A young woman with graying hair set a plate down in front of her husband. He had gasoline and dirt on his face from his recent endeavors. He attempted to wipe it off with a napkin but it just made the napkin black and continually smeared it all a crossed his skin. The wife sighed scooping the microwavable noodles onto his plate and some onto hers.
She sat down as her husband scooped a bite into his mouth and began to speak.
"Aw, I know what you're thinking dear. It has to be done if we want to make a living!" He protested the silent remark with noodles still in his mouth.
"But dear! You're working day and night on those orders and you hardly get any sleep! It's not good for you, don't you see the bags under your eyes?!" She waved her fork in the direction of his face and he absentmindedly rubbed it with a groan.
"I can't do anything about it Edna, we need the money!" The husband shot back, putting his fork down on his plate.
Edna sighed, moving her food around with her fork with a sad expression. "I just wish there was another way.."
It was silent for a time, as neither knew what to say to the other. The only noise was the scratching of Edna's fork on her plate as she played with her food.
A sudden banging on the trailer door shocked them both upwards, heads turned to the sound. Ed got up from his chair and went to the door. It slid open with some difficulty and he struggled to search through the darkness for any sign of who could've knocked or what could've made the noise. He heard a soft hiccuping below him and looked down, shock overwhelming him.
There lay a baby, wrapped in a dark blue cloth on the top step that led to the trailer door. He looked around frantically, seeing if he could spot anyone. Then looked back down at the child. Their face was scrunched up and they started to cry as a cold breeze blew through the night air.
"What is it, Hun? Is that crying?!" Ed heard his wife get out of her chair behind him.
He crouched down and carefully picked up the crying child, trying his best not to get his grubby fingers on the child as he brushed a small tuft of hair out of its face.
The baby hiccuped slightly and looked up at the man with wide blue eyes. Reaching hand up curiously to try and touch the light scratchy beard gathering on his face.
He felt his wife's hand on his shoulder as she looked around him and gasped.
"Oh my goodness! Is that a baby Ed?!" Edna exclaimed, putting a hand to her mouth.
Ed said nothing, but continued to search the perimeter. Out of the corner of his eye he a dark green bag laying on a lower step and picked it up, feeling it jingle at the disturbance. He handed it to his wife who took it and shook at the surprising weight.
"Open that would you, hun?" Ed asked as the child begun to stick a hand in his mouth and he attempted to stop him.
"Alright dear.." she said, still shocked about what was happening.
Ed looked down at the child questionably as it reached into its wrappings and pulled out a small golden key that was connected to a string hung around his neck. He continued by putting it in his mouth as it to try and eat it.
"Hey hey now! Don't eat that!" He attempted to pull it away but as he did he felt the baby start to whine and decided to let it be to prevent a crying fit.
He noticed something else that became visible when the child pulled out the key. A small piece of paper. He pulled it out carefully as the baby sucked on key viciously.
Ed examined the paper carefully. In formal, but very legible writing it said.
Please keep him safe.
And love him like we
wanted to. And please
Accept the gift to help.
I'm sorry…
Ed turned it over about 5 times before giving up and deciding there was nothing else on the small slip of paper. He placed it in his pocket and sighed.
"How in Ninjago are we gonna take care of a child?!" He exclaimed, running a hand through his greasy hair.
"Um.. dear.." Edna spoke silently, shaking as she looked into the bag.
Ed walked over, keeping the child held safely in one arm as he widened the bag to look inside. The contents shown in the light. A ginormous pile of Euros sat pleasantly in the bag. Ed gasped as he rubbed his eyes to try and see if his mind was playing tricks on him. To his continued shock and pleasure, it wasn't.
"This- this is fantastic! We can have stable lives and jobs and raise a child!" Ed said, excitement rushing through him.
"Y-you really want to keep it with us dear? I saw it would be better at a steady orphanage in the city." Edna said, unsure of what her husband was about to jump into.
"Well o' course I do Edna!" The husband bellowed, his strong accent showing," I'm not about ta' just give this boy up when those folks trusted us with 'im. And I ain't gonna give him away and take their money either!"
"Oh, you're right. That would be selfish.." Edna replied, feeling ashamed. "well then Ed what are we gonna name him? Does he have one, did it say?"
Ed looked down at the baby in his arms, his calm blue eyes looking up at him and smiling. Taking the key out of his mouth to giggle softly. He glanced again at his eyes which stood out amongst the rest and drew the most attention. They reminded him of the color of Blue Jay's he would see as he worked on repairing vehicles. He smiled as inspiration came to him.
"Jay." He said, putting out his hand and letting the energetic child grab it happily.