He breathes with relief, hands immediately shoving into his pockets and picking at the loose strings there, the strings coming unraveled, tugging lightly as though they might ground him better than he's managed himself. All he needs is for people to know, and then people can stay away from Mr. Sawyer, and then Mr. Sawyer won't have anyone to steal from no more. That's all that he needs. And if Mr. Sawyer's sorry, maybe he won't even have to go to jail. James is lots of things, angry and hurt, scared and frightened, but he's not the kind of boy looking for revenge.

"Tall and blond, but no scruff on his face. He looks real respectable," he says quietly. "But yeah, think he's American. Mama always called him Tom."