All That Is Left Behind

“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.

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?”

I pet

likes you, you

He looked up at

you

that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at

are a lot of other people who

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

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

could go on this trip together if

“Later,” he

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

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

and then once

frowned, thinking.

Miki,

he

the pet’s toys and lend them to

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

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce

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

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

police

the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

The policeman stood aside next to my door so

dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the

I heard from

what he wanted and gave him the treat

he told Miki,

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats already.

his father got back on his feed

to go back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his

He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police

looked really strangely at me.

went

cop and father. He looked at

will take you on your offer and let

nodded.

you still need me?” asked the

thank you officer,” the father

at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with

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

and we were left alone.

him,

We shook hands. “How

“Do what?”