Autumn had fallen in the sleepy town of St. George. Red leaves rustled in a cool breeze while squirrels burried their acorns in abandoned lawns. To the relief of frightened children, the feral hounds had retreated into the compounds of deserted factories. Migrating birds unloaded droppings over walls of peeling paint, to the dismay of whoever unlucky enough to be confined in the decaying streets.
The frenzied activity of the animals was mirrored by the humans. Are there enough warm clothes? Can we still do with the old ventilation? Did we chop enough firewood? Is there enough money to repair the damaged windows? Can we afford flu shots for our children? Everywhere, heartbeats intensified as couples mulled over their mounting spending, and one could hear unfortunate arguments breaking out as husband and wife blamed each other for their continued hardship.
Why wasn't there ever enough money? The residents in St. George blamed everything, immigrants, the rich, republicans, democrats and the list goes on. But they understood the truth. America was moving forward, and they were getting left behind. Nobody cared about them anymore. The vandalised election posters had fallen, and nobody had bothered to replace them. They could denounce elitist politicians and exploitative businesses, but nobody had heard or helped them for so long that they had simply resigned themselves to their fate.
In one household sat a little toddler, oblivious to the ringing bell of anxiety, oblivious to the violence and crime that raged outdoors, oblivious to the unrestrained pessimism of his parents. Carefully, he stacked one square block on another, making one long cuboid. Beside, his older brother watched with a guarded eye. Even when he tried teaching him to build actual stuff, even when he demonstrated how to build castles and all, this was the only result. Did he have no imagination? Why was he so different from the other kids? A shout upstairs gave him a momentary jolt. Quarelling again, he thought as he sighed gravely.
"Please, Clarence, he just needs more time! Can't you just wait for a while longer?"
"Emma, for God's Sake!" Clarence buried hjs head in his hands. For the sake of his other children, he had to win this fight. "The kid's nearly five! What're you going to do, keep him out of kindergarten? Out of school? He's not going to change, Goddamnit!"
A sudden spasm of fear swept through Emma's space. "Sarah, sarah says we should wait for..."
"Wait, what? We're hard-pressed here! Haven't you seen him with the toys? He's never, ever looked at us directly! He doesn't speak! We don't need to wait any longer, and we certainly don't need any of those, those bloody taste by the asshole professionals to tell for ourselves!
"Maybe he would talk at us if you wouldn't shout at him to stare you in the eye everytime you see him!" Emma's expression had hardened and her voice was turning into a scream. "You saw the place! All the old kids are hooked and the younger ones may as well as join the feral dogs outside! And you, you want him in there? Might as well curse him to hell!"
"So? You going to have him here forever? When he's bleeding out my wallet? Can't you see, the end result is the same either way! I swear, if that bitch sarah asks us to spend my hard-earned money on another one of those special needs whatevers, as if we're rolling in as much money as she is..."
"That what? He becomes a useless imbecile? I'm her mother, damnit! And I say..."
And I'm the only fucking breadwinner!" Clarence exploded, his face red with rage. "Who drives around day to night to put food on the table, huh? So that our kids can go to school? And you're going to spend all my money, my damned money on someone that we can't really help? What about our other children? They going to be wearing the same clothes, the same shoes forever? They going to elementary school forever? That they going to have the same life as us? No, I say!"
A tear slid down from Emma's reddened eyes, and she let out a small sob. "Please, Clarence, please understand..."
He took her hand, and his expression softened. The battle was won. "Emma, I do. I love that kid too, really. If I could make enough money to make a significant change in his life, if I had the ability, but then I'm uneducated, I can't get a good job, and I'm fucking stupid, and I, I..." Clarence was lost for words. His eyes had become watery, and his hands began to shake uncontrollably.
Spontaneously, both husband and wife shared a warm hug, and all the mutual hatred that had been exchanged in the argument vanished instantly. They knew that couldn't do much for the child because they were poor, and they hated themselves for not being wealthier, for not having the means to make a difference. Both confessed their guilt to each other, and in that moment, the decision was made.
The little toddler placed the last block upon the structure his handiwork, his face broke out into a rare grin, one that his mother would have delighted over but may not have the chance to see any longer.
Outside, leaves rustled in the breeze.
Author's Note :
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Does it a have a continuation sis? What are they planning to do with the kid? Are they going to put hin away?