Kate Whitaker floated home from work in a bright mood; her boss had let her off early yesterday and whispered about a bonus. She bounded up the steps to her flat, fingers poised over the intercom, when a plaintive childs wail snatched her attention. Kate frowned. Why such gloom on a day that felt like sunshine? She turned, saw nothing, pressed the door handle again, and the crying grew louder.
Where are you, little one? Kate called, voice trembling.
Here, replied a thin, trembling voice.
She slipped around the porch and, on the cobbled street outside, spotted a boy no older than five perched on the pavement. He wore a threadbare coat, ripped trousers stained with mud, and a sweater that had seen better days. Tears streamed down his cheeks, dark ribbons on his face. Kates heart tightened.
Who are you? Why are you crying? she asked.
Im Billy, the boy sniffed, I want to go home.
Do you live here? Kate tried to match the boy with any resident she knew.
I dont know. I cant find my house. Im lost, Billy replied, his diction oddly perfect.
Looking at him again, Kate decided he needed a warm place before she could think of anything else. She reached out a hand.
Come with me. Ill get you a cuppa maybe some tea, she said.
Billy took her hand trusting, his nose twitching, and followed. At that moment Kate had no plan, only a sudden surge of maternal instinctpity, nourishment, shelterbecause, after all, he was just a child.
Ive just made a pot of shepherds pie. Want some? she asked as she stepped inside. The little guest nodded eagerly.
When he ladled the broth, Kate realised he was not a picky eater. She thought of her spoiled niece, Lily, and sighed: Billy must have never tasted the kind of homecooked meals Lilys mother prepares daily.
She sensed that no one was looking for the boy. What should I do? she wondered, when a ringtone cut through her thoughts. Arthur, the young man who had been courting her, was on the line.
Hey, what are you up to? he asked.
Feeding Billy! she replied.
Billy? Whos that?
The boy. Billy.
Where did he come from?
I found him at the entrance.
Why bring him into your flat?
Its cold, hes shivering.
How old is he?
Not more than five.
Billy, listening through the door, lifted a finger and showed four. Kate smiled, corrected herself.
Actually, hes four.
Give the child back to his family.
I dont know where his mum is.
Let the police handle it.
The police?
Yes. You cant just feed a stranger. There are trained people for that. Take him to them, then come back to me.
Fine, Kate sighed, lets go, Billy. Well look for your mum.
They walked to the nearest police station, where Kate approached the duty officer, a young constable about her own age. She felt a flicker of hope; perhaps younger officers were kinder than the hardened veterans.
The constable asked gently what had happened. Kate gave a brief account of meeting Billy. He radioed someone, noted the boys details, and instructed her to wait.
Soon a uniformed woman arrived, ushered Kate and Billy into a small office, asked questions, thanked Kate for her honesty and said:
Youre free to go.
And Billy?
Billy will stay with us for now. His statement is important. She looked at the boy, who nodded enthusiastically. Relieved, Kate turned to leave.
Ill see you later, Billy, she said.
Bye! he waved, his tiny hand a blur.
Kate left the station and hurried to meet Arthur, who was leaning against the doorway of a café, sighing in irritation as she approached, as if shed kept him waiting forever.
Did you know theres a lovely officer at the station? I left Billy with her, Kate mentioned.
If youd taken him straight there we couldve gone to the cinema, Arthur teased. She didnt take offense.
Its not his fault. He was so vulnerable, I couldnt hand him over to strangers. You know theyre not always empathetic, she replied.
Right, right, Arthur waved his hand dismissively.
The evenings episode with Billy seemed closed, yet Kate could not shake the image of the boys tearstreaked face. She kept wondering whether his family would ever be found, or if a different care home might be better. Arthur didnt notice her lingering thoughts, and the night, though pleasant, left her with a lingering unease.
It was Friday. On the following Monday, as Kate returned home, Billy was again at her doorstep.
Youre back? she asked, surprised.
I came to you. Do you have shepherds pie? he asked.
No pie, but Ill find something. Pasta, maybe?
Yes, please! he cheered, clearly famished.
She fed him again, trying to coax any clue about his parents. Billy told her that on Friday evening, after being released from the station, his mother had arrived, filed a missingperson report, then berated him, spanked him, and banned him from going outside. She left at dawn, leaving only Uncle Sam, his mothers husband, at home. Billy feared Sam, so he avoided him. Sam was sound asleep, snoring loudly. When Sams snores filled the hallway, Billy slipped on his coat and headed for Kate.
Kate listened, heart tightening. After eating, Billy said solemnly:
Ill go home, or Mum will punish me again, he sighed. She never hurt me before. I think Ill have to look for a new mum soon.
Alright, Kate said thoughtfully. Let me walk you.
She wanted to know where he lived. Billy agreed; his house was close. As Kate approached his building, a woman stepped out and addressed Billy:
Hello! Havent seen you around the courtyard today. Went for a stroll?
Mum punished me. I slipped away today.
Hungry?
No, Kate fed me.
Then hurry home before she notices.
Im running. Bye, Kate! Billy vanished behind the door.
