“ What's Your name?....”
“ Brian...”
He said, his mood down, was unlike the boy filled with energy that I saw before, I know what is wrong with him and possibly what's going on in his mind right now, but can I do anything to change that?, no. I'm not his family and his sister possibly doesn't know who I was, he still wants to continue the hike, but his sister is in search of him, knowing how uncomfortable that can be, especially for a fact he's with a stranger, a stranger she doesn't know what he looks like, that's worst, that's just like kidnapping, where you don't know the face of those who has taken your person from you.
“ Brian..... So you came with a phone, but doesn't want to use it to find your way back through the GPS?....”
I asked, looking down at him as he brings his eyes up to my face for the first time since that call, it looks like he wanted to smile, but held it in. “ Where's the fun in that?, The more you lose your path, the more fun the experience.....”
Wow.... “ Wow.... I'm impressed, for a little boy, you seem to know a lot about this stuff, maybe I should call you an adventurous guru....” he smiled hearing me say those words, knowing that it was sure a compliment to boost his mood. He was just kicking one particular stone on the floor as we was walking, kicking it forward and forward the more we walk.
“ So Sir, what can I call you?.....” he asked, waiting for my answer by fixing all his attention on me, “ My name is Jerome.... Jerome Hadley...” I said, eyes turning to him, but he was wearing another shocking look like he was taken aback, that's what he usually do since we crossed paths, having one or two shocking looks on his face.
“ Like Jerome Hadley, the author?....” he asked, pointing his fingers at me, I just nodded my head, confirming his curiosity. Just like normal, the look on his face changed from shock to confusion, I wonder what it was this time.
“ What are you thinking Brian?....”
“ I'm just confused, I know that I am not old enough to be reading your stories, I always happen to steal your books from my sister's locker, I do put them back after reading, she's your number one fan Jerome, I'm number two, but I can't still understand my confusion.....”
This little guy has a great sense of humor that I just can't believe, even though he has been showing it before me. Yeah, like he said, he wasn't old enough to read my books, but I can tell he's way mature for his age, with this mentality, he would possibly find it hard to cope with his peers.
“ So, what is it that's confusing you?....”
I had to ask, maybe I can clear them for him, maybe. “ In your book, your character's, I mean the Male ones, you characterize them as an ordinary good looking guys who love with all their heart and soul, and it's always like a fairytale story because they always succeed in getting the women they were after..... I know I shouldn't be saying those, but the truth is, you're nothing like you characters, rather I can say you're opposite..... You're muscular, your arms the size of my head, chest pumping, I don't actually want to speak about your Physique, but your eyes, they look, can I say..... Hostile, like they don't know the love that you've been trying to teach in your book.....”
Who's this boy?, How is he seeing through me?, How can a little boy know so much beyond his age?, How come he can see the information I don't give out?. Questions was running up and down, to and fro in my mind, can't really figure out how this little boy know so much, yet still have this bright look on his face, loves adventures and yet good with conversations, this is really interesting.
I never answered that, I just told him that he shouldn't say that about people's looks, they might not be in good condition to have that conversation with him which might lead to unnecessary arguments.
On getting to the bus area where they've packed, I asked him to go. Despite making a great friends with Brian here, I know that our close relationship ends here as well, but the truth is, this memory will always stick to my mind, I'll never forget how fun it was spending this lovely day alongside him, despite just being a little boy, he posses the mindset of a grown up man and with that, our conversation was always going to be one to remember.
Despite being much older than Daniel, who was no longer my son like they've been confirmed, his presence made me think of him, the boy I called my son, the boy who called me Dad for years, I miss him, I Fucking do, but can I have him back?, No, not possible, he's not mine, there's no reason for me to have him back.
Brian never wanted to go, he was still holding my hand and those eyes staring into mine, he has to go, we're here already, our business has ended, it's about time we go out different paths. I gently wanted to pull his hand away and say my goodbyes, but he held on tight, like he knew exactly what I was trying to do.
“ We're here Brian, you've to go, your sister wanted you back and I just brought you back, you see.... You were lost before, but instead of people finding you, you found me, you taught me a lot Brian and I would never forget this day, but our paths ends here, I hope I can see you soon, if possible....”
A young man was already where we're, he came from the bus area where the other kids were, I handed Brian over to him, I can see him resist a bit, but knew how to respect himself, he possibly knew that his struggles won't buy us anymore time together, that's when I saw a tear break away from his left eye, the sight breaks my heart, time to let go of my new friend and focus back on life ahead.