It was a snowy evening. Very few people were out. One of the few that was, was a young eight-year-old boy. The cold didn’t bother him as he walked the streets on numb feet and in tattered clothes. Some would cast a look of pity at the boy, but no one offered to help him. A police officer who was watching traffic saw the boy walking towards him.
Knowing it was his duty to help those who need it, he couldn’t help but hesitant when the boy stopped in front of him, with haunted eyes. The officer cleared his throat. “Can I help you, young man? Where are your parents?” He wonders if the boy had come from a nearby shelter or had run away from home.
“I need help going to my house,” the boy said without blinking.
“Oh, where is it?” If the boy’s house was close by then he probably wouldn’t have to call in to report it. The boy gave him the address to his house. “Alright, it’s pretty close follow me.” The boy looked behind him and then followed the officer to his cop car. The officer opened the passenger door for him and got into the driver's side.
He turned the heat on, but the boy was still holding himself as if he was still cold. The officer could tell it had been a long time since the boy had eaten. It was amazing how the cold hadn’t killed him. “Can I ask you some questions?”
“No.”
The glare the boy gave the officer made the officer stay quiet. He convinced himself he wasn’t afraid of the boy and if he needed to, he will take him down to the station. Yet, there was something about the boy that made him uncomfortable. He drove in silence casting an unsteady glance at the boy every few minutes.
“Stop right here.” The officer stopped the car next to a pale blue two-story house.
“Do you need me to wal-”
“What are you doing Rico?” The officer jumped when he saw a man appear in the back seat of the car. The man was wearing a black trench coat with long black pants.
“I wanted to see for myself,” the boy responded. The officer watched as the man stared at the boy with annoyance.
“Is he your father?” the officer asked. Rico ignored him.
“Fine go see them then,” the man said in annoyance. The boy opened the passenger door and hopped out of the car. He ran up to the house and peeked into an open window.
“Do you have any kids officer?” The officer jumped when the man addressed him.
“I have a newborn son,” the officer answered.
“I had a son. Rico reminds me of him,” the man said nodding over to where Rico was still staring into the window.
“What happened?”
“He flew too close to the sun. He passed away. His passing was too much for my wife so she left,” the man responded.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” the officer said sincerely.
“It’s fine. Now I have Rico. At least once he realizes that no one wants him.” Rico was walking back to the car with hatred in his eyes. The officer stared at him in shock. Seconds ago, he was looking sickly, and his clothes were in tatters. Now he had fresh clothes and looked healthy as ever.
“Well,” the man prompted.
“You were right. They don’t miss me. They had no intention of coming back for me,” Rico said.
“Are you mad?” the man asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Then we have a lot of work to do. First, take care of him.” Rico turned toward the confused officer. He smiled.
“No problem.”
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! Let's start 2021 off right!
