Thank you for your review magiclover13. I will certainly do my best looking out for those kind of mistakes. English isn't my first language, I'll do my best to keep up in grammar.

May 14, 1997.

It all began as a game. Their teacher went inside the classroom while the rest stayed outside playing. Some used the playground either sliding, running or climbing the small and colorful structure. The rest of the kids ran around, entertained and lost in their little world. Not Jack, he was too busy for children's games. He could only think in his mother, what had she meant saying, he was lost? Jack was certain, his mommy had said it through the phone even though when he asked, she disagreed. There was little stuff in the world he understood, but one thing he would always perceive, when her mother was worried. This was one of those times. He didn't have time to play when her mother was out there alone, looking without his help. She always said he was a great detective, why didn't she ask for his help? He couldn't understand it. Shouts and screams kept him from fully concentrating, couldn't they just low it a little? Jack walked further away, he sat right in front of the metallic fence. He could still hear them but not as loud, at last he found a good place to think.

"Hey!" it lasted so little, Jack gazed back. A blond kid taller and bigger than him looked at him curiously. He had a red ball in his hands "Wanna pay?"

Grouchy, Jack looked at him and turned to the fence. Ignore him and he'll leave. Doing an angry face would give it extra points. At least it worked with his mother. After a few seconds, the distant steps brought relief to his mind, back to his thoughts. He could climb the fence and escape, but he had no idea where his mommy could be. Maybe she was as worry as him, looking, thinking, why wouldn't her let him help? What if she got lost while looking, no one would know where to find her.

Something hit him in his back bringing him back to reality. He looked back and found the same kid. Now instead of a ball, he had paper and colors. "Wanna Daw?" he held his school supplies farther away. "Peesh?" Jack dismissed the toddler. Instead of hearing the steps draw away, the boy walked to Jack's side and sat down next to him. "I'm Vince, you?"

"Jack" they remained there silent, looking outside to the streets. Neither of them said a word, if this kid could stay like that, Jack figured it would be fine for him to stay. Of course it didn't last as long as he had liked.

Vince looked at Jack and then back to the streets. "What a you wooking?"

"I'm thinkin"

"In what?"

"Mommy…"

Vince looked thoughtfully at his colors "You miss your mommy?"

Jack shakes his head "Mommy lost something, I want to help her"

"Did your mommy lost her keys? My mommy always lose the keys"

"No keys…"

"Then?"

"Daddy…." Jack answered gloomy.

Both toddlers remained in silence, Vince at least knew why Jack wouldn't play and he had a good reason for it. If his daddy had gone lost he would probably be just like Jack. Small tears formed in Jack's little eyes, his daddy was lost, his daddy… who? He was the bravest, strongest and fearless from all. When Jack got scared from monsters inside the closet, his daddy wouldn't. When big dogs barked at him, his daddy would come to the rescue. How could his daddy be lost, when one time Jack had gone lost himself in a store, his daddy had surely found him. Maybe this time it was Jack's turn to find him. But how? He was too small, he couldn't even keep himself away from crying.

"I know where to find you daddy" Vince stood up and grabbed Jack's hand. "Come" and sure Jack did. Both toddlers walked through the playground, ignoring the shouts and rambles from other kids, Vince walked decisive leading the way while Jack grasped his new friend hand. As they made it back to the classroom entrance their teacher came out leaving the door wide open as she ran to the playground ignoring both of them. Someone must have fallen from a swing or slide incorrectly, Jack looked behind and saw a group of classmates forming a circle around a little girl, she was crying her heart out, he couldn't see more as his eyes were obstructed by the walls of the classroom. "Come" Vince tugs at his arm and pulls him closer.

The classroom was painted in different colors, it had a table with four chair in a corner close to the toy box, and it also had a desk, of course from their teacher. Parts of the walls were cover with paintings and crafts from the kids. Some of their art work had families painted in colorful colors with names above the heads of each member. Jack had done one a few days ago, he draw his mother in her nurse outfit and his dad with his cop uniform, they held hands and had a smile painted in their face. As they approached the teacher's desk, Vince let go of his hand. "There, can you see it?"

All the way up, above the desk was a rectangular box. On its sides with red marker was written three words, Jack couldn't understand what they meant. "Teacher always puts toys ow stuff we lose, maybe you daddy is there". In there? In that small box? He was too big for that size. But, there could be a clue inside there, like when his dad played hide and seek with him, he would leave clues behind for him. Maybe there was one inside waiting for him. The desk was taller than Vince and him, not even stretching his hand and fingers could he get a hold of the box. Too close and too far. Jack grunted as he tried one more time while adding a small jump, but it only moved the box farther away.

Vince went to his knees and placed his body close to a side of the desk. "Go try" he nudge Jack to go on top of him "I'm stwong" reluctantly Jack climbed his friend back. Slowly but surely he reached the box. "Pull it!" and in a swift movement the box went to the floor just as a crystal, yellow vase with red flowers followed behind. Crack made the beautiful vase as water scattered around their chubby feet.

"What happen!" their teacher came running. "Jack, Vince! Both to the corner!" Quietly they went to the corner. "Let me call your parents" Jack only merely wanted to find his dad clue.

