iii

She woke with a start; it was dark, the only illumination come from the alarm clock beside her bed and the street light outside her bedroom window. Something was wrong, Kate rolled out of bed and stepped into the living room. The boy was on the couch, rocking back and forth with his knees drawn up and his head between his hands. He was moaning. “What’s wrong,” she asked quietly as she sat down on the couch beside him. He clung to her tightly and as she gently stroked his back he ceased moaning and quietened to a soft whimper, similar to the one she had heard when she first found him. ‘Perhaps he was dreaming about the dogs,’ she thought. She remembered what had woken her now, the boy had screamed. She hoped that it hadn’t woken the neighbours, “its okay,” she soothed, and reached for the lamp. She switched it on and the boy nestled into her. She sighed, ‘what on earth happened to you?’ she pondered. Soon, the child was asleep again and Kate gently lifted him up and carried him to her bed. Perhaps he would sleep more soundly with someone beside him. She left the lamp on in the lounge, as it was reassuring. After she had laid the boy on the far side of the bed and tucked him in she drew the blinds and changed into her pyjamas. ‘At least I’m sleeping again,’ she thought to herself as she drifted back to sleep….

As the dawn light began to filter though the closed blinds and the birds began their morning calls, Kate stirred. For the first time in weeks she felt refreshed. She smiled and turned over, “Oh!” she exclaimed softly, careful not to wake the still sleeping child beside her. She had momentarily forgotten about him. ‘What on earth am I going to do with him?’ she considered as she studied his sleeping form. He looked so peaceful now, completely at odds with his alert countenance. It was Thursday, she was meant to see the doctor this afternoon, but felt she didn’t really need to now. She decided to call work and request the rest of the week off. She hadn’t had a break in months so she was fairly sure they wouldn’t mind. As she thought about it she realised that she hadn’t even taken her holidays for almost two years. Perhaps she should ask for a few weeks off, they’d been pushing for people to take their leave lately so they’d probably just assume that Kate had been paying attention. She gently eased out of bed so as not to disturb the boy; he was obviously still exhausted. She wondered what had brought him to her as she stepped into the shower.

When she emerged from the shower the boy was standing outside the open door. “Oh!” she exclaimed in surprise, “Good morning little feller, feeling better?” She wrapped her towel around her still warm body and began filling the bath. The kid could do with a good soak. She realised he was still in his clothes from yesterday. She hadn’t anticipated sleeping all afternoon and well into the night. She helped the boy undress and lifted him into the bath. He didn’t want to sit down at first. ‘Perhaps he doesn’t understand,’ Kate thought, but as soon as the thought was completed he sat down and sank into the steaming water. For a moment he closed his eyes, then looked up in alarm, “Its okay,” she said simply, “how about we wash your hair, eh?” She grabbed her shampoo and conditioner from the shower and lathered up his hair. It was matted in places and extremely dirty. She shampooed it three times and then left the conditioner to soak in. She wondered how long it had been since his last wash. As she dried him off she hummed a tune that she remembered from her own childhood.

They ate cornflakes together in silence; only the monotonous crunching sound accompanied their breakfast. They both had juice, though Kate was also enjoying her obligatory pot of Lady Grey tea. She always began her day with a pot of tea. It was almost 8.30, time to call work. They were surprised that Kate was requesting time off, but her boss sounded pleased. “Take as much time as you need Kate, I know that these family things can get complicated. Let me know if you need more time, I can see that you’ve got plenty of hours of leave banked up, take care,” he said and rang off. Kate took a deep breath, had she been holding her breath all that time? She laughed and turned on the radio, the morning news would be on soon.

The morning passed without incident. Kate tried to coax the kid out a bit but he remained silent. He seemed a little more at ease though. They munched on sandwiches accompanied by U2’s greatest hits. The silence was getting to her, “let’s go for a walk,” she suggested as she finished tidying up their lunch. As she peered out of the kitchen the boy was attempting to tie up his laces. “So you do understand,” she said quietly as she helped him. “Well, do you think we can manage the park?” she inquired as she put on his jacket. She put on her own and they were out the door. Kate ensured that they didn’t wander into the area where she had found him and they ventured towards the playground. The boy preferred the swing and he broke into a smile as Kate gave him a gentle push. Her mobile rang and she turned away to answer it….

It had not been a long conversation but when she turned back to the swing the boy was gone. ‘Wherever can he have got to?’ she mused as she investigated the playground and amenities nearby. There was no one around this part of the park. She began searching further from the playground and was soon jogging. She couldn’t even call out, as she didn’t know his name! “Damn my stupid phone!” she exclaimed. There was and old man sitting on a bench, “have you seen a small boy in a blue jacket and pants?’ she asked him. He shook his head, “sorry miss, I haven’t seen no one round her, just me and the birds.” “Thanks,” she replied, and jogged on. ‘Where on earth is he? How’d he get away so quick? I was only on the phone a minute, two at the most…. She returned to her apartment but he wasn’t there either. “Damn!” she muttered as she unlocked the door and let herself in. She wondered if she should call the police but decided again ti. “Perhaps he’ll return when he’s hungry,’ she though. She hoped it too….

The afternoon had drifted into evening and Kate’s hopes were ebbing away with the daylight. ‘Why would he run off like that?’ she wondered as she prepared a simple dinner. She put extra on a plate and covered it with cling film. She hoped he would return to eat it as she placed it in the fridge. Dinner was a glum affair and her evening didn’t improve. She switched off the telly, there was nothing on anyway and she couldn’t concentrate. She left the lamp on in the living room and prepared for bed. The worry had tired her out, she was beat, but she couldn’t sleep. She lay awake in her darkened room; the only sounds she could discern in the apartment were the low hum of the fridge and the ticking clock in the living room. Then there was a thump outside her door. She practically leapt out of bed and was at the door in an instant. The boy was there, leaning on the doorframe. He was soaked through and shivering. One shoe was missing. “Where on earth did you get to?” She chided as she guided him to the bathroom and helped him out of his sodden clothes. She put him in the shower ad he soon thawed out. He was practically asleep by the time she’d pulled on his PJs and had steered him to her bed.