It was two months after the big Christmas party and everything had gone back to the way things were except now Luke was getting a dollar every day and a lesson in school from Mr. Tael. Every day they would go over the basics in school that he had forgotten while living on his own. They would go over math, literature, reading, social studies, and more.
While going over math equations Tael asked Luke what he wanted to do later on in life.
And Luke responded with, "Well first I would like to get off the streets and get a job, then get a house, then get a wife, and my dream is to be a big businessman of a company, but I know that can't happen. He ended with a long sigh.
" Why not?" Tael asked.
" Because I'm stupid and I can't do anything while living on the streets with no job." He explained.
"But you're not."
"You've been helping me with the work that's supposed to be for me but I just give it to you." He told Luke.
Luke thought it felt really nice to hear those words, that he's not stupid.
Over the weeks they continued to learn more and more and each day Tael would come to the lesson even Happier than usual. Luke noticed it but he just thought that he was getting good grades at school. This went on for a couple more days as Luke came to the end of his social studies workbook.
It was March 4 on a Wednesday and it had been hours since Luke had seen Tael. They always met at the same time every day so that Luke could learn from the books. But today he was late for the lesson and Luke just assumed that he had to stay at school over, but even if he had to he would tell Luke so that he wouldn't have to wait for him the next day.
It has now been 4 hours since Tael was supposed to come for the daily lesson. Now Luke was starting to get very worried.
He knew that Tael was not a bad kid, so he wasn't in trouble and he always likes to finish his homework at school so he can have time to help me with my work.
He sat there and waited for 3 more hours until he snapped and went to sleep after reading the next chapter in his novel from Taels school library.
He woke up the next day all by himself which he dreaded the most. Even though he has been alone for almost all his life he still isn't used to being completely alone. Now that he has Tael he doesn't have to be alone and he was so happy with that. But he feared that this happiness has come to a close end.
*Luke's thoughts*
Luke's inner thoughts: Of course, the end has come. He hasn't been here for two days now.
Luke's inner thoughts: And this can't be like Christmas because he hasn't come today or yesterday.
Luke's inner thoughts: He left me, I CAN'T BELIEVE HE ACTUALLY LEFT ME!
Luke's inner thoughts: Maybe he just forgot to come by again and he has a test that he needs to study for.
Luke's inner thoughts: HE'S A FREAKING EIGHT YEAR OLD WHAT WOULD HE HAVE TO STUDY FOR!
Luke's inner thoughts: Ok you know what I will just go look for him just in case he's in trouble.
Luke stands up and grabs a bookbag and packs up everything he has -he doesn't have much- and puts on his new coat and starts walking around.
He was walking down the street when he remembered that he doesn't know where this boy lives and that one thought made him turn around and forget about this stupid idea.
He was on his way walking back to the gas station when he thought*what if he's really hurt somewhere and his mom doesn't know where he is either*. He stopped in his tracks and started back on his path to go get Tael.
So he established that he didn't know where he lived, the school he went to, or any of his relatives or friends. Luke went into this plan very blindly without knowing who to talk to or where to go.
He was already a few minutes away from the station and his first thought was to check all the schools which wasn't very hard because there were only ten in this area.
He went by each and every school and of course no one would let him see Tael even if he was there because he wasn't on the immediate family list. And the school idea was now a bust but he knew it was a hit or miss he just wanted to try.
Next idea he had was to look for Tael's mom's bright orange jeep because no one else would have a bright orange car and he thought it would be easy to find her car out of everyone else's.
It was nighttime and he had gone through every neighborhood by the time it was around 9 o'clock. He didn't end up finding anything or anyone associated with Tael. He went a little farther out of town into the next town over and checked over there through the night and as expected he found…..nothing.
He felt so discouraged but he did not give up at any time. Luke kept looking through all the towns until he made his way into this big city that was named Amonos. There were lights and people everywhere he didn't even see much grass anywhere. He knew it was going to take him a while to search through this whole city.
While walking he saw this gigantic building that said BLANCH CORP. He looked over and saw some people handing out flyers to certain people on the street. So Luke just walked over and tried to get one but the man just looked him up and down and turned away.
And Luke was not giving up so he kept trying to get one by bugging the man in the middle of the walkway. After the man finally got tired and annoyed he just threw Luke the paper and walked back inside.
The paper said LOOKING FOR WORKERS. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. ONLY THE BEST AND MOST LOYAL WILL BE HIRED.
Luke's face lit up with excitement but then lowered with disappointment. He knew he wouldn't be able to take the job because 1. He was homeless 2. He had no birth certificate 3. And with no certificate he didn't know his real name to apply with. Then he realized what he was here for and shoved the paper in his backpack and got back moving.
It was the next day and he was still in this big city with no sign of Tael. He kept wondering why he was going to all this trouble for a little boy he had only known for a couple of months. It was a mystery he thought he would never discover.
Luke kept searching and searching throughout the whole day with the same sentence replaying in his mind over and over.
I am still alone and will be forever and always....
Alone
To be continued...