Steeling a Glimpse at a Christmas Past
He was cold. The clothes he was wearing were old and worn out. They barely covered his small frame. He huddled in a corner, out of the snow. What he wouldn't give for a warm coat. He would even settle for a shirt that fit. But that was just wishful thinking.
He wrapped his arms tighter around his chest as his body was wracked with a series of hacking coughs. He wished they would go away, but knew they would probably last until spring. It had been that way ever since he hit the streets three years before. Each winter he hoped it would be different, but hopes only existed so they could be crushed.
He thought he should be used to the cold by now. It was his constant companion, as was the hunger. He hadn't eaten today. All the shops and street vendors were closed because of the snow and the holiday.
He hated Christmas. His whole life it had served as a reminder of how alone he was. He was more likely to get a beating than a present. Not any more though. He had gotten out and no one was ever going to beat him again.
He was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of footsteps approaching. He looked up as a father and son past by on the other side of the street. They were pulling a sled and talking about something that had them both amused. He heard the son laugh at something the father said.
He watched, feeling more alone than ever. He found his thoughts wandering to his own father. For what seemed like the thousandth time, he wondered what his father was like. He wondered why his father had left. Why didn't his father want him? Did he do something wrong?
He couldn't remember his father. He wasn't even sure if he and his father had ever met. He wondered what it would be like if he had lived with his father. How would his life have been different?
He looked down the street at the father and son. They were just disappearing around the corner. Suddenly, he got up and started to follow them. He wasn't sure why. He told himself it was for the sled. Yes, that was it. He would steal the sled and sell it. He could get at least a couple of quid for it. Enough to pay for a place to sleep. That was it. He wanted the sled. But, even as the thought it, he knew that wasn't the real reason.
He followed them to a neighborhood. They went up the steps of a house. He leaned over the rail and looked through the window. He saw a Christmas tree with presents under it. There were people gathered around. They were smiling and laughing. He watched silently for several minutes. Just once he wished he could be part of a family; to be loved and wanted. He felt tears in his eyes and dashed them away angrily. Why wasn't he wanted? Why!? He picked up a rock and hurled it through the window, lashing out in his anger. Abruptly, the sounds form inside ceased. He froze momentarily, then turned and ran down the street.