Lewis left about two months ago. Goob's room was quieter without the hammering, sauntering, and blowtorching of his former roommate. He was happy to have a full night's rest, but the boy had the strangest feeling. Goob almost was yearning for his old roommate to come back. Lewis's absence struck a chord within him. It was the same feeling he had after his ailing grandmother brought him to the orphanage when he was four years old. What was this feeling? And why did this feeling keep him awake?
Mike looked up at the desk Lewis often occupied at this late hour and groaned. He got himself out of the covers and quietly sauntered down the hall to Mildred's room. He didn't want to wake the other children up. He would never hear the end of it from them and Mildred if he did.
He knocked softly on Mildred's door. About a few seconds later, Mildred opened the door.
"Mike," she frowned disapprovingly, "it is way past your bed time."
"That never stopped Lewis," Goob looked at the ground and then back up at Mildred, "can I talk to you Mildred? I cannot go to sleep. I have this weird feeling and it doesn't feel good."
Mildred could tell the child was having a tough time. She opened the door wider and motioned him to come inside. A wordless exchange took place between the two as both went inside.
"I will get the Chair of Confession." Mildred scurried to the other side of the room and brought out a fabulously comfortable chair. This chair was so soft that the children often slept on it after a rough emotional outburst.
Lewis himself used the Chair of Confession so often when he was here in the twelve years he lived there. Now, his roommate was here.
"You know Ms. M, I thought I would love not having Lewis as a roommate. Then, he's gone. And then I want him to come back. He was a geek, but he was fun to watch and listen to."
Mildred smiled, "You miss him. The feeling you have is called 'longing'."
"How do I stop this feeling?"
"You can't. You just have to move on with your own life."
"This is not fair! Why do people have to leave me all the time?" Goob curled up his fists, shut his eyes, and began to cry, "First my mom then my dad, then my grandmother. Now Lewis. You will leave me, everyone will leave me, and I will have nothing and nobody left."
Mildred quickly went to embrace him. The small child clutched onto her chest as he sobbed.
"You have lots of new friends, Mike. Don't be upset, please. I have some good news for you. I was going to tell you in the morning but I can tell you right now. Just please stop."
The child sniffled, regained his composure enough to meekly say, "Okay."
"You have an adoption interview tomorrow. This couple is incredibly interested in you. The man is the head of the company that sponsors your sports team. When he saw you win the game while basically sleeping, he was so impressed he wanted to speak to your parents. When he realized you didn't have parents, he immediately called me."
Goob looked at Mildred like she was a god send. He briefly forgot about the past and his current hardships. Hope, an emotion desperately seeking nourishment, overtook his consciousness. His eyes grew wide. The child jumped out of the Chair of Confession. He could barely contain himself as he gave Mildred the biggest hug his small body could muster.
"Thank you, Mildred," he looked up at her with bright eyes.
"You're welcome. Lewis got a new beginning. I know you will get yours."