Kate turned to the woman.
Is his mother a drinker?
Worse, the woman sighed. Shes a drug user. It started not long ago; in a year shes gone from a pretty girl to a wreck.
So you cant leave the child with her!
I cant call social services; my conscience wont let me. Vicky used to be a good girl. I was close to her mother. They were neighbours. Vicky died before Billy was born. Her marriage fell apart, she met this scum he ruined her life.
Billys in danger. He cant stay there!
I agree. I try to feed him when I can, but Vicky bans it. She always loved him, never hurt himuntil Sam showed up.
Kate understood without further words. She also understood why the neighbour hadnt called social services. Still, she couldnt just walk away. She asked for her phone number.
With a heavy foreboding, Kate went home. That evening Arthur called. Hearing her melancholy voice, he asked what was wrong. She confessed that Vicky was again meddling with Billy.
You should have taken the child to care, Arthur said.
I dont know what to do, she replied.
Dont get involved with that family. Why cling to the boy?
I cant help it.
Youre making a mistake, Arthur warned sharply.
Kate fell silent. In her mind she pictured herself in a courtroom, adopting the boy. Its madness, she muttered, yet the image of a happy home with Billy lingered.
Lets talk tomorrow, she said to Arthur.
No, Kate, are you angry? he asked.
No, just a headache. Im off to sleep, she lied, the first lie to the man she loved.
She hung up, then called her sister, Emma, with whom she was close. After the usual pleasantries, Emma listened and replied:
Ive grown fond of your Billy, even from afar. You know how I adore children. Id love to meet him.
Hes wonderful!
Do what you think is right. He didnt appear in your life for nothing. How long have you been with Arthur?
What does that have to do with anything?
Everything! Hes been draining your time for two years, using you, never clarifying where youre heading.
I feel like I dont want to see him anymore, Kate admitted.
Maybe you just think that?
Im not sure
The sisterly chat left Kate mulling over the boys fate. Emma was right: the child couldnt stay where he was. Kate resolved to act the next day, taking a day off to speak again with Billys neighbour.
But the neighbour called the following morning with dreadful news:
Billys in hospital with a concussion!
Later Kate learned his mother had not returned home the previous night. Police were searching for her. His stepdad, drunk on drugs, demanded to know where his mother was. Billy couldnt escape him. Fortunately the neighbour heard his cries, called the police, and they took him to the station, then an ambulance whisked him to the hospital.
Ill never leave him again! Kate vowed.
That night she visited Billy in the ward. The duty constable shed met before was there, along with a young officer named Gerry. Both recognized her, offered to explain the situation. When Kate learned that Billy would be taken from his mother, she asked whether anyone could adopt him.
Adoption is a complex process. It only happens if parental rights are removed, which isnt easy, Gerry said gently.
Are there other options? she asked.
The care system can advise, but its possible, he replied, his voice warm and attentive.
Gerrys sympathy didnt go unnoticed by the nurse in the room, who suggested he finish the paperwork himself. Kate was left alone with Gerry, who offered to walk her home.
Would you like a cup of tea? Kate blurted out, surprising herself. It felt odd to retract those words, but she couldnt take them back. Gerry agreed.
Over tea he listened to her worries about Billys future, fully supporting her desire to keep him.
Hes brilliant, clever, and full of life. Id take him myself if I could, Gerry confessed.
Before leaving he took Kates number, promising to update her on any news about Billys mother. He kept his word; the next morning, just as Kate was about to start work, the phone rang.
Hello, Kate. Weve found Victoria. She passed away last night from an overdose.
How do I tell Billy? Kate stammered.
Dont rush. He hasnt asked about her yet. He seems to sense something
All day Arthur hadnt called. Finally, in the evening, Kate received a message from him: I hope you see I was right. If not, choose: me or your filthy streetkid! The threat flared her anger. She wanted to fire off a furious reply, but then Gerry called again: Kate, would you like to visit Billy together today?
Absolutely, she answered, but lets be on a firstname basis. Its awkward otherwise.
She never answered Arthur that night.
Caring for Billy quickly forged a bond between Kate and Gerry. Arthur, meanwhile, waited, assuming Kate was just playing hardtoget. He called a week later; she answered calmly.
Some things cant be solved over the phone. We need to meet in person. We have to break up. I realized I dont love you, she said.
Arthur was stunned into silence. Kate turned and walked away without waiting for a reaction. He tried to call back; she hung up. Their twoyear romance ended then.
A month later Kate secured legal guardianship of Billy.
Congratulations, Gerry said.
Thank you. I couldnt have done it without you, Kate replied.
Its my pleasure. Not many would take a child of a drugaddicted mother, Gerry replied.
I understand, but its not heroism. I just fell in love with Billy the moment we met, Kate said.
I loved you too Gerry blushed, and Kate gave a shy, bewildered smile.
A few months later, encouraged by Billy, Gerry proposed to Kate.
Yay! shouted little Ben, thrilled. Now I have a new mum and dad! We need a brother right away!
A year later Billys wish was fulfilled, and everything settled into a strange, comforting normality.
