Kent away.

"Ms.Hughes, you have a very wonderful boy. I see him going above and beyond to help others in the future." said the General

General Rogard, surprisingly, then smiled at Annie.

"Thank you General. I think so too." said Annie

"Well, I have to get going. Goodbye and good luck folks." said the General

With that, General Rogard turned around and walked away.

Hogarth walked up to them, and Annie looked down at him.

"Hogarth, I am so proud of you. The way you took care of the Giant, and kept him safe, and taught him about the world. That was very mature of you." said Annie

"It sure was. You're one heck of a kid Hogarth. I'm proud of you too." said Dean

"But...I couldn't save him. He died." said Hogarth

"But that was his choice." said Annie, putting her hand on Hogarth's shoulder. "He didn't want you or anyone else to get hurt, so he sacrificed himself to make sure that didn't happen. And because of him, we're all still here."

"Yeah...you're right mom." said Hogarth "He's a real superhero. Just like Superman."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." said Dean

"But you know, I'm really gonna miss him." said Hogarth. He sniffed while wiping his nose with his arm.

"I know honey." said Annie "We all will. But just like dad, he'll always be with us, in our hearts."

"Yeah, I guess that's true." said Hogarth

"Come on. Let's go home Hogarth. It's getting cold." said Annie

"Ok mom." said Hogarth

"Would you like to come with us Dean? I can make us all dinner." said Annie

"Yeah, come on Dean. It'll be fun. Pleease!" said Hogarth

Dean chuckled.

"Yeah, sure, that'd be nice. I'll follow you guys from behind on my motorcycle." said Dean

"Alright then. Let's get going." said Annie

Annie and Hogarth got in the truck and sped off, followed by Dean closely behind.

While Hogarth had lost a friend that day, his best friend even, he had gained something just as important. He now had a complete family. And besides the Giant being alive of course, Hogarth wouldn't have it any other way.

The End