Mercy Among the Children

For two years, Sydney Henderson works as a garbage man, though his IQ is around 170. Lyle buys contacts and a wig for Autumn with the money he earns working for McVicer. He wishes he could disown his parents.

A letter comes through the post that the Hendersons expect will exonerate Sydney, but instead it is from the tax office. The Hendersons owe $17,000 in back taxes plus interest, from Sydney’s ill-fated well digging business. Sydney leaves for the power line they are putting through the north of the province. It will take two or three years for him to clear the debt. Lyle tells Sydney he is ashamed of him. The following day, Lyle asks Leo McVicer for the loan of the money and says he will work to pay it back. McVicer tells Lyle to finish school, but that he will employ Lyle and put Autumn through university when Lyle graduates.

The following day, Lyle goes to school with the ambition to graduate but punches a teacher who had just suspended Cheryl Voteur. Lyle swears he will never return to school. Sydney says he believes God is testing him, and Lyle calls him a fool.