All That Is Left Behind

Chapter 3

“911, what is your emergency?” asked the operator.

“I found a lost child at Mont-Royal’s Park, he doesn’t talk much so I don’t know his name yet, but he needs to pee so I’m taking him to my place.” I gave her the address and a description of the child, and every other information I had managed to get out of him. I also promised to bring him to a police station after, and gave them my phone number, just in case.

He followed me quietly, holding my hand all the way until we reached my apartment.

“Do you need help, sweetie?” I asked him.

He shook his head and closed the door behind him.

I smiled and let him do his thing.

I put my bag down and grabbed my purse so that I would have my ID and everything I could need at the police station, and googled the closest police station.

“KITTY!” he screamed.

I jumped out of my skin.

I didn’t even realise he was out.

“Kitty,” he told me loudly, pointing at my cat.

“Don’t scream, please. You will scare her,” I said. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

He smacked his hands on his mouth. “You can talk softly, though. Her name is Lily and she’s really sweet.”

“Can I pet Lily?” he asked.

I think it’s the longest sentence he ever addressed directly at me.

“Yes, you can,” I said. “But I think you scared her a little when you screamed. Do you want me to find her and bring her here so you can pet her?”

He nodded and I complied.

We sat in my small living-room, and I let him pet Lily for a little while.

“What is your name?” I asked.

He said nothing and continued to caress Lily’s head carefully.

“You know the name of Lily and Miki, but they don’t know your name.”

“Eloim,” he admitted.

“Do you know your last name?”

He said nothing.

Well, at least I had a first name.

“There is someplace we should go to, Eloim.”

He shook his head.

“I think your family is looking for you.”

“No.”

“You don’t think they’re looking for you?”

“No, I pet Lily.”

“Lily really likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

He looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene joyfully.

“I’m sure there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

He put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

“We could go on this trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

I nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

“How about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

He frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

I nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

He was an instant success with both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

The pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and laughing.

I had my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress the cop.

“Hello, Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind- looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

“Yes, gentlemen,” I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

The man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I could close it.

I put my dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to him.

“No,” I heard from the living room.

Eloim extricated himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it to Miki.

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

“Are you ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

“I’m sorry. He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or not.”

The man looked really strangely at me.

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the policeman.

“No, thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

The policeman then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

“I will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

He left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make him talk.”

“He’s shy isn’t it?” I asked.

“Erm,” he hesitated.

“He didn’t want to talk to me at first, but he seems to have a passion for pets. Then I went from there.”

He frowned at me, clearly trying to piece certain things together, and I went back to the stove before anything burnt.

“Will I be making a plate for you too?” I asked Xander.

“I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re already here and it’s dinner time anyways.”

He nodded.

“Mila, Mila,” said Eloim, rushing to me pass his father. “Lily’s toy is stuck.”

“Could you make sure nothing burns?” I asked Xander. He nodded, looking at the scene curiously and I went to the living room taking the toy out from under the commode.

I set the table not long after and served us pasta.

I found a few pillows to raise Eloim a bit higher, so that it would be easier for him to eat, and we all piled around the tiny kitchen table. It’s been awhile since I’ve had people over for dinner, and never a child in my apartment.

Miki realised the best spot in the house was sitting next to Eloim, which the kid was particularly happy about.

“Do you live around here?” I asked Xander.

He shook his head. “I came here for a few business meeting.”

“You always travel with your family?”

“I try when I can. He has issues with nannies.”

So no mom around them.

“Water, please,” Eloim asked me.

I got up to get him a glass.

“He’s said more words in a few hours that he usually says in a week,” Xander said in awe.

“Really?” I said, as I gave Eloim his glass.

“I’ve no idea what your trick is, but it worked better than psychiatrists.”

“Does he have developmental issues?”

“It’s complicated.”

I didn’t push. Their private life was none of my business to begin with.

We wrapped things up after dinner. Xander help clean everything.

“Thank you for the meal, it was lovely,” he told me.

“You’re welcome.”

“Okay, Eloim, come here, we’ve bothered the nice lady long enough.”

He looked at his father suspiciously.

“We have to go pumkin,” Xander explained.

Eloim started wailing no’s at his father and ran into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

We heard the lock click.