(450 words)
I find myself surrounded by happiness, people laughing, rides blaring, I feel so numb.
Walking around in a place that feels like everyone could/should fit in.
A kid suddenly bumps into me, lost?
He just looks at me inquisitively, probably four or five, seemingly unaware of his current debacle, “Hey there little guy, where are your parents?”
What does one even do when they come across a lost child, seems it’s claimed me to be its savior. I’m just as lost as you are, kid. I invite him to sit on my shoulders and he readily accepts, I hope that makes him easier to spot for his parents. We start walking towards the security booth, you’d think there would be more, why is it on the entire opposite of the fair from where I’m at.
“What’s your mom and dads name, little one?”
I’m met with a series of taps on my hoodies ears, I wonder if this kid has a speech disorder or just shy.
It’s kind of funny, the situation, why is this kid not in the least bit concerned. He’s more so entertained by the outfit I’m wearing, he’s picking at the seams, the little twat.
We’re at a fair and he’s not really interested, you’d think kids his age would like things like this. We’ve been walking silently for a good second, I don’t hear any frantic parents yelling.
Actually, “Buddy, what’s your name?”
Why didn’t I think to ask him this first.
I’m met with silence. Once again.
Is this kid even real? I’m going to look in a reflection and realize that I’m not even carrying anyone hahaha.
Chuckling to myself, I continue walking.
I wonder what this kid is thinking, does he even care that his parents aren’t in sight-
I turned around after someone called out a name loudly, “Kieran!”
Is that for you, tiny one?
Eyesight meets a tiny woman, tears in her eyes, she must be his mother. I start to walk over as she runs towards me, the kid that hadn’t spoken the entire time just starts sobbing out of nowhere,
caught me off guard.
So he was just shy in the end haha.
Exchanging greetings and she said sorry a million times, I ended up asking her to continue the walk to security just to ensure that we had the right mom. I’m a very paranoid person, I need full guarantee they’re related, just to be safe.
It was nice to have the kid take my mind off the self destructive path it was about to take. I really need to find my friends. I was also lost when I found the kid hahaha. Thank you, little one.
