CHAPTER 3: Little Arthur(II)

"Then what do you want to eat?" Receptionist looked at Little Arthur and asked.

"Anything you have" Little Arthur said.

"Would Sandwich do?" Receptionist asked Little Arthur.

Little Arthur nodded his head. Hoping he would get something to eat and he can fill his empty stomach.

"That would be 1$" Receptionist told the Little Arthur.

Little Arthur was surprised because he did not had money and he never needed to have as his parents always bought whatever he needed, so he was unaware of the concept of money other than giving bills and getting your required item.

"I-I don't have money…" Little Arthur said in a hoarse voice.

"Then what are you here for? "Receptionist asked in a nonchalant voice.

"I-I….." Little Arthur was lost for his words and he don't what he should say. In fact, he also doesn't know why he came here even he doesn't have something to give in return to the café.

For the sake of humanity?

He doesn't even know what humanity was and subconsciously went to shop and asked for food. And reality struck him harder than he thought it would.

Little Arthur felt dejected and turn around to leave, then suddenly,

"Hey boy! Wait!" Receptionist called out to him.

Little Arthur turned around to see the receptionist came out from counter area and reached out to him.

"Here take this!" She placed a sandwich on his head and stroked his head.

Little Arthur's eyes shined and water started following from his mouth.

"Hehehe.."Receptionist was quite amused by the Little Arthur's action.

Little Arthur quickly took the sandwich and looked at the receptionist and wondering why did she help him?

As if she has figured out Little Arthur's thoughts, "It was left over from yesterday night and our store has policy we don't serve left over. And don't worry, the bread and materials is still fresh and edible. So have it!"

Little Arthur was surprised she was able to read his thoughts. And he was also quite surprised know that food was left but he didn't complain or he didn't have the luxury to complain. Because he doesn't how long would he have to wait for another meal.

Little Arthur nodded to explanation and replied, "Thank you for kindness."

Receptionist was quite pleased with the Little Arthur's action and said, "Well I can't guarantee you, but you can here after 12AM and look for me left over food. If we had any I would give but if we don't then sorry!"

Little Arthur didn't say anything except nodding his head. He turned around and left the shop and went the spot where his parents left him and started looking at the crowd while munching on sandwich.

He saw all sorts of people some were fat while some slim like a stick, some wore fashionable clothes while some simple while collar dress. Some had fair skin while some had white skin and other types. But what amazed him that everything was blending in the crowd, he can't pin-point anyone everything becomes one.

"Umm…who are you?"

Just as he was lost in his universe he was brought back by a sudden voice.

Little Arthur turned around and saw a girl who seems to be not over 10. Their eyes met and suddenly Little Arthur got in a defensive posture.

Little Arthur saw the girl, she had long black hair and brown and she had a V-shape face and had a serious look on her face. She was wearing white t-shirt which has brown patches and black pajamas and a pair of slippers. Little Arthur wondered if she had cleaned herself properly and wore clean dress then she was even on par with Ava, who lived next to his house.

Little Arthur shook his head and came out of the wandering thoughts and looked at the girl with serious expression and asked, "What do you want?"

Girl didn't reply but was looking at his burger as she want to devour it only by looking at it.

Seeing her gaze on the sandwich Little Arthur pulled it closer to him.

Seeing sandwich going out of her sight, she came out of her state and looked at Little Arthur and said, "Huh? What did you say?"

"I said, what do you want?" Little Arthur repeated his statement again.

"I-I…am hungry can you share your sandwich with me?" Girl asked with pleading eyes.

Little Arthur looked at her and remembered his struggle and he knows by the looks of it if he didn't give, she might even start crying.

Little Arthur tore the sandwich in half and stretched the half towards her and said, "Here"

He didn't say any further and turned around and returned to his seat.

Girl also moved behind him and sat beside him.

(Don't call it cringe, this is how just kids are.)

Little Arthur looked at her action but didn't say anything. What can he say? It's not like he owns the place.