The rest of the class, Vince and Jack spent their time together in what the other kids liked to call the "shame corner", where only troubled kids would get punish. After class they had to wait for their parents, the firsts one to arrive where Vince's. They looked really angry as they went inside the classroom. "Sowy fow not find you daddy" Jack smiled at his friend. At least they had tried. When Vince parents came out they took him from his coat and dragged him out. Vince let out a squeal at their harsh tugging. They said goodbye waving their hands.

Later his mother came inside, his teacher was already waiting for her in the hallway. "Did something happen?" his mother asked. Jack saw his eyes mother differently, puffy red eyes with tears still hanging from her cheeks.

"Everything is alright, Ms. Darby he had a little accident…" his teacher lowered her voice making it impossible for him to hear. He could only see the adults turning their heads to him a couple of times. When his teacher and mom appeared to end their speech, his mother nodded. "I'll talk to him" she said calmly.

"If anything happens inform us, we can help in any way." The teacher rubbed one of her hands on Ms. Darby shoulder. "Thank you" she answered.

"Behave, ok Jack?" he nodded. After it, the teacher went inside her classroom.

"Oh Jack" finally his mother talked to him "What were you trying to do?" she asked, as she crouched in front of her son "You could have hurt yourself."

"I'm sowy. I wanted to find daddy"

"In the box?"

"Vince said teacher put things we lost in there" he kept his head low as he talked "I heawd you say he was lost"

"Oh, my little Jack"

Finally Ms. Darby hugged her son "It was the box of lost and found, daddy had to be there…"

November 20, 2011.

Years passed and his daddy never got back. Jack grew older, he had an age where he wouldn't call him daddy anymore, but dad. Even when he never saw him again, he could see him in old photographs. That day where he had tried to help was lost in his memory as an old nightmare. After his dad disappearance, his mother went completely overprotective. Her only son and family, how else could she react? Jack didn't blame her. Every night for the first few weeks she would stay close to the phone waiting, and freeze in the couch. Years went by and his mother eventually "moved on" or at least that's what she would always say to him, it was time to keep going with their lives. Still he could hear her cry sometimes overnight. So, he had to become the man of the house for his mother sake. Like how he did nowadays when after school he would go to his half-shift job in a small fast food restaurant.

They paid enough to help at the house, he never saved money and gave it all to his mom. In the end, it was for a better cause. His homework and studies came after work, when finally after 7pm he went to his house. In a normal ride it could take him fifteen to twenty minutes, however today he got obstructed by a red, and muscle car. To his surprise, it was a friendly face that came out. "Jack! Buddy!"

Immediately Jack smiled "Vince!" they greeted each other like in old times. Hand shake with shoulder bump. Oh, it had been long since their last meet, maybe five, six years? Jack didn't remember.

"Look at you, you have grown up, but as thin as always" he nudge Jack in a shoulder "Someday I'll bring you some steroids, how's that?"

"How funny, you should try a stand-up sometime you would win the crowd with your humorousness" Vince chuckled.

"Same good old Jack"

"I'm not that old, neither are you"

Vince smiled and changed his thoughts "How is your mother?"

"Oh, you know working as usual. I don't see her much since I got into high school, unless I tell her I bought a motorcycle, and then you can be sure she will be over me." Suddenly old memories and feelings rushed back to him "How about you? Living the adventurous life?"

"Something like that. It is better than before, I'm quite happy actually"

"Good for you…" before Jack could go on Vince went on. "That's why I'm here. To offer you an opportunity"

"You know I can't leave my mom"

"Someday you might have too"

"Not yet." Jack stepped in. "But, what do you got?"

"I met some people back in other town, they showed me, Jack, things I would have never imagined, things that are from the future. It could change the world." Vince stopped and took air "They pay really well if you help out, none questions ask, pure business"

"I got a job…"

"These is different! It's the triple you could ever win in any other job. How do you think I got the car? Not from my parents that's for sure"

"What is it about?" curiosity got the better of him. Even though he didn't want to leave his mom, this did sound quite interesting, it wouldn't hurt learn more about it.

"Can't tell ya. Not until you join, sorry rules"

"Too perfect to be good"

"I guess" Vince shrugged "In case you change your mind, I'll still be around town for a couple of days, you can call me" from his pocket Vince took out a small paper and wrote down his number. "Here, don't lose it"

"I won't" Jack grabbed it.

"Great, well I must go now. I have to take new candidates, you were my first option" he laughed "And still can be"

"Not on this life, at least."

"We shall see. Take care and say hi to your mom from my behalf" They hugged each other and Vince went back to his car. "Good seen you"

"Same…" Jack watched as Vince drove away. In his hand was the number of his friend cellphone, but not only that as Jack began to check the paper, he realized it wasn't a simple paper but a presentation card. For logo it had a hand closed in a fist with three letters written above, E.T.F. Whatever it meant or was, it had given Vince an opportunity. Maybe he could find one there, too. The three words came back to his mind, E.T.F. could it mean Entitled Through Fulfillment? Probably before taking any decisions it was best to look for information. Maybe Vince could answer him, and if it had went so good for him. What could happen to him?