I will never forget the night I met Alfred F Jones. It was raining, I was at the "boys home" where unwanted children stay in hope of finding a family to come and welcome them into their arms. I was not such a lucky child. I had been here longer then any other boy because I was labeled a "problem child". I didn't let that silly name bother me though, I liked it here. The house was wide and spacious and I got all of Nana's attention. Her husband Ben had taken quite a liking to me as well and eventually I had begun to think of them as my parents. I never really did like any of the parents that came to possibly take me home anyways.

The rain outside continued to fall as I sat in my room reading one of those colorful picture books that had fairies and mystical creatures in it. It was my birthday present from my Nana and I cherished that book almost as I did my stuffed unicorn which my late mum had given to me. I heard the door open downstairs which was odd since it was the middle of the night. Muffled voices could be heard which brought up my curiosity.

Grabbing my unicorn I left my room and slowly crept over to the stairs. I could hear the voices a little clearer now, with the small frail sound of crying. I peeked around the corner to see a little boy in the doorway at the bottom of the staircase with my Nana kneeling down beside him. He was sobbing in my her big fat arms as Ben and some strange man I had never seen before conversed off to the side. My curiosity getting the best of me, I began quietly making my way down the stairs, trying to get a better view and hear the conversation. I couldn't take my eyes off this little boy. He had dirty blonde hair and was wearing a jacket which was obviously way to big for him. He looked so pathetic with his face all red and streaked from the tears that had run down his cheeks.

I took a few more steps closer staying as quiet as I could. With Nana shushing and comforting the boy he had finally stopped crying. She held him in her arms and told him everything would be alright. He just nodded silently wiping his eyes on the over sized jacket he was wearing.

In that moment I sneezed. Every head turned to look at me. I froze in fear looking at them all staring back at me. I quickly turned to run up the stairs when Nana called out to me in her sweet voice.

"Arthur sweetie, could you come back down here? Please? I could use your help" that smile was on her face, the smile I couldn't resist. I slowly made my way down the stairs watching the little boy. He stared at me with big blue innocent eyes as I made my way down. I quickly pushed past him and ran up to my Nana. She picked me up and held me close to her warm chest. I nuzzled into her shoulder tracing my hand along her tanned arm as I glanced back at the little boy. He took a step forward and tilted his head, he seemed almost like he was going to start crying again. I looked at Nana as she sighed and placed me down on the ground.

"Arthur, I would like you to meet Alfred. He's a little shy right now but I want you to treat him with kindness and respect understand? He is in a way, just like you" she smiled as I looked over at Alfred.

"You mean his parents ditched him too?" I asked rather harshly glaring up at her. She gave me a sympathetic look and shook her head.

"Alfred, this is Arthur, he's one of the other boys that lives here for the time being. He's mature for his age and a bit of a stick in the mud but he is sweet and playful boy. I think it would be wonderful if you two shared the upstairs bedroom don't you think? You both could use a good friend right now," she smiled and pushed me toward Alfred. I glared back at her and then toward the boy. He was looking me up and down when his eyes seemed to light up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a half eaten and practically melted chocolate bar. He stepped closer to and held it out.

"My name is Alfred F Jones, it's nice to meet ya Artie you can have some of my chocolate if you want," his smile was unbearable. All of his sadness seemed to have disappeared from his face, except his eyes told the true pain he was hiding behind that smile. I glanced at the sticky chocolate and shook my head.

"My name is ARTHUR Kirkland, not Artie, and no I do not want any of that chocolate, it looks...gross," I snarled my accent coming out a little to strong. I felt a thump on my head as I looked back at my Nana as she shook her head. I suddenly heard laughing, I turned to look at Alfred.

"I like you kid, you talk funny! Hey! Let's play a game, I'll be the superhero and you can be the bad guy," he jumped on the stairs and began making gun noises as he used his hand as a gun and pretended to shoot me. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, this boy was rather

obnoxious.

"You know superheroes don't need guns you twit," I spat. He seemed taken with this comment and he pretended to shoot me even more. Annoyed I threw my unicorn at him in hope of it making him stop the ridiculous noises.

Big mistake.

He took off running with my unicorn shouting something about freedom and claiming this land as his. It got my blood boiling as I raced up the stairs after him. My Nana just laughed turning her attention back to the strange man.

"H-hey give that back you stupid git!" I yelled at him. He ran down the hallway to my bedroom, I was close behind him when he suddenly stopped in my doorway, causing me to crash into him. He looked around my room before stepping in carefully observing my walls and everything around. He looked completely overwhelmed and impressed. I picked myself up off the ground and stared at him, I glanced around my room trying to figure out what he was so amazed about. Was it my British flag and map of Europe? My solar system replica? Maybe it was all the unicorns I had lying around but to me, it all seemed just well, normal. He turned back to me holding my unicorn tightly.

"Arthur is this room yours?" He asked glancing around again. With a huff I snatched my unicorn away from him and stepped inside the room.

"Of course it is. Who else's room could it be? Now kindly get out," I spat, petting my unicorn's mane, it had chocolate on it. I crinkled my nose in disgust. I glanced at Alfred only to find him staring at me. He looked nervous or rather worried.

"Well, um, where are all the other boys? You know, the other boys that live here with you," he asked. His eyes scanned my room again and then darted to me.

"I'm the only boy that lives here. The others find families and leave usually within a few weeks. I get left here to play by myself and watch as they all leave with a new mum and papa. I'm all alone here, it's nothing new really," I said all too casually. His expression looked pained as if he had just figured out some horrible news. I walked around him and sat down by my bookshelf, placing Uni next to me as I began looking at the pictures again.

Alfred stood in silence for a moment then walked over to me, wrapping his arms around me he hugged me tightly. I immediately tensed up. Before I could resist or say anything I heard him sniffle.

"Arthur, I know you don't like me but, I promise I'll never leave you behind. I'll stay with you until forever, that way you'll never be alone," he whispered. As I turned my head to look at him I could see he had tears in his eyes. I felt a lump in my throat as I realized that I wasn't the only one hurting. This boy, had just become an orphan like me, yet I was treating him like an intruder.

Alfred let go of me and turned to walk out the door, I quickly grabbed his jacket and pulled him to me wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. I felt I needed to do all I could to protect and comfort this boy before he broke down right in front of me.

"I would like that a lot, Alfred."

Note: A little story idea that came to me in the middle of the night, I don't know if I will continue it or just leave it like this, either way I like the way it turned out, though I feel it may be a little short.