The Boy and the Notebook

Knock, knock, ring.

“Susan, George… get that!”

Damn, I should not have sent them home for the long weekend. This always happens, get settled in to work and

Ring.

“Alright, I’m coming.”

“Yes?”

The smell hit me the moment the door cracked open, a cross of stale smoke, urine, sour mile and rotted fish. A small boy in tatted clothes stood there shivering on my stoop.

“Can I help you?”

“Is this yours, mister?”

He held out my small black journal. I thought lost forever, names of clients and their holdings. Lost it six months earlier. Private notes invaluable to me. Must remember to get that thing digitize, but it was so handy and comfortable.

“I believe it is.”

“I ain’t take nothin. The money is all her… you can check.”

“Money?”

Thumbing through the pages and two ratted one-hundred-dollar bills fell out.

“See.”

“Yes. Well, you deserve a reward. This notebook is worth far more than this to me.”

“Nope, my Pa said that I has to work to earn my money.”

“The way I see it, you had to work to return this to me and that deserves a reward. If you won’t take money, I wish you to return her tomorrow for a good meal so you can tell me how you came by the notebook and how you found me. I deserve to know that.”

The boy looked sheepishly at his feet.

“How early? It took me nearly all day to get here today.”

“Well, how about noon?”

“Don’t knowed if I can make thet early.”

“If you get a ride, you can get here as early as you wish. Here.”

Thrusting one-hundred dollars in twenties into his hand.

“This will cover your ride home and a ride here tomorrow. I insist.”

“Iffin you insist. I’ll be here.”

A smile beamed from his face as he bound down the step in one leap.

I had to get things ready. He deserved a good meal, and a new set of clothes, clean, for my nose’s sake.

Had to call Susan and George. Hate to cut their holiday short, but I will make it up to them.

A quick call, long explanation and my servants would return this evening with all the preparations for a feast and clothes for the child.

The next day, just before noon the doorbell rang.

“Sir, the young gentleman has arrived. You are quite correct, he has quite the odor. Shall I draw a bath?”

“Yes, but you may need to use some persuasion to get him to use it. Susan has always been good at such trickery.”

“Why do you say that sir?”

“Where have you gone for you past three anniversaries? And you two last vacations?”

“Hmm. You are quite correct. I must have a word with her about that.”

Both of us chuckled knowing that she would continue to get the best of both of us.

An hour later the boy came down the stairs, face twisted in a snarl as if forced to eat broccoli.

“You look a sight better. I suppose I could have done a better job picking out the clothes, a bit large on you.”

“I best be getting mine back after this.”

“I am not sure Susan will let that happen. What was your name?”

I stifled a laugh knowing she already sent them to be burned.

“Name’s Mikael… Mike for short.”

“Well, Mike, there is a meal waiting for you in the parlor and you can tell me how you came by the notebook.”

“I didn’t comeby anything. I found it in the gutter. It was just laying there and was about to get wet. Something so nice didn’t belong there. When I picked it up there were all those names addresses and symbols scribble throughout. Then those bills. I didn’t touch em.”

“I know and I am thankful.”

I wouldn’t have cared. The book far more important. It had been a part of me for so long it felt like an extension of my hand. Don’t know how it got lost.

Ushered into the parlor by Susan, the feast laid out on the table. Ham, bacon, steak, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, fried eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, cereal and at least four different syrups. I couldn’t contain my laugh. Who was she trying to feed… a small army? The boy’s eyes grew the size of saucers.

“Who’s comin to eat?”

“This is for you.”

“Oh, I forgot the drinks.” Susan said as she rushed off to the kitchen.

“There is more? I can’t et this much.”

“You can have what you want, don’t worry it won’t go to waste.”

Susan and George would make sure anything not consumed would find its way to the less fortunate of our neighbors. These were trying times.

The boy started grabbing things and shoveling them into his mouth as if it were a race.

“Whoa, slow down. You’ll get a stomachache. Take a plate and spoon a bit of each thing you want to have. Don’t worry, you can always have more. It’s not going anywhere.”

Giving me a suspicious eye, he took a plate, loading it up more like a mountain than a meal.

“Now tell me more about how you found me.”

Grunting between mouthfuls, he related the tale.

“I went to the closest name on the, but no one by that name lived there anymore. Too bad to, it woulda been easy…get that name and off ta find ya. No other name was close by. I worked small chores for shop keeps… sweeping, taking out trash, catchin rats and such to earn enough to get train fare to the next address.”

“Why didn’t you use the cash in the book?”

“I ain’t no thief. Pa taught me to work for everything I got.”

“Were is your Pa now.”

A long pause, a tear welled up in the corner of his eye.

“He died.”

About to say more when Susan appeared with several pitchers of drinks, pouring a glass of milk and orange juice.

“Is there something else you would like? Just name it.”

A shake of his head and the lady of nodded and left. I had almost gotten him to talk, now it might seem I was prying. I needed to know.

“How did you lose your father?”

“He went to war. Me came to our door and tol my Ma. She broke down crying. That was when the devil took her my Gran said.”

“What do you mean the devil took her?”

“Gran sez that an evil poison consumed my Ma. She turned to drinking night and day, lost her job and then they threw us out of the house on the street.”

“You and your mother.”

“An my sister.”

“Where is she?”

“She was so little that my Grandma and Pappy took her in.”

“Why didn’t they take you as well?”

“Said they didn’t have room an I was big enough to look after my Ma.”

“That is not right. What happened to your mom?”

