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 know.”

up at me.

likes you

sitting right next to my thigh

sure there are a lot of

He frowned.

you like me?” he

I replied.

another on Miki and tried to coordinate

trip together if

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a

hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

couldn’t help it,

Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can

frowned,

“We could walk with Miki, he

he agreed.

of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the

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

stove and scrounge up some

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door.

suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he

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

“He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat

room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

stood aside next to my door so

didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to

I heard from the

I understood what he wanted and gave

Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

he told

had too many treats

him, his father got back on his feed with

to go back home?”

said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his

him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if

The man looked really

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

father.

and let him eat first,” he

I nodded.

need me?” asked the

father said, shaking his hand.

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

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

we were

I told him, extending my

“How did

“Do what?”