Turning around, I saw someone I'd failed to acknowledge earlier,
whether it was because he had just shown up or was too small for me to see.
In any case, I took a step closer for a better look.
He was a small boy, roughly 5-years-old or so. His hair was black
with a hint of rusty color in it and it fell loosely around his face. He
wore plain blue jeans that seemed too big for him, and a red t-shirt that
seemed too small. He reminded me of the orphans I took note of in Neo Hong
Kong. This thought made me pity him.
He was crouched on the docks now, hopelessly trying to fish with a
makeshift stick and piece of string. Curious, I took another few steps
closer. "Hey kid."
His head snapped up and around and I could see his entire visage, an
appearance that was stunning. He had a thin, starved face, pale and dirty.
His lips were drawn tightly in fear or shyness. But then I saw his eyes,
those blue-green droplets painted into white. It seemed so familiar. So I
continued to speak. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"
He sighed and gave his stick a soft jerk to see if he'd caught
something. At first I thought he'd totally missed my question, but he
replied before I had the chance. "Trying to find food. I'm hungry."
He was thin, too thin. It was obvious now that he was all alone, but
this was strange for a child in the colonies. After all, the people that
came to the colonies in the first place usually had their children's future
secured. I sighed inwardly I've been away from here longer than I thought.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the only snack I had, an apple.
I held it out to the child, who looked up at me with questioning eyes.
"Take it." I said. "Just to hold you over for now."
As he slowly reached out and grasped it, I smiled and sat down. This
boy reminded me of Hoi and Min, the two orphans Rain and I had looked after
the year previous. It was almost a privilege to act as a big brother, since
I had been blessed with one myself.
"So kid, what's your name?"
He stopped eating and answered. "Hiroji"
I blinked. "Hiroji huh? That's a new one."
"My mom told me." he paused to take another bite of the apple. "That
she wanted my name to be like my dad's."
"Who was your dad?" I was venturing now, suddenly feeling my heart
begin to thud against my chest.
Hiroji thought for a moment, squinting in the process. "I think Daddy
was called.um.something like.Kyoji."
I was stunned. "K.Kyoji.?" Was this the son of my brother? Was this
my nephew? My world spinning, I placed my hands on his shoulders, startling
him by accident. "Hiroji, where do you live?"
Hiroji pointed to the house that stood in shambles behind us. It was
the house I myself had lived in as a boy. Utter shock presented itself to
me as it sunk in. It wasn't just a brother and father Kyoji had been forced
to leave behind.
The youngster stared up at me with an inquisitive look on his face.
"What's your name?"
I felt a smile work its way across my face and I got to my feet.
"Hiroji, I don't know if your Daddy told you this, but he had a younger
brother who used to live here as well."
"Yeah, that's Uncle Domon."
"And that's me. I'm your Uncle Domon."
Hiroji gasped. "But wait! You're the colony fighter!"
I nodded. "Yes, and also your dad's brother."
"Daddy told me about you, Uncle Domon! He always said that you would
come back someday so I could meet you!" He beamed and got up to grasp my
cape in his tiny hands. "Wow, I know a Gundam fighter now!"
I knew I couldn't leave him there where all he could hope for was a
fish to take his hook. So, I picked him up and put him onto my shoulders.
"Come on, kid. I can't leave you here all alone. Let's get out of here."
"But what about my fish?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll take you to Earth where there are lots
more."
And so, I strode down the road with my brother's son sitting atop my
shoulders. I never did look back upon what had once been the home I'd
always been dreaming of returning to. Now, I was no longer alone.
