"What's your name sun?"
"T-timothy..."
The boy's snot started to coallese on his upper lip. Johnson brushed it away with a deft stroke of his thumb.
"And where are your parents?"
The boy looked down, refusing to meet Johnson's eyes. Johnson pierced his lips, looked around at the busy people going about their day. No one turned in their direction. At the man in his suit, kneeling in front of the near-naked boy sitting on a piece of cardboard.
Johnson sighed, standing. "Come on then." He proffered his hand.
The boy, he couldn't have been more than eight, took it without hesitation. Very trusting this one. Either that, or desperate. Johnson smiled and the boy smiled back.
"What's your name?"
"Eddie."
"Well, come on Eddie. I have to get to work, and you'll be my assistant for the day. What you say?"
The boy grinned, wiping away near-tears and falling in line as they walked. He was plainly mimicking other kids and how they walked with their parents. He was so eager that Johnson couldn't help but smile.
A hot dog stand at the corner was their first stop. "Mr. Johnson. Taking in strays now?"
Johnson rummage through his wallet for a five. "Just give me the special and be lucky I'm paying you, Bobby."
Bobby smiled his crooked smile. Put in extra condiments, handed it to the kiddo, ruffled his hair. Then, he got a lollipop out of thin air and put it in the boy's one pocket. "For later, okay?"
"Spoiling the stray already, Bobby?"
Bobby shrugged and got Johnson his usual. No condiments, no nothing - just bun and meat. "Have a good day, Mr. Johnson!"
They walked and ate. The boy looked at Johnson with a mouth seeping deliciousness, and eyes a light.
"Good, ain't it?" Johnson wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. "Nothing like a hot dog for breakfast, eh?" He chuckled.
The boy laughed, bits of meat falling out of his mouth. "Where are we going now?"
"To work, remember? I thought you were gonna be my assistant."
The boy nodded his head enthusiastically, then buried his face in the hot dog.
The security guard at the gate frowned at Eddie. "Mr. Johnson. We can't -"
"This is my nephew, Jess." Johnson said with a flat face. "Don't mind his appearance. My cousin hasn't been taking care of him so I... kind of stole him from her."
Jessica's eyes widened. "I see... But, just this once Mr. Johnson. Or the lieutenant will have my head..."
"No he won't." Johnson winked, Jessica smiled, and they were through.
"Was that your girlfriend?" Eddie asked looking up.
"'Was' being the appropriate tense there." Johnson used his card to get into his office.
Eddie looked puzzled but didn't pry further - he was too stunned by the expansive office. Plants, couches, a pool table, a long wooden desk, with a backdrop of the city as a view. Being the CEO of a major corporation had its perks. Johnson enjoyed the boy's bemused with hands in pockets. He left him dumbfounded at the entrance as he went to check his computer.
The boy soon went exploring. Opening up drawers and poking various items. He never left anything out of place, however - which Johnson appreciated. He soon found his landing spot: atop the pool table looking at the city.
Barbra entered. "Mr. Johnson I got those files you -"
"Thank you Barbra." Johnson took the folder. "This is Eddie. Eddie this is Barbra, my secretary."
"Hello! Are you Mister's girlfriend?"
Barbra blushed and rapidly shook her head. "God, no!"
"Come one Barbra... it wouldn't be so bad..." Johnson poked her in the shoulder, to which Barbra jumped. "Calm yourself woman. Listen, get some clothes for the kid, eh?"
"Sir. This is most unusual. Where am I to find -"
"I'm sure you'll manage it. You're capable. Now. Get to it."
Once Barbra left Johnson turned to the kiddo on the pool table. "Listen, bud. You can't go around calling every woman I interact with my girlfriend. Got it? You're ruining my game here."
"What game?" The boy's eyes lit up.
Johnson sighed. "The game of life, of course."
Again, the boy didn't pry further. Johnson immersed himself in his work, hearing all manner of sounds in his office. Whenever he would raise his head however, everything was where in its place, except for Eddie who constantly found new spots to sit in, and new grins to grin. Barbra soon returned with a small tracksuit that was slightly too big for Eddie. But it would do. Eddie sure loved it, didn't seem to mind at all.
The day went on. Johnson ordered lunch from the cafeteria. Eddie wanted toast, so he ate toast and chocolate milk. Barbra tsked at Johnson's choice of food for the boy, but she didn't understand what it meant to be on the streets by yourself at such an age. Johnson unfortunately, could. Eating right was not the priority right now.
It was the end of the work day. For the first time Eddie approached Johnson at his desk. "Mister who's this?"
Eddie had found the picture of Johnson's former family. He couldn't help but choke a little. "That... kiddo. Were my wife and son. They... they aren't with us anymore..."
The boy's face went from being perplex to devastated real quick. Sharp lad, this one.
"I'm sorry..." Eddie said, looking at his feet.
Johnson pinched his cheek. "It's ok, kiddo. It was a long time ago. I've... moved on..."
Eddie nodded, calmer. Johnson of course still had nightmares of that day. Of that crash. Of that mistake. Not a day went by that he didn't dwell on it. Not a night went by that he didn't hate himself.
"Mister..."
Johnson realized he was crying. He wiped his eyes and forced a smile for the kiddo. Looking at him in the dusk light, he reminded him of Timmy, his son.
"Eddie."
"Yes, mister?"
"What do you say of you moving in with me?" The boy cocked his head confused. Johnson laughed and pinched his other cheek. "Hmmm? What do you say we live together?"
The boy's lips tarted to quiver and big bulged tears started to swallow his eyes. Johnson put a hand to Eddie's mouth to quiet the anxiety. The boy grinned and nod his head once.
Barbra entered the room. "Sir. I'm done with my duties for the day."
"Barbra!" Johnson yelled. "Get the company vehicle. Turns out, I'm no longer walking home alone."
Obligatory shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙
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Stay safe out there, and be strong. 😌
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