"What's your name?" Girl asked while munching the sandwich.

"Arthur" Little Arthur said.

"What about you?" He asked.

"Emma" Emma replied.

"Where are your parents" Little Arthur asked.

"Where are yours?" Emma asked back again.

Little Arthur turned his head and replied with a wryly smile, "I'm abandoned ,I guess"

Emma didn't looked towards and replied in a nonchalant tone, "Same".

There was an eerie silence between them despite crowds noise there was silence. As if crowds noise doesn't mattered.

"Then where do you live?" Emma broke the silence asked.

Little Arthur shook his head and said, "Nowhere, I am just sleeping here on the bench."

Emma was surprised by the answer and said, "Then why don't you come with me? There is an abandoned building near the west gate. I, too , live there."

Little Arthur shook his head and said, "No, I can't! I have to wait for Mommy and Daddy!"

"You know the answer yourself and still saying no?" Emma said , she knew that Little Arthur was relying false hope even knowing the end of it.

"You know that you can't keep sleep here, right? Who know what might happen? Patrolling of cops are also increasing day by day and if they get hold of you then they might look for your parents and in case they didn't find then you are going to get ended up in an orphanage. Waiting for someone to adopt you." Emma explained.

Little Arthur listened to her words and he himself also believed that what she was saying was true and he might get busted one day.

Little Arthur thought for a bit and said, "O-Okay."

"Good choice! You have to accept the reality quickly to get accustom to the rules of this cruel world." Emma said as her eyes looking at distant horizon.

"Okay! Enough chit-chat! Let's go quickly. It's getting close to evening " Emma said as she quickly shot from her seat and waiting for Little Arthur.

Little Arthur slowly got up as if his feet were cemented and felt like pulling up rocks with his feet.

"Let's go! " Emma got hold of Little Arthur and starting leading him to the destination.

Little Arthur kept looking back at his seat where his parents left him. He kept glancing before turning his head in front. Little tears droplets formed near his eyes.

Emma looked at him but decided not to say anything and kept leading him ahead.

15 minutes passed

After passing through the park , what came into Little Arthur's view was an abandoned and dilapidated apartment building. The building was made of red brick and has four stories. It was in a state of disrepair, with broken windows, graffiti-covered walls, and a very big garden with overgrown vegetation. 

"This is it!" Emma said with a smile.

"Come let me show you inside" Emma quickly ran towards the gate and called for him.

Little Arthur nodded to her and followed her.

Inside of the building was same as outside. The walls were covered in graffiti. The floor was covered in debris and overgrown with weeds.

There were several large windows on the side of the building, and a staircase leading to a second floor. The building was in a state of disrepair and no longer habitat for living.

They slowly made their way to second , third and finally the rooftop. Each floor was in same state as first floor and rooftop was somewhat clean from any other area. One room can be seen with half broken door.

"Come" Emma lead to the room and opened the door.

"This is where I live. It's not luxurious but it's enough to block the harsh cold." Emma explained embarrassingly.

Little Arthur looked at the room and in the room there was no bed but a mattress was lying on the ground and some thick sheets were lying on them. But there was not presence of food anywhere.

Little Arthur looked at Emma and asked ," what do you eat?"

Emma scratched her head and said, " Food is scarce here, I ask for some shops to give their left over to me and that's how I am living here. And you have to arrange for your own food, as you can see that I am not even able to have enough for myself I can't guarantee yours."

Little Arthur nodded at her. And Went to the went and lied on it and closed his eyes.

In past few days his life has taken a 36-0 degree turn not even giving him time to adapt but now living on this mattress he remembered his home. And unknowingly he lost in his dreamscape.

Emma looked at Little Arthur lying on the mattress sleeping and decided to not disturb him and left the room and found herself a chair on the roof and begin looking at the horizon , lost in her universe of thoughts.

 Soon, the sky was filled with thousands of firecrackers.

It was Christmas.

Flashback Ends

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"Yeah….." Arthur replied.

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