iv

It had been almost a week. The boy had relaxed a little, and he seemed more at ease with Kate. He hadn’t wandered off again and he had begun to sleep through the night, though she could see he was still experiencing the bad dreams. “I guess its time to call family services,” she said to herself. “What will become of you?” she wondered aloud as they bundled out the door. Family services had requested that they come in right away.

The place was packed, and confusing, but Kate found her way to the right counter and explained why she was there. “Taike a number and ‘avva seat,” the receptionist drawled. There were people everywhere, children yelling and crying, phones ringing, and televisions whirring. Kate looked down at the ticket stub, 183, then she looked up at the blinking sign indicating the current number, 118; they were in for a long wait…. “I hate these places,” she muttered under her breath as they found a seat. The boy was sticking close, Kate gathered him up onto her lap. There wasn’t another seat near by. She was playing a simple finger game with him when a voice called out, “One-eighty-three!” Kate looked up at the severe woman calling out her number. She gulped and they got up and followed her to the available booth. ‘Here we go…’ she thought to herself as the questions flowed thick and fast.

The DHS had allowed her to keep the boy. He was now officially her foster child. She had to visit Berry Street Family Services and then the local Police station. No one had any idea who the child was or where he had come from. He was looking tired. “Not too long now little man,” and she gave him one of the cookies she’d brought along in her bag. He brightened up a little and munched contentedly. “So you haven’t fostered before then?” the counsellor inquired. “No, I’ve never even considered it. It’s been a while since I looked after any kids, though I used to baby sit a lot,” she replied. “Sure, well, its not all that different really and he seems comfortable with you,” he responded. “Yeah, I guess we’ve grown accustomed to one another,” she said. The boy was looking at the counsellor warily, she wondered if he was afraid of men….

At least the visit to the Police had been hassle free. They collapsed together onto the couch, “what an afternoon! Let’s hope we don’t have to do that again anytime soon.” She helped the boy take off his shoes and socks and gave his feet a rub. He smiled weakly up at her. “Perhaps an early tea and a bath,” she said and wandered into the kitchen. The police had been helpful, explaining how they would try to find the boy’s identity and origin. ‘It would be great to know his name at least,’ she thought. She’d continued calling him Jo since the doctor visit. He looked up when she called now days, though he still hadn’t spoken a word. He was a curious child. Kate was sure now that he was afraid of men; the visit to the Police Station had confirmed that. “Jo, dinner’s ready,” she called out as she carried the bowls to the table. He was already seated in his usual place and looking up expectantly. She guessed he was hungry; it had been a long time since lunch, with only a few cookies in between.

Kate was just tucking Jo into bed when the phone rang – it was 8.30. Kate picked up the phone, “Oh, hi Mum, yes everything’s fine, I’m sleeping again… Sure I’m not doing anything on Saturday. I’d love to see you. Actually there’s something I should show you… No it can wait until Saturday, about one? Sure thing, the kettle will be on, how’s Dad?” Kate nodded and smiled; her mum sure knew how to talk! Kate now knew that her dad had started on blood pressure meds and was still going into work most days, even though he had officially retired. Colin had just started a new rotation at the hospital in oncology, and Josh was putting the final touches on his assignments for uni. He was in his final year of a commerce/law degree and he had a new girlfriend, though Mum hadn’t met her yet. Kate made a mental note to give her brothers a call; they lived together in Kew. Mum reminded her that the local flower show was on next weekend and Kate promised that she’d try and make it. “Mum, I’ve got to go, it’s been a long day and I was hoping for and early night,” Kate finally told her. “Oh, sure honey, you work too hard,” her mother replied a little surprised. “Yeah, I probably do. Love you Mum, say hi to Dad from me,” and she rang off. It was a quarter to ten. She brushed her teeth and looked in on Jo, he was sleeping peacefully. She sighed as she eased under the covers, “Who are you?” she whispered quietly. She wondered if she’d ever find out as she drifted off to sleep. “Aagh!” the boy was sitting up, drenched in sweat and shivering. Kate looked at the clock, 2.30am, it was quiet outside. She reached out for the boy and held him in a close embrace. “Its okay, no one can hurt you here,” she murmured, stroking his head and back. He soon quietened down. Kate softly sang a song her mother had used to sing to her when she couldn’t sleep and the boy was soon asleep again. Kate wondered what could have happened to him as she drifted off to sleep again too.

Saturday dawned bright and clear, spring was beginning to thaw out the winter. Jo was still asleep while Kate showered and dressed. She would take him down to the local shops after breakfast; she needed a few things for her mother’s visit. He woke cheerful, he didn’t seem to recollect his dream from the night before. They were walking down the street and passed a small toyshop, Kate noticed him looking at the soft toys and spied a cute little monkey. They went into the shop, and Kate bought the monkey and some colouring books and bright coloured pencils. Then they went to the bakery and deli. Kate saw a couple of people that she knew, and they asked about the boy. Kate told them that she was looking after him while her cousin recuperated from illness; the story was becoming more elaborate. Kate hoped that she wouldn’t make a mistake and slip up. An unknown foster child was difficult to explain, she knew this from her visits to the family services on Wednesday. She bought the weekend paper and they strolled home, Jo picked a few flowers, which he presented to Kate on the doorstep. Kate smiled; he really was a sweet little kid. She set him up with the colouring books while she tidied up a bit and got the place in order for her mother’s impending arrival. Five to one, she put the kettle on and warmed the teapot.

The doorbell rand, Jo raised his head in alarm, he hadn’t heard it before. “Its okay,” Kate said, “Mum’s here.” She opened the door and her mother breezed in, she was a graceful woman, the same average height as Kate and with now dyed auburn haircut into a cute bob. She looked younger than her late 50s. Kate had inherited her sparkling green eyes and playful smile. She saw Jo as she embraced Kate, “Oh! You have a visitor Kate. Who is this handsome young man?” Kate steered her to a chair and went into the kitchen, “I call him Jo, Mum, and it’s a bit of a complicated story, how about I explain over a cup of tea?” “Sounds good to me dear” Mrs McBride replied as she collected the teacups and saucers. She was of the opinion that tea could only be enjoyed in a fine bone china teacup with all the trimmings. Kate appeared from the kitchen with the teapot and a plate of buttered fruit bun. Jo scaped off the icing before he ate the rest of the bun, and Kate smiled, she remembered doing that herself when she was a kid. She filled the teacups and they settled back for Jo’s story….

“My goodness Kate, perhaps it was just a well that you couldn’t sleep, and you still have no idea who he is?” Her mother asked as the story came to an end. Kate shook her head and went to refill the teapot. “None whatsoever, Mum, it remains a mystery, though the police are involved now. I’m officially his foster Mum, as of last week.” She returned from the kitchen with a tray and laid out steaming bowls of soup and a basket of buttered, fresh, wholemeal bread. She gave Jo a cordial and refilled the teacups. “What will you do with him?” her mother queried. “I don’t know yet Mum. I have another week or so off work. I suppose I’ll have to think of something soon. Maybe he can go to school?” “Yes, I suppose so, though it’s difficult to get in mid-term. I’ll speak to principal Glover at Ivanhoe Primary if you like.” He mother replied. “That would be great Mum,” Kate enthused, “He needs to do something, I can’t stay home indefinitely.

Kate’s mother hadn’t left until early evening and Kate could see that Jo was tired. She cleared away the dishes and put him into the bath, he seemed to enjoy the nightly ritual of preparing for bed. There was gentle jazz music playing softly in the background and Kate read Jo a story from her collection of picture books. Jo fell asleep cuddling his new toy monkey. Kate smiled and watched him sleeping for a moment, then went softly into the living room, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar. Kate wanted to call her best friend Bess, they hadn’t seen each other in nearly two weeks and she wanted to tell her about Jo.

“That’s amazing Kate,” Bess commented as Kate finished the story. It was becoming easier to tell now that she had done it several times. “ What will you do with him when you have to go back to work?” Bess asked. “I’m not really sure yet,” Kate replied, “I might enrol him at the local school. Mum is going to talk to the principal.” “That’s a good idea. Do you think he will cope with something like that? It sounds like he sticks really close to you when you’re around strangers.” Bess said. “I don’t know, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Kate answered, “What else can I do with him though?” They spoke for another hour or so; there was a new man on the scene for Bess. They organised to catch up at the local pub the following Thursday evening. Kate yawned, “Mum can probably look after Jo. I don’t think he’d like the pub. You know Bess; I’ve noticed that he is afraid of men. What do you think could have happened to him?” “It must have been terrible whatever it was. He’s obviously run away and with all those bad dreams…” Bess broke off. “The police are investigating his identity and origin. I haven’t heard anything from them yet.” Kate said. “ Well, you’ll probably find out soon enough, no doubt. The police seem to be able to find these things out pretty easily,” Bess replied. “Yes, at least, I hope so, it would be good to have a few answers….”

It was late when Kate hung up the phone but she wasn’t sleepy. She read the paper she’d bought down the street earlier. She’d hardly sat down all day. She decided to have a hot bath; perhaps it would put her to sleep. Her skin was still sweating as she dried herself off and dressed in her pyjamas. She realised she was sleepy as she brushed her teeth methodically. She couldn’t sleep with furry teeth. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

It was getting late by the time Kate woke. Jo wasn’t in the bed beside her. She got out of bed and put on her robe. She could hear the television as she put on her slippers. It sounded familiar, what was it? She padded into the living room. Jo didn’t even turn around as she approached. He was still cuddling his new toy monkey and he was glued to the TV, Looney Tunes. ‘So he likes Bugs Bunny’ Kate smiled, she had been a fan when she was his age and it could still make her laugh. Kate wondered how old he was. She figured that he was small for his age; he had obviously been undernourished for some time. He barely looked six years old, but Kate guessed that he was older than that. She directed him to the couch; she didn’t want him to get headaches from sitting too close to the television. She brought him a bowl of cornflakes and sat down beside him on the couch. He laughed out loud as wyle-e-cyote was blown up once again. Kate had never heard him laugh before.