You're Never Too Young to Die...

A New Life

Six year old Alexander Jonathan Rider cringed from the stern gaze of the older man. He brought his knees to his chest and cried.

His uncle, Ian Rider, had recently abandoned him by death. That was what the other children at Brooklyn Elementary had told him. When he was bombarded with questions during lunch time and he didn't really have the mood to answer them. Even the teachers there had showed him sympathy, and he hated sympathy.

His uncle had passed away just because of a heart attack, that was what the neighbors next door had told him. But he just couldn't bring himself to believe it.

Ian Rider had always been a healthy man who was cautious of his food and followed a strict diet. He never ate anything more than a plain and simple salad or drank any alcohol beverages much to Alex's knowledge. Much less, he had never seen the man consume a single cheeseburger from McDonald's. How could someone like that die of a heart attack? It just didn't make any sense.

But then, his life had never really made any sense either. By now, he was a Dan Black belt in karate and was able to speak four languages fluently. He had been mountain climbing, rifle shooting and even parachuting. He was even a licensed Scuba Diver and had gone bungee jumping not so long ago. They were his main hobbies. Ian Rider had brought him around the world on their many tours. They had travelled around the world together and had fun.

He attended his uncle's funeral the day before and for the first time, he cried. Alex knew there wasn't many things that could make him cry. He had realised that he was crying for a man he barely knew. What was the man's favourite food? Favourite colour or favourite drink? His favourite music? Alex didn't know. So why was he crying?

It was because Ian Rider was his uncle and his only close relative ever since his parents had died three years ago due to plane crash. Ian Rider was the only family he knew who took care of him and cared for him. He was the man whom Alex adored and looked up to as an adult.

But now, Alex cried as he attempted to avoid the older man. The man was no more than twenty. He had always remembered Ian's strict warnings to never talk to any strangers or leave the house or school unless Ian himself was there. But Ian was no longer here now.

Alex had known Ian's job to be an International banker, but had begun to suspect. Everytime Ian claimed to attend a conference meeting in some unknown country and left Alex alone, the result would be arriving home with bandages, several cuts and bruises or sometimes even a sprained or broken part of his body. It was just unheard of for a banker to come back from a meeting this way. He himself knew that bankers didn't do that. So why Ian?

The man, also to most whom he worked with was known as Yassen Gregorovich, felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He was hurt that John Rider's son would be afraid of him. But after all, Alex was only four. He too would have been frightened at his age if an unknown stranger were to approach him. His life was all too familiar.

The young lady smiled at them and turned her gaze to Alex. "Alexander. This nice young man is going to adopt you." Then, she looked at Yassen, "Now, Mr Ivanov, would you just sign here please? That would be all, thank you. Goodbye Alex. It was nice having you around here. I'm sure we'll miss you."

But Alex knew full well that it wasn't true. The young woman he had also known as Mrs Stellenbosch had hated him from the very moment he had first step foot into that orphanage. She had treated him very differently from the other children.

Alex was unsure. Yassen noticed this and knelt beside him. Whispering something barely audible to Mrs Stellenbosch. "Do not worry Alex. I am a good friend of your uncle's. I'll take good care of you. I promise." Alex just blinked at the man. Yassen offered a hand and Alex took it, and together, they got into the Purple Rolls Royce and drove out of the compound.

It was the adoption of a lifetime.

"Alex. From this day onwards, we are going to Russia as that is where I live and your new home." Alex had noticed the small slip up from Yassen. He hadn't asked him whether he'd been on a plane before and he certainly wouldn't have known that Alex had travelled to Russia before.

No sooner had they arrived at the International Airport Of London. When they had arrived at the counter, Alex realised he didn't have a passport. As if Yassen had read his thoughts, he pulled out a passport and handed it to him. Alex opened it and read the name that was not his.

"That's not my name. Dmitry Ivanov isn't my name." Yassen sighed. "Alex. This is your new name as of now. You will come to live with me in Russia." He had noticed that Yassen spoke in barely above a whisper, as if he didn't want anybody around them to hear him.

Alex thought that this was eerily similar to how Ian had treated him. Whenever they were out travelling, Ian would always say, "Alex, three points if you can run down that clothing line without being seen and pretend your name is James. Only speak in Spanish, do not talk to anyone else." It was wierd and all but he was one to learn not to complain. He nodded and took the passport. He would find out later on...

Yassen had pulled over outside a two storey apartment just on the end of the outskirts of Moscow. It was a mini comfortable set-up with a small sized kitchen, a reasonable sized living room and two bedrooms. There was a single television in the living room. The house wasn't large but a good size. "There are two more bedrooms upstairs. One is yours. Mine is right across. The lower levels are for guests. And call me Yegor. Welcome home Dmitry."