Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christmas Carols/Carolling (10/02/08)
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TITLE: The Lost Boy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Debbie Thorkildsen
10/09/08 -
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I smiled as I thought about those children singing ‘The First Noel.’ Did they know what they were singing? Did they understand what the first Noel was all about? Did they know it was really about Jesus and how he came to be our Saviour? I was contemplating calling them back, when there was another knock at the door.
No Christmas carolers this time. Just one small boy.
“Can I sing to you for money?” His eyes looked at me expectantly. His cheeks were red. His blonde hair was blowing in the wind. His coat wasn’t even zipped up.
“Where’s your hat and mittens? You look nearly frozen. You can sing for me, but only if you come in and get warmed up while you sing. What’s your name anyway?”
“Mike,” he said as he lunged through the door.
“Well, Mike,” I handed him the phone, “Please call your parents and let them know where you are.”
While he made the call, carefully giving the person on the other end of the line my address and phone number as I’d told him to, I put water on to boil and retrieved a dollar from the top of my dresser. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had since it was so close to Christmas.
As he hung up the phone, I said, “I want to show you something.” He followed me as I led the way to the living room. I stopped beside a bassinette, pulled back the little pink blanket and showed him my tiny, sleeping daughter.
He peered over the edge of the bassinette. “She’s very little.”
“Well, she is only three months old,” I replaced the blanket, “but she’ll grow fast enough.”
“Do you have any other children?” Mike looked around seemingly hopeful.
“No,” I smiled, “she’s our first child, but I definitely plan on having more.”
Mike’s eyes clouded over for just a moment.
“Would you like to have some homemade chocolate chip cookies with me? I just pulled them out of the oven a few minutes ago. I’m sure they’re still warm.”
The cloud disappeared instantly and Mike followed me to the kitchen.
I gave Mike the dollar and put a plate of cookies on the table in front of him. By this time the water had boiled, and I made us each a cup of hot chocolate.
He took his time stirring the marshmallows into his hot chocolate, then sipped his way to the bottom of his mug. All the while he chatted not stop, seeming to enjoy the attention of his new adult friend.
He told me about his family. His parents were divorced and both were remarried. He had lots of brothers and sisters at both houses. Some older and some younger than his seven years. I guess that’s why he wasn’t missed. Such a small boy, out alone in the dark on a very cold evening.
At 9:00 pm, I suggested Mike should be getting home so he wouldn’t be causing anyone to worry.
“Ah, nobody worries about me,” he said as he reached for his coat, slipped it on, pushed open the door and was gone.
Mike was wrong. I was worried about him. He was too young to be so alone in this world. I wondered what would become of this very trusting, young boy.
I saw Mike on many occasions after that first night, our first Noel. He never did sing for me, but he often rode his bike by my house. He’d stop to talk if I was working in the yard or just sitting outside. He even came over the day we held our yard sale and he stayed all day. No one came looking for him. He seemed to be the lost boy of our neighbourhood, but he always knew where a friend could be found.
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I think this has potential for expansion.
Great writing.