“She kept moving in with men. She called them my ‘uncles’ we would stay for a couple of nights, sometimes a few months. Then they would be screaming and yelling. Sometimes it was about me and sometimes it was just cuz she was usin too much. She got real thin and her skin looked so pale. She used to have such pretty hair and it started fallin out.”

That was the most he had said. Tears welling up, but with a sniffle snuffed out.

“Try the waffles with this syrup and a bit of the cream and some chocolate chips.”

A small smile.

“Did your mom get help?”

“My Gran took her in for a bit and sent her to some sort of place, she was better for a bit. It was nice for a while with Gran. Then Ma came back and started usin again, getting real sick, not wanting to move. Gran said the devil had a strong hold and could see it in my eye as well. She began blamin me for Ma bein ill. Every time Ma stayed out Gran would belt me, sometimes she used a stick.”

“I am so sorry.”

A shrug, head hung low as a fork shovel another bite of drippingly sweet waffle into his mouth.

“It weren’t so bad till that night.”

“What happened?”

“This man came by and gave Ma something he said would take her on a real nice journey. She would catch that dragon. I found her next morning laying on the couch…cold, a needle stuck in her arm and a strange smile on her face. Eyes a strange glassy white. Gran grabbed me by the neck, threw me in her room screamin cuss words and locked the door.”

A long pause. A few gulps of milk. No joy, just blank expression… going through the motions.

“Ma was gone. When I tried to talk about her, Gran would slap me. Said I was the spawn of evil and she would purge the beast from me. Began dunkin me in cold water, forcin remedies down my throat and beatin me every night. One time she broke my arm. Tol the doctor I fell down the steps.”

“I can see why you left.”

“I didn’t.”

“Then what?”

“She was in the middle of beatin me when she clutched her chest and keeled over. Spittle from her mouth, she shook and became real still. I knowed I was evil then.”

“No, an evil person would not have returned this notebook to me. Speaking of which…”

“Well, I found me a good alley. A few other kids and an older boy who looked after us if you paid him. Not too bad. I found you book like I said. He wanted it, but I told him it needed be returned like my Pa taught me, don’t take things that aren’t rightly yours.”

“Sounds like he was a good man.”

Tears flowed. Handing him a handkerchief and placed my arm around the small shoulders. He didn’t shove me away. Settle against my chest and just cried. Half an hour passed, Susan peered in with tears in her eyes and biting back a smile, she leaned against the doorway just watching.

Mike stopped crying, pulling himself away from my shoulder and looked at me, clenching his jaw.

“I ain’t weak.”

“No, it takes a strong man to let someone help you. And an even stronger man to share his emotions.”

“You don think I am sissy?”

“No. I think you are someone who has lost a lot, faced many hardships and has persevered.”

“Don’t knowed what persevered means, but I worked real hard to get that book back to you. I went to the next name and the woman there told me she wasn’t sure who it belonged to, but she knew one of the other names. He done lived real far and it took me better than a week to earn enough to take the train an such out to the man.”

“So, he told you who It belonged to?”

“No, he said that he knew a business on the list.”

“I worked sweeping…could afford to pay for protection and got my money stolen, but I protected your book.”

“I see.”

Putting as much pride in my voice as I could. Mike’s chest puffed out.

“Took me a month to earn the cash to get to that business. I saw your name on a board by the elevator when I got there. The guard chased me out and wouldn’t answer any questions or even talk to me. I guess that your name on that board and in this book must mean it were yours.”

He took several more mouthfuls and gulped down half a glass of orange juice.

“If you live in such a nice house, how come you live so far from your work?”

“That is precisely the reason.”

A baffled look crossed his face, but just shook his head.

“Welled I found me another place to stay. Under the bridge. Closer to here, but not people lookin to pay a kid to do odd jobs. Took me a while, but you knowed the rest.”

“I do indeed.”

“Well thanks for the meal. This will hold me over for a few days. Can I stuff my pockets?”

“You can certainly not.” Susan came bounding into the room, voice stern and intimidating.

“You have so much, an I just want a bit to take so I can eat later.”

“You will not be going anywhere, young man.” She sounded like she was scolding him.

The look on his face, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“You ain’t calling the cops are you? I’ll be leaving these clothes and here is your change. I weren’t gonna keep it.”

I couldn’t help myself and laughed.

“No Mike. You aren’t in trouble.” I said.

“Listen young man. Even if you if I would ever let you go, it is late… and too dangerous for a child to be out. A bed is made and if you think of leaving in the middle of the night, I will call the police and have them drag you back here by the scruff of your neck.” Susan could be quite demanding.

Mike just nodded.

“I ain’t no child.” Muttering under his breath.

Probably hoping Susan did not hear him.

“Since there is no one looking after you. We will see that this will be your home.”

A quick glance over to me and I smiled and nodded.

“Besides, the master here needs someone to run errands and keep up with chores around here when George and I aren’t around. Isn’t that right?”

Nodding, not the way I planned for this to play out, but my heart felt this was right.

“Tomorrow George and I will take you to get some proper fitting attire.”

“I don’t need no tires.”

“No Mike, attire is clothing.” I explained.

“You mean I am gonna stay here? How long?”

“This is your home now.”

“But the evil in me.”

“Phshaw. The only evil was that hardheaded woman who couldn’t see the hurt child who lost everything and blamed her pain on the only one around.” Susan’s voice had grown soft, nurturing and motherly.

I look back to that day as one of the best fortunes. A simple notebook brought me the best thing to enter my life. It sits on the mantle now, a place of honor. Mikael, as he goes by now, has graduated college and is off to graduate school, but still returns as often as studies allow. A few years back, his sister joined us and will be headed to college here in town. Now we are proper family.