Homeless

HOMELESS

Nely Cab

Copyright 2012 by Nely
Cab

Smashwords
Edition

Deep in an abundant forest, near a lake he
lays. The soil is damp and loose. There’s a trail and a bridge
where hikers and joggers pass him by without notice. He's still,
there, quietly observing them. He wonders if they will ever take
the time to look his way.

     
The leaves fall from the tree branches, as it is autumn now.
The gold and cayenne forest smells like moss and wet dirt, from the
rains that have fallen the night before.

He sits, he waits, and he watches the people.
They mind their own business while he continues to wonder if he is
invisible to them.

     
He observes a family of four partaking in a picnic this cool
fall afternoon. They too ignore his presence.

A slight smile forms on his lips, watching
this family’s loving interaction. He is reminded of his own family
– the one he once had.

      
A
small red ball rolls to his foot. He is surprised when a little
girl approaches him.

      “
Hi,” she says
to him.

      “
Hello,” he replies and smiles

      “
Why are you so sad?” The girl asks, tilting her head to the
side.

      “
I’m a bit
lonely, I guess,” he replies.

      “
Oh,” the
toddler rocks back and forth, from heel to toe. “I can be your
friend, if you want?”

      “
Thank you. I
don’t have any friends.” His small grey eyes reflect how touched he
is with the child’s innocent gesture.

      “
Play with
me,” she giggles, throwing the ball in the air.

      
He attempts to
catch it, but it falls into the frosty lake waters.

      
The little
girl frowns and places her small hands on her waist. “You were
supposed to catch it,” she’s reprimanding.

      
He laughs at
her endearing behavior. “I’m very sorry,” he stands and takes a few
steps to the edge of the lake.

      
She shrugs and
sits on a patch of grass. “It’s okay,” she says, “I have another
ball at home.”

      “
What’s your
name?” He asks her, lowering himself to the ground next to
her.

      “
Emily,” she
says, drawing in the dirt with a stick. Her curly brown hair gently
sways in the cool breeze. Her denim trousers have grass stains and
dirt on them.

      “
What’s
yours?” She asks, tossing the twig into the lake.

      “
Wiley,” he
looks over his shoulder to Emily’s parents who are playing with
their infant boy.

     “
That’s a funny name,” she snorts. Emily takes notice of
Wiley’s worn clothes. Widening her eyes and lifting her brows, she
asks, “Are you a homeless?”

     
Wiley shrugs, tightens his lips, and doesn’t
answer.

     “
I
used to be a
homeless
until my new
mom and dad adopted-ed me,” Emily’s innocent smile lights up her
face.

     “
They look like very good parents,” Wiley smiles back at
her.

     “
Emily!” her mother calls.

     “
I
have to go now. I’ll tell my new daddy to bring me back another
day,” Emily says waving at Wiley.

     
Wiley waves at her from afar, as she walks by her father’s
hand. He wishes he could go home, too, but that’s only a dream for
him now. He also knows the chances of Emily ever coming back are
slim. When will anyone talk to him again?

Every tree is barren in the forest as winter
arrives. Wiley stands at the edge of the lake watching couples and
children ice-skating. His hair looks a darker shade of blonde being
dampened by the humidity from the snowfall. His teeth rattle as he
tries to keep himself warm by rubbing his arms; it doesn’t
work.  If only he had a coat or a blanket – perhaps, a warm
meal. But he has nothing. 

The long winter is harsh, but he manages to
survive.

New leaves appear on the trees as spring
slowly pushes away the cold months of snow. Wiley is lying,
admiring the blue skies in his usual spot near the lake.

     “
Hi, Wiley!” Emily’s little voice produces a smile on Wiley’s
thin face.

     “
Hello, Emily,” Wiley greets his small friend.  “I’m glad
you’re back.”

     
Wiley observes that Emily no longer has curly brown locks of
hair. She has no eyebrows or lashes, and she is wearing a hat. His
eyes grow wide in amazement and concern.

     “
Don’t look at me that way. It’s not nice,” Emily
pouts.

     “
I was admiring your hat,” Wiley tries to better Emily’s
composure.

     “
My mommy bought it for me after all my hair fell off,” Emily
says with sadness in her voice.

     “
Well, it’s a nice hat, Emily,” Wiley compliments
her.

     
Wiley refrains from asking Emily about her evident,
deteriorating health. He fears he may hurt Emily’s
feelings.

Silently, they sit admiring the lake for a
moment. Through the corner of his eye, Wiley studies Emily’s
appearance.

     “
Well, aren’t you going to ask me about the cancer?” Emily’s
brow creases as she speaks. “Everybody asks.”

     “
Do you want me to?” Wiley narrows his eyes.

     “
No,” Emily shakes her head. “I don’t like to talk about being
sick. It makes me mad. I just want to play, but I get tired all the
time.”

     “
Hmm…” Wiley nods. “I suppose we can play a guessing game. That
won’t tire you out.”

     “
Okay,” Emily nods.

     
The two are spending an enjoyable time playing a game of
riddles. Wiley laughs at Emily’s silly answers to his challenges.
Emily forgets about her illness for the duration of her visit with
Wiley.

After what seems to be only a few minutes, an
hour has passed, and Emily’s parents tell her it’s time to
leave.

     “
I’ll come back soon,” Emily waves at Wiley.

     “
Promise?” Wiley calls out to her, as she walks to her
parents.

     
Emily turns and nods. She is gone again. Wiley has no one to
speak to until she returns.

Summer has come and gone, and it is the
beginning of autumn again, but Emily has not returned. Wiley
wonders when his little friend will ever come back. He wanders
through the lakeside every day in hopes of seeing Emily and her
family.

     
One
afternoon, at the end of October, Emily’s family car drives to the
side of the road. Wiley stands from his spot on the grass and waits
for Emily to approach.

     
Emily looks healthier. She is wearing a red satin dress and a
white sweater.

“
She looks like a
princess,” Wiley thinks to himself.

     “
Hi, Wiley!” Emily smiles wide. “See? I promised I’d come
back.”

     “
Yes, you did,” Wiley grins. “I’m happy that you’re better
now.”

     “
Yes,” Emily nods. “The cancer is gone. I can play whatever I
want.”

     “
Would you like to play a game of tag?” Wiley inclines his
body, ready to run.

     “
Not right now,” Emily takes Wiley’s hand. “You and me have to
go home.”

     “
Emily…” Wiley’s expression is puzzled, “I don’t have a
home.”

     “
You’re silly,” Emily giggles. “You’ve been a silly goose all
this time.”

     “
Your parents would never let me go home with you. I’m a
stranger to them, you know?” Wiley tries to explain to the young
Emily.

     “
Oh,
that’s not my home anymore. They don’t need me. They have my baby
brother.”

     “
I don’t think I understand,” Wiley is still
confused.

     
Emily raises her index finger as she speaks. “They said I had
to show you the way home because you can’t find it, and that you
don’t have to stay near the lake anymore because no one will find
you anyway.”

      “
Your parents
told you this?” He pulls his hand from Emily’s grip to scratch his
head.

“
Take my hand!” Emily
stomps her foot as she extends her arm to Wiley. “Don’t you see you
don’t belong here anymore?”

     “
I remember,” Wiley voices in a broken tone. “I know what
happened to me.”

Slowly, he turns to view the lake where his
remains lay hidden within the depths of the murky waters. Wiley’s
memory recounts images of the day he had been stabbed and pushed
into the lake, where he had drowned.

Emily’s petite arms embrace Wiley.

“We’re going home now, Wiley,” she pulls on
his hand, indicating him to follow. “We’ll never be homeless
again.”