Aaron had to fend for himself, no parents to help him or guide him, no one to love him. He had to fight for everything he needed, from the food he stole to the clothes on his back, right through to his bed for the night.
He would sit on the top landing of the fire escape and watch the world go by, as he ate his stale supper. Down below the traffic flowed, people driving back home from work, to a hot meal and a warm comfy bed. He didn`t hate them, he wasn't even jealous of them anymore. Over the years he had grown hard to his situation and just managed to live day to day. He wasn't ruled by society, he didn't work nine to five,, he could go where he wanted and do what he liked, he was free.
To night he had a large old battered cardboard box and a pile of newspapers and no one was going to take them from him. He had also found a pizza box, which still contained a few slices of ham pizza.
So as he sat in his usual spot, on the fire escape landing and watched the streams of traffic crawling home, he listened to some music that drifted up from one of the apartments below, some rock and roll, Aaron leaned back against the wall and smiled to himself, this was cool, this was the life!
Down below him, in another world was a lad about the same age as Aaron. Jason had a home, hot food and a warm comfy bed, in fact everything Aaron didn`t have. So why wasn't he happy ? Jason was lonely, he didn`t have many friends, only the ones that his parents approved of, and around here that wasn`t many at all. He heard the other kids playing on the street or in the park, he heard their laughs and squeals of pleasure as they played, but they were not the type of kids his parents wanted him to have as friends.
Tonight he was sat at his window, watching the world go by, wishing he could join in with all the fun, instead of staying in on his own. It was a different world out there and he wasn't allowed to be part of it. He had just finished his supper and was listening to some rock and roll , but still very lonely. The evening rush hour traffic was almost over now, and Jason loved to watch the city lights flicker through his window. He would imagine other people`s lives, the dramas and adventures they would have. He was jealous and very lonely.
Aaron finished his pizza and as it was a lovely warm evening, decided to go and meet up with Zippy who squatted in a cellar about three blocks south of here. As he made his way down to street level, he wondered if Zippy had any of his home made brew, maybe they could sit and talk over a drink.
He made it down to street level, and darted past the apartment with the music, ran to the end of the block, nipped around the corner , turned on to Maine Street, and was gone.
Jason watched a lanky scruffy kid run past his window in the evening light, his eyes darting all around him and he stuck to the shadows, ran up to the corner, paused for a moment before disappearing around it. Before Jason realized it, he was out of his window and following this kid through the shadows and around the corner. He stayed in the shadows too, eyes glued to the kid.
Where was he going, what adventure would he have? He didn`t know where he would end up, or what would happen to him, but it had to be better that just sitting at his window longing for things to happen and dreaming.
Aaron continued on down Maine Street, three blocks wasn't far and he would soon be in the warmth with Zippy. As he darted along, ever watchful for trouble, so that he could stay out of it all, he spotted a small gang, lurking in one of the alley ways and so he paused for a few moments, until he knew it was safe to go on. Phew.... safely past and on he went. He was only a little further down the street, still watching around, but no one was after him. He was almost about to carry on down the street, when he heard a shout and then a scream. He hesitated, listened, and then did something he knew he would regret. Aaron ran back up the way he had just come from and around the corner in the alley way, he saw the small gang stood over a limp body of a kid about his own age.
Aaron thought quickly and then shouted, " ok Mr Cop man he`s around this corner.." then he stamped his feet hard on the ground . The gang froze, then ran away up the alley as fast as they could. Aaron slowly turned the corner and then went up to the kid. Crouching down, he could see the kid had been beaten and was bleeding from a few small cuts. Luckily he hadn't been beaten up too badly.
Aaron asked him what his name was, Jason, opened an eye and tried to get up to run away from this kid as he thought this was a member of the gang. Aaron held his hand out to help Jason up and smiled at him. Jason realized this kid wasn't going to hit him. He took the hand and got up. Together they moved out of the alley and in to the light of Maine Street. Jason wasn't badly hurt, just mostly his pride.
Jason had a few dollars on him, so he offered Aaron the money as a thank you, Aaron took the money and they walked back along Maine Street talking. Jason found that Aaron was easy to talk to and asked him loads of questions. They came to a Hot-dog stand, that Aaron knew, he ordered two hot-dogs and the two boys found a park bench and sat and ate them, still talking.
They walked back to Jason`s window and Aaron told him where he sort of lived. They agree to meet up again and both knew a new friendship had been made. They said good bye and Jason climbed back into his window, but his world didn`t feel so lonely, he also realized that appearances were deceptive and although Aaron was a street kid, living a hard life, but under that thick skin, there was kindness. Aaron needn't of helped him out, but he had and just because he wasn't from a good home, he was still a good person and a friend to Jason.
Jason didn`t feel so lonely any more, he had wished for a friend and now he had one. This was his secret friend....
© Lissie Bull 2